Rude American

Rude Americans Stories are often told about rude American tourists, neighbors, or simply Americans. They have been labeled as rude because of their actions and their portrayal in the media and our society. Most of the complaints involve tourists. According to businessperson. Com, Tripods, a travel blob, conducted a survey last year involving 700 respondents from 62 countries about bad tourist behavior. It covers everything from travel etiquette and manners (like hogging the armrests and asking to switch seats incessantly in plane rides) to drunken misbehaver and foreign fertilization.A whopping 33% of respondents, three times as many as the next worst, Britain, agree that Americans are terrible tourists. 44% of the American respondents even agreed that their countrymen are the worst tourists. As the stereotype goes, they're loud, rude, fat, and make terrible fashion choices. Stereotype aside, why are Americans seen as rude and disrespectful? Aside from the Internet research, a survey was also done in class asking the students their opinions on why Americans are often seen as rude.The top reasons turned out to be 1) the US is involved in a lot of wars, 2) the American bringing and 3) cultural differences and misunderstanding. The supports, however, were mostly based on information from the Internet and personal observations. First reason on why Americans are often seen as rude is the role of the US in wars around the world. The US has been a world superpower for so many years and is considered as one of the â€Å"Most Reliable Countries. Being one of the richest and most powerful countries, Americans tend to think they are superior and can overpower anyone, making them come off as rude and disrespectful. American rudeness and disrespect also comes from the wars hey were involved in the past to gain power or just for the sake of warring such as World Wars I and II, Vietnam, Korean, Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Even if they didn't win without the help of other coun tries, it still made Americans act and think that they are above anyone, which carries on up until now.Second reason of American rudeness is the American upbringing. It is the environment that they grew up in; it is how they were raised. Many Americans are loud and outspoken because they grew up in a similar environment especially if they grew up in a city since American cities tend to be hectic and Hattie. They are often seen glued and yelling over their phones, which may be just talking normally for them. They are also seen as rude because of their informality when meeting strangers and they think everything is funny.This is because they are comfortable with other people although they don't realize that the same open behavior comes across as disrespect to other people. Americans are seen as rude because many of them feel that they have to insult others because everything has to be their way. Many Americans are known to be chain-swears like it's a part of them, like it's a normal t hing. When they do not get what they want, they become frustrated. They just lack manners and social graces because they feel the need to become dominant and take control of everything without thinking about how to treat others.Americans also seem to have a bad reputation with not realizing that the whole world did not grow up learning English to serve them, and that speaking slower to someone who doesn't understand or speak English, doesn't make a difference. Third reason is cultural differences. As mentioned in the previous reason, the open behavior of Americans comes across as disrespect to other people cause they aren't used to such culture, whereas Americans often view familiarity as a good thing. Mistakes made by tourists when visiting other countries are often seen as disrespectful.They may not be fully aware, but some people actually get offended. For example, if you're in France and you're invited to dinner at someone's house, you should bring a gift but do not bring a bott le of wine because it implies that your hoses wine is not good enough. Since it is habitual for polite Americans to bring a bottle of wine as a gift for one's hosts, it may be a problem especially if they aren't familiar with he French rule. Americans are also known for their busy lifestyle, wherein their time costs so much that they don't waste it in apologizing or thanking others.Some people as a child has been taught that saying â€Å"thank you,† â€Å"you're welcome,† or â€Å"I'm sorry/' is a way of showing good manners, so not doing any of the mentioned may seen by others as rude. The way they show their nationalism and pride makes them seem to look down on other countries since they say that other countries are nothing compared to them, and that the US is the best country in the world. Maybe we are just used to he respectful culture, but some of the ways they show nationalism and pride may be disrespectful to other countries.Some of the things they say may also sound offensive but they actually mean something different. An example would be their use of the phrase, â€Å"Oh, really? † A person could take it as someone challenging his opinion but in reality it simply means, â€Å"Interesting Can you elaborate? † The portrayal of arrogance among Americans through their actions, the media and the society is caused by the role of the US in wars, the American upbringing and cultural differences. Not all Americans are rude; they were just stereotyped as such.That is why everyone should respect and appreciate each others differences and try to learn and understand them and their culture. It is important to learn and understand them to avoid getting too offended, and to know how to react to certain situations. It also helps in getting to know and socializing with Americans instead of avoiding them for being intentionally or unintentionally rude because after all, they are humans just like everyone else.

Fahrenheit 451 Essay

People’s actions and their individual perceptions can influence and develop change in another person’s character. In Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Guy Montag, makes a complete metamorphosis with the help from his neighbor Clarisse, his wife Mildred, and his boss Beatty. In the beginning of the novel, he despised the whole idea of reading, had no thoughts or questions about his life, and was just going through the motions of life. He changes from a stolid character, incognizant of the activities of his surroundings, to a conscious person of. So enlightened, by the new world he is exposed to, he comes to the realization that there is more life than what meets the eye. There are many stimuli in Montag’s society that help him change. The one who began this new outlook and the one to always leave him thinking deeply about other possibilities and ways to see the world was his neighbor, Clarisse. She was a very positive influence on him even though she was a young, teenage girl. She is classified to be unremarkable and who does the opposite of what the others do. She is also very perceptive and â€Å"[she] like[s] to watch people†¦[and] just wants to figure out who they are and what they want and where they’re going† (32-33). Clarisse teaches Montag to look around him, look at the people for who they really are, and to notice that all of society is brainwashed to thinking about nothing. This is something he had not noticed before. She enjoys talking to Montag, asking him questions about himself, and she loves to talk about the world and it’s wonderful possibilities that others fail to observe. Clarisse helps him look around and distinguish that others are not taking the time to actually see that the† White blurs are houses†¦ [and] Brown blurs are cows†(83) and everyone is just going through life to quickly and not actually looking at anything in detail. Montag never a deep thinker is numb to his surroundings and emotions. He begins to pullout of his complacency as Clarisse gives the gift of clarity and helps him pay attention to what is really important in life, just not what his society tells him to see. Montag’s Wife, Mildred, is a negative influence on him, trying to push him away emotionally and physically. She does not know who she really is and lives in an illusionary world with her obsession of television shows and believing they are real. He is so confused because she tries to ignore it ever happened thinking about all the bad things; â€Å"fire, sleeping tablets, men disposable tissue, coattails, blow, wad, flush†¦ Rain. The storm. The uncle laughing†¦ The whole world pouring down†¦ † (19). After this incident he looks at Mildred in a different light and is someone who he can’t relate to. Another way she separates herself from Montag is through her â€Å"family†, which is a television show. Montag constantly asks Millie â€Å"[if that] family loves [her]†¦ love [her] with all their heart and soul† (83). Her world isn’t based in reality; they are clearly on different paths. Hers is one of illusion and his is becoming that of a totally self-aware person. She blocks everything and everyone out that is around her and lives within the show. Mildred opens Montag’s eyes to the real world and shows him that most people are uncaring and narcissistic. Another influencing character is Beatty, his boss and chief of police who is very knowledgeable. He finds out that Montag has books in his possession and that is when the start of the climax. Beatty is an unintentional influence, meaning he has no idea that he is changing Montag. He pushes and pushes Montag to his limits and Montag rebels. He tries to tell Montag that books aren’t good and that nothing is good about them. â€Å"At least one fireman gets an itch. What do the books say, he wonders. Oh, to scratch that itch, eh? Well, Montag, take my word for it, I’ve had to read a few in my time, to know what I was about, and the books say nothing†¦Ã‚  You come away lost. † (66). Beatty really wants to discourage Montag from books, but it just makes him go in the opposite direction. Beatty helps Montag change for the better without even noticing. Many people influence us in our lives. They can be positive influences, or negative influences. Montag changes for the better in the novel Fahrenheit 451, because of the people around him. At the end of the book, after he escapes the authorities, he is reborn into a whole different person. He becomes a better person aware of the real things in life.

How HR can contribute to CSR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How HR can contribute to CSR - Essay Example Current paper aims to highlight the main aspects of the relationship between the human resources management and the corporate governance – especially regarding the role of HRM in the development of corporate social responsibility. Reference is made to Humphrey Group and specifically to the firm’s compensation ethics as used for evaluating the compensation of the firm’s top managers. The findings of relevant academic studies are presented and analysed aiming to show that HR can support the development of corporate social responsibility in Humphrey Group – as also in firms with different structural and operational characteristics. 2. Human Resources and Corporate Governance 2.1 Influence of HR on Corporate governance – modes, consequences The role of HR in corporate governance cannot be doubted. In fact, this role has many different aspects. In all organizations, HR department cooperates with the CEO in order to identify potential breaches of the firm ’s ethical rules. Beatty et al. ... The survey, which was conducted among focus groups, aimed to highlight the level at which ethical standards can interact or opposed with professional practices and rules within modern organizations. One of the most important findings of the above study has been the fact that, quite often, HR managers are asked to serve contradictory organizational needs, or else, to serve interests, which are opposed. These are the interests of stakeholders who are favoured by different organizational initiatives. On the other hand, it seems that HR professionals may not be always aware of their role. Instead, they are informed on the activities and decisions on which their power is justified, i.e. accepted by the Board of Directors (or the organization’s leader) but they are not aware of their actual capabilities regarding their role. At the next level, the study of Beatty et al. (2003) refers to a quite important issue: ‘the financial measurement and the rewarding systems’ (Beat ty et al. 2003, p.258) are often poor. In this case, executives need to identify a solution in order to ensure the fairness in their compensation. In most cases, the response of the firms to the claims for compensation, pension and so on, are expected to be negative – in case such claim is presented to the Board of Directors. In this context, the intervention of executives in the books of their organizations is often unavoidable, even if it is not legally justified. The most important finding of the survey conducted in the context of the study of Beatty et al. (2003) is the following one: in most organizations, ethical standards are highly promoted. However, in practice the limitation of violation of

International Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 5

International Finance - Essay Example Though the negative event cannot be avoided, but the impact can be reduced. There are two types of risks vis-a-vis systematic and unsystematic risk. Investors usually hedge against systematic risk which includes financial risk, operational risk, liquidity risk, financing risk, currency risk, etc. According to the authors Clark and Ghosh, large firms usually balance their hedging techniques so as to minimise the cost of hedging. Corporate managers try to identify the risks facing the company so that they can strategise a suitable hedging technique to counter the effect of those risks. Big corporations are quite concerned with the foreign exchange risk, owing to their global business exposure. The author also stated that, the large corporations have global presence and trade across nations, thus vulnerable to currency risk as they have to trade in the local currency (Clark and Ghosh, 2004). Though there are various hedging techniques like futures, forwards, options, swaps and debt, but big corporations usually trade in futures, forwards, options and debt (Homaifar, 2004). As per the author Coyle, companies enter into an agreement with other party willing to buy/ sell currency. It is in the form of an agreement, where one party agrees to buy/ sell a specified amount of the currency at an agreed price, at an agreed time, delivery method to another party. Forwards trade takes place in two ways i.e. the spot market where the delivery takes place after T+2 days and the forward market where the price and other conditions are set before the delivery. The delivery takes place at a future date. In forwards contract companies usually face the counterparty risk, where one of the party refuses to buy/sell the derivative, thus putting the hedger at risk (Coyle, 2000). X is an IT company that exports software services to Y, a company in the US. X expects a payment of $1 million after five months. Assuming the exchange rate is  £1/$, it will receive  £1 million at the

Corporate Annual Reports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Annual Reports - Essay Example Some landmark events such as acquisitions or additional issue of stocks also find a place in these reports. The stock market crash of 1929 resulted in stringent standards applied to the preparation of Annual Reports. Hence the report has to be audited by a qualified accounting professional. The auditors role is to check for any intentional or accidental errors in the companys accounts and give his/her stamp of approval if they are found truthful. In some countries it is mandatory for all publicly held companies to distribute their annual report to all shareholders. In addition to the annual report, shareholders can find more information about the corporation in their "10k" and "10Q" reports. 10K report is a detailed document on the corporations services, products, market share, competition, industry, its customer base, etc. On the other hand the 10Q report gives an elaborate analysis of the companys quarterly earnings. These documents are made easily accessible through the Security and Exchange Commissions website. There are three important financial components to annual reports. They are the Income Statement, Balance Sheet and the Cash Flow Statement. Apart from these major financial components, other information of interest is also included. For example, the Chairmans Address to the Shareholders, Highlighting of major achievements over the year, Managements assessment of the year, an auditors note and a summary of all financial information. Having said this, there is no universally accepted format for annual reports. This gives opportunity for corporations to show an impressive set of numbers, the reality of which can be deciphered only by reading the fine print. For example, some companies see annual reports as a marketing tool that projects the company in a kinder light. So much so that many corporations allocate huge quantities of money in adding frills to their annual reports, making the information look more

Trade Policy of Qatar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Trade Policy of Qatar - Essay Example Qatar’s economy has been growing in strength and resilience overtime and in fact it happens to be one of the fast growing and most dynamic economies of the world. The GDP of Qatar registered an impressive growth of 33.8 percent in the year 2005 (Qatar Economic Review 2006). The rapidly growing oil and gas sector is the cornerstone of Qatar’s economy and is contributing immensely to the target of reshaping the national economy through diversification. Though it is true to say that the overall economic strength of Qatar is primarily dependent on the oil revenues, the share and contribution of the LPG in the national growth has definitely increased in the past few years. In the year 2005, the total share of oil and natural gas in the domestic GDP was 60 percent (Qatar Economic Review 2006).  Ã‚  Ã‚   In terms of GDP growth, Qatar had performed unbelievably positively, recording an average growth of 19.9 percent in the period 2001-2005 (Qatar Economic Review 2006). The fu ndamental reasons that lie behind the formidable economic growth of Qatar are an exceptional growth in the exports of LNG, crude and petrochemical related products. This factor has been further bolstered by the rise in the prices of crude in the international markets. In the year 2005, the oil and natural gas industry recorded an overall growth of 46.3 percent (Qatar Economic Review 2006). In contrast, the non-oil sector augmented by 18.8 percent (Qatar Economic Review 2006). In the year 1999, the GDP of Qatar was QR 45.1 billion (Qatar Economic Review 2006).

The Cold War and U.S Diplomacy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

The Cold War and U.S Diplomacy - Research Paper Example Strait of Hormuz forms a bottleneck at the Persian Gulf, therefore, a strategic position to control the oil flow from the region. The Afghanistan invasion brought the Soviet Union in close proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, which could have been accessed through an invasion of Iran. Soviet actions posed threat to the stability of the entire region. The US along with other countries were dependant on the oil for the functioning of their economies. The supply was also crucial for the military to maintain its operational capabilities. Saudi Arabia, therefore, was assured of security by the US from communist adversaries.   Iran was a key ally in the region to guard against the spread of communism. Iran and Saudi Arabia were given aid to counter the Soviet Union and ensure stability in the region. The Iranian revolution in 1979 complicated the situation; therefore, a new doctrine had the to be formulated. The exclusion of Iran demanded a doctrine to present suitable threat to guard agai nst the spread of Soviets in the region and to find a reliable replacement for supply of oil to the US.   President Carter’s doctrine was a paradigm shift from previous doctrines of President Truman, Eisenhower, and Nixon. It was aimed to make clear the importance of the Persian Gulf as key vital interest. The doctrine made clear that any effort by the hostile power to block the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf would be considered an attack on US vital interest and would be dealt with military force.  

Dell and Virtual Integration Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Dell and Virtual Integration - Case Study Example The equation was known as 'direct business model' which, eventually, proved to be expedient to Dell Computer Corporation. The organization is efficaciously utilizing the formula so that it ends the value chain between the manufacturers, suppliers and users. This 'Virtual Integration' has proved to be a miniature to the information era because it effectively allows reconciliation beyond company limitations to generate exceptional results for its dealers. It is not only a strategical approach but an exigency. Day-to-day competition has marked the commencement of extremely convoluted products in the market. This results in cost-pressures and inappropriate linkage between dealers. Virtual integration, on this context is a congenial approach to the business planet. It gives rise to another bureaucratic name- Vertical integration, which is contrary to the virtual one. Vertical integration is inefficient because it focuses on sharing ownership distinctions and no worthy knowledge. Virtual integration holds huge benefits for its marketers. It gives rise to new technologies and fragmentation has innovated the industry likewise. The traditional barriers which once prevailed among industries a few years back could dwindle to a large extent. It resulted in the advent of new small-scale firms to condescend themselves to the segmented parts. MARKETING ISSUE ANALYSIS BY APPLICATION OF ACADEMIC THEORY Undoubtedly, Dell is responsible for the innovation of a new business model for the computer assiduity. They have always focused on three major aspects, the first one being an easy business strategy, secondly, to minimize the business expenses and lastly, focus on improvising their inter-relationship with their customers. Researches claim that during the past years of the commencement of the computer era, the entire sum of gadgets viz. chips and hard-disks, etc. had to be manufactured by a single enterprise. It had to expertise in all aspects of computers which eventually, did not apprise the customer. Time witnessed the augmentation of many new industries and firms which specialized in different elements. It ultimately provided opportunities too many specialized organizations in order to manufacture components. However, Dell excogitated about it in an assorted way. It believed in providing services and solutions to its customers disregarding the need for manufacturing the essential components themselves. This context deciphers the requirement for establishing a strong connection between the supplier and its user. Companies like HP and Compaq accredited the computer constituent assemblage by manufacturing almost everything, which was often considered to be an engineering-medial approach. But they neglected the fact that it, actually, didn't fetch lucrative outcomes, the reason being the least concern about valuation to the customers. For example, even if a company puts chips on motherboards, it actually isn't making a desirable profit out of it. That is because it works on the principle of sales and

Comparison and Contrast of Main Characters Essay Example for Free

Comparison and Contrast of Main Characters Essay Nora and Tom are the main characters of two plays, the Doll House and the Glass Menagerie respectively. In comparing and contrasting these two characters, it is vital to analyze the plays and to gain and understanding of their personalities and relationships with other people. Nora is the wife of Torvald, and their marriage is characterized by the domination of Tovarld over Nora and her complacent passivity. As a wife during the late 1800s, it was typical of women to have been treated like children with little to no independence. However, it is the failure of Nora to remain stuck in her gender role as the immature ornament. Tom is the son of Amanda and the brother of Laura, and his position in the family is marked by the absence of his own father. Tom is expected to fully maintain the family, yet his youth and inexperience, coupled by his mother’s demanding exasperation, do not equip him to be a successful head of the household. In analyzing these two characters, it is interesting to note the ways in which Nora and Tom are similar and different in regard to gender roles and passivity. Gender Roles Passivity In regard to gender roles and passivity, it is clear that Nora and Tom are caught up in the expectations of other people and playing out stereotypical functions to an extreme degree. Nora herself describes her situation as a wife with no ambitions and blames her husband, saying, â€Å"I lived by performing tricks for you†¦ you and father have done me a great wrong†¦ it’s your fault that my life has been wasted† (Ibsen, 1890, 117). In this comment, one can see the full frustration of Nora in regard to her plight as a fully dependent wife. However, one could dispute her allegation that all of the culpability rests on the shoulders of her husband and not at all on herself. As far as Tom is concerned, he is stuck taking care of his mother and sister, when he would truly rather be making more of a life for himself, stating â€Å"I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful than I intended to be† (Williams, 1999, 97). Tom expresses his irritation with the situation of him being expected to perform all of the duties as the head of the household, a role which he increasingly rejects. Similar to Nora, he finds himself playing a part which he does not want to be playing. However, a vital difference is that Tom takes responsibility for remaining passively in a role which does not suit him and does not try to place the full blame on other people. Conclusion Nora and Tom are both characters who find themselves doing the bidding of other people in response to social expectations, rather than following their instincts in living their lives more for themselves. While Nora finds herself shaming her husband for her life mistakes, Tom is more apt to shame himself. However, in the end, both characters are able to break free of the gender roles and passivity which have bound them all too closely and dependently to other people. Nora ends up leaving her husband, just as Tom ends up leaving his wife and mother. While Nora ends the play on a note of anger and full finger pointing, Tome ends the play with a sense of regret that he must leave his family. Nora and Tom are able to escape the oppressive forces in their lives, yet they have markedly different approaches to assigning fault. Works Cited Ibsen, H. (1890). A Dolls House. W. H. Baker. Williams, T. (1999). The Glass Menagerie. New Directions Publishing.

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay Example for Free

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Paula Vogel’s How I learned to Drive plays explore the common theme of betrayal through the acts of the protagonist in the 2 literary works. The two plays thus demonstrate several similarities as they build on this theme. For instance, through Hamlet, Hamlet is portrayed as being betrayed by Claudius in whom he has trust. Similarly, How I learned to Drive’s Li’l Bit endures the betrayal of Uncle Peck whom she also trusts. Moreover, both Hamlet and Li’l Bit demonstrate that they are bright persons through their respective actions in the face of betrayal. Another similarity is that both Li’l Bit’s and Hamlet’s families seem to be dysfunctional. The two plays however have a number of differences. For example, Hamlet belongs to royalty while Li’l Bit is a humble girl. In addition, while, Hamlet finally exacts revenge on his tormentor, Li’l Bit finally forgives her detractor. The environments of the 2 characters’ families are also different. While Li’l Bit’s family is surrounded by problems typical of common people, Hamlet’s family is plagued by problems that usually affect the high and mighty. All in all, the 2 plays Hamlet and How I learned to Drive demonstrate that their respective protagonists are betrayed by people they otherwise trust. To begin with, Hamlet suffers from Claudio’s (his uncle’s) malevolence when Claudius murders King Hamlet (Hamlet’s father) and later seeks to murder the young Hamlet himself. In normal circumstances, one’s uncle would not do the heinous act that Claudius does. Claudio’s commission of the offense is thus an outright betrayal of the trust that his nephew has towards the uncle. Hamlet’s doubts that Claudius really murdered King Hamlet testify to the nephew’s trust towards his uncle. After his father’s spirit informs the young Hamlet that Claudius murdered King Hamlet, the young Hamlet is initially not sure of the authenticity of the message (Shakespeare and Edwards 69). To further build the theme of betrayal, after realizing that Hamlet is aware of his evil scheme, Claudius plots to have Hamlet murdered. Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s widowed and remarried mother, cannot assist the son because she has married Claudius the person who murdered her late husband. Hamlet’s household is thus rather dysfunctional, a factor that accentuates Hamlet’s pain of betrayal. Hamlet is thus betrayed on two occasions by his uncle. Similarly, How I learned to Drive’s Li’l Bit is betrayed by Uncle Peck, a relative whom she trusts and feels close to. For instance, owing to the dysfunctional nature of her family, Li’l Bit does not enjoy the support of her family members. The only person who appears to offer the girl the necessary support and attention is Uncle Peck. The uncle teaches the girls how to drive. Li’l Bit is however disappointed when Uncle Peck’s niceness ultimately proves to be tinged with selfish desires. For instance, the uncle molests Li’l Bit on several occasions. He therefore betrays the trust that the young niece has towards him. In addition, Aunt Mary Uncle Peck’s husband, carries on the theme of betrayal when she refuses to come to the aid of Li’l Bit regarding her molestation ordeals by the uncle. Moreover, Li’l Bit’s mother refuses to confront Uncle Peck with regard to his unhealthy intimacy with Li’l Bit. The mother thus betrays her daughter regarding the daughter’s dashed hope that the mother will come to the daughter’s aid (Vogel 25). Li’l Bit thus resembles Hamlet in that both come from somewhat dysfunctional families and are both betrayed by the people who should be their helpers. Moreover, both the Hamlet and the How I learned to Drive plays show that their respective protagonists are wise in their individual rights. Through such depictions of intelligence, the theme of betrayal continues to play out. For instance, Hamlet stages a drama performance that confirms that Claudius really murdered King Hamlet. This act demonstrates Hamlet’s extreme intelligence and also exposes Claudius’ act of betrayal. Likewise, Lil Bit demonstrates her wisdom by tactfully objecting to Uncle Peck’s indecent sexual advances. The girl does this and still manages to be friends with the uncle. Moreover, her firm refusal to engage in sexual liaisons with Uncle Peck discloses the uncle’s betrayal in seeking to have an incest-like relationship with his niece. In effect, Hamlet and Lil Bit are portrayed as intelligent characters as they seek to contend with the betrayal which they experience. Conversely, Lil Bit and Hamlet have several differences which serve to highlight the betrayal the two persons endure. For example, while Hamlet is of a royal class, Lil Bit has a humble background. The royalty in Hamlet’s family background partially make Claudius betray him. King Hamlet is murdered so as to pave way for Claudius to occupy the throne. On the other hand, Lil Bit’s humble background partially contributes to her betrayal by Uncle Peck. This is because most of Lil Bit’s family members are unreliable. The mother conceived during her teenage years, the father is sexist, while Uncle Peck the molester, is an alcoholic. This situation makes Lil Bit become alienated and thus continue to silently suffer under Uncle Peck. Her continued suffering thus unearths her uncle’s act of betrayal. Moreover, Hamlet finally revenges on Claudius heinous act while Lil Bit chooses to forgive Uncle Peck. The characters’ respective actions thus show that their relatives are betrayers who deserve either punishment of forgiveness. In conclusion, Vogel’s How I learned to Drive and Shakespeare’s Hamlet play explore the theme of someone being betrayed by someone they have always trusted. In How I learned to Drive, Lil Bit is betrayed by Uncle Peck, her mother, and her aunt, all whom she trusts. Conversely, Hamlet’s Hamlet is betrayed by his uncle Claudius, and his mother Queen Gertrude. The two plays however have several differences which however contribute to the theme of betrayal. Works Cited Shakespeare, William and Edwards, Philip. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Vogel, Paula. How I learned to Drive. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1998.

HM Supply Chain and Logistics Management Strategies

HM Supply Chain and Logistics Management Strategies Introduction Hennes Mauritz AB, abbreviated to HM, a Sweden-based global fashion retail company, was established in 1947, serving a business concept of offering good-quality product with the best price along with making sustainability (HM, 2014a). HM is the world second largest fashion retailer. In 2013, HM has opened 356 new stores and expanded into five new markets: Chile, Indonesia, Serbia, Lithuania and Estonia (Passport, 2014). HM is a pioneer of ‘fast fashion’ which inspired by the trendy catwalk fashion and transformed them into affordable fashion frequently. Rather than being followers, it perceives the bid of consumer-lead (Passport, 2014). HM manages its brand with a combination of Uniqlo’s and ZARA’s marketing strategies, which are using long product development cycles and building efficient supply chain (Petro, 2012). This report will critically evaluate the supply chain and logistics management strategies of HM. Which markets have been targeted and why? Demographically, HM aims to target younger age groups, especially those who aged 18 to 30 and are sensitive to the latest fashion and trend. HM fundamentally advocates for offering quality products with the unbeatable value and a high frequency of launching new products (HM, 2014a). It has divided its customers based into two distinct groups which are practical customers and trendy customers. The former requires basic and comfortable garments while the latter seeks for fashionable and sartorial products. The number of â€Å"global middle class† will expected to expand to 4.9 billion by 2030, compared to 1.8 billion in 2009, significantly contributing by Asia (Pezzini, 2012). The upsurge of the middle class in Asian countries are believed to be sufficient to cope up with the impetus for world demand (Kharas, 2010). Kharas (2010) also stated that the rebound of consumer demand would depend not only on USA, but also Asian countries, especially China and India. Therefore, geographically, HM not only targets at the Western Europe, where generated almost 71% of revenues in 2013, but also widely targets at USA and Asia Pacific (Passport, 2014). Figure 1.1 indicated that there is significant increase sales in both North America and Asia Pacific. What has been Zara’s approach to Supply Chain Management? HM employs 160 in-house designers who officially work together with pattern makers and print designers to create HM a wide variety of products. They strive to find the right balance among fashion, quality and best price as well as involving sustainability awareness. Although HM collection are centrally planned, it does not own any factories instead of outsourcing from 800 independent suppliers, approximately 40% in Europe and 60% in Asia (Petro, 2012). In addition, HM has set up 21 production office outside Sweden, 50% of them are based in Asia and 50% of them are based in Europe (Tokatli, 2008). Due to geographic and lead time priorities, HM still persists in choosing Europe as production countries rather than China (Goransson et al, 2007). HM develops a long-term partnership and works closely with these suppliers to ensure its product quality. These suppliers are examined and evaluated twice a year to determine their performance and keep maintain good communication in order to respond to changeable demand (Siegle, 2013). Moreover, HM requires all its suppliers, subcontractor and business partners to sign the Code of Conduct which is implemented in every aspects of the organisation. Full commitment with the Code must be fulfilled throughout the supply chain. HM seldom works with middlemen. It strategically works with its production offices that are closely located to its suppliers and served as the second hub of information flow. From choosing suppliers, handling production process, reviewing sample to checking quality, HM can maximise its efficiency to be more responsive to customers demand. HM basically launches two seasonal collections each year, producing approximately 2000-4000 items on average (Tokatli, 2008). Sub-collections have also been offered within each season in order to continually update its inventory. Usually, the main collection would be long-lead time items whereas the sub-collection would be short-lead time items (Petro, 2012). HM will produce 80% of its products in advance (Cha, 2013) and the lead time of producing the remaining 20% may vary, generally from two weeks to six months (Saini, 2007). HM also develops its production plan six to twelve months in advance, coordinating with the purchasing process accordingly. This planning system helps to achieve its belief in exceeding customer expectations and contributing sustainable work in the supply chain. The process from designing products to retailing takes only 20 days to complete (Saminather, 2007). HM has developed an IT system which connected each store with corporate logistics, procurement systems and the central warehouse (Petro, 2012). This system enables the visibility of the entire process to every departments that involved. As a result, a more securable and effective management can be applied across all channels. What market entry strategies have been adopted and why? How do HM manage their marketing channels? Its expansion target is to open 10%-15% new stores per year and this can be implemented by its marketing strategy that is increasing like-for-like sales (Passport, 2014). In spite of reporting that HM like-for-like sales figures have been declined for five consecutive months, it still plans to open 350 new stores in 2014 (Milne, 2013). Despite the concern that excessive store numbers could affect HM’s cachet, but the rapid growth of consumer demand is highly enough to support its expansion (Passport, 2014). In fact, HM has 3511 stores across 55 countries in 2014, compared to 3132 stores across 53 countries in 2013 (HM, 2014a), accounting for 379 additional stores. HM’s expansion strategy in emerging markets is through establishing wholly-owned subsidiaries in order to maintain its direct operational control (HM, 2014a). All HM stores are run by HM, therefore, franchising would not be its favourable method. Nevertheless, some excepted markets necessarily need collaboration via franchising. For instant, HM reached a franchise agreement with Kuwait-based company, M.H. Alshaya to expand market in the Middle East. This partnership ensures a great success in bringing HM’s spirit to a new market. Joint venture can be considered as a dominant option for multinational enterprise (MNE) to discover emerging markets (Zhou and Xu, 2012). HM adopted a 51:49 joint venture with Mumbai-based firm Tata Group. This allows HM to better understand the know-how of local market before accessing to foreign markets, meanwhile, the Indian government regulates 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in single brand retailing, unleashing market liberalisation (Passport, 2014). These two opportunities inevitably assist HM to enter Indian market. It aims to invest â‚ ¬100 million for opening 50 stores in India, focusing not only in major cities such as New Delhi and Mumbai, but also other cities like Ahmedabad and Jaipur (Passport, 2014). HM has chosen vertical integration as one of its business strategies to better control the whole supply chain. From manufacturing to assembling, merchandising to retailing, all these processes are under its control. It works closely with its production offices, suppliers and buyers. While finish designing at Stockholm headquarters, its partnership suppliers will seek for the most suitable raw materials and matched them for assembling. HM places bulk order to minimise the risk of price fluctuation and enjoy a certain level of economy of scale (Goransson et al, 2007). Then, the production offices will arrange for merchandising. HM stores do not prepare any buffer stock, but are replenished from the nearest distribution centre. 90% of HM’s goods is transported from the suppliers’ warehouses to distribution centres via Hamburg, the main transit point of HM, by rail or sea (HM 2014a). Those garments are generally served with price tags and ready for sale (Hasan and Alim, 201 0). How is the brand differentiated and how is it positioned? HM identifies a sustainable competitive advantage for its brand through providing augmented products. The purpose of creating augmented products is to add value to supplementary elements, aiming to exceed customer expectation (Crassous and Gassmann, 2011). HM realises the fact that customers are not well-prepared to pay extra money for sustainable value, but it is believed to be a leading trend in the future (HM, 2014b). Hence, HM emphasizes offering the best price, not the cheapest price, certainly involving a part of sustainability. It would never compromise the commitment of providing fashionable and quality products with the best price. HM is positioning itself as an ethical company that produce fast-fashion and ethics simultaneously (Siegle, 2012). For example, HM has invested heavily in sustainability in order to remove the label of ‘disposable’ fashion manufacturer (Passport, 2014). It realises how important the natural resources to them, thus, it makes use of 13.7% of organic cotton over total cotton use. According to Textile Exchange (2014), HM is listed as the world top users of organic cotton. It also changes its linear production model to circular production model to serve conscious fashion. HM no longer focus on making short-term profit, it has stated the importance of developing long-term sustainability to be a significant differentiator (HM, 2014b). For instant, HM has collaborated many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Fair Labour Association (FLA) and Fair Wages Network to develop a criteria for benchmarking sustainability to entire industry (HM, 2014b). Furthermore, the transparency of HM’s supply chain is another key differentiation from other fast fashion retailers. HM made an effort of creating supply chain transparency by publishing its supplier’s factory list. HM is one of the few fashion companies to publish its supplier factory list (Doward, 2012). Is Country of Origin (COO) significant? COO could influence on customer-based brand equity, especially in B2C markets. It has added values to the brand and the perceived quality, one of the factors of brand equity, has been recognised as a driving force in order to generate brand awareness (Chen et al, 2011). However, the strength of the link of COO across products may differ as the variation in product categories can be hard to identify (Tseng and Balabanis, 2011). For example, the credibility of French perfumes and Russia vodka are high, compared to the credibility fast fashion. The latter is more concern with the style of fashion rather than COO. Thus, the Swedish original roots may not be significant in inspiring HM collection that what target customers are expected. In comparison to Sweden, Milan, Paris and Tokyo are more likely to be defined as global fashion cities (Jansson and Power, 2010). Therefore, HM’s COO is unlikely to be significant in influencing customer purchasing decisions. Have there been issues of supply chain ethics or provenance? HM’s commitment is to be ethical through its value chain, steadily rooted in its belief. A great efforts have been paid with awarded the world most ethical company (HM, 2014b). In spite of adhere to be ethical, some unexpected issues might occur under its vertical control. However, HM tried its own best to best solving those problems. For example, a Bangladeshi factory that making clothing for HM and other companies prone to fires due to poor safety standard (Hickman, 2010). HM alleged that it only bought a small portion of garments from this factory. However, it appointed representatives to visit that place immediately to support those affected and their families. HM has regularly audited this factory and announced that this factory has attained the Code of Conduct. Following this unwanted incident, HM produced a series of short films, concerning fire safety and other ethical issues in order to enhance workers’ vigilance (Siegle, 2012). Another example was 288 Turkish workers were suffered from verbal harassment during HM’s external assessment. HM followed up this circumstance and settled down by giving proper training to their supervisors and putting less pressure on them (Fair Labour Association (FLA), 2009). Conclusion In conclusion, this report has evaluated the supply chain and logistics management strategies of HM. Vertical brand, HM achieves its best prices promise by employing in-house designers, having no middlemen, choosing its own suppliers, utilising resources in every part of business, and the most important aspect is having effective logistic management within the supply chain. The highly responsive supply chain distinct HM from its competitors, enabling HM to react quickly to the up-dated fashion trend. The selected suppliers not only responsible for manufacturing quality product, but also ensuring the processes are operated under good ethical conditions. Sustainability plays an important role in implementing HM business strategy. HM works very hard to be recognised as an ethical company. These remarkable achievements will obviously lead an increase in brand reputation and customer confidence Therefore, it is essential for HM to continuously place sustainability as its primary objective to clearly become HM’s competitive advantage. References Cha, Y (2013) ‘The Big 3: Fast Fashion (SPA) Brands and Strategies’, Maeil Business Newspaper, 9 June. Chen, Y. ,Su, Y. and Lin, F. (2011) ‘Country-of-origin effects and antecedents of industrial brand equity’, Journal of Business Research, 64, p1234-1238. Crassous, T. and Gassmann, J. (2011) ‘Gaining Competitive Advantage through Green Marketing’, Department of Marketing, 3(37), p1-72. Doward, J. (2012) ‘HM comes under pressure to act on child-labour cotton’, The Guardian, 15 December. [Online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/dec/15/cotton-child-labour-uzbekistan-fashion (Accessed: 2 April 2015) Fair Labour Association (FLA) (2009) Preventing Harassment of Workers in Turkey [Online] Available at: http://www.fairlabor.org/impact/case-studies/study/preventing-harassment-workers-turkey (Accessed: 29 January 2015) Goransson, S. , Jonsson, A. and Persson, M. (2007) ‘Extreme Business-Models in the Clothing Industry-A case study of HM and ZARA’, The Department of Business Studies, p1-92. Hasan, M.R. and Alim, M.A. (2010) Factors Affecting Supply Chain Management Efficiency in Cross Border Outsourcing: A case study of HM and its Outsourcing Operations in Bangladesh, Master Degree Thesis. University of Gothenburg. HM (2010) Code of Conduct. [Online] Available at: http://sustainability.hm.com/content/dam/hm/about/documents/en/CSR/codeofconduct/Code%20of%20Conduct_en.pdf (Accessed: 5 March 2015) HM (2014a) Annual Report 2014, HM Hennes Mauritz AB, Sweden. HM (2014b) Sustainability Report 2013, HM Hennes Mauritz AB, Sweden. HM (2015) Design Process. [Online] Available at: http://about.hm.com/en/About/facts-about-hm/idea-to-store/design-process.html (Accessed: 3 March 2015) Hickman, M. (2010) ‘21 workers die in fire at HM factory’, The Independent, 2 March. [Online] Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/news/21-workers-die-in-fire-at-hm-factory-1914292.html (14 February 2015) Jansson, J. and Power, D. (2010) ‘Fashioning a global city: Global city brand channels in the fashion and design industries’, Regional Studies, 44 (7), p889- 904. Kharas, H (2010) The Emerging Middle Class in Developing Countries. OECD Development Centre. Milne, R (2013) ‘Late spring chills HM sales’, The Financial Times, 21 March. [Online] Available at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/05fd4e46-9201-11e2-a6f4-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3X7QRARt9 (Accessed: 20 March 2015) Passport (2014) ‘HM Hennes Mauritz AB in Retailing (World)’, Euro monitor International. Pezzini, M (2012) An Emerging Middle Class. OECD Development Centre. Petro, G. (2012) ‘The Future of Fashion Retailing The HM Approach’, The Forbes, 11 May. [Online] Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregpetro/2012/11/05/the-future-of-fashion-retailing-the-hm-approach-part-3-of-3/ Saini, M. (2007) Analysis of clothing supply chain: Integration Marriage of Lean Agile, PhD thesis. The University of Salford. Saminather, N (2007) ‘How HM’s copying with Retail Travails?’, Bloomberg, 3 January. [Online] Available at: http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2007-01-03/how-h-and-ms-coping-with-retail-travailsbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice Siegle, L. (2012) ‘Is HM the new home fashion?’, The Guardian, 7 April. [Online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/apr/07/hennes-mauritz-h-and-m Siegle, L. (2013) ‘HM: How ethical are your clothes?’, The Guardian, 6 October. [Online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/06/ethical-high-street-clothes-hm Textile Exchange (2014) ‘Organic Cotton Report’, Textile Exchange, 31 July. The Boston Consulting Group (2005) Taking Care of Brands through Vertical Integration. [Online] Available at: http://www.bcg.com.cn/export/sites/default/en/files/publications/articles_pdf/Taking_Care_Brands_Through_Vertical_Integration_Nov2005.pdf (Accessed: 20 February 2015) Tokatli, N. (2008) ‘Global Sourcing: insight from the global clothing industry – the case of Zara, a fast fashion retailer’, Journal of Economic Geography, 8, p. 21-38. Tseng, T. and Balabanis, G. (2011) ‘Explaining the product-specificity of country-of-origin effects’, International Marketing Review, 28(6), p581-600. Zhou, K.Z. and Xu, D. (2012), ‘How Foreign Firms Curtail Local Supplier Opportunism in China: Detailed Contracts, Centralized Control, and Relational Governance’, Journal of International Business Studies, 43 (7), p677-692.

Inherit The Wind Essay -- essays research papers

Brady and Drummond, two former partners, beginning their legal lives working together. Now each one strives to be superior, confident in their ways and beliefs, trying to out-do the other. Despite a common goal, the two gradually became very different people, as is evident in the play and movie,Inherit the Wind. Throughout the years, as each one fought cases, established a name for themselves, and gained popularity (or notoriety), they kept a careful watch on the other. Learning of the others triumphs, which pushed them to try even harder, become more set in their ways, believing that their heterogeneous beliefs were right, and that if they kept those beliefs the focus of their existence, they could eventually prove themselves the victor. Yet the two had never met head-on in court. They both knew that until so, everything they did, every case they fought and one, would only be a form of practice, and a silent taunt at their foe. But until they truly fought together in court, this two man war would never be over. Thus, when the time finally arrived, when the two ingenious legal warriors who had trained together met at last for that one final battle to the death, they entered Hillsboro planning to put every single legal idea and tactic they had used and believed in over the years to work, believing that they had followed the correct path and that their long thought over battle plan was superior to the other’s. Brady loved the public. He knew that, even before the time of radio and television, if he controlled the media, he controlled the masses. Thus, his first move every time was to choose the side which the public sided with, knowing that people listened to what they wanted to hear, which would be him, so he would essentially become the media. And thus, he would create a flock of loyal followers. And with the public behind him, a case was usually much simpler. Besides, he loved being adored by people. He relied upon public approval and easy answers for legal guidance, as was evident when, upon hearing some of his former admirers turn to Drummond’s side, he broke down in tears. He enjoyed using the people as a weapon. Upon hearing the news of Drummond being appointed as the defense, he quickly realized a chance to gain the upper hand in the battle he had been preparing for his entire life. Before the townspeople had even met Drummond, he... ...portant battle for free speech, and man’s right to think. Brady, on the other hand, when faced with the revival of his seemingly unstoppable foe and a major setback for which he had not planned, instead of handling it in a sophisticated manner, as Drummond did, fell to pieces. He became flustered and began looking for pity in what was left of his flock of ignorant followers upon seeing part of his legal empire crumble and collapse. As he scrambled to pick up the pieces, he lost more and more until he was left with only a shred of his former greatness. Even after he had been declared the winner (though he knew that, in reality, Drummond had been the one who truly emerged victorious from this brawl of words and law), he fought to regain his once loyal group of admirers, as he watched many of them walking out of the courtroom door, their backs turned upon him. He screamed over the din, trying to regain something, anything, he once had. And all this only took from him the one thing he still had left... the steady beating of a human heart. And Drummond, Bible and Darwin in hand, was the only one of the two extremely different ex-partners to walk out of the courtroom that day.

Comparing The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy and Turned by Charlotte Perk

Comparing The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy and Turned by Charlotte Perkins Gilman This essay is aimed at discussing the differences between two short stories, called ‘The Withered Arm’ by Thomas Hardy and ‘Turned’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. These stories have similar plots and both deliver and contrast these in their very own clever ways. They are both based on the idea of triangular relationships, involving two women and a man. In the story ‘Turned’ there is a couple named Mr. and Mrs. Marroner, and their employee who is a young and beautiful Swedish maid who goes by the name of Gerta. In ‘The Withered Arm’ the relationship is between a lady called Rhoda Brook and a farmer called Farmer Lodge and his wife who is called Gertrude. This essay will discuss the similarities and differences between the two stories and their characters, I will also discuss the language used, and the way the same image is effectively conveyed in the two stories. The author of ‘Turned’ is Charlotte Perkins Gilman who was from a poor background and was born in Connecticut, USA, in 1860. The first story she wrote was called ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ which she wrote in 1892. She then went on to write her best-known book, which was called ‘Women and Economics.’ Gilman was a feminist writer who believed that women had the right to their own independence. This is demonstrated in the character of Marion in ‘Turned’, as she is a clever woman with a degree and has a title of doctor. Gilman published ‘Turned’ in 1911 at the time where issues surrounding women rights was becoming more serious and common. On the other hand, Thomas Hardy wrote his novel ‘The Withered Arm’ with men in the powerful positions. For instance Farmer Lodg... ...ld and frail and died and Farmer Lodge became a kind, caring and thoughtful man! Gertrude died three days later in the town â€Å"Her blood had been turned indeed, too far.† After this Rhoda had lost her friend and her son so she decided to resume where she had started where â€Å"Her monotonous milking at the dairy was resumed.† Farmer Lodge on the third corner of this triangular relationship gave up his farms and became a member of the parish after he overcame his remorse and moodiness. â€Å"He eventually changed for the better, and appeared as a chastened and thoughtful man† To conclude this essay, triangular relationships happen and probably always will happen for years to come. It doesn’t make any difference about what century it happens in or if it is from a rich or poor background because affairs, unwanted babies and complicated relationships are part of life.

Quality Physical Education

Physical education schools play a critical role in increasing physical activity by offering quality, daily physical education and other opportunities to recreate. Physical education is the only program that provides students with opportunities to learn motor skills, develop fitness, and gain understanding about the importance of physical activity. Physical education teaches children the skills they need to be active through out their lifetime. Physical education can also enhance academic learning. Regular aerobic exercise produces an increased number of capillaries servicing the brain, which allows for a greater exchange of nutrients and waste products. Additionally, physical education incorporates concepts of math, reading/English language arts, and science into the physical education realm. Technology has integrated into the curriculum with heart rate monitors, pedometers, and computer-based fitness stations. Another way physical education helps academic learning by children receiving additional physical education show an acceleration of their psychomotor development, and this could provide a mechanism for accelerated learning of academic skills. â€Å"Other potential mechanisms include increased cerebral blood flow, greater arousal, changes in hormone levels, enhanced nutrient intake, changes in body build, and increased self esteem,† as mention in the Pediatric Exercise Science (Shepard, 1997, p. 113). In other words, exercise boost oxygen and glucose delivery to the brain, which can help, improve brain function. Physical Education plays a critical role in educating the whole student. Like other academic courses of study, physical education is upon rigorous national standards that define what students should know and be able to do because of participation. Physical education improves children’s relationships with children in their classroom. Children learn how to play as a team player. Physical education includes all children, which helps the children think of others not just themselves. In a quality physical education program, students can achieve physical and individual benefits. Teamwork is very important in everyday life. Most professions are team-oriented style of work. Managers value teamwork because it results in a more cost-effective and useful organization. Physical education is for every child regardless of physical ability, ethnicity, gender, language, race, or religion, the opportunities not only to succeed in physical education, but also to develop a lifelong commitment the health benefits of physical activity. Teachers are able to manage the student’s time more effectively. Physical education prepares students to live physically active, healthy lives through learning experiences at school. International Society of Sport Psychology state, â€Å"Exercise can have beneficial emotional effects across all ages and for both sexes† (p. 183). The major reason for having physical education in secondary schools is to lead the students toward better lifestyles and to be physically fit. There was an article published in 1992 by, The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), stating what â€Å"The Physically Fit Person† should consist of. This article states five factors of a physical fit person. One factor is that a physically fit person â€Å"has learned skills necessary to perform a variety of physical activities. † The second factor â€Å"is the person physically fit. † The third factor is â€Å"does this person participates regularly in physical activity. † The fourth is a physically fit person â€Å"knows the implications of and the benefits from involvement in physical activity. † The last factor is that a physically fit person â€Å"values physical activity and its contributions to a healthful lifestyle. The plan as physical educators is to have each child be a physically fit person, by their exit of high school. Quality Physical Education means a planned program of instruction and activity for all students through the entire school year. Quality Physical Education programs are essential in helping students gain competence and confidence in a variety of movement forms such as: aquatics, dance, gymnastics, recreational and activities. It should provide a sound framework for the design and assessment that develop the students' motivation, fitness, cognitive, affective, and active lifestyle needs, and should focus on lifetime involvement. American Heart Association quote, â€Å"Today, about one of three American kids and teens are overweight or obese, nearly triple the rate in 1963 (American Heart Association Learn and Live – Healthier Kids) (2010). National Academics state, (2005), â€Å"If healthier students are, in fact, more attentive and academically successful students, then parents, principals, and policy makers alike may be supportive of obesity prevention efforts† (p. 6). â€Å"National Health Education Standards offer a coherent vision of what it means to be health literate. These Standards describe the knowledge and skills essential to the development of health literacy. That â€Å"knowledge† includes the most important and enduring ideas, issues, and concepts related to achieving good health. Those â€Å"skills† include the ways of communicating, reasoning, and investigating which characterize a health-literate person. National Standards are not a federal mandate nor do they define a national curriculum. The Standards are intended to serve as a framework for organizing health knowledge and skills into curricula at the state and local levels. † Here are the National Standards: Demonstrates competency in many movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms. Applies movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills. Exhibits a physically active lifestyle. Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings. Demonstrates understanding and respect for differences among people in physical Activity settings. Understands that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self- expression and social interaction. Student involve in physical education will develop: †¢ Teamwork- the ability and willingness to work within a group for the good of the group. (leadership, trustworthiness. ) †¢ Cooperation- the ability and willingness to follow group or team strategies. (followership) †¢ Communication skills- knowing when to speak and when to listen in order to help the group achieve its goals. †¢ An awareness and appreciation of personal and group safety. †¢ Honesty- playing within the rules for the good of the group and game. †¢ Courage- the willingness to try new things to expand one's horizons. Goal setting ability- the willingness to set appropriately challenging goals for oneself and the group. †¢ Perseverance- the ability and willingness to continue pressing towards the goal in the face of normal adversity. †¢ Creativity- the ability to come up with solutions to problems and physical challenges. †¢ An increased level of agility, coordination, and physical fitness. Physical education is the only program that provides students with opportunities to learn motor skills, develop fitness, and gain understanding about the importance of physical activity. It is the aspect of education that contributes to the total growth and development of the child mostly through selected movement and physical activities. It also enhances academic learning, helps meet the overall elementary school mission, treats students with dignity and respect, and applies instructional and Physical education helps develop the whole child, including the child's cognitive development, physical Development, social development and helps develop psychomotor skills. The ultimate goal of physical education will always be participation in health-enhancing physical activity for a lifetime. References http://wilderdom.com/games/PhysicalActivities.html https://www.nap.edu/read/11461/chapter/2#1 http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/nph/pe/k_12.shtml

Federal Reserve Paper Essay

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the Federal Reserves’ discount rate, monetary policy, and stimulus program through the money multiplier. What are the factors that would influence the Federal Reserve in adjusting the discount rate? According to Chron if prices rise too fast or the economy starts slowing down, the Federal Reserve uses the discount rate as a way of manipulating interest rates to stabilize the economy. This change can either increase or decrease how much you’ll pay to borrow money. How does the discount rate affect the decisions of banks in setting their specific interest rates? According to Chron although changes in the discount rate affect your interest rate, the Federal Reserve does not lend directly to business owners. Rather, the Federal Reserve lends money to depository institutions such as commercial banks. Depository institutions must pay interest on the money they borrow from the Federal Reserve. The discount rate is the interest rate the Federal Reserve charges its depository institution borrowers. Loan interest rates fluctuate in response as depository institutions pass the discount rate changes along to you. How does monetary policy aim to avoid inflation? According to Tutor2u monetary policies tend to invest in various assets, in order to avoid the losses caused by inflation. Increase in interest rates is also another measure, in order to contract the real money supply. Monetary policy controls money supply by increasing the discount rate, and also through increasing and decreasing the reserve requirements of lending banks. If the reserve requirements decrease, the banks can lend more money to consumers and businesses. If the reserve requirements increase, banks have to keep more money in with the fed. The interest rates increase, and people have an incentive to save and earn interest from the bank. If the interest rates decrease, then people do not have an incentive to save and they spend their money. How does a stimulus program (through the money multiplier) affect the money supply? According to Forbes a study by Obama administration economists Christina Romer and Jared Bernstein predicts that the stimulus plan being debated in Congress will raise the gross domestic product by $1. Such a multiplier effect has been heavily criticized by a number of top economists, including John Taylor of Stanford, Gary Becker and Eugene Fama of the University of Chicago and Greg Mankiw and Robert Barro of Harvard. The gist of their argument is that the government cannot expand the economy through deficit spending because it has to borrow the funds in the first place, thus displacing other economic activities. In the end, the government has simply moved around economic activity without increasing it in the aggregate. The problem is that fiscal stimulus needs to be injected right now to counter the liquidity trap. If that were the case, I think we might well get a very high multiplier effect this year. But if much of the stimulus doesn’t come online until next year, when we are likely to be past the worst of the slowdown, then crowding out will greatly diminish the effectiveness of the stimulus, just as the critics argue. The theory of the money multiplier states that for every $1 spent by the government, it drums up $1. 50 in the economy. So, if the government spends more money via a stimulus package, the economy should expand by 50% of the amount of the stimulus package. In conclusion the following topics have been discussed and described to give one an idea of its functions: What is the factor that would influence the Federal Reserve in adjusting the discount rate? – How does the discount rate affect the decisions of banks in setting their specific interest rates? – How does monetary policy aim to avoid inflation? -How does a stimulus program (through the money multiplier) affect the money supply?

Compare and Contrast two major theories of Social Inequality – Can Inequality be eliminated?

A major theory of inequality is the one propounded by Karl Marx who argues that social inequality is not natural but stems from the construction of the unfair capitalist system. Marx sees the workers or the proletariat as being exploited for their labour by those that own the means of production Marxists see social inequality as manifested in the fact that workers do not benefit from the wealth that their labour produces instead Marx claims that they are 1'pauperized'. The poorer working classes get poorer whilst the rich enjoy getting richer this is illustrated by income inequalities all over the world; the poorest 20% of people in the USA have seen their incomes fall by 19% whilst the top 5% saw their incomes rise, in Australia the richest ten per cent of the population owns about half the nation's wealth in the USA its over two thirds. A limitation of Marx theories on inequality is that it only focuses on economic inequality. Many sociologists would agree with Marx that economic inequality is the most significant form of inequality at the moment whilst acknowledging that economic inequality and social inequality, as we live in a modern multi- cultural capitalist country are inextricably linked and are affected significantly by gender, racial, religious and ethnic inequality. Ethnic background is both an indicator and factor of social inequality. In Australia for example, Aborigines are over represented in the working class as well as underclass and under-represented in the top stratification of earnings and class. Social inequality thus seems to be a consequence of ascribed status: of the status that our skin colour our gender and/or our social class confers on us. Arguably there is scope for social mobility in our current system as our ascribed statuses can be overshadowed by our achieved status especially as we are not generally ascribed to a lower cast iron status at birth that prevents social mobility (unlike the untouchables in the caste system in other cultures) Theoretically we can ascend the social ladder, however low we start, as there is equality of opportunity. This is the view propounded by functionalists such as Davis and Moore. Our achievements in our meritocratic system determine the social position that we hold. Davis and Moore acknowledge that there are perhaps socially unequal jobs yet they are all important for society to function. Thus to maintain society each role needs to be filled so ‘effective role allocation' is an essential functional perquisite. However as some jobs require more skills and training than others there is a need for differing social and financial incentives to entice people to undergo extensive training and take up such jobs. Davis and Moore assert that role allocation and thus people's socio-economic status is fair as it is based on merit, those in the top roles earning the most are those that are best equipped for their role. Whilst Marx sees the current system as exploitative Davis and Moore see it and the inequality that accompanies it as legitimate and functionally advantageous to society. Such a theory though, does not take into account gender and racial inequalities or concepts such as culture capital old boys club and the glass ceiling The culture capital theory suggested by sociologist Pierre Bordieu explains that the education system prises and is geared toward the culture of the middle and upper classes thus those from a working class background find that the skills and knowledge derived within their culture is ‘devalued' and they therefore do not have equal opportunities to excel academically which of course restricts their employment choices and socio-economic position in the future. We can see therefore that inequality is institutionalised, as Marx alludes to in the labour market, and that education is perhaps the first agent of stratification. M. Tumin has also criticised Davis and Moore by condemning their notion of functional importance as questionable and too vague. It ignores the differential of power. According to Tumin differences in pay and prestige will be affected by, and often reflect differences in the relative power of groups and individuals in the labour market rather than the job's actual functional importance. Therefore differences in pay can actually be more a reflection of the relative strength of the workers' union and bargaining potential rather than of functional importance e.g. coal miners and farm labourers. Davis and Moore suggest that inequality is universal as it can be identified in all societies. Such views would suggest that inequality is not eliminable. Marxists ideas contradict this view. Marx claimed that inequality could be eliminated with the development of class consciousness and the abandonment of capitalism however the Soviet communism model proved that in the modern world this was untenable. Equality came at a high price- by the collapse of communism in 1989 equality had come to mean people simply had equally low living standards. Economic and social equality came at the expense then, of basic human rights, the sociologist Peter Saunders stated socialist societies are2 ‘always more repressive than the capitalist ones since they must get people to fulfil their role without the incentive of economic rewards.' However it is clear that the Soviet system was successful in reducing and even eliminating inequality in many spheres of life. Even if it didn't respect human rights in all cases, it guaranteed basic needs such as housing employment education medical care and even holidays. 3The satellite states had embraced capitalism after communism expecting to reap the economic benefits of a capitalist system in fact, living standards actually fell. Russia, after communism rapidly transformed from an almost standardized society to one that was plagued by socio-economic polarisations, according to Goskomstat, the income ratio between the wealthiest 10% of the population and the bottom 10% was about 4:1 in 1990 by 1996 it had sky rocketed to 13:1. Women's rights have also regressed significantly in Russia currently approximately 80% of the unemployed in Russia are women. Such evidence seems to support a Marxist framework of inequality as not inevitable but sustained by a capitalist system. Marxists claim that a capitalist society is maintained through divide and rule. Thus when a class ‘stopped being a class in itself and started being a class for itself' then the group could recognise their inferior social position, class solidarity would develop as the class recognised their shared interests and goals and they would then act together to displace the bourgeoisie. However because inequality is so multilayered class divisions are easy to maintain as differences in gender and race also generate inequality thus even if class differences were eliminated these would persist and perhaps increase. Blackness has historically been classed as inferior, perceived inferiority has been harmful since those who see themselves as superior usually hold the legal power and status in the society and can therefore cement in law the inferiority of the blacks or other ethnic groups. Loury calls for4 ‘major structural remedies to speed up progress toward racial equality' which will in turn reduce the economic inequality that ethnic minority groups face. The New right perspective argues that social inequality has persisted throughout the ages; Saunders states that ‘there has never been a completely egalitarian society'. Every society has its male and females, rich and poor it's big and small and it's old and young. In this absolute sense there is some truth to the assertion that some degree of inequality is inevitable. However inequality itself is unequal it varies with time and culture which validates the theory that inequality is socially constructed and thus can be eliminated. In Britain granted we have moved from the stark extremes of inequality of slavery in imperial Britain but only to an ‘acceptable' economic and social inequality that is institutionalized within our capitalist system, unequal access is built into the structures that support and maintain our contemporary society. It can be argued that the current degree of inequality is not advantageous to society and a reflection of unequal talents in society as Davis and Moore claim nor is it an inevitable product of the capitalist system as Marxists argue; it is a matter of choice. Through the lax way we regulate corporations compared with the harsh regulations placed on workers unions, how we distribute the tax burden and how we set wages. We limit the power of workers thus limiting their socio-economic position.

Hope: Inferiority Complex and Separate Ingredients Essay

I’ve always found that misconceptions can affect attitude. Sometimes we get too wrapped up in life’s details. The separate ingredients of culture and lifestyle captivate us so throughly that we lose our perspective on life itself. We scurry like mice through a hedge maze–the real beauty of life lies just beyond the bushes, and what is that beauty? Simplicity is what it is. As T. Allen Culpepper, the author of The Myth of Inferiority explains in his article, hope quickly grows dim when the obstecales of life throw their knock-out punches ( Culpepper, 300) Simplicity is the secret key that unlocks the shackles of confusion, and inferiority. and Confusion and inferiority is what we visualize so much of life to be? In some cases, and without hope, life nearly becomes as difficult as a Chinese fire drill. People need a new outlook; the outlook of faith, simple childlike faith. We need to hold onto hope. We should not allow low performance standards sloppy work, plagiarism, misseddeadlines, chronic absence, and other academic sins because so many people claimto have hard lives (Culpepper. pg. 300). Hope grows dim very fast when the strange twists of life throw their knock-out punches. After being badly beaten by pain or grief or loss, who cares about hope anyway? Who is excited about beginning again? The answer is almost nobody. Like a boxer who has taken eleven rounds of pummeling that last fall. to the canvas feels good. It feels good enough to keep a dizzy man down. Fighting four more rounds loses its luster, but why does he want so badly to get up? The answer is he still hopes to win. As Culpepper states, to lower our standards is to accept the false assumption that students at community colleges are inferior (Culpepper pg. 301). We are too easily buffaloed by our emotions. We immediately give in to the whims of our feelings therfore we can quickly lose our sense of worth. Millions of people like to be frightened by horror movies or scary tales. They relish reading anything with the element of suspense. Fictional suspense can be entertaining and healthy. However, we must not listen to the fictional fears our emotions so often create for us. We have to keep a real strongold in this life.

Cases in Digital Innovation and Transformation

This paper focuses on the research on the impact that perception has on customer satisfaction when it comes to consumption of goods and services. Research on the impact that perception has on customer satisfaction is identified and customer personas are made from the data collected. Customer journey maps are also generated using the data on customer research on the subject. The paper contains a research on Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. General market research is carried out the banks operations to help understand the operations of the company and the financial services industry in China (Oswald& Kleinemeier, 2017). The information on customer behavior and the impact that perception has on customer satisfaction levels in this industry is determined and explained. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is a Chinese Multinational banking company and it is the largest bank in world by Total assets. ICBC is also the most valuable bank in the world by market capitalization since February 2017. The company was formed in the year 1984 by the year 2015,it had assets worth US$3.616trilion (Solis, 2015). ICBC opened its first branch outside China in the year 1999 in Luxembourg. It later became the European headquarters of the bank in the year 2011. The company was made public in the year 2006 and it became the largest IPO at the time valued at US$21.9 billion. As at the year 2015,ICBC had approximately 3.5 million corporate customers and more than 170 million individual customers. The company serves corporate clients from across all sectors and industry including manufacturing, transportation, power, gas and water as well as construction industry. The biggest customer is the manufacturing industry followed by transportation, storage, and teleco mmunications industry. China`s banking system underwent significant changes between 1990s and 2000s. The banking system of China has become more like the banking system in the West. Before the 1990s banking in China was run exclusively by the state (Pijl, Lokitz& Solomon, 2016). Over the previous two decades, the narrative has significantly changed since more private banks are emerging and more of the public owned banks have become autonomous. Financial and banking services in China are regulated by the People’s Bank of China. The four biggest banks in China commonly referred to as the â€Å"Big four† are state owned and this shows that the banking industry in China is still largely controlled by the state. The four biggest state owned commercial banks include the China Construction Bank (CCB), Bank of China (BOC),The Agricultural Bank of China(ABC) and the ICBC (Kalbach,2016). The banks were formed through the introduction of commercial Bank Law in 1995 which helped in commercializing operat ions of state owned bank. BOC specializes in foreign exchange transactions and trade finance. The CCB specializes in medium and long term specialized projects such as infrastructure an housing projects. ABC specializes in offering financing to the agricultural sector in China as well as offering wholesale and retail banking services to farmers. The policy banks in China banking and finance industry include the Agricultural Development Bank of China (ADBC), China Development Bank(CDB) and the Export-Import Bank of China (Chexim) (Diamond,2016). There are also various city commercial banks that are majorly owned by the local governments. Private investors also have a minority shareholding in these banks. The other significant players in China`s banking system is the Trust and Investment Corporations, County Banks, Credit and Deposit Insurance companies. Creating customer personas is very important for a company since it helps the organization offer tailor made services that help to improve the levels of customer satisfaction. The use of personas in business has increased in the recent past since organizations are facing growing demand for more personalized and tailor made services. Customers expect organizations to understand their tastes and preferences better and serve to meet their needs as expected. The personas help the organizations in understanding how customers behave and why they behave in such a manner and this enables brands to make changes in their operations which help them to improve customer satisfaction. ICBC serves different segments of the banking sector globally (Kalbach, 2016). In order to develop customer personas in different industries, it is important to segment the market of ICBC based on the industry in which a corporate customer is operating. Customer persona for individual customers is based on the data o n the behavior of individual customers conducted through market research. A persona of a company operating in the manufacturing industry is created based on the available primary and secondary data on that company. 361 degrees is a major designer and manufacturer of shoes and sports products in China. The company was first established in the year 2002 and the brand name,361 degrees was launched in 2004. The brand name represents 360 degrees of a circle plus an extra one degree which represents the professional functionality on which innovation and creativity is added (Barnes & Kelleher, 2015). The characteristics of the company and its needs are analyzed to help ICBC understand its needs as a customer and hence improve customer satisfaction. 360 degrees may get services and products such as long term loans for expansion and investment, short term capital, cash deposit services. ICBC can also offer corporate mobile banking, corporate telephone banking, and corporate internet services (Wright & Snook, 2017). Given that 360 degree has outlets in many countries across Asia and Europe, Internet banking services for the company can be tailor made to help customers from different countries pay for goods using a common paying method which is simple and convenient. 360 degree also needs corporate wealth management services. A company operating in different countries and especially through outlets that are not owned by the company needs to manage its wealth effectively and efficiently. ICBC can manage the manufacturing plants of 360 degrees to help cater   ICBC should create a spe cial profile for the company to help cater for all the corporate banking needs of 360 degrees which is a manufacturing company. ICBC can also receive deposits on behalf of 360 degrees (Information Resources Management Association. 2018). The deposits can be in form of payments made by different clients or the sale of assets. l   He has been in restaurant business for the last 9 years l   Location of business is Shanghai l   He needs short term business loan to expand his business l   The interest rates charged on loans l   The customer does not want high interest rates on loans l   The customer deposits cash regularly l   Most of the transactions by the customer are online l   He takes huge risks in his business l   He has a variety of personal investments Customer preferences and personality l Likes tailor made banking and finance products l Uses mobile banking a for most of his transactions l Makes regular transactions involving deposits and withdrawals l   Internet banking products that offers customer convenience l   Wide range of personalized banking services l   Loan terms depending on the customer history with the company. The Chinese banking industry is very competitive. One of the major competitors of ICBC is the Bank of China limited. The bank is also government owned and it offers the same products as ICBC. One of the metrics that is used to compare the two banks is the customer support services. ICBC has better customer support because it has online customer support system where the customers can be able to interact with the company and problems that they face are addressed (Cardoso, Fromm, Nickel, Satzger, Studer& Weinhardt, 2015). The other metric is the problem resolution time. ICBC takes less time to solve problems that customers present to the company. This is because the company has an elaborate online automatic customer support system. ICBC also has a large number of staff working in the customer care department. Comparison with China construction Bank Limited; China Construction Bank Limited offers banking services mainly to the businesses in the construction industry. The customer support system of CCB is efficient and effective and it enables the company to become competitive and to offer specialized customer care services to different customers. This helps in improving the level of customer satisfaction. The time taken to solve customer problems is also a crucial determinant of customer satisfaction. Both competitors have focused on coming up with the right systems and programs to help improve customer satisfaction. This has been mainly by designing online customer self service websites where customers can be able to solve their problems without having to consult the company. Social media monitoring is one of the tools that can be used to monitor customer experience by ICBC. The company should establish social media accounts through which the company can get feedback regarding the experiences of customers when dealing with the company. Another tool is seeking for feedback directly from customers and avoid over-reliance on social media. Customers can be requested to fill feedback forms after they visit the bank or through the companies` website. Analysis of company information regarding customers is also an important tool for monitoring as well as the rinse and repeat technique. From the analysis of the results of the study, it is clear that ICBC offers its customers high quality products and services compared to its customers. This has promoted the companies` growth beyond China and ensured that ICBC becomes the largest company in the world in terms of assets. ICBC has relied on technological innovation to improve customer satisfaction which is at the core of the success of any company in the banking industry. ICBC offers corporate customers mobile and internet banking and it was one of the first companies to offer these product. ICBC has been able to focus on satisfying customers in the corporate world by making it easy for them to open accounts and obtain big loans at highly competitive interest rates. The paper also discusses the profiles of different categories of customers, both individual and corporate customers and draws journey maps for both. Cardoso, J., Fromm, H., Nickel, S., Satzger, G., Studer, R., & Weinhardt, C. (2015). Fundamentals Of Service Systems. https://Rave.Ohiolink.Edu/Ebooks/Ebc/9783319231952. Barnes, R. A., & Kelleher, B. (2015). Customer Experience For Dummies. Diamond, S. (2016). Content Marketing Strategies For Dummies. Information Resources Management Association. (2018). Mobile Commerce: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, And Applications. Http://Search.Ebscohost.Com/Login.Aspx?Direct=True&Scope=Site&Db=Nlebk&Db=Nlabk&An=1540772. Kalbach, J. (2016). Mapping Experiences: a Guide To Creating Value Through Journeys, Blueprints And Diagrams. https://Search.Ebscohost.Com/Login.Aspx?Direct=True&Scope=Site&Db=Nlebk&Db=Nlabk&An=1234236. Nielsen, L. (2013). Personas -- User Focused Design. London, Springer. https://Www.Books24x7.Com/Marc.Asp?Bookid=54139. Pijl, P. V. D., Lokitz, J., & Solomon, L. K. (2016). Design a Better Business: New Tools, Skills, And Mindset For Strategy And I. John Wiley & Sons. Oswald, G., & Kleinemeier, M. (2017). Shaping The Digital Enterprise Trends And Use Cases In Digital Innovation And Transformation. Cham, Springer. Revella, A. (2015). Buyer Personas: How To Gain Insight Into Your Customer's Expectations, Align Your Marketing Strategies, And Win More Business. Solis, B. (2015). X: The Experience When Business Meets Design. Http://Dx.Doi.Org/10.1002/9781119172529. Wright, T., & Snook, C. J. (2017). Digital Sense: The Common Sense Approach To Effectively Blending Social Business Strategy, Marketing Technology, And Customer Experience.

Human Resources Receptionist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Resources Receptionist - Essay Example Skills and work experience. The candidate should have a good understanding of the principles of handling the public in a manner that creates a rapport with the public. He/she should be able to demonstrate the office etiquette when handling the visitors. He/she should have excellent communication skills including both written and spoken English. Knowledge of additional language like French or German is preferred. He/she should be able to understand the given instructions. The candidate should be conversant with the operation of standard office equipments alongside the knowledge of the routine practices in an office environment. The candidate should have knowledge of basic computer application packages like Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer. He/she should be conversant with the various divisions in the Human Resource department, and the policies that are applicable in every such division. The position requires a minimum of three years experience in a busy organization, two of which should be in the same capacity. Education Diploma in Secretarial Studies or its equivalent from a recognized institution is required. A bachelors or master degree will be desirable. A post-graduate diploma in Human Resource management is also a plus. Other desired qualification. A demonstrated ability to type at least 40 words per minute will be required. A good general body conditions is also necessary as the duty may often entail lifting relatively heavy loads like boxes containing files or equipment. This is a permanent and pension able job with the incumbent working for about 8 hours per day for five days in a week. The candidates who meet the above minimum qualifications should submit their cover... Human Resources Receptionist The selection process is very crucial since the right candidate needs to be chosen from among the numerous applications that have been received. Care needs to be taken to avoid any kind of discrimination in conducting the exercise, as this will build on the reputation of the organization among the public. The first step is to discard all the applications that have been received after the agreed date. Even though a potential candidate could be locked out by such a move, it is the initial step of ensuring justice. It also shows the ability of the candidates to meet short deadlines. Then all the applications need to be scrutinized to confirm the minimum qualifications that were stated. Those applications that do not meet any of the essential qualifications need to be discarded. If the remaining number is manageable, say 10, they should be called for an interview. If the number is still large and we only have one position, then the recruiting officer(s) should use additional criteria to eliminate the less capable candidates. Having obtained a manageable, the candidates should be taken through a series of tests including aptitude tests, oral interviews, and medical tests. The aptitude test will test the suitability of candidate for the job. It tests how first the candidates can make a decision from a mixture of options since the test will contain several challenging problems in mathematics, English and those that test the general knowledge.

Problems Of Corruption In Ukrainian Government And The Possible Ways Research Paper

Problems Of Corruption In Ukrainian Government And The Possible Ways To Solve It - Research Paper Example As per this report, Ukraine shared this poor corruption status with other third world countries like Bangladesh, Central African Republic, and Syria. In the same year, Ernst & Young identified Ukraine as one of the three most corrupted countries in the world along with Brazil and Columbia. Referring to Wikileaks cables, US diplomats described Ukraine as a state of kleptocracy under the presidency of Kuchma and Yushchenko. This paper will identify the intensity of corruption prevailing in Ukrainian government and suggest some potential remedies to fight the issue. Depth of Corruption in Ukrainian Government Bribes are very common in Ukraine because Ukrainians think that such unfair rewards are customary and expected in every official matters. Referring to recent investigative reports, some of the huge bribes in the country involve more than USD 1 billion. According to a sociological survey conducted by Management Systems International (MSI) in 2008, the level of corruption was very hi gh; in vehicle inspection (57.5%), the police (54.2%), health care (54%), the courts (49%), and higher education (43.6%) (UNO, â€Å"Country reports†). The police and the courts which are in charge of law enforcement in the country are highly corrupted. Undoubtedly, the higher corruption level in the courts and the police become a great obstacle to abolishing this social as well as economic issue. As compared to well developed economies like US and UK, many of the Ukrainians are willing to pay some or other forms of bribes so as to get served fast. Recently in 2011, the Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych admitted that bribes cause the state budget to lose billions of dollars in revenues and a notable percent of public funds â€Å"end up in the pockets of officials† (as qtd in Rachkevych). The president’s words clearly reflect the profundity of corruption in Ukraine. In spite of great media coverage and hot discussions, corruption is still growing to be a majo r growth impediment to the Ukrainian economy. As different surveys point out, nearly 70% of Ukrainians who had dealt with government services over the last five years directly involved in corrupt practices. Experts suggest that this rate would further increase if some respondents were not afraid of consequences. Referring to a report by Danilova, political corruption through the use of administrative tools is a key issue challenging the development of the country (â€Å"Hundreds protest..†). Ukrainian politicians mainly use administrative tools to commit election fraud and thereby make election results in their favor. The situation where many of the top Ukrainian governmental officials have been liable for prosecution also indicates how intense the problem of corruption is in the country’s government system. In fact, medical care is free for Ukrainians in state-run hospitals. However they pay money there to make sure that they receive quality treatment whenever require d. Recently some advocacy groups have accused the Ukrainian Health Ministry officials for misappropriating the money that should have used to treat AIDS patients. They claim that officials bought AIDS drugs at highly inflated prices and received kickbacks in return. As Nitsevych points out, business firms in Ukraine widely engage in corruptive practices in order to take advantages of business licensing, taxation, and customs (â€Å"Potential for German investors..†