Saturday, August 31, 2019

Philosophy “Divergent Currents of Humanism” Essay

The nationalities rooted in different traditions and perhaps owed something to old trunks differences Latinos and barbarians, took shape especially the divergence of economic interests and natural conditions of Italy and Germany. Italian Humanism meant more than a break with the past, Italy was consumed in glorious extravagance and soon returned to agriculture and to the spirit of medieval life. Life essentially offered the Italian humanist enjoyment and creation, the Christian scheme gave way to a Greek morality, in which life was an art, freed from any sense of obligation. The religious interest was not very present at least we want to talk about a religion of beauty. His ideal was universal man fully rounded personality of a Leonardo. I tried to absorb everything and became syncretistic culture, retaining the opposing elements of Roman and Greek Christians in reconciling universal symbolism. Zeus, Jupiter, and God really meant it. This ideal was bound to remain aristocratic, without much anchor in popular sentiment and produced a high class and cosmopolitan artist who took easily to the envestida of the counter. The north, however, seemed to have the old spirit was however felt the north where an impulse of the forces would dominate the new era, the north broke with the church and turned to industry trade, science . Life offered the German humanist work and self-discipline, the German turned rather to the moral Roman life was a stoic discipline, a job and a vocation remained deeply religious obligations became even more ethical than supernatural. It is dedicated to education and scholarship. More democratic, seeking her ideal as a member of an ordered society and not as an independent personality. Before him stood flight ahead fraternal society work, could not combine the various elements and see the universal in the multiplication of symbols: multiplicity of symbols is a big difference between the imagination of the great Italian painters and Durer, the Dutch and Flemish. Humanists Nordic passed gradual stages of faith illustrated medieval cosmopolitanism and urban. Touched by the Italian scholarship, dropped out and worked for a scholastic education reform without criticizing the church system. Modernity and tragedy of Erasmus The modern spirit sympathize more with the second group, and especially with Erasmus, representative ideals, having been shriveled by 200 years due to the reform, finally flourished in naturalism and humanism of the eighteenth century. Erasmo was definitely the humanistic ideal both their faults as virtues. Its narrower interests reflect limitations of humanistic attitude to the deeper forces of the time. Unconcerned by the wonderful art of his generation, without interest in the new world that would in the eyes of men, and very hostile to the scientific interest because it shifted the spirits of the human problems of morality. His biggest concern heading into the past, not the future, rather represented tolerance, conciliation and meditation. It was witty and urban, with a charming conservatism. Finished destroying old prejudices, demolishing the medieval order, had nothing to offer except a rather negative spiritual liberalism.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Damaged Facilities in Public Schools Essay

Introduction A. Background of the Study Students in public schools acquire sickness from he dirty environment. Frombroken chairs to unventilated rooms, this can be to them uncomfortable and thus, each student’s mood and concentration. see more:lack of school facilities affect students performance The no.1 facility that causes problem for the students is the comfort room. The comfort room in public schools nowadays is an eyesore. The odor that the comfort room releases causes illness in students and visual pollution every time the students visualizes the comfort room.The no.2 facility that has serious problem are the classrooms where the students have their classes at. You can see vandalized area in every angle of the classroom and Insufficient ventilation which made the atmosphere in the classroom very uncomfortable that the students can’t focus on the class discussion any more. The students deals with that kind of atmosphere instead of listening and focusing on the class discussions but the students focus on complaining how the classroom is so hot , and the odor inside the classroom that are caused by unmaintained cleanliness inside the classroom. The hot aura from insufficient ventilation in the classroom is another reason for a bad odor that are spreading inside the classroom and another reason that there’s a higher possibility that the students may acquire illness from the unbalanced environment. The common students that suffers from this kind of environment are the students have colds, asthma and students that have a kind of ill that are not meant to adapt in this kind of environment. The decorations in the classroom also affects each student’s moods, if the classroom is maintained properly it lightens the moods of the students in the classroom and if the classroom is not maintained properly, you’ll notice how each students in the classroom if they would behave properly or not. The students are commonly irritated and annoyed from what they are seeing and from what they are feeling inside the classroom because of the unwanted view. For this reason, the researchers decided to conduct a study about the damaged facilities in public school because they want to help the students to focus in their study, have much time to listen in their lesson and to avoid such that illness and even destruction to their surroundings. To make each students healthy once again and for the next generation that will use the facilities and to keep it in a better way. B. Statement of the Problem In this study damaged facilities of Cayetano Arellano High School was conducted. It is for the purpose of getting information about the effects of damaged facilities. Specifically, the study will seek answers to following questions : 1. Do the damaged facilities affect the health of students? 2. What is the cause of the damaged facilities? 3. Are the students aware of the damaged facilities? 4. How do students survive the rooms with damaged facilities? 5. What are the reactions of all teachers that have lots of damaged facilities? C. Significance of the Study The researchers conducted this problem because the school has so many damaged facilities like the comfort room of the boys and girls. There are no doors, not enough water, lots of trash and sometimes there are wastes in the toilet bowls. Students are irritated of the unpleasant smell and vandalized walls causing the students not to use the comfort rooms. Decaying environmental conditions such as peeling paint, crumbling plaster, non – functioning toilets, poor lighting. Inadequate ventilation, and inoperative heating and cooling systems can affect the learning as well as the health and the morally of staff and students. Also, there are damaged rooms, lack of chairs, damaged blackboards, no electric fans, and vandalized walls. That’s why some students are not comfortable to listen in class discussions and study their lessons. D.Hypothesis * There are many damaged facilities in Cayetano Arellano High School * There are no damaged facilities in Cayetano Arellano High School A. Scope and Limitations This research will cover chosen 4th year students from section 1 to 6 only. The guards, teachers, guidance councilors and the principal are not involved in the research. Chapter II A. Review of Related Literature The No Child Left Behind Act defines a healthy , high performance school building as one in which the design, construction, operation and maintenance is energy efficient, cost effective, provides good air quality and protects and conserves water(Healthy Schools Network, Inc., 2003). School facilities include the physical surroundings of the school ,construction of materials, technology available, amount of space available for students, teachers and staff, size of classrooms, and a clean and healthy environment that fosters safety(Lemasters, 1997). School principals have the responsibility of ensuring that the above infrastructure factors are emphasized and met as it relates to the quality and standards of educational facilities(Agron, 2000). A survey of a large sample of teachers in Washington, D.C. and Chicago found that school facilities conditions were shown to have direct effect on teaching and learning(Buckeley,Schneider and Shang, 2003). The findings of another study also concl uded that when teachers are allowed to teach and facilitate learning in environments that are well maintained and healthy , they are able to be more effective, which inevitably affects the academic achievement of students being taught at that particular school(O’Neill and Oates,2000). Deficiencies in school facilities negatively influence the student achievement for minority and poverty stricken students(Earthman,2002). A study of the District of Columbia school system found, after controlling for other variables such as as a student’s socioeconomic status, that students standardized achievement scores were lower in schools with poor building conditions. Students in school buildings in poor condition had achievement that was 6% below schools in fair condition and 11% below schools in excellent condition(Edwards, 1991). The relationship between building condition and student achievement in small, rural Virginia high schools. Student scores on achievement tests, adjusted for socioeconomic status, was found to be up to 5 percentile points lower in buildings with lower quality ratings. Achievement also appeared to be more directly related to cosmetic factors than to structural ones. Poorer achievement was associated with specific building condition factors such as substandard science facilities, air conditioning, locker conditions, classroom furniture, more graffiti, and noisy external environments(Cash, 1993). Similarly, study of large, urban high schools in Virginia also found a relationship between building condition and student achievement. Indeed, Hines found that the student achievement was as much as 11 percentile points lower in substandard buildings as compared to above standard buildings (Hines’, 1996). A study of North Dakota High Schools, a state selected in part because of its relatively homogenous, rural population, also found a positive relationship between school condition (as measured by principal’s survey responses) and both student achievement and student behaviour(Earthman, 1995). Heating and air conditioning systems appeared to be very important, along with special instructional facilities (i.e., science laboratories or equipment) and color and interior painting, in contributing to student achievement. Proper building maintenance was also found to be related to better attitudes and fewer disciplinary problems in one cited study (McGuffey, 1982). Research indicates that the quality of air inside public school facilities may significantly affect student’s ability to concentrate. The evidence suggests thst youth, especially those under ten years of age, age more vulnerable than adults to the types of contaminants (asbestos, radon, and formaldehyde) found in some school facilities (Andrews and Neuroth, 1988). A study of overcrowded schools in New York City found that students such schools scores significantly lower on both mathematics and reading exams than did similar students in underutilized schools. In addition, when asked, students and teachers in overcrowding negatively affected both classroom activities and instructional techniques (Rivera-Batiz and Marti, 1995). As for scientific evidence for ventilation’s effect on performance, two percent papers examining talk times for register nurses in call centers found that ventilation levels had only a small negative effect on productivity(federspiel et al. 2002, Fisk et al. 2002). The physical characteristics of the school have a variety of effects on teachers, students and the learning process. Poor lighting, noise, high levels of carbon dioxide in classrooms, and inconsistent temperatures make teaching and learning difficult. Poor maintenance and ineffective ventilation systems lead to poor health among students as well as teachers, which leads to poor performance and higher absentee rates (Andrews & Neuroth, 1988et al.), These factors can adversely affect student behavior and lead to higher levels of frustration among teachers, and lower job satisfaction. All these factors interact to hinder the learning process and perpetuate the shortage of teachers (Brouwers & Tomic, 1999; Borg & Riding, 1991; Byrne, 1991a; Ingersoll, 2001). The problem stems in part from the trend toward more energy-efficient buildings. Since the energy crisis of the 1970’s in the United States, school buildings have been built tighter, with more insulation, fewer windows, and relaxed ventilation standards in order to conserve energy. This has created a serious health hazard in some school systems where dust, mold spores, chemical fumes, and other allergens can be detected indoors at levels several times that of the outdoors (Sterling & Paquette, 1998). Impacts on health, well-being and performance may be hard to recognize. But indoor pollution levels may be 2-5 times, and occasionally 100 times, higher than outdoor levels, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Studies indicate most Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. Children are especially vulnerable because of the amount of time they spend indoors during the school day. (Ostendorf , 2001) The physical characteristics of aging or poorly designed schools can also inhibit learning with poor lighting, plumbing, and temperature control systems. The decision to build educational facilities with fewer windows in favor of fluorescent lighting may have reduced the amount of heat loss, but may also have created a more serious risk to health and performance. Natural light and artificial full-spectrum lighting has been found to minimize mental fatigue as well as reduce hyperactivity in children, while students tend to react more positively to classr ooms that have windows. Further, it has been found that fluorescent lighting may be related to greater amounts of hyperactivity in learners. Thermal comfort is also an important issue in relation to school facilities. Lackney (2000) states that classroom temperatures affect task performance and students’ attention spans (Lackney, 2000). Leaky plumbing systems in poorly ventilated schools contribute to the growth of mold on bathroom surfaces (Davis, 2001). The affects of mold in the environment can be as minor as simple irritation of the sinuses or much more serious depending on the duration of the exposure and the susceptibility of those suffering from the effects. Some people experience temporary effects which disappear when they vacate the premises, while others may experience long-term effects (Davis, 2001). Certain health effects, such as those related to allergic reactions like irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, dermatitis, exacerbation of asthma, and respiratory distress, have been proven to be associated with mold exposure. Other reported effects such as fever, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, respiratory dysfunction (including coughing up blood), excessive and regular nose bleeds, dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, liver damage, and impaired or altered immune function have been identified in persons who have been exposed to mold via inhalation (Davis, 2001). These maintenance and design issues can have a serious negative effect on the learning environment for students and the working environment for teachers; it is a health hazard for all who spend significant amounts of time in the building. These effects: poor student behavior, lethargy, and apathy are some of the most consistently identified stressors for teachers (Abel & Sewell, 1999; Blasà ©, 1986; Dewe, 1986; Stenlun d, 1995). Beyond the direct effects that poor facilities have on students’ ability to learn, the combination of poor facilities, which create an uncomfortable and uninviting workplace for teachers, combined with frustrating behavior by students including poor concentration and hyperactivity, lethargy, or apathy, creates a stressful set of working conditions for teachers. Because stress and job dissatisfaction are common pre-cursors to lowered teacher enthusiasm and attrition (Friedman, 1995; Rosenholtz & Simpson, 1990; Shann,1998), it is possible that the aforementioned characteristics of school facilities have an effect upon the shortage of teachers. What is lacking in the body of research related to the effects of school facilities upon student achievement and the performance of teachers is analysis of key characteristics such as lighting, ventilation, acoustics and temperature control in relation to measures of both student performance and teacher satisfaction. According to Schneider (2002), most studies have focused on single environmental media, neglecting the critical issue of interaction effects between day lighting, air quality, noise, thermal comfort, or other factors. It is possible that relationships exist between all three areas of the school environment: the quality of the school facility, behavior of students, and teacher satisfaction. Certainly, more research is needed in this area. In fact, the federal government may act as a catalyst for such research. Section 5414 of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 calls for more research into the health and learning impacts of environmentally unhealthy public school buildings on students and teachers (U.S. Congress 2002). Just as changes in the design of school buildings constructed during the energy crisis were driven by budget concerns created from rising energy costs, any future changes in school design trends are likely to be affected by the cost to taxpayers. Logic suggests the need for research into the specific effects of certain characteristics of school design for which tax monies will be spent before these changes will be realized. There is considerable debate as to the relationship of funding to academic achievement. According to Schneider (2002), and Hanushek (1989), there is little correlation between capital expenditures and academic achievement. Conversely, Hedges, Laine, and Greenwald (1994), and Lockwood and McLean (1993), state that a correlation between spending and academic achievement does exist. An analysis by Hanushek (1989) of 37 research articles on the direct effects of spending on achievement stated that â€Å"detailed research spanning two decades and observing performance in many educational settings provides strong and consistent evidence that expenditures are not systematically related to student achievement†. However, Hedges, Laine, and Greenwald (1994) re-analyzed data from the same 37 articles and found that there was strong evidence to support a systematic positive relationship between resource input and school output. Lockwood and McLean (1993) proposed that when the basic requi rements of the educational process have been adequately funded, additional monies do improve the educational process. Their study concluded that once a base level of funding has been provided, the result of judicious spending on the instructional program should be evidenced in improved achievement (Lockwood & McLean, 1997). However, a study in Great Britain by Pricewaterhouse-Coopers (as cited in Schneider, 2002) analyzed the effects of capital investment on academic achievement, teacher motivation, school leadership, and other issues and found that relationships were weak. Stricherz (2000) noted that student achievement suffers in inadequate school buildings, but there is no hard evidence to prove that achievement rises when facilities improve beyond the norm. Schneider (2002) summarized the debate, stating that existing studies on school building quality generally point to improved student behavior and better teaching in higher-quality facilities; however, â€Å"what is needed is more firm policy advice about the types of capital investments that would be most conducive to learning and to good teaching†. The lack of consensus is evidence of a need for further research of the specific effects of school building maintenance and design issues, not only on the student, but also the teacher and his or her job satisfaction, enthusiasm, and commitment to the profession. Should the study of these factors yield significant correlations to student achievement and overall levels of job satisfaction among teachers, it would provide justification to the allotment of monies for the renovation of existing facilities and the design of new facilities to include natural lighting, optimum acoustic and air quality in the classroom, and better temperat ure control, as well as proper maintenance. B. Preparation of study Materials Questionnaire Survey IV – 1 students IV – 6 students IV – 5 students IV – 4 students IV – 3 students IV – 2 students Statistical Analysis Collection of Data Paradigm Chapter III Methodology A. Description of the Study Area This Case Study is all about the damaged facilities in public schools. This research has been conducted for a certain purpose, to discuss in fixing the damaged facilities in every public schools. The common problems that the facilities in public schools that are facing are lack of materials and a simple cleaning materials couldn’t be provided well, students couldn’t provide those things because they don’t have enough money. Most students in the public schools are poor which is another reason that led for this kind of problem. This problem can be treated if the students would cooperate and so as the principal and the teachers. The principal can ask for government support for renovating some facilities in the school, this can gain improvements in the school easily if the government will give donations or by sending the materials directly in the school and to be used in some facilities. Students can help by simply following the rules in every classrooms and what their teachers told them to do. Cleaning is the best way to express their cooperation with this problem. Teachers can assign rules in every classroom that students has to follow to maintain the proper cleanliness and can make the classroom in right order. This research will help the problem that every public schools are facing. Solving this problem will make a big difference in every public schools. B. Preparation of Questionnaire In preparing the questionnaire for this research is difficult. Thinking how much will the questionnaire help this research and what would be the effect of the people’s answers in this problem. The researchers kept flooding their heads with questions that are important and will be a big help to their research. Answers from the surveys will be analyzed and be tallied by the researchers to find what other opinions that the people gave to them. Some of their answers will be used in the research to add some points for the topic.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Analytical Paper about the article Why there is no 'southern problem' Essay

Analytical Paper about the article Why there is no 'southern problem'. On environmental leaders and laggards in the European Un - Essay Example On Environmental Leaders and Laggards in the European Union†). Thesis Statement This discussion intends to identify the argument which is made by the author relating to the article that is principally based upon the non-compliance with the EU based environmental laws. Moreover, the evidences which are used by the author in supporting the argument will be discussed. Various significant aspects which comprise the judgment about the evidence, whether, it is strong or weak and the grounds of agreeing or not agreeing with the argument will also be portrayed in the discussion. A Brief Analysis of the Argument In relation to the article, it has been viewed that the author made several arguments focusing upon the reality that non-adherence with the environmental laws belonging to EU is considered to be a ‘southern problem’. ... Moreover, the author also argued that the problem took place due to shortage in the administrative capacities for effectually implementing EU based environmental policies. It has been viewed in the article that the southern member provinces of EU did not possess adequate technical know-how, potential working staffs and well-structured infrastructures for applying as well as enforcing EU environmental based legislative policies. The author suggested that the southern member provinces belonging to EU should implement environmental policies competently for the purpose of developing their financial progression, increasing economic interests and most significantly generating employment. The effective execution of the EU environmental schemes or policies would ultimately promote the economic advancement of the different southern member provinces belonging to EU as well as enhance their environmental quality level by a greater extent. The author identified a significant reason which eventua lly restricted the southern member provinces of EU to implement EU environmental based policies effectively. The significant reason was that the southern member provinces belonging to EU possessed the political systems which were conventionally dominated by clientelism, disrespect and patronage for the public authority. On the basis of the article, the author argued that there lays significant disparities in meeting with the EU environmental laws throughout the different European member provinces which cannot be escorted by a simple north-south separation. The other argument which is made by the author in the article is that the relative study of the execution of the different environmental policies belonging to EU

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Obesity In the US Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Obesity In the US - Research Paper Example who could bear to consume what they needed and figure out how to pay others to work for them were the ones that put on the additional pounds (Scherer). A significant change in the economics of obesity has observed and now the load of weight and stoutness falling excessively on poor people. A significant inverse relation can be seen between obesity and financial status in the developed countries, particularly among African-Americans. Although, obesity is the problem of the whole America, but African Americans are those who are at higher risk of getting obese if they do not change their lifestyle. Studies have shown that the socioeconomic factors are highly affecting the issue of obesity therefore; Obesity is at its height in African Americans. Three major socioeconomic factors have been identified through research that includes education, employment and health care. For instance, low education and low income groups are discovered to be emphatically connected with both obesity and corpulence Co morbidities in etiological studies. Scientists found that obesity with the passage of time in developed nations was connected with lower education levels and blue-collar working class. African Americans are the evidences of these proofs and studies regarding obesity in the US because most part of this population has low education, employment and income level. Compared to African Americans, the level of obesity is decreasin g among the white class Americans with the increase in their socioeconomic status. Unfortunately, the teenagers from the good socioeconomic status are also at the risk of obesity due to their eating habits, i.e., the trend of fast food. Sedentary grown-up in the United States consume a normal of 500–800 calories more for every day than required to keep up a normal weight. At that rate, they will gain many pounds in just a week. Food and food ads are easily accessible to them grabbing their attention to eat more. There are fewer exercise opportunities,

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Illegal immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Illegal immigration - Essay Example The end of the Civil War grew the desire to restrict immigration of specific groups to the United States. In 1875, the first statute was passed to restrict immigration which was barring prostitutes and convicts from admission (Nadadur, 2010). Various laws were enacted some to curb the issue of illegal immigration and others to ensure that regardless of their situation the immigrants are not subjected to any discrimination or unfair treatment. Undocumented people go through a lot of discriminations in the United States. Institutions that have been set up by the government are sometimes seen to be the perpetuators of these kinds of injustices (Obama, 2015). From the health sector, education, finance and even housing, they are seen to discriminate against the undocumented regardless of these areas handling the basic needs of any human being. Although these people access the United States without all the required documentation, they deserve to be respected and be treated as human beings. On the health sector, the undocumented also face discrimination. Disease breakouts are sometimes among the reasons why people migrate from their country to the United States. The migration is usually in search of a better health environment but the reception they get at the health facilities is not as they expect. The health insurance and policies available have not put them into consideration making access to health facilities difficult (Rhodes et al., 2015). Yet, access to health services constitutes the main determinant of the quality of life for all human beings. The employment world in the United States is another key area where the undocumented face discrimination. Most of the undocumented are people who come to the United States in search of a better job. Upon their arrival, they may have the qualifications needed to perform a particular task but an American will be given the priority. Once immigrants

Monday, August 26, 2019

Object Oriented Programming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Object Oriented Programming - Research Paper Example The research paper "Object Oriented Programming" talks about main concepts and principles of the object oriented programming paradigm and about its application to computer software or computer applications design. In OOP, the represented objects have specific data fields such as rows and columns in the design of databases. These fields are used in OPP as characteristics of an object that is presented through a programming language with object oriented attributes. In addition, objects within object oriented programming are represented via specified methods or procedures which are used to ensure that these objects are orderly and consistent depending on the purpose of the design or programming. When programmers design computer software or computer applications, they achieve this by methods which cause objects to relate or interact with one another. Each object in this form of interaction is referred to as an instance of a particular class of objects. Classes in OOP represent concepts. For example â€Å"Girl† is a class within which the aforementioned objects fall. This illustrates that a class is used to capture the properties that are shared by objects in the process of object oriented programming. Therefore, classes are normally instantiated from the objects that are represented by a program design. In OOP, classes are visible within the source code of the program and this code is normally not duplicated. Also objects play the role of activating a program that is currently running as a result they occupy memory locations. Furthermore, a set of operations as presented within the class are owned by objects which means that objects in OOP own a copy of specific data that is held within the program. When a specific class within a program is a subtype of another higher level or general class, the subtype class in OOP is said to be inherited from the general class (Hadar and Uri 43). The subclass therefore inherits both member functions and the data members of the base class. In object oriented programming, inheritance particularly refers to the method of reusing a specific code that is held by various objects with an aim of establishing a lower level or subtype class below a general class. The creation of subtypes however depends on the supporting platform of the programming language that is used to design or program the application. The general classes in inheritance are referred to as base classes and it is from these classes that the subtype classes inherit various attributes. Base classes are also referred to as parent classes or super classes (Pefkaros 219). The subclasses that are derived from the parent classes are therefore referred to as child classes or derived classes. This illustrates that the patent and child classes are related within a structure which leads to a hierarchy. Encapsulation is a concept and principle in object oriented programming in which the designer of a program hides the manner in which an object behaves from the approach of implementation. Encapsulation also includes separation of the looks of an object or it appearance from the methods through which its behavior is implemented. Encapsulation emanates from the fact that objects within a program have well defined interfaces (Ramsin and Richard 31). These are the publicly accessible methods and fields. Therefore when information about objects is hidden below or behind a specific interface, it is then said that the design of a program has implemented encapsulation. This situation is also referred to as information hiding. It therefore is notable that in object oriented programming, programmers use interfaces as the most effective way through which behavior of objects are

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Adopting a simple profit-maximising perspective ..... can have Essay - 2

Adopting a simple profit-maximising perspective ..... can have positive impacts for a firm,Using examples where appropriate, discuss this assertion - Essay Example This paper will examine the positive impact of the firm by applying the profit maximization strategies and perspectives. Different aspects of profit maximization of the firms and their strategies in order to maximize their profit will be studied in this paper. Some firms achieve its profit maximizing objectives by developing and implementing several strategies by motivating its employees and managers, improving returns on investments, and increasing product awareness etc. Competitive strategies that a firm implement to maximize its profits are as follows: A firm can destabilize its competitors by increasing its market share and sell the products or services at the same prices as competitors do to maximize its profit and creating a positive impact on the firm. A firm having the capability to produce the product at low cost can maximize its profit easily and in short time(Business Plan Hut 2012). A firm uses differentiation strategy usually to gain a competitive advantage over the existing workers inside that firm. Profit maximizing firm adopts this strategy when a customer’s desire and wants are so varied that a consistent product do not satisfy their desire. When customers are placing more value on the differentiated products that a firm is providing to them, then they are force to pay high price to that firm which helps it to maximize its profit(Business Plan Hut 2012). To maximize a firm’s profit and creating a positive impact on that firm, a focus or niche strategy must be huge to give away a healthy profit to that firm. The firm that employs this competitive strategy to maximize its profit experiences a loyal customer base. This competitive strategy helps the firm to maximize its profit that has a positive impact on the firm. Focus Strategy tends to be beneficial for the firm to maximize its profit when the following factors are set: Oil companies believe in long-term profit maximization and avoid large short-term losses and show their

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Difficulties of Vocabulary Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Difficulties of Vocabulary Learning - Essay Example In order Arabian students to effectively gain knowledge of English language, such factors as teaching, translation, mass media and diplomacy are required. English is an instrument of learning at various stages in the educational system of Saudi Arabia. This function justifies the choice of the research paper theme: "Literacy: Vocabulary and Difficulties of learning new words (vocabulary) in FL classes and the use of songs to promote vocabulary learning ". English is the only foreign language taught in educational, industrial and governmental institutions. Employees are required to learn English hard because advertisements for job openings in private sector areas emphasize the employers' preferences for potential employees who can speak English. Mass media development is another medium for the presence of English in Saudi Arabia. One of the two national Saudi TV stations, channel 2, is the English Channel (Braine); European language radio station, with broadcasting in English and some in French is 24 hours a day on air; English daily newspapers, the Arab News, the Daily Riyadh, and the Saudi Gazette are also proofs of English importanc e for Arabs. New researches of modern scientists are directed on second language (English) teaching methods improvement. Guarantees of successful teaching methodology in FL classes are the following four components: objective, content, teaching method, and student evaluation techniques (Braine, 2005). Therefore the main objectives for any teacher in FL class is to teach students to speak, read, and listen with grasping the main ideas of contemporary English discourse and to compose semantic passage of up to half a page about a simple subject or incident. Furthermore students should gain enough language knowledge for communication abilities in the outside world. The latter objective can be reached in case of proper four language skills-listening, reading, speaking, and writing mastering. For Arabian students the most common focus of English language training in FL classes is English for academic purposes. Arabian students with limited English proficiency should be able to deal with the linguistic demands of higher education in their subject area (Braine, 2005). Therefore at the end of the period of training in FL class, it is supposed that learners will gain satisfactory skills in academic English enabling them to study freely in English. Nevertheless, a lot of Arabian students feel themselves unconfident concerning the level of English skills obtained. Thus it is of high importance to find a perfect possibility to practice new words knowledge. Of course, communication with native speakers is an undoubtedly perfect method. However not every academic institution has such a possibility. Thus listening to the songs in English is a medium of native speakers' speech transfer. Further on it is necessary to mention that the usage of songs in Arabian students' education process is briefly overviewed in a small quantity of works. Of course there

Friday, August 23, 2019

Security officer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Security officer - Essay Example On November of this year, a teenager was charged with releasing separate DDoS attacks on Oxford University and Cambridge University. He was found to have conducted 17 counts of computer misuse, such as failing to offer passwords to the universities encrypted storage devices (Dunn, 2012). Also, nearly 100 universities servers across the globe were infringed by group of hackers identified as Team GhostShell. The group dumped students’ records onto the internet. The servers including those from Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, as well as University of Michigan experienced the attacks on their Websites within their premises, and which were created autonomously for faculty members and departments. The group had managed to access over 120,000 students records from the breached servers, before publicly posting them online (Kingkade, 2002). The information included the names, cell-phone numbers, email addresses, and students’ login credential s. The hackers breached multiple servers within each of the universities thus accessing departmental Websites. Another instance is when a University of Nebraska, performed a data dump by gaining access to the university server that stores user passwords (DataBreaches.net, 2012). The cyber criminals targeted the university employees and students’ accounts, resulting in the targeted persons to spread the malware which then stole their personal information, as well as log-in credentials. The attacker had frequently phished for employees’ emails from LinkedIn, and sending students mass emails from social networking sites, before sending them emails asking for account information having attachments infected with a malware. The criminals then managed to come up with a Website that saw students and other faculty to view the data he had taken from the servers. In another incidence, the University of Arizona, experienced major computer breaches which saw student discovering the ir personal information they gave to the university by just conducting a simple Google search (Privacyrights.org, 2012). The hackers sent targeted emails or spear-phishing, with links to a Webpage that was designed to deceive the university employees responsible for student data, into inputting passwords. The emails comprised attachments which used an unknown gap in one of their flash software. Also, computer-protection issues at Ohio University saw the institution alumni being exposed to identity theft after hackers acquired their social security numbers. Some were not even able to conduct online shopping or obtain banking. The alumni data were compromised in a massive computer and security breach (Privacyrights.org, 2012). Question 2 The initial initiative is to educate employees and students on the various forms of cyber fraud scheme, such as informing them not to respond and even open attachments or links coming via unsolicited e-mails (Gallaher, Link, & Rowe, 2008). Secondly, w orkstation normally used for the institution online services are not used for common web browsing, e-mailing, or even social networking. The institutions internal and departmental activities are performed from more than one dedicated computer not used for online activities. There is also the constant use of spam filters, for instance SpamTitan costs as little $2 every user per year. The universities now use an IT security system that covers inside the institution, instead of the perimeter. Therefore, they employ consultants who understand what their users are conducting, and then locate any form of suspicious activities inside. Therefore, security information and event management referred to as SIEM by Wipro, deals with operational security, and log management requirements across an IT infrastructure. It cost $90 for a patch deployment for every system. It is offered in a managed services replica through its Soc-in-a-Box on a RSA platform. They monitor the university network traffic searching for any distrustful patterns (Wipro Technologies,

Mozart's Background Leading Up to Don Giovanni Coursework

Mozart's Background Leading Up to Don Giovanni - Coursework Example During the seventeenth century, London was full of Italian opera. English composers did little to counter this trend. Most of the music that was sung in English was composed in an Italian manner. Arsinoe was such an example, which was sung with recitatives in place of spoken dialogue, and was the first of such opera to come to the London stage. As more performances were held, still Italian opera dominated English opera.Mozart concentrated in performing operas. Mozart’s opera production made a great change in English opera. Â  Later, people performing in music were differentiated, depending on details of rhythm, harmony, and accompaniment. Even the tone of the voice was used. Mozart had a skill that no other composer equaled to. his ensemble finale represented a section in which all the lines of the action were brought together and driven more and more swiftly to a climax or to the final solution of the plot, involving the appearance on the stage of all the characters, singly and in various combinations but in increasing numbers and excitements as the end of the act approached. Mozart’s music differs from Italian opera buffa and follows a general pattern indicated2. Mozart’s operas led to Mozart’s Don Giovanni, an operatic masterpiece full of iconic and mythical tensions. The opera had both the aesthetic and moral legacies.Mozart had an opportunity to listen to every kind of music which was written and heard in Western Europe during the many tours that he made alongside with his father. Mozart’s father had made numerous tours across Europe, alongside his family, Mozart included. Therefore, everywhere they stopped, Mozart had an opportunity to listen to music that was written and heard in that town. At each stop, Mozart acquired all the music that was not available in Salzburg, his birthplace. Mozart also met musicians who introduced him to new ideas and techniques of music. It is through these ideas that Mozart was capable of developing an excellent musical career that inculcated almost all the genres of music. For instance, Mozart imitated the music of Johana Schobert while they made a stopover in Paris, during one of their tours across Europe. Â  

Thursday, August 22, 2019

United States Foreign Policy after 1945 Essay Example for Free

United States Foreign Policy after 1945 Essay â€Å"President Clinton and I†¦ have spoken often about the goals of American foreign policy. Boiled down, these have not changed in more than 200 years. They are to ensure the continued security, prosperity, and freedom of our people. † (Albright 1998, p. 50-64) Thus were the words of then US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright back in 1998. Fast-forward to 2006 and we have President George W. Bush remarking on America as facing a ‘choice between the path of fear and the path of confidence. ’ The path of fear – isolationism and protectionism, retreat and retrenchment – appeals to those who find challenges too great, failing to see in them opportunities (Bush 2006). As Bush (2006) asserts, his administration has chosen the path of confidence, leadership over isolationism and the pursuit of free and fair trade and open markets over protectionism, consistent with the tradition of American policy. Founded on two pillars – promoting freedom, justice and human dignity, and confronting the challenges of our time by leading a growing community of democracies, the present national security strategy of the Bush administration maintains the primacy of expanding the national strength of the United States resting not merely on the strength of the military but on economic prosperity and a vibrant democracy as well. Yet Bush’s rather confrontational, militaristic approach as reflected in US foreign policy has been shown to have negative effects on America’s relations with its long-time allies, as well as in terms of projecting its image abroad in the somewhat turbulent arena of international relations, and ultimately casting doubts whether it is really in the national interest of the United States of America. The present paper aims to illustrate how this is so, through a discussion of US foreign policy emphasizing the critical aspects of national security, free trade, democracy, world peace and human rights. II. DISCUSSION National Security It is the recognized primary duty of the United States Government to ‘protect the American people and American interests, obligating the government to anticipate and counter threats using all resources of national power at its disposal, before these threats can do grave damage’ (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 18). Anticipatory action taken in self-defense is considered of primary importance, particularly in view of terrorist attacks withWMD. The US-led global War on Terror after the 10/11 terrorist attacks is considered by the US State as ‘both a battle of arms and a battle of ideas’ (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 9). It involves both the use of military force and other instruments of national power to capture and eliminate terrorists, deny them safe haven or control of any nation, prevent their access to WMD, and the cutting off of their sources of support. The US government shall employ a comprehensive strategy involving strengthened nonproliferation efforts, i. e. proactive counter-proliferation efforts to defend against and defeat WMD and missile threats before they are unleashed; and improved protection mitigating the consequences of WMD use (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 18). The proliferation of nuclear weapons is recognized as posing the greatest threat to US national security in their capacity to inflict instant loss of life on a massive scale. The strategy of choice is on denying terrorists and nuclear states access to the essential ingredient of fissile material and to deter any transfer of nuclear material from states having this capability to rogue states and terrorists. The 9/11 terror attacks proved the vulnerability of the United States, acclaimed lone superpower of the world, to terrorism. In a bid to safeguard national security, the Bush administration declared a global war on terror, which undoubtedly leaves many fears of retaliatory attacks from terror groups. It is important to note that the problem of terrorism is a thorny issue and a multi-faceted one, involving not merely differences in religion and ideology but poverty and social grievances, among others, which are recognized by the National Security Strategy. Free Trade The promotion of free and fair trade has long been a tenet of American foreign policy as greater economic freedom is viewed as ultimately inseparable from political liberty (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 25). Taking into consideration economic power as empowering individuals, which in turn leads to the demand for greater political freedom promoting greater economic opportunity and prosperity, the market economy is viewed as the single most effective economic system and the greatest antidote to poverty. The US promotes free and fair trade, open markets, a stable financial system, the integration of the global economy, and secure, clean energy development as the means towards economic liberty and prosperity. Economic freedom is viewed by the present administration as a ‘moral imperative,’ with the ‘liberty to create and build, buy, sell and own property fundamental to human nature and foundational to a free society’ (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 27). Economic freedom creates diversified centers of power and authority which places limits on the reach of governments, expanding the free flow of ideas, exposing people to new ways of thinking and living and ultimately giving more control over their own lives. Even as most of the world affirms the appeal of economic liberty, it is the view of the present government that too many nations still hold fast to the ‘false comforts of subsidies and trade barriers’ which stifles growth in developed countries (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 27). The US promotes the vision of a global economy welcoming to each and every nation-participant and encourages the voluntary exchange of goods and services. Issues on the establishment of a truly level playing field among developed and developing nations, the continuing significance and evolving roles of the post-World War multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund continue to haunt the rounds of free trade negotiations, serving as effective obstacles towards the full globalization and integration of free markets all over the world. Democracy It is the policy of the United States to seek and support democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 1). The avowed goal of US statecraft then is â€Å"help create a world of democratic, well-governed states that can meet the needs of their citizens and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system† (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 1) through leading the international effort to end tyranny and promote effective democracy. Closely related to the goal of ending tyrannies, the US recognizes its role in helping newly free nations in the building of effective democracies – states which respect human dignity, are accountable to their citizens, and responsible towards their neighbors. Democracy is concretely expressed through elections wherein individuals and parties committed to the equality of all citizens, minority rights, civil liberties, voluntary and peaceful transfer of power, and the peaceful resolution of differences can freely participate, as well as the presence of institutions which protect individual liberty, independent media, freely competing political associations and political parties, an independent judiciary, professional legal establishment, and an honest and competent police force. This commitment to the promotion of freedom is coursed through several tactics varying among countries reflecting the culture and history of its people, from vocal and visible steps on behalf of immediate change to more quiet support laying the foundation for future reports. The US shall lead and call on other nations in a common international effort, yet it does not hesitate to act on its own if need be. Grave problems arise when the US is seen as intervening in what other countries may perceive as largely domestic affairs which does not concern Washington, and the perception of democracy as a Western imposition even in non-Western countries, fueling resentment and claims of on-going cultural imperialism in the promotion of American values even in still-largely traditional societies. World Peace Conflict among nations can arise from a variety of causes – external aggression, competing claims, internal revolt, poor governance, ethnic and religious differences, among others – which if left unaddressed, can eventually result to humanitarian disasters, the failure of states, and ungoverned areas which can become harbor terrorists. To address this, the Bush administration seeks to implement three levels of engagement: (1) conflict intervention; (2) post-conflict stabilization; and (3) reconstruction (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 15). In terms of ensuring peace in an often tumultuous international arena of competing nations, the most effective long-term measure for conflict prevention and resolution is the promotion of democracy (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 15). This is in line of the view that though effective democracies may still have disputes, they are more equipped to solve such differences through peaceful means, either bilaterally or in cooperation with other international institutions, formations or regional states. As some conflicts pose such grave threats to the broader national interests, conflict intervention may be deemed necessary to restore peace and stability, particularly in circumstances wherein the international community does not have enough trained military forces capable of performing peace-keeping missions. This has led to close the government closely working with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in improving state capacities for intervention in conflict situations, and support to the UN reforms seeking to improve its ability to carry out peacekeeping missions characterized by enhanced accountability, oversight and results-based management practices (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 16). And the third level of engagement takes into consideration the need for post-conflict stabilization and reconstruction once peace has been restored. History has borne witness to success as resulting from the early establishment of strong local institutions, e. g. a functional judiciary and penal system, effective police systems, and enhancing governance capacity critical to the establishment of the rule of law and a free market economy, on the assumption that these in turn would provide the key to long-term stability and prosperity. It is also interesting to note that the pursuit of American interests is to be accomplished within the framework of cooperative relationships, particularly with its ‘oldest and closest friends and allies’ (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 35). Another priority is the prevention of any re-emergence of the great power rivalries which had divided the world in previous eras, in such a way that these new approaches are flexible enough to permit effective action even in the face of differences of opinions among friends, yet strong enough to confront challenges. These principles guide American international relations, notably within its own hemisphere (the Western Hemisphere) considered the ‘frontline of defense of American national security’ (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 37) which is envisioned to be fully democratic, bound together in good will, security cooperation and opportunity for all its citizens to prosper. Concretely, the goal includes strengthening relations with regional partners to make multilateral institutions, e. g. the Inter-American Development Bank, more effective and better able in fostering concerted action addressing threats to the region’s stability, prosperity, security or democratic progress. The Bush administration has identified key threats to international security in the form of rogue states, and its taking on a hard-line policy towards these states which could possibly fuel resentment and strong feelings of anti-Americanism among their peoples. World peace does not appear any less elusive in the contemporary period despite the end of the Cold War and the bipolarization of the world, as poverty, social inequality, racial, ethnic and religious differences continue to create social divides among people. Human Rights Tyranny is defined as the ‘combination of brutality, poverty, instability, corruption, and suffering forged under the rule of despots and despotic systems’ (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006, p. 3), as is the case under the nations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Belarus and Burma, which treated the world’s interest in freedom’s expansion and immediate security threats as well, i. e. their pursuit of weapons of mass destruction (The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. The goal of human rights promotion is closely related to the pursuit of democracy, world peace, and the promotion of global free trade. This becomes particularly acute when one considers political liberties and democratic institutions as vital towards attaining greater economic freedom, opportunities and prosperity in the context of a market economy. Chomsky (1982) notes that the US is no more engaged in programs of international good will than any other state has been as foreign policy is designed and implemented by narrow groups deriving their power from the domestic sources of state capitalism and control over the domestic economy. Within the nation-state, the effective ‘national interest’ is by and large articulated by those who control the central economic institutions, leaving the formulation of its disguise for the technocratic and policy-oriented intelligentsia. Human rights violations have been charged against US soldiers in occupied territories as well as among those in peace-keeping missions. Specific cases of human rights violations have been documented in US bases in South Korea, Japan, and in the former US bases in the Philippines. The preferential treatment for and custody of US soldiers in case of trial and conviction is also a major sore point between the US government and the ‘host’ countries.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Liquidity Problem Is An Important Strategic Issue To Run Business Enterprises Economics Essay

Liquidity Problem Is An Important Strategic Issue To Run Business Enterprises Economics Essay Liquidity problem is an important strategic issue to run business enterprises. Small enterprises are realising the importance of such problems to reduce losses arises from this. Liquidity problems arise from shortage of working capital that require to maintain daily operations of the enterprise. If this problem persists for long-time, entrepreneurs are bound to stop their business. But it is difficult for small enterprises to get right support at the right time from banks and insurance companies due to certain terms and conditions imposed by them. So a study in this field will be helpful for both entrepreneurs and financial institutions to know current scenario of enterprise level management of liquidity problems and the role of financial institutions to solve this problem. Intelligent forecasting of the future trend in market conditions is a preventive measure to solve liquidity problem whereas, bank support through different financial products is a curative measure in management of liquidity problem. This study has been initiated to identify and analyse entrepreneurs view towards liquidity problems of small enterprises and role of bank to solve this problem. Categorically the major objectives of the present study are: To identify various reasons of liquidity problems of small enterprises; To uncover the views of entrepreneurs regarding the research topic in light of their age, education, invested amount of capital, enterprise life, location and nature of business; To assess the risks identified by the entrepreneurs arises from liquidity problems of their enterprises; To identify and analyze the role of bank in terms of available financial products to manage liquidity problems; To suggest probable solutions to solve liquidity problems of small enterprises. Hypothesis: H 1: There is no impact of small enterprises length of life on the size of liquidity problems. H 2: Amount of investment has no influence on liquidity problems. H 3: Nature of business has no impact on liquidity problems. H 4: Banks facilities are enough to solve liquidity problems of small enterprises. 7. Sources: Broad Subject Area: Business Finance Books and Journals: Alsbury, A. (2001), Quick Answers to Small Business Questions, Series Editor Jay, Prentice Hall, London. Allen, F. and Gale, D. (2007) Understanding Financial Crisis. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Bygrave, W. D. (1994), The entrepreneurship paradigm 1: a philosophical look at its research methodologies, Entrepreneurship theory and practice, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp 1- 26.   Bhaduri, R., G. Meissner and J. Youn (2007). Hedging Liquidity Risk. Journal of Alternative Investments, Winter 2007.   Cecchetti, S. (2008), Monetary Policy and the Financial Crisis of 2007 2008. Available at: http://fmwww.bc.edu/ec-j/sems2008/Cecchetti.pdf [Accessed: 11 November 2008]. Cohen, W. (2005), The entrepreneur and small business problem solver, 3rd edition, Published by John Wiley and Sons. Dawson, J., Findlay, A. and Sparks, L. (2006) The Retailing Reader. London: Routledge. John L. Knight, Stephen Satchell (2003). Forecasting Volatility in the Financial Markets. Butterworth-Heinemann. Dorfman, Mark S. (2007). Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance (9th Edition). Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice Hall. Douglas Hubbard (2009) The Failure of Risk Management: Why Its Broken and How to Fix It John Wiley Sons. Hisrich D. R. Peters P. M., (2002) Entrepreneurship, 5th edition, Pub., Tata McGraw-Hill. Hawkins, M. (2008) How to Benefit From Consumer Behaviour During a Financial Crisis. EzineArticles. Available at: http://ezinearticles.com/How-to-Benefit-From. Hannon, P.D. and Atherton, A. (1998), Small firm success and the art of orienteering: the value of plans, planning and strategic awareness in the competitive small firm, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 102-19. Islam N. Mamun Z. M., (2002) Entrepreneurship Development, An Operational Approach, Pub., The University Press Limited,. Leaf, W. and Sykes, E. (2009), Banking, 3rd edition, T butterworth Ltd. McConnell I. (2009), Economic output posts biggest quarterly decline since 1980, The Herald (Glasgow), January 24th Issue, Final Edition, p. 26. Simpson, M et al. (2006), marketing in small and medium size enterprises, International Journal of entrepreneurial behaviour and research, Vol. 12, Issue-6, pp 361-387. Available at:www.emeraldinsight.com [Accessed: 15 November 2009] Stoltz A, Viljoen M (2007) Financial Management: Fresh Perspectives, Published by Pearson South Africa. Websites: Small business banking, (2009) available at http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/banking/banking-guides/business-banking-the-basics.shtml, [Accessed: 15 th November 2009] Office for National Statistics (2008), Unemployment rates rises to 5,7%.. Available at: www.statistics.gov.uk [Accessed 14th November 2009]. Number of enterprises, employment and turnover by number of employees and industry division, UK, start 2004, Available at www.statistics.gov.uk [Accessed: 14th November 2009] HSBC and Barclays news, , 10th November 2009, Available at: www.news.bbc.co.uk, [Accessed 12th November 2009] SME Academy London [online] Available at: http://www.smeacademy.co.uk/, [Accessed 13 November 2009] Banks Websites: www.barclays.co.uk www.hsbc.co.uk www.natwest.com www.lloydstsbbusiness.com 8. Literature Review: The economic recession that hit the UK in the second half of 2008 caused the retail industry to experience certain difficulties (McConnell, 2009; Kollewe, 2009). The credit crunch and growing unemployment reduced consumer income and spending levels and causes uncertain flow of cash for business enterprises. In such conditions, small enterprises are experiencing irregular cash flows, look at the cost cutting strategy, excessive burden of debt, reduction of buyers and uncertain profit margins or losses. As a result shortage of short term capital creates liquidity problems to small enterprises. In business, liquidity refers to the financial ability of an enterprise to meet its short term obligations to bear day to day expenditures. The liquidity of retail sector specially small enterprises are greatly affected by macroeconomic factors. These factors are divided into two: direct and indirect factors. The direct factors can be recognised as the decreasing disposable income, job insecurity and credit financing hurdles (Office for National Statistics, 2008). The indirect factors are challenges of credit financing and investment capability which commercial organisations face and which make these organisations unable to continue with producing high quality products and customer service (The Economist, 2008). Other macroeconomic factors that are related with small enterprises financial crisis are house price, house rent, and employment rate, and inflation rate, availability of bank loan, interest rates and changes of consumers behaviour. Storey [1994] notes that small firms, however they are defined, constitute the bulk of enterprises in all economies in the world. In the latter half of the last century the increasing important roles of small firms and entrepreneurship cannot be in any way understated [Bygrave 1994; Timmons 1994;]. Small firms are now a complex subject matter of research because of its huge number of limitations. These features of small enterprises are supported by Robinson and Pearce [1984] who focused on the issue of resource limitations of small firms. These limitations are best summarised by Carson and Cromie [1989] who suggest that small firm is actually characterised by three types of limitations, those of: their impact on markets; finance; physical resources; It is obvious that among these three limitations, finance is one of the most important one what is equally important for promoting products and services of small enterprises in the markets and acquiring physical resources. But undoubtedly these three limitations are in a cycle and interdependent. Liquidity problem is not only the result of shortage of fund, this problem is the consequences of other two limitations too. Definition of small enterprises of European Commission Enterprise and Industry [europa.eu] refers to maximum number of employees are 49 and maximum annual turnover is 7million Euro for small enterprises. As per EU definition, there are 4,267,555 small enterprises in UK where 11,441,000 employments exist [UK Bureau of Statistics: Start 2004]. It is undoubtedly important to find out immediately the problems of such a large sector and solutions of the problems. As noted by Hill and McGowan (1999), there is no agreed definition or clear understanding, in view of the large literature that exists, of who the entrepreneur is or what it is they do. Entrepreneurship is probably best understood as a process, the constituents of which are the entrepreneur, their persistent search of opportunities, usually grounded in the market place, and efforts to marshal the resources needed to exploit these opportunities; hence the concept of the entrepreneurial SME (Hill and Wright, 2001). How entrepreneurship is vital and important for small enterprises? Hill and McGowan (1999) answer this question by adding that, without entrepreneurial commitment, determination, vision, energy, tolerance of risk, and ambition, the entrepreneurial process in small and medium enterprises would not happen. Entrepreneurs making decision in various circumstances must be sure to learn as much as possible about the situation, and approach the decision from a logical and rational p erspectives (Ricky W. Griffin, 2002). The financial crisis, which transmitted internationally and caused disturbances in a wide range of powerful economies, many countries are seen to be on the brink of recession if not already plunged into it (Deutche Welle, 2008). Todays financial crisis what causes liquidity problems of business enterprises could be recognised as a major challenge for the survival of millions of small enterprises. The wide scope of the crisis caused a downturn in many industries, the bankruptcy of leading organisations and overall economic recession to countries like the UK, Germany and France (Deutche Welle, 2008; Hopkins, 2008; Office for National Statistics, 2008). Many EU countries including UK experienced the shock in their banking sectors as the provision of credit financing became a great challenge. Banks were suffering from lack of liquidity, which caused both business and non-business consumers financial hardships (The Economist, 2008). Though few banks like HSBC and Barclays [BBC, November 2 009] claimed that they are now in profit with enough liquidity to lend, most of the banks are in problem. Bank has short term and long term loan facilities, mortgage facilities, interest free bank overdraft facilities for small business enterprises [Small business banking, 2009]. There is a well-known idea that such facilities for small enterprises are very limited and process is very complex. Though various researchers carried out so many research to find out various factors that have direct and indirect impact on operations of small enterprises, relationship between entrepreneurship and small enterprises, buyers behaviour, marketing strategies, family and non-family business trends in this sector, there is still gap in research regarding liquidity problems and role of bank to solve this problem in terms of entrepreneurs perspective. Specially at the time of current economic down town there is a necessity of new research in the mentioned field. 9. Intended Methods of Data Collection: Assumptions of the study: Small enterprise: This study considers EU [maximum employee: 49] definition to select small enterprises. Scope and limitations of the Study: The study will focus on randomly selected 40 small enterprises of different sectors like hospitality, grocery, fashion and stationary from UK (London Area: Zone 1-4). Since the study will cover only the mentioned area, it will not reflect the exact UK scenario as a whole about the research. Data Collection Procedures: The proposed study is an empirical one. Both primary and secondary data will be used during the study. For collection of primary data self completed questionnaire will be used to collect information from entrepreneurs and executives of business enterprises. Observations and interview will be conducted in several cases to confirm more authentic information from the entrepreneurs. Secondary data will be collected from available literatures in form of books, journal, magazines, published materials, research articles, and online materials. To identify available financial products of banks to solve liquidity problems of small enterprises, banks websites will be used as a source of data and information. The researcher will also call the respondent to ensure timely feedback about questionnaire. In case of necessity, personal contacts will be used to support the research process. Methods of Data Analysis: Some parametric and non-parametric tools and techniques of statistics (like average, percentage, test of hypothesis, sampling distribution, etc); will be used to analyze data and information related with the study.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Moon Landing Conspiracy Theory

The Moon Landing Conspiracy Theory Bill Kaysing predicted in 1959 the chances of getting a man to the moon and back was very low due to the radiation and micro meters that may harm any human being. Were two years later president J. F. Kennedy made his renowned speech saying that he will assign the USA with lots of recourses of landing a man on the moon before the decade was over .which was never done before and although impossible at the time the project was so fascinating that everyone was talking about it out and everyone was waiting for the moment that rocket will take off from earth to the unknown planet, the moon. Eight years later Apollo 11 took off to the moon carrying three people and came back safely .so.neil Armstrong and his crew won the race against Russia .a lot of very persuasive evidence has been discovered and the people have doubted that America did send a man to the moon, and that was when the Apollo hoax was born. There are three sources of evidence for this hoax: Photographic, video, and scientific . Wide Spread Conspiracy In this hoax picture that contractors, NASA tells everyone about the moon landing conspiracy and pays them for their services that their not giving. Nasa makes an announcement to the public telling them that their making rocket parts. Then at the primary day of work they tell everybody in the factory that they are not really making rocket parts and that if they cooperate they will be set for life. Employees that do not comply are threatened from NASA officials. The advantage to this is type of conspiracy that no real equipment has to be made, except for a rocket to go up and a Lander to come down. If we sent six spacecrafts to the moon in ten years, then why in thirty years with so many technological advances why didnt they go back to the moon not even once? NASA argues that there was a funds cut .for the first ten years this can be explained after the Apollo missions, because of the buildup of nuclear weapons would have cost money that could have been taken away from NASA. But what happened during the other twenty years? Some groups say that the risks were too high to validate another moon landing, but the risk was there the first time and it will always be there. A chance is that the technology available is still not enough for mankind to go to the moon, because we didnt go to the moon in the first place. Photographic Evidence Moon landing photographs are the main argument for the Apollo conspiracy believers, as there are hundreds of moon photographs that have mistakes on them, for example different shadow directions. Because of these mistakes the photos are believed fake by the conspiracy followers. Those people explain why create fake photos of something that really happened? One of the most constant arguments is that the moon landing photos and videos are faked is simply that there are no stars in the sky which is impossible. Although scientists explain this phenomenon, arguing that the cameras used by the Apollo mission had manual light filters, which is similar to a persons eye pupil, The Sun reflects off of the moons surface and the white suits of the astronauts. Making both remarkably bright, unlike the stars which are very far and so very dim .The cameras on the Apollo mission are put on a bright setting, so the moon and the astronauts are visible but the stars are not visible because of the flood of light from both the moon and astronauts even though there is an explanation for no stars, there are many other photos that look like they have multiple light sources shining on the surroundings, casting shadows in different directions even though the sun is the only light source available on the moon , which the same scientists failed to explain .The conspiracy believers quarrel that the only possible way several light sources could be shining on the ‘set, is if these photos and videos were taken i n a movie studio in Hollywood. One of the biggest anomalies that appear on the Moon shots are the way in which shadows seem to be cast in totally different directions, even though the objects making the shadows are a mere few feet apart. An exampleof this is in one of the pictures where the shadow of the Lander is pointing east while the rocks which are a few meters away are pointing south-east. The conspirasitsts say that in order for this to happen they had to use more then one light source a trick producers use tohighlight certain areas while shooting a movie . Another picture shows two astronauts with one of the astronauts shadows bent .scientists say that angled shadows come from one long artificial light work this explanation could work, as movie lights do cause this effect. Although this has to do with ones own opinion but the conspiracy theorists explanation could work. Another example is the picture of Earth taken from the Apollo 11 when it was 130,000 miles away. This was the very first view ever taken of Earth on the mission and in the picture the window frame appears on the left of the shot which seems very strange as one would want to come as close as he can so one can get the best shot and also to eliminate any light reflections .but Buzz Aldrin, one of the astronauts on the mission and the one who took the shot , took it when he was standing far away from the window also the camera is not put to infinity to get the closest shot possible. Furthermore According to nasa ,crosshairs were built inside the cameras that would help the astronauts calculate distances on the moon .having said that those crosshairs should be present on all the footage Furthermore on all Apollo footage there should be cross hairs present on the film Incidentally, Jan Lundberg, executive vice president and head of discovery research at Astra Zeneca has stated that the only way that one could calculate the distance in the shot using the crosshairs would be if one had two cameras set up to take a stereo picture. Moreover all of the crosshairs have disappeared from the film. This is impossible unless the film has been tampered with. Other than that all the crosshairs should be not hidden behind any item and should be completely observable in all shots. The only explanation is that NASA has either erased out certain objects in the film or added the objects over the crosshairs. Scientific evidence As a matter of fact the great variation in temperature that the films would have had to go through during the Apollo mission ranges between-180F degrees in the shade to an incredible -200F degree. As seen in some shots the astronauts move between the shadows of the rocks then into full sunlight definitely the film would have corroded under such circumstances. If the films used on that mission had such characteristics why isnt Kodak selling them today in the markets? Some of the lighting on the footage is very doubtful. One of the pictures shows the astronaut in complete shadow because the sun is behind him, although the whole astronaut is caught in vivid light The video cameras used on the mission were specially fitted with night lenses to enhance the lack of light because the reflectivity of light is very low on the moon that light does not reflect onto the rocks on the ground. Having said that how can still camera take photos so bright and clear that one can see all the details on aldrins suit and on the lunar Lander. This is only possible if the artificial lighting is used or it has been added to the photos, although NASA confirmed that absolutely no artificial light was used .how is it possible to have no artificial light and yet the pictures are so bright that even aldrins boot protector is lit up. Dr. David groves that works for quantech image processing has studied these shots and using the focal length of the camera and he was able to get hold of the boot aldrin was wearing and using these tools he was able to find the exact point at which the artificial light was used. Next comes the picture that shows neil Armstrong at landing site in the reflector of his visor. The stange thing about this photo is that the crosshair that is supposed to be in the middle appears at the bottom near aldrins right leg. How is that possible if the cameras where attached to the chest of the cameraman? A fact that is provable due to the reflection of the camera man in the visor. All this evidence suggests that man did not go to the moon and that all the films and pictures are fake because man would have to stay near the earths magnetic field for safety. But why would NASA fake and the US fake the moon landing? NASA Motives There are many theories concerning the motives of the USA government to the stage the moon landing .some of these are war prestige, monetary gain and they also used it as a distraction. It was a very important for the us government to win the race against the soviet union and they also used this incident to distract the world from the Vietnam war ,so missions were cancelled and so the united states took the chance and ceased its partaking in the Vietnam war. According to Bill Kaysing successful landings on the moon was calculated to be 0.017% which ensures that the chance of getting a man to the moon is almost impossible .30 billion was collected and paid off to people as a motivation for their silence . at that time moon landing was impossible and still is impossible, but o fulfill president kennedys promise the only solution was to make the world believe they landed on the moon when they actually did not .another reason NASA was forced to fake the moon landing to protect its image in front of the world and save itself from the embarrassment and their fear of national cautious. Did Man go to the Moon? It is a controversial issue, considering how absurd the question might first seem. Despite the loads of evidence available that prove that the moon landing was faked ,there is still a doubt about the whole issue

Monday, August 19, 2019

Submissive and Evil Women of The Holy Bible :: Holy Bible Essays

The Submissive and Evil Women of the Bible      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Bible and the church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of woman's emancipation.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A famous 19th century feminist named Elizabeth Cady Stanton voiced this about her struggle for women's freedom. Women, considered a lower class than the men, wanted this subjugation changed. Part of the reason for the subjugation of women is that the Bible could be interpreted in many different ways to suit the needs of the interpreter. These interpretations of the Bible are in part responsible for the belief that women are of a lower class than men. The reason this belief is present in our society is that approximately 85% of Americans are Judeo-Christian. We see examples of these beliefs when we look at the church, the daily lives of women, and the media. Looking at 1 Timothy 2:11-12, we see why our religious society could interpret the Bible this way:    Let a woman learn in silence with all submission, and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We must look at the historical context of the passage. Written approximately 2000 years ago, many parts of the Bible seem outdated. The passage portrays a time when women were property and were â€Å"trained† to be weak and fragile. This stopped only about 30 years ago. Before this time, society taught women from birth to be submissive to men. What does this mean to us today? It means that although American Society is no longer training women to be submissive, the problem is still present in our belief system. Many churches do not believe that women should be part of the clergy. This is because they interpret parts of the Bible, such as 1 Timothy 2:11-12, as saying that only men should preach. In 1848, women made a retaliation to these sentiments. At the Seneca Falls convention, women (including Elizabeth Cady Stanton) signed a Declaration of Sentiments. In the declaration it states:      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   He allows her in church, as well as state, but a subordinate position,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   claiming apostolic authority for her exclusion from the ministry,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   and, with some exceptions, from any public participation in the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   affairs of the church  Ã‚   (Declaration 1)      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The people that these women fought against, including other women, believe that it is the duty of a woman to be quiet and submissive. I have experienced this anti-freedom dogma growing up in the Church of Christ community. I experience this dogma when I talk with my grandmother, a woman who lives by

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Lord Of The Flies :: essays research papers

Setting is the physical environment in which action occurs. It is a common literary element of every story. However, when it is used eloquently, it can be seen as brilliant device that aids in the development of a story. In the novel Lord of the Flies, the author, William Golding, focuses on depicting his setting in great detail. Throughout the novel, he utilizes the setting to motivate character behavior, foreshadow events that will take place, and also to represent the values held by the characters. At the beginning of the novel, the characters discover that they are stranded on an island with no other humans. Since all of the characters are children, they are inexperienced on how to handle grave situations. Considering they are all by themselves, their environment forcefully arranges them into two groups. One of the groups is the hunters which will go out and kill animals for food. This group must be created, otherwise, all the characters shall die. The boy who will take on this challenge will be Jack. Jack, at the beginning of the novel, was a very considerate and caring. An example of this takes place in chapter one where he is about to kill a pig but did not have the heart to do it. However as the novel proceeds, his environment, the forest, and his new role of hunter will change him to an uncaring, selfish savage. The other group that will co-exist is one that will stay behind and do non-violent work such as building huts or creating weapons. As a result of having two groups within the whole, a leader must emerge in order to keep the two groups working efficiently. Since there is no adult on the island to take on the responsibility, the character’s environment once again forces them to elect a leader. The person who is elected is Ralph. He is forced to be organized and insightful on how to keep everyone alive. This is shown through him organizing a way for people to voice their opinions in his meetings. It is also shown through him suggesting that they build shelter and appointing people to take on certain parts in that task. Golding also uses the setting in order to foreshadow events that will happen or actions of characters. At the beginning of the novel, he illustrates the island in a fashion that makes it seem heavenly.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

01.02 What is Citizenship? (Honors Extension) FLVS Essay

The bill, titled to provide discretionary authority to an immigration judge to determine that an alien parent of a United States citizen child should not be ordered removed, deported, or excluded from the United States, â€Å"amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, in the case of an alien subject to removal, deportation, or exclusion and who is the parent of a U.S. citizen child, to authorize an immigration judge to decline to order such removal if the judge determines such action to be against the child’s best interests†. It also states that â€Å"such discretion shall not apply to an alien when the judge determines that the alien is, one, excludable or deportable on security grounds, or two, has engaged in sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking in persons†. This bill was originally introduced to the House Committee on the Judiciary in late January of this year. It was later referred to the subcommittee of Immigration and Border Security in February. Representative Jose Serrano introduced the bill to protect the parents of US citizen natural born children from being deported or removed from the country, who are at illegal status, at discretion of the immigration judge. If the bill was passed, many of the illegal immigrants who have children who are citizens of the United States will be able to stay and be legalized into the country, just because they have a child born on U.S. grounds. The people it would affect are illegally residing on U.S. grounds, but have children who were born here. The government will be positively affected through this bill. The numbers of immigrants in the country will decrease by a significant amount if this bill is passed. Many citizens may find this to be a controversial issue. On one hand, the bill allows for these families to be kept together and not separated from one another, but other citizens may argue that there are too many immigrants residing in the country as is, and permitting the parents of these children to stay would be a mistake. Family is a very important thing in life. Immigrant or not, family is family. Intentional separation of a family is unmoral and wrong. This bill would make a positive impact rather than a wrongful one. It gives this group of illegal parents of citizen children and opportunity and a chance to make a good life and provide for their children. If these parents can prove that they deserve to be here and that they can provide a good life and are willing to work to deliver and meet all the necessities of their children if given the chance, why would it be a negative impact on our government or society to pass this bill? Equality makes the United States the so-called â€Å"land of freedom† it is. A mother is a mother, a father is a father, and a child deserves to grow up with the warmth and love from each one. Every child, immigrant parents or not, deserves this opportunity. That is equality.

Employment Law

Introduction This report will outline key arguments surrounding contemporary debates on UK employment law, which will provide a critical analysis from those that argue there is too much legislation and those that suggest there is not enough. It is beyond the scope of this report to generalise on employment law as a whole; it will therefore focus on the right to request flexible working, such as under the Employment Act 2002 and The Work and Families Act 2006 that has been subject to various reforms, amendments and regulations. This legislation has formed a significant debate as to whether such interventions ensure that individuals achieve a work-life balance, promote efficient working practice or create an unnecessary burden on UK businesses (Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD), 2005, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), 2010). This analysis will also look at the introduction of new employment legislation for flexible working, and discuss the impact on working practices today, with a glance toward the shape of new legislation in the future (Chartered Management Institute (CMI),2008). FindingsBackground and ContextThe last three decades have seen a trend toward increasing employment legislation. At the same time the United Kingdom (UK) still has lower levels of employment protection and more labour market flexibility than other European states (Keter, 2010). The flexible market in the UK was inherited through the general laissez-faire attitude, where industrial labour and relation laws have been less state regulated than other European countries (Biagi, 2000). Keter (2010) suggests that today’s flexible market is also the result of more recent trends, which from 1979 saw the introduction of more labour regulations in terms of statutes enacted, but with the aim of setting labour free of interference from state control and what was seen as unnecessary social partners, such as trade unions (ibid). The introduction of a New Labour administration however saw a shift toward more family friendly employment legislation. A European directive from 1997 (European Coun cil Directives 97/81/EC and 98/81/EC) provided that part-time workers be entitled to the same rights as comparable to full-time employees. The directives required European member states to implement laws, regulations and provisions to eliminate discrimination against part-time workers. The aim was to facilitate the development of part-time and other working time arrangements, that were flexible and met the needs of both employers and employees (Danzinger & Waters Boots, 2008). In order to promote citizens full participation in the labour market, the enactment of The Employment Relations Act 1999, while continuing to ensure that labour relations were free of state control, provided a floor of rights, such as increased rights for fixed and part time workers, (Biagi, 2000). Along this trajectory, the Employment Act 2002 introduced legislation providing employees with young or disabled children the right to request flexible working arrangements by their employers, that was subsequently extended in The Work and Families Act 2006 to allow the same rights for carers of adults (Davies, 2011). Lewis and Campbell (2007) suggest that New Labour’s concern with promoting a ‘work-life’ balance underpinned it’s ideological approach to welfare, that saw active citizenship for all achieved principally through labour market participation (Levitas,2005). For all to participate, legislation has provided for the extension of childcare services and ma ternity leave and the introduction of parental and paternity leave. Further, rather than reducing working hours, the Labour government promoted the right to request flexible working hours as a way for families to manage their working patterns with their caring responsibility timetables (Busby and James, 2011). Hill et al (2001) describe flexible working to include activities such as; part-time, job sharing and homeworking or any variation outside of working the traditional nine until five working day. For example, working from home, where such practices are facilitated due to advances in mobile technologies (Civicus, 2008). Lewis & Cooper (2005) argue that although in principle flexible working can take many forms, in reality, the main flexibility that UK employers offer is a reduction of working hours. From an employer’s perspective, employment legislation can also be seen as promoting the creation of work patterns and arrangements in order to maximise employment productivity, customer satisfaction and staff efficiency (Pettinger, 1998). This demand, Pettinger suggests, has come about as a result of the expansion of global markets, competition and choice, pressures on resources and increasing customer demands, together with changing patterns of consumption (ibid). Therefore, Pettinger (1998) suggests that against this backdrop, flexibility can be seen as a corporate attitude, whereby a fully flexible labour market is seen as generating a more effective workforce. Faulkener (2001) argues that while it is recognised that it is the above drivers that have influenced the development of flexible working practices, there is also another important agenda. Here, Jones and Jones (2011) identify that family friendly legislation is more representative of the ‘business case’ for flexible working legislation, which revolves around the identification of recruitment pools, particularly women, and the older population, who have yet to be fully exploited (Faulkener, 2001, Jones & Jones,2011). Arguments Against more Employment Legislation According to a British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) (2010) report on employment regulation, a survey of British businesses see an emerging consensus that the proliferation of legislation providing flexible working conditions has become increasingly problematic. The report argues that the shift from the regulation of collective bargaining to individual employment contracts, later evolving into the volume and complexity of statutory legislation today, has led to difficulties with understanding and compliance (ibid). The report specifically attacks the piecemeal legislative approach to flexible working shown by the latest introduction of laws and regulations (see Appendix 1) According to the BCC (2010), such an approach has been criticised by businesses. The problem for companies is that constant changes in the law mean that employers must incur the cost of familiarising themselves as each new law is enacted, where there is a greater risk of mistakes. As a result, businesses need to bring their knowledge up to date since the previous change in the law, such as through employment law books and guides or paying for legal advice. Consequently, the report argues, employment legislation can act like a tax, by raising costs (ibid). The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (2006) argue further that even if there is a belief that the increase of employment law can improve the flexibility of the labour market, there are still questions as to whether such legislation is fit for purpose. Against a backdrop of increasing employment legislation, a National Audit Office (2009) research paper also casts doubt over whether governments are able to understand business enough to design effective legislation. The BCC (2010), representing one hundred thousand businesses, suggest that due to the volume and complexity of employment legislation, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), now need professional legal advice to settle disputes. In reality, the BCC argue, it is less expensive to settle disputes with the employee and prevent reputational damage than it is to defend a claim. The BCC therefore recommends streamlining and reducing the amount of legislation, for example, in a similar way that the anti-discrimination laws became consolidated by the Equality Act 2010 (ibid, 2010). Despite such criticisms, not all the findings in the business sector are negative. According to a Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD) Survey Report (2005), who surveyed Human Resources professionals from over six hundred companies, the majority saw employment law as making a positive contribution to their businesses. This research suggested that the main barrier to effective implementation of employment law is the perception that there is too much employment legislation (ibid). In response, the Annual Employment Law Review by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) (2012) aims to tackle perceptions that there are ‘too many’ e mployment laws, through lobbying for reform, while ensuring that reforms are not at the expense of compromising fairness for individuals. The report argues that although businesses complain about the amount of employment legislation, in reality the UK has one of the most lightly-regulated labour markets among developed countries. Only the United States and Canada have lighter overall employment regulation (OECD Indicators of Employment Protection, 2008: cit in: BIS, 2012). Arguments in favour of more Employment Legislation The UK’s ‘light touch’ employment regulations may be reflected in their flexible working legislation. The right to request flexible working does not enforce employers to comply with individual requests, only to offer the procedures for them to do so. It is therefore argued that it is individuals (particularly with dependents) and the social organisations who support them, who favour increasing employment legislation, in order to provide fairness at work that ensures a work life balance (Burnett et al, 2012). In a 2012 report by Working Families and One Plus One, Happy Homes and Productive Workplaces, from a sample of over two thousand respondents, nearly eighty percent of respondents felt that flexible working was the most beneficial working arrangement (Burnett et al, 2012). However, the report argued that in order to support flexible working, further legislation was needed in order to promote arrangements that are mutually beneficial and embedded as a culture of flexibility, rather than an approach that manages requests as an exception to the norm (ibid). Along with relationship and family support organisations, a growing number of business and HR associations support further employment legislation and reform to push forward the benefits of flexible working (CIPD, 2013). Drawing on the findings of the 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study (WERS) the CIPD suggest that employment legislation needs to increase, due in part to a lack of effective mechanisms to tackle labour relations. The report points to recent socio-economic and political changes in the UK where an increase in employment law is becoming ever more essential. For example, the facilitation of employment legislation during the 1980’s and 1990’s discouraged union membership and reduced collective bargaining powers. This is reflected in the WERS study, in 2012, which shows very low levels of employee engagement in collective bargaining, only six percent in privat e businesses, with fourteen percent of employee trade union membership in the same sector (Wanrooy et al, 2011). The near absence of collective bargaining, although removing employer constraints on freedom of action, raises concerns over employee voice, where employment legislation may be seen as an attempt to close this gap (CIPD, 2012). Danzinger and Waters Boots (2008), argue that in reality flexible working legislation does not go far enough. Unions and parent advocacy groups argue that many workers who would benefit from flexible arrangements do not ask for them out of fear of being refused, or because of a fear that asking may jeopardise their careers. Research suggests that employees will only ask for flexible work if they believe their requests will be approved. It is also argued that flexible working legislation may reinforce gender inequalities by linking flexible work and care responsibilities, reinforcing a ‘mother career track’ that pairs women with demotions of pay and position. Further, unfair dismissal claims, involving refusal of flexible working, tend to favour women, who can rely on anti-discrimination legislation, such as in Adedeji v The City of London Corporation (2007) (see Appendix 2), in order to strengthen their claims (ibid). Future Changes to Flexible Working Legislation New flexible working employment legislation to come into effect in 2014 appears to address some of the above criticisms. The government plans to extend the statutory right to request flexible working arrangements to all employees (with over twenty-six weeks service) whether they are a carer or not. This removes the present requirement that the employee must have caring responsibilities. In addition, the procedure for considering flexible working requests, which is currently very prescriptive, will be relaxed and employers will instead be required to consider requests in a ‘reasonable’ manner and within a ‘reasonable’ time frame (ACAS, 2014). Currently, it is possible for an employee to claim compensation due to the employer’s failure to comply with the procedures laid down in the Flexible Working (Procedural Requirements) Regulations 2002. In Bryan v Corporate Advertising Ltd ET/2105111/10, although the tribunal rejected Mrs Bryan’s claim that she was constructively dismissed and subjected to indirect sex discrimination, it was however held that the company had breached the procedures laid down by the 2002 Regulations. This procedural breach may no longer by relied upon under the 2014 legislation. However, successful claims may still be used under anti-discrimination legislation. In Commotion Ltd v Rutty [2006] IRLR 171 (EAT), it was upheld that the employee had been subject to constructive unfair dismissal and indirect sex discrimination, due to the employer’s failure to have any lawful reason to reject flexible working conditions. However, in Winfindale v Debenhams Retail plc (ET/2404134/10, 20 Aug 2010), it was held that there was no indirect sex discrimination where an employer showed that they took seriously a request to return from maternity leave on a part-time basis to a manager’s role. According to a Equality and Human Rights Commission report (2009), proposed changes in flexible working legislation will continue to fail to encourage workers in management positions to request flexible arrangements (EHRC, 2009). The report suggests that under current legislation, employee’s in management positions are less likely to make a request for flexible working, and when they do, they are less likely to succeed (ibid). In the government’s Consultation on Modern Workplaces Report (2012), it is argued that current legislation that prioritises certain groups reinforces the idea that flexible working is only for those in caring roles, whereas the aim of the new legislation is to promote a culture where flexible working is a legitimate ambition for all employees (HM Government, 2009). Although the legislation proposes to ‘allow’ but not ‘require’ employers to prioritise competing requests, employers will continue to have to show that all competing requests cannot always be accommodated, in their entirety, on business grounds (ibid). Drawing on the CIPD report (2005), a large majority of employers find compliance with the current legislation relatively straightforward. Of those who have had problems, the main barrier to compliance is that managers find it difficult to manage employees on different flexible working arrangements. Given that the new legislation attempts to widen the right to request flexible working to all employees, employers may face an increased challenge to accommodate competing requests. However, according to the same report, since the introduction of the current legislation, less than one-tenth of employers have faced grievance or disciplinary proceedings, or an employment tribunal claim. Further, research shows that it is large multi-national companies that benefit most from flexible working arrangements. Among those benefits are improvements in staff retention, improved morale and a reduction in costs (CIPD, 2005). These reported benefits need to be balanced against arguments that oppose mor e legislation promoting flexible working (ibid). More significantly, the statutory provision to enable greater flexibility in the workplace looks set to increase in the future. In a recent report, Management Futures – The World in 2018 (2008), the findings predict that organisations will become more virtual, the premium for talent will increase, with new aspirations and ambitions of a multi-cultural, widely dispersed workforce (Chartered Management Institute (CMI),2008). Conclusion This report has attempted to provide an insight into the contextual background surrounding employment laws in the UK today. The focus on flexible working legislation may be seen as a salient debate, given the competing claims from employers, employees and the organisations that support them (Burnett et al, 2012). At the same time, against a backdrop of socio-political and economic changes there has been an increasing legislative response to address both the rights of individual workers and a drive to improve competition, efficiency and development in the market (Pettinger, 1998). Given the predictions of further changes in the labour market, statutory provision looks set to increase in response. The debate for or against increasing legislation surrounding flexible working therefore needs to be balanced with the benefit to both businesses and the rights of individuals (CIPD, 2005). Word count: 2644 Bibliography Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) (2014) Employment Law Update. Available [online] from: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3909 [Accessed on 4th January 2014] Anderman, S.D (2000) Labour Law:Management Decisions and Workers Rights:4th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) (2005) Employment Law: Burden or BenefitBCC Available [online] from: http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/ [Accessed on 4th January 2014] British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) (2010) Employment Regulation: Up to the JobMarch 2010. Available [online] from: http://www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk [Accessed on: 4th January 2014] Biagi, M (2000) Job Creation and Labour Law: From Protection Towards Pro-action. The Hague: Klvwar Law International Burnett, S Coleman, L, Houlston C, Reynolds, J (2012) Happy Homes and Productive Workplaces: Summary Report of Research Findings. Available [online] from: http://www.oneplusone.org.uk [Accessed on: 4th January 2014] Busby , N & James, G (2011) Families, Care-giving and Paid Word: Challenging Labour Law in the 21st Century. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD) (2012) Flexible Working Provision and Uptake Survey Report. May 2012. Available [online] from: http://www.cipd.co.uk/binaries/5790%20Flexible%20Working%20SR%20(WEB2).pdf [Accessed on: 4th January 2014] Chartered Management Institute (CMI) (2008) Management Futures: The World in 2018. CMI. Available [online] from: http://www.managers.org.uk-research-policy-published-reports [Accessed on 4th January 2014] Civicus (2008) Strategic Directions 2008-2012 World Alliance for Citizen Participation Available [online] from: http://civicus.org/downloads/SDConsultation/Annex%209%20-%202008-2012%20CIVICUS%20Strategic%20Directions.pdf Danzinger, A & Waters Boots, S (2008) Memo on the Impact of the United Kingdoms Flexible Working Act. Georgetown: Georgetown University Law Centre Davies, A (2011) Employment Law and Workplace Law Handbook: Human Resources. Cambridge: Workplace Law Group Ltd Department for Business Innovation and Skills (2012) Employment Law Review – Annual Update 2012. Available [online] from: http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/government/publication [Accessed on 4th January 2014] Department of Trade and Industry (dti) (2006) Employment Flexibility and UK Regional Unemployment: Persistance and Micro-economic Shocks. Employment Relations Research Series No.65. Available [online] from: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file36144.pdf [Accessed on 4th January 2014] Equality and Human Rights Commission Report (2009) Flexible Working Policies: A Comparative Review. Research Report 16. Available [online] from: http://www.equalityandhumanrightscommission.com Faulkner, F. 2001 ‘The technology question in feminism: A view from feminist technology studies’, Women’s Studies International Forum, Vol. 2, No.1, pg.79-95. Hill, E.J., Hawkins, A.J., Ferris, M. & Weitzman, M. 2001. ‘Finding an Extra Day a Week: The Positive Influence of Perceived Job Flexibility on Work and Family Life Balance’ Family Relations, 50(1): pg.49-58. HM Government (2012) Consultation on Modern Workplaces, Modern Workplaces – Government Response on Flexible Parental Leave. November 2012. HM Government. Available [online] from: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-modern-workplaces/ [Accessed on 4th January 2014] Honeyball, S (2008) Honeyball and Bowers Textbook on Employment Law:10th Edition. Oxford:Oxford University Press James, G (2006) The Work and Families Act 2006: Legislation to improve choice and flexibilityIndustrial Law Journal. Vol:35,issue 3 pp: 272-278 Jones, K & Jones, E (2011) Flexible Working Practices in the UK:Gender and Management Perspectives. Women in Society, Vol 2 Autumn 2011Available [online] from: http://www.newport.ac.uk/research/Journals/wis/vol2/Pages/default.aspx [Accessed on 4th January 2014] Keter, V (2010) Issues in Employment Law: Key Issues for the New Parliament 2010. House of Commons Library Research, Social Reform. Available [online] from: http//wwwParliament.uk/doc ument/key%20issues%20in%employment. [Accessed on: 4th January 2014] National Audit Office (2009) Complying with Regulation: Business Perceptions Survey 2009. Available [online] from: http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0809/complying_with_regulation.aspx Painter, R & Holmes,A (2008) Cases and Materials on Employment Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press Pettinger (1998) Managing the Workforce. London: Cassell Trade Union Congress (TUC) (2008) Changing Times Newsletter No.92 13th February 2008. Trade Union Congress. Available [online] from: http://www.tuc.org.uk/welfare-and†¦issues/†¦/changing-times-newsletter-no.92 Wanrooy,B, Bweley, H, Bryson,A, Forth,J, Freeth,S, Stokes, L, Wood,S (2011) The 2011 Employment Relations Study:First Finding. London: The Workplace Employment Relations Study. Available [online] at http://www.gov.uk/13.1010.WERS-first-findings-report-third-edition [Accessed on: 4th January 2014]