Diversity And Its Effect On Society - 942 Words

Diversity in society helps us to grow as individuals and open our minds to different ways of life. When you are exposed to different ways of life and see how other cultures carry on then you are no longer closed to the idea that we are all different. Diversity also promotes tolerance. In terms of being tolerant that means diversity can help us accept other cultures, it can even adapt some cultural ways and values into our society. The point is, we are all different. Yet the differences that we have between us can be used to strengthen society as we know it. Diversity allows us the opportunity to learn, grow, understand new ways of living, and experience life to the fullest. Without diversity, we are closed off in our own worlds, but with it, we expand our knowledge and we are no longer ignorant. When you are aware of the differences and embrace them, then you have taken the blind fold off to living differently and you are a better person for it. The key is exposure and using what you learned to increase tolerance and decrease racism. Ta-Nehisi Coates view of the Mecca, a passage into a far-reaching thought of blackness encouraged by greater exposure to the black diaspora, which represents the â€Å"lovely things†, the language, mannerism, food, music, and literature, describes the diversity of HBCUs. Diversity has been a force for change because it boosts educational innovation which leads to educational growth, more jobs, and interaction between diverse cultures. HBCUs such asShow MoreRelatedUsing Material from Item a and Elsewhere Assess Sociological Explanations of the Nature and Extent of Family Diversity Today.1596 Words   |  7 Pagesexplanations of the nature and extent of family diversity today. Family diversity is the idea that there are a range of different family types, rather than a single dominant one like the nuclear family. It is associated with the post-modernists idea that in today’s society increasing choice about relationships is creating greater family diversity. Item A makes clear that different sociologists ‘are divided over both the extent of family diversity and its importance’. The Functionalists and theRead MoreThe As A Way Of Life1173 Words   |  5 Pagescomplete stranger walking down the street in Holland than it is in Manhattan? What makes people view the homeless differently in a small town versus a large city? People have often wondered what makes cities so socially different than any other area in society. Louis Wirth published his theories on ideas like this in his 1938 article Urbanism as a Way of Life. Contrary to many other theologians, Wirth explains the scarcity of interpersonal relations in urban areas through population density and specializationRead MoreClass Lecture On Diversity : The Fundamental Understanding Of Race, Class, And Gender Essay1564 Words   |  7 PagesOur class lecture on diversity was overall very informative and shared a lot of the values that I hold myself. The lecture went over the fu ndamental understanding of race, class, and gender as well as social interactions. Understanding differences in one another helps us all to recognize and appreciate the intercultural dynamics. Understanding that we have similar interests or beliefs can encourage cooperation and cohesion. Diversity can be defined as people coming together from different races,Read MoreThe Value Of Diversity Within The Workplace1163 Words   |  5 PagesThe Value of Diversity in the Workplace Globalization sets the perfect environment to develop diversity in the workplace. This new society, in which we are currently living, has created a new workforce that is based on its diversity that can greatly help with any business development and growth. In business, diversity brings opportunities to grow, expand and reach out to other markets by utilizing the values, ideas and the diverse skills that people from many different backgrounds have to offer.Read MoreBoard Diversity As An Effective Corporate Governance1551 Words   |  7 PagesBoard Diversity as an Effective Corporate Governance Tool in a Developing Economy: Challenges and Prospects. NAME: BASSEY EDIDIONG OFFIONG The thesis will examine the effect of board diversity as a critical factor for ensuring effective corporate governance among public companies across the globe. The motivation for the research came on the backdrop of the approval of the European Commission proposal by the European Parliament to improve the gender balance in company boards last year which callsRead MoreDavid Brookss People Like Us1695 Words   |  7 Pagestime with the necessity of diversity in not only the United States of America but also the global world. In his essay People Like Us, David Brooks challenges our assumptions about diversity, and Brooks convince us to rethink the value of diversity in American culture. Michael Jonas, who is the acting editor of CommonWealth magazine, a nonpartisan public policy think tank in Boston, approaches why all other studies about diverse communities in America show negative effects of decreasing civic engagementRead MoreDiversity and Ethics in the Workplace796 Words   |  4 Pagesis and has been one of the most common forms of repression in different societies and cultures in all times. Global and cultural diversity are the biggest and most important challenges that organizations face in nowadays. The diversity of the workforce means that organizations are becoming more heterogeneous in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, ethnic origin, for health, occupation, etc. Diversity is an advantage in this global world, and it cannot be considered as aRead MoreDiversity1703 Words   |  7 PagesDiversity in Canada August 23, 2011 Abstract In this paper I will be looking at diversity in Canada and how the term of diversity is used to refer to cultural differences, how it applies to all the qualities that make people different. Diversity is shown in mutual respect and appreciation of the similarities and differences such as age, culture, education, ethnicity, experience, gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation. An environment where diversity is respected is on whereas individualsRead MoreThe Impact Of Globalization On Cultural Diversity1394 Words   |  6 PagesNowadays, the traditional cultures are disappearing since diverse cultures play a critical role in the society. Many people have been experiencing the negative effects of the globalization process. This paper will be focused on the impact of globalization on cultural diversity. First, it is about the concept of multiculturalism which is an adequate concept of culture today. Second, it will be explained about the difference of cultures which are supposed t o considered equal by defining the term minorityRead MoreEssay about answers for p5 Unit 3 Assignment 3 P5 P6 M3 D21025 Words   |  5 PagesPublic Services Unit 3 Citizenship, Diversity and the Public Services Assignment: Diversity and Equality of Services Date of Issue: Assignment Deadline: Assignment includes: P5 Review the methods used by public services to ensure they have a diverse workforce P6 Explain the duty of public services to provide equality of service to all citizens M3 Analyse the effectiveness of the methods used by public services to promote equality and diversity in society and within the service D2 Evaluate the

Modern Influences Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 2276 Words

The Modern influences of The Epic of Gilgamesh â€Å"Who says Gilgamesh ever died?† (Ziolkowski 57). The Epic of Gilgamesh has remained a widely read story throughout the years. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story of an imperfect hero on a journey for everlasting life. It features Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, and Enkidu, a wild beast man, on a journey of heroic quests and misadventures. This story has inspired many new literary and visual works in many languages; it has also inspired modern archeologists to learn all about the ancient city from the epic. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest epic known to date. It is an old Babylonian tale first written down in Sumerian. The first known copy of the epic is dated to around 2100 to 2000 B.C.E. However, it is believed to have originated many years earlier passed along though oral story telling. The epic was used in Babylonian schools to teach literature to students (Puchner 36). In ancient times, the Epic of Gilgamesh was widely read from Mesopotamia to Syria to Levant and Anatolia. The epic was also translated into non-Mesopotamian languages such as Hittite (Puchner 34). The story we know today was expanded upon around 1200 B.C.E. by a Babylonian priest. â€Å"The eleven-tablet version may be said to have assumed its present form during the latter part of the second millennium†(Abusch 618). It was then written down again and stored in the library of an Assyrian king named Ashurbanipal (Ziolkowski 55-56). It was thanks to this act thatShow MoreRelatedThe Epic of Gilgamesh1193 Words   |  5 Pagesday and age, literature and media have ample effect on how our society influences individuals. Women are perceived as sexual objects, but have the ability to persuade and influence the male character in literature. The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays the significance ancient Mesopotamian Literature has made on the social image that women possess pertaining to sexuality and appearances to the public eye in modern cul ture. In Gilgamesh, the harlot Shamhat held a reputation proving that women are only representedRead MoreGender Inequality In Gilgamesh Essay1339 Words   |  6 Pagesover again in several ancient societies up to modern day societies. In Gilgamesh, male characters are emphasized much more than female characters, however, the female characters are crucial in the epic as they help to drive the plot forward through their actions. Despite the constant presence of gender roles throughout history, the women of Gilgamesh challenge the very existence of gender inequality, exposing their diverse roles and power in the epic to represent that women can be very influentialRead MoreSimilarities Between Paradise Lost And Paradise Lost1239 Words   |  5 PagesParadise Lost comparison to three epics of antiquity There are many ways to compare and contrast Paradise Lost with the three other epics of antiquity. The epics are Paradise Lost, Aeneid, The Epic Gilgamesh, and The Iliad. The most obvious difference is era. Paradise Lost is an epic poem from the 17th century and is written in blank verse which is the most modern phrasing method. According to an article on Enotes, out of the other three epics, the Iliad and Aeneid came from the same dactyllicRead MoreReview Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh 1301 Words   |  6 Pagesby the protagonist. The Epic of Gilgamesh, a story written thousands of years ago by the ancient Sumerians, follows the same archetypes as any modern day quest story. Gilgamesh begins his quest when he is separated from his normal life in Uruk and meets Enkidu. He then loses Enkidu and leaves on another journey in search of immortality. He succeeds in finding immortality but ultimately loses it a short time later, and ends his quest when he returns to Uruk. While this epic tell s an interesting storyRead MoreThe Modern Epic of Batman Essay731 Words   |  3 Pages An epic is a long narrative poem that tells the exploits of an epic hero. Epics are comprised of an epic hero and an epic battle between good and evil. The earliest known epic today is The Epic of Gilgamesh. This tale is about Gilgamesh’s search for eternal life. Although epics have been around for thousands of years, the epic tradition still has an enormous impact on modern writing and film. In fact, Batman, a story about Bruce Wayne trying to conquer all criminals in Gotham, can be seen as modernRead MoreThe Epic of Gilgamesh1067 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, overwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh forRead MoreComparing the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis1005 Words   |  5 Pages The Epic of Gilgamesh has many similarities to the Bible, especially in Genesis and it’s not just that the both begin with the letter â€Å"g†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢! One major similarity being the flood story that is told in both works. The two stories are very similar but also very different. Another being the use of serpents in both works and how they represent the same thing. A third similarity being the power of God or gods and the influence they have on the people of the stories. Within these similarities there areRead More Comparing and Contrasting Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bibles Noahs Ark642 Words   |  3 PagesComparing and Contrasting Epic of Gilgamesh and Noahs Ark Many cultures have stories of a great flood, and probably the best known story is of Noahs Ark. The next most notable is the Sumerian story of Ut-Napishtim found in the Epic of Gilgamesh. In the ancient Babylonian depiction of the flood story, the god Enlil creates a flood to destroy a noisy mankind that is disturbing his sleep. Gilgamesh is told by another god, Ea, to build an ark (Monack 1). The Epic of Gilgamesh has broadly the sameRead More Role of Women in The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay959 Words   |  4 PagesAbout 2700 years ago there lived a king by the name of Gilgamesh who ruled the city of Uruk in Mesopotamia now known to us as modern day Iraq. Parts of his life are written on clay tablets believed to be the oldest existing written story of a man’s life. (XI). â€Å"The epic of Gilgamesh†, is the story of his quest for eternal life. In this paper I will be writing about the influence that the women in his life have played in his quest. The women are, Shamhat, Ninsun, Ishtar, and, â€Å"TheRead MoreCharles Baudelaire And Victor Hugo976 Words   |  4 Pagesto the modern stature of art. Elegies are poems defined on the thematic approach, generally lamenting a death of a loved one. In some languages, elegies hold a set pattern of metre rather than a thematical set up of the poem. For example, Duineser Elegien written in German talks about a spiritual plane and search for the meaning of life. In English Literature, elegies are generally dealt by the thematic approach but gives the freedom to allegorically define the loss of some entity. The modern era had

Advantages of Starting Up a Business Free Essays

Advantages of Starting up a Business * Being your own Boss  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ you can make your own decisions, keep your own time and not have to answer to â€Å"The Boss† * Hard Work Know How  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ If you are a hard worker and / or have immense industry know how, you may want to benefit from the long hours you do or the knowledge that you have acquired over time. * Financial Independence  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ One day, you may realise your dream of financial independence * Creative Freedom  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ no more restrictions, you can do what you like and have the freedom to work, design, create, build what you think is best – your way! Goodwill  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ you don’t have to pay for it (as if your would if you were buying a business) – you get to build it * Location, Premises, Building Fitout  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ you get to choose it all * Staff  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ your not lumped with staff you don’t want. You hire and train from scratch – your way * No Bad Name  Ã¢â‚¬â €œ a fresh business, a fresh start. We will write a custom essay sample on Advantages of Starting Up a Business or any similar topic only for you Order Now Your name has no bad history with suppliers or customers. If you buy a business, you may find some people just won’t deal with the business because of past dealings * Business Image  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ you create the business image you want. Your way. Disadvantages of starting your own small or medium business can include: * Cash Flow  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ your business may not have a positive cash flow for two years – how are you going to cover that? * Competitors  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ you may invest all this time, money and effort into your business and a large competitor targets your customers and offers them a similar product / service at below your cost – until your business has failed. While this may be anti – competitive and contravene sections of  The Trade Practices Act 1974, it may be too late for your business * Homework  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ have you done it? You may do it all and then find when you are all set up, that something from left field becomes apparent and significantly alters the outlook of your business * History  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ If you buy a business, you are buying something. You are buying history of the business trading, you have staff in place, equipment and premises in place, customers ringing in with orders on your first Monday morning. If you start a business, you have no history. Everything must be generated from scratch. * Married to the Business  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ this is a common hrase from small business owners. It basically means, your hours of work and level of commitment is such that you cannot take a holiday, your business is always with you (day, nights ; weekends) and basically your neck is on the line. You can’t just throw the keys back and give it all away if it gets too hard! * Suppliers  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Suppliers may not extend you credit as your business has no history, so you may have to pay upfront for your goo ds, and you may not collect money from your customers for those goods for 90 – 120 days. This is very detrimental to cash flow. Can you sustain this? Have you factored it into your budget? * Family  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ is your family situation such that you can undertake this huge venture of starting a small business from scratch? Think carefully about starting a business from scratch. It often means a huge sacrifice with no guarantee of reward. Your current employed situation may actually be a better position than starting a small business. Good luck, in whatever you may decide. Please think about the advantages and disadvantages of starting a small business. Our list above is only a starting point, each situation will be different. If you are seriously considering starting a small business, Rogerson Kenny Business Accountants offer a free initial consultation, so you can discuss with us your ideas! Advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing business Advantages * Some of the groundwork to get the business up and running will have been done. * It may be easier to obtain finance as the business will have a proven track record. * A market for the product or service will have already been demonstrated. There may be established customers, a reliable income, a reputation to capitalise and build on and a useful network of contacts. * A business plan and marketing method should already be in place. * Existing employees should have experience you can draw on. * Many of the problems will have been discovered and solved already. Disadvantages * You often need to invest a large amount up front, and will also have to budget for professional fe es for solicitors, surveyors, accountants etc. * You will probably also need several months’ worth of working capital to ssist with cashflow. * If the business has been neglected you may need to invest quite a bit more on top of the purchase price to give it the best chance of success. * You may need to honour or renegotiate any outstanding contracts the previous owner leaves in place. * You also need to consider why the current owner is selling up and how this might impact the business and your taking it over. * It’s possible current staff may not be happy with a new boss, or the business might have been run badly and staff morale may be low. Advantages and disadvantages of franchising Advantages * Your business is based on a  proven idea. You can check how successful other franchises are before committing yourself. * You can use a recognised  brand name  and  trade marks. You benefit from any advertising or promotion by the owner of the franchise – the ‘franchisor’. * The franchisor gives you  support  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ usually including training, help setting up the business, a manual telling you how to run the business and ongoing advice. * You usually have  exclusive rights  in your territory. The franchisor won’t sell any other franchises in the same territory. Financing  the business may be easier. Banks are sometimes more likely to lend money to buy a franchise with a good reputation. * You can benefit from communicating and sharing ideas with, and receiving support from, other franchisees in the network. * Relationships with  suppliers  have already been established. Disadvantages * Costs  may be higher than you exp ect. As well as the initial costs of buying the franchise, you pay continuing management service fees and you may have to agree to buy products from the franchisor. The franchise agreement usually includes  restrictionson how you can run the business. You might not be able to make changes to suit your local market. * The franchisor might go  out of business. * Other franchisees could give the brand a  bad reputation, so the recruitment process needs to be thorough * You may find it difficult to  sell  your franchise – you can only sell it to someone approved by the franchisor. * All profits (a percentage of sales) are usually shared with the franchisor. How to cite Advantages of Starting Up a Business, Papers

General Intelgency Nurture Theory of Psychology

Question: Explain the concept of nature and nurture and how it is a debate; consider with examples how it might be used to explain child development. Answer: The debate relating nature and nurture theory of psychology has been ongoing for a fair amount of time and is concerned with the fact that which particular aspect of the human behavior is a product regarding the inherited that is the genetic or the acquired that is the learned characteristics. These two aspects are considered important in case development of a child in terms of his behavioral and psychological aspects (Archard 2014). Figure 1: Approach to psychology through the aspect of Nature and Nurture theory, Source: (Archard 2014) With respect to the current context, it can be said that one of the oldest arguments of psychology is considered as the controversy regarding the nature and nurture theory of psychology (Bornstein and Bradley 2014). Each of these above-mentioned two aspects has both the positive and negative sides as well. the main controversy is related to the fact that whether the development of a child is predisposed in his DNA, which is acquired through his or parents or the majority of his characteristics is influenced by the real life experiences according to his her surrounding environment (Eagly and Wood 2013). Nature and nurture refer to the innate qualities of an individual in comparison to his personal experiences. This brings about the individual differences in case of the behavioral traits. It is a debate that has been continuing in the developmental sciences, emerging from the research findings and theoretical perspectives in the fields of education, neuroscience, sociology and psychology. Nature and nurture are a complimentary and conflicting dialogue with an immense underlying principle of extremely dynamic and complex interaction that occurs between the environmental influences ad biological factors, related to child development (Golombok et al. 2014). The developmental pathways and human mind do not follow a fixed effect and cause pattern. Instead, the developmental transformations are regarded as unpredictable as the environment initiates the processes of neurobiology and the child as per his individuality interprets them. These transformations result as a complex interrelation of process, substance and time and occurs a dynamic play between the environmental experience and gene action that continues as long as the child lives. The effects of these two factors are most prominent in the earliest years of the life of the child when the brain growth takes place at its peak velocity (Gottlieb 2014). The predisposition of the child to learn and brains plasticity are shaped by the stimulation of emotional, cultural, cognitive and social nature and the environmental influences for the creation of new pathways for development and learning. The debate of nature versus nurture is applied as a mean for describing the differences that occur during development of a child. Nature is the hereditary or biological information that shapes the learning and development of the child whereas nurture refers to the everyday interactions the child faces in their environment. Based on the individual differences in the development of a child, it can be said that characteristics and heredity of a child remain stable throughout his life whereas the experiences of early life of the child shape the future behavior patterns. However, new experiences bring a change in behavior. Caregivers and parents are often of the opinion that child development is largely dependent on nature. That is the reason they provide children with various activities for stimulating the change (Gross 2015). If they were of the belief that nurture and not nature is responsible for child development, they would have provided the activities for stimulation at a much earl ier age. In addition, they would have cared to provide the child with high quality experiences for ensuring a better adulthood for him. Another phenomenon which is observed that there are certain characteristics which are not observed at the time of birth of a particular child but they tend to emerge later in their life. These properties are often categorized as the product of maturation. The reason behind this type of phenomenon is that every individual has a particular inner biological clock (Slee and Shute 2014). Which stitches on and off with respect to certain behavioral aspects. A classic example of such phenomenon is the typical physical development or the bodily changes, which occur at the time of early adolescent or puberty. There are also some arguments that maturation actually governs the fact of emergence regarding attachment of infancy, cognitive development and the language acquisition as well (Harold et al. 2013). Nature or the genetics is to be proven as one of the reasons, which affect the development of the mental health of an individual. In many cases, at the development stage of a child, diseases like schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar syndrome may occur. However, it can also be said that there is certain importance of the genetic factors regarding the mental illness and its development in the case of children. If one twin develops the event of schizophrenia, then there is a fifty percent of a chance that the second twin will also develop the same. This phenomenon states the importance and contributing part of nature (Horowitz 2014). In recent times, with respect to the current context, it is proposed that the nature and nurture do not independently in case of development of a child. It is suggested that both the nature and nurture are essential in case of development of particular set behavioral characteristics. It is also suggested that it is almost impossible to state that whether a particular behavior is a result of genetics or the effect of the surrounding environment (Magnusson 2015). In recent years, there has been an enormous amount of advances in the field of genetics. For example, The Human Genome project is considered to be one of the most important aspects for the purpose of tracing down the behavior and properties of particular regions of DNA located in specific chromosomes as well (Kan et al. 2013). A recent study on the particular hereditary and problems regarding the alcoholism indicated that adopted child with the presence of alcoholic parents are four times more likely to become alcoholic than the scenario where their presence are not alcoholic (Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi 2014). New findings also suggest that there is some relatedness in terms of genetics. In terms of nurture, it is meant that the environment and people surrounding the child. This may affect heavily on the mind set and development of a particular child. In many cases, the adult individuals possess many diseases in term of psychological aspect. From taking examples of such phenomenon, it can be said that the nurture aspect also effects heavily in terms of the development of a particular child (Lemer and Lemer 2013). Researchers in the current context have stated that nature and nurture both concur that the linkage between the behavior and the gene is not always the same as the cause and the effect. It is observed that a gene may sometimes increase the likelihood of to behave a particular child in a certain manner but it do not influence a child to do or act in a particular manner (Shaffer and Kipp 2013). As a result, it can be said that the child actually still possesses the choice of what he or she wants to be or wants to act. Some of the social scientists also stated that the interaction of a child with both the nature and nurture play an important role in that particular child's life and effect the life of that particular child's in such a manner that it will impact on the characteristics when he or she is full grown (Stemberg and Stemberg 2015). These proper environments not only consist the child's symbolic and social setting but also of the natural environments as well. Another who should be included in the conclusion is that the intermediary heritability of a child always shapes the traits through both the environment and the genetic depositions as a child develops with respect to age. It can be said that all nature depends on the nurture and the process is vice versa as well as both of them exist and coexist with each other. References Archard, D., 2014.Children: Rights and childhood. Routledge. Bornstein, M.H. and Bradley, R.H. eds., 2014.Socioeconomic status, parenting, and child development. Routledge. Eagly, A.H. and Wood, W., 2013. The naturenurture debates 25 years of challenges in understanding the psychology of gender.Perspectives on Psychological Science,8(3), pp.340-357. Golombok, S., Mellish, L., Jennings, S., Casey, P., Tasker, F. and Lamb, M.E., 2014. Adoptive gay father families: Parentchild relationships and children's psychological adjustment.Child Development,85(2), pp.456-468. Gottlieb, G., 2014.Synthesizing nature-nurture: Prenatal roots of instinctive behavior. Psychology Press. Gross, R., 2015.Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour 7th Edition. Hodder Education. Harold, G.T., Leve, L.D., Elam, K.K., Thapar, A., Neiderhiser, J.M., Natsuaki, M.N., Shaw, D.S. and Reiss, D., 2013. The nature of nurture: Disentangling passive genotypeenvironment correlation from family relationship influences on children's externalizing problems.Journal of Family Psychology,27(1), p.12. Horowitz, F.D., 2014.Exploring developmental theories: Toward a structural/behavioral model of development. Psychology Press. Kan, K.J., Wicherts, J.M., Dolan, C.V. and van der Maas, H.L., 2013. On the nature and nurture of intelligence and specific cognitive abilities the more heritable, the more culture dependent.Psychological science, p.0956797613493292. Lerner, R.M. and Lerner, J.V., 2013.Developmental psychology(pp. 624-631). Springer Netherlands. Magnusson, D., 2015.Individual Development from an Interactional Perspective (Psychology Revivals): A Longitudinal Study. Psychology Press. Seligman, M.E. and Csikszentmihalyi, M., 2014.Positive psychology: An introduction(pp. 279-298). Springer Netherlands. Shaffer, D. and Kipp, K., 2013.Developmental psychology: Childhood and adolescence. Cengage Learning. Slee, P.T. and Shute, R., 2014.Child Development: Thinking About Theories Texts in Developmental Psychology. Routledge. Sternberg, R.J. and Sternberg, K., 2015.Cognitive psychology. Nelson Education.

Nicholas Coppernicus Essays - Copernican Revolution,

Nicholas Coppernicus Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer, best known for the astronomical theory that the sun is stationary and Earth, spinning on it's axis once daily, revolves around the sun annually. He was very intelligent and was educated at various universities. If Copernicus hadn't challenged Pltolmy's theory, it would have affected us in many ways. Space travel, satellites, and weather prediction would not be as advanced. Nicolaus Copernicus was born on February 19, 1473 in Torun, Poland (Wood 87). He was born into a family of merchants. Copernicus uncle, Bishop Lukasz Watzerode, made sure his nephew obtained a solid education. In 1491 Copernicus enrolled in Jagiellonian University. From there he studied liberal arts for four years but received no degree. Like many others he went to Italy to study medicine and law (Smith 1039). Before he left, his uncle appointed him a church administrator in Fronbork. He then used the money from there to pay for school. Copernicus began to study canon lay at the University of Bologna in 1497. At that time he, was living at the home of mathematics professor, Domenico Maria de Novara. Copernicus astronomical and geographical interests were greatly inspired by Novara (Westman). Around 1500 Copernicus gave speeches on astronomy to people in Rome. Later that year he gained permission to study medicine at Padua University. Copernicus, without completing his medical studies , received a doctorate in canon law from Ferrara in 1503, after which he returned to Poland to take up his administrative duties (Smith 1039). From 1503 to 1510, Copernicus stayed in his uncle's bishop palace in Lidzbark Warmiski. From there he published his first book, a Latin translation of letters on morals by a Byzantine writer. Between the times of 1507 and 1515, he completed a short astronomical book. It was not published until the 19th century (Wood 87). The main premises of the Copernican theory were that Earth rotates daily on its axis, while revolving yearly around the sun. He argued that other planets also circle the sun. His theories of planetary motion had the advantage of accounting for the daily and yearly motion of the sun and stars. It explained the apparent motion of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn and the fact that Mercury and Venus never moved more than a certain distance from the sun. His theory also stated that the sun was stationary. Another important aspect on Copernican's theory was that it allowed some kind of order of the planets, according to their periods of revolution. Unlike Pltolomy's theory, the greater the radius of the planets orbits, the greater the planet takes to make one revolution around the sun. Not many 16th century readers wanted to believe the Copernican theory. They didn't believe that there was a rotating Earth and that it spun 24 hours a day (westman). Nicolaus Copernicus passed away in 1543, but no one forgot his astronomical theory. By the 17th century, most major thinkers in England, France and Denmark were Copernicans, but natural philosophers in other European countries held strong anti-Copernican views for a least another century. Copernicus was a very intellectual man. He was one of the greatest thinkers of all time. For him to challenge Pltolmy's theory was very courageous at that time. Many people doubted his theory. It was hard for people to believe something so different to what they had known. It's incredible that Copernicus didn't let society change his thinking. If it wasn't for his intelligence and courage, we wouldn't have the knowledge to test our space technology.

In Absentia Used As An Adjective

In Absentia Used As An Adjective â€Å"In Absentia† Used As An Adjective â€Å"In Absentia† Used As An Adjective By Maeve Maddox A reader has asked me to comment on the following uses of the Latin phrase in absentia (â€Å"in his/her absence†) in The Harvard Crimson: Headline: FAS Relaxes In Absentia Rules Text: Undergraduates studying abroad in spring 2007 will be able to take their fall exams early- if their instructors approve- rather than having to lug their books overseas for in absentia exams. The reader feels that the phrase should not be used to describe a noun: This usage looks incorrect to me. M-W describes [in absentia] only as an adverb. Regardless of what it says in the dictionary, in absentia is often used as a qualifier in academic and legal contexts: Fallows intended his in  absentia  program as a vehicle for reaching adults, not as  an option for the conventional, youthful collegiate audience. All degree requirements must be completed or in progress before the student can begin the in absentia graduation process. The in absentia registration fee is $25. If a defendant takes off during the pretrial phase, however, he may be able to elude an  in absentia conviction. In general usage, there’s no reason to use in absentia as anything but an adverb phrase: The degree was conferred upon the deployed soldier in absentia. The man was condemned in absentia. The new program chairman was elected in absentia. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†Social vs. Societal20 Slang Terms for Law Enforcement Personnel

IKEA Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

IKEA - Research Paper Example is native land Smaland, south Sweden).IKEA is known for it’s up to date architectural designs that fit various kinds of furniture and appliances, and has got interior design work that is most of the time related with an eco-friendly ease (Baxter, Landry, 2010). Apart from this IKEA is famous for its keenness to cost control, constant product development and operational details, corporate features which permitted IKEA to review its prices downwards by an average of 2 or 3 percent over the ten years to 2010 during an era of global development. As of the beginning of 2014, IKEA proudly owns and operates 349 stores in over 43 countries. In financial year 2010, IKEA sold over US$23.1 billion worth of goods, a sum that signified a 7.7% increase over 2009.IKEA’s website contains over 12,000 products and is the closest depiction of the complete IKEA range. Apart from that there were over 470 million guests to IKEA’s websites from the year September 2007 to September 2008.IKEA spends just about 1% of the world’s supply of wood, making it one of the biggest users of wood as far as retail sector is concerned(Baxter, Landry, 2010). IKEA was formed in 1943, mainly as mail-order sales company. IKEA started selling furniture about five years afterwards. The very first store opened its doors to the public in 1958 at Smaland whereas the first stores outside of Sweden opened their doors in Denmark (1969) and Norway (1963).The stores later on extended to other European parts in the 1970s with the very first store outside of Scandinavia being opened in Switzerland in 1973 and Germany branch opened later in 1974. IKEA’s current products includes furniture, decorative and linen accessories are typified by some exceptional features, for instance, IKEA’s 2013 furniture fabrics are very illustrious with its unique designs;ethnic,romantic,pop and contemporary. Thus IKEA has produced interesting designs which are bound to keep people talking for months. In 2013, IKEA offered

The Drama Of The Love Triangle In Literature Essay - 1

The Drama Of The Love Triangle In Literature - Essay Example The door goes unanswered after they rang the doorbell for several times, but as they were about to leave, they heard footsteps from the inside of the house. The door opened and there stood Liz wearing her chequered black and white pajama and a cheeky smile, which was so unusual for her. After exchanging pleasantries, they entered the house, and this time Kelvin’s attempt to hold Linda’s hand was not rejected. They walked hand in hand up to the living room and from the look on Liz’s face, the gesture was not welcome. Kelvin having known Liz for a long time let off Linda’s hand. Liz rushed to the kitchen to fetch a drink for them and Kelvin could not help staring at the rich bosom that Liz displayed when she was rising from her seat to go to the kitchen. When he realized he was being watched, he tried to look the other way, but Linda had already noticed and she mumbled something that was not coherent. Liz returned with a bottle of grape juice, which they proceeded to take as they chatted over general things. When it was time to leave, Kelvin explained to Liz their reason for coming and signaled Linda to give Liz the story as she had narrated to him before they left college premises earlier in the day. Linda gave her side of the story as she had given it to Kelvin, although this time she seemed more emotional, which at one point moved Liz to tears. Kelvin, who was used to seeing women cry, started to get irritated when he saw the discussion was getting emotional, so he excused himself to the washroom. After leaving, the two women looked at each other with te ary eyes, and a sense of connection between them attracted them to each other; however, to Linda there was something about Liz that made her suspicious, but since her newfound friend Kelvin had told her that she is a God fearing person, she had no reason to worry.

Organizational Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Organizational Culture - Essay Example For example, there are differences between Chinese customers’ role in influencing organizational culture as compared to Canadian customers. This section seeks to address the differences and the corresponding organizational cultures of the two business environments. The entire Chinese market is customer influenced and organizational cultures, local and foreign have to adapt to the customers’ perspective of culture (Cameron and Quinn, 2011). Organizations have two explicit environments that they must be aware of and be ready to manage subsequently. Firstly, the internal environment involves the manner in which the organization is run and how processes are approached from a routinely perspective rather from policy perspective (Campbell and GÃ ¶ritz, 2014). The development of routines in leadership, process control, performance appraisals, and development of competitive strategies define the characteristics of the organization and the overall defining culture. Secondly, the external environment comprises mainly of shareholders whose role is to provide financial support through the acquisition of organizational stakes. The investors influence organizational culture in terms of their expectations and contribution to the organization in both financial and intelligence levels (Dalkir, 2011). All for-profit and non-profit organizations have different tools for appraising performance. Performance is an organizational measurement tool for success and involves participation of management and other stakeholders such as employees. In this case, the coordination among stakeholders, the rewarding systems, the disciplinary measures, and promotional strategies defines the performance dimension of organizational culture (Flamholtz & Randle,

Intrinsic And Extrinsic Rewards Defined Business Essay

Intrinsic And Extrinsic Rewards Defined Business Essay This chapter will review the academic literature required to study the research topic. The key areas for discussion are on intrinsic extrinsic rewards, rewards schemes strategies and theories on motivation. 2.1 Intrinsic and Extrinsic rewards defined Rewards can be treated as some offerings in addition to pay. Traditional reward systems were based on positions and longevities. But now a days profit sharing, gain sharing and stock option plans are being practiced as a reward. Modern reward systems include stock grants, certificate of appreciation, even personal thank you notes (Nelson, 1994). According to Walker et al (1979), rewards are classified into extrinsic and intrinsic rewards. Extrinsic rewards include basic salary and allowances which is needed to fulfill psychological and safety needs. Intrinsic rewards help individuals feelings and perceptions about the job situation which is needed to fulfill self-esteem, competence, self-actualization etc. There are several financial rewards commonly found in sales organizations are salary and commission, bonus, fringe benefits, stock options, retirement plan which fulfills both extrinsic and intrinsic needs of employees. Coli (1997), describes classification of reward and recognition under three types of rewards. They are monetary, awards and developmental rewards. Monetary rewards includes individual bonus for project completion, stock grants, skill-based pay, gain sharing, targeted total cash, special individual increase, non-discretionary incentives for the beginning of the project etc. According to Lyons Ora (2002), financial performance includes basic salary, variable pay, other compensations, perquisites and benefits. Different individuals have different perceptions of rewards. For instance, some individuals may consider cash as a sufficient and adequate reward for their efforts at work, while others may consider holidays and material incentives (such as a car) as more rewarding in exchange for their work. Others still, may consider a shift in the treatment that they get from their leaders to be a more rewarding experience. For instance, some employees consider being recognized by their leader as more rewarding than financial incentives (La Belle, 2005). 2.1.1 What are Financial Rewards? Zammit (2004), best described financial rewards. A reward strategy is an integrated approach to reward employees according to their contribution, skill and competence and their market worth. The author classified four types of financial reward. Basic salary Performance related pay Allowances Other financial rewards The basic salary is determined according to management position, standard of living, job market, qualification of the receivers. The dimensions of performance consist of bonuses, commissions and special skills. Allowances are most commonly provided for substitution, workstation transfer and transportation, free or discounted benefits, cultural or religious holidays, telecommunications. Other financial rewards are mostly practiced by offering stock options, pension schemes. 2.2 Reward strategy Reward strategies provide answers to two basic questions for an organization Where do we want our reward practices to be in a few years time? and How do we intend to get there?. Therefore, they deal with both ends and means. Ends they describe a vision of what reward processes will look like in a few years time and means on the expectation of how the vision will be realized. 2.2.1 Reward strategy defined Reward strategy is ultimately a way of thinking that you can apply to any reward issue arising in your organization, to see how you can create value from it (Brown, 2001). Reward strategy is a declaration of intent which defines what the organization wants to do in the longer term to develop and implement reward policies, practices and processes which will further the achievement of its business goals and meet the needs of its stakeholders. It provides a sense of purpose and direction and a framework for developing reward policies, practices and process. It is based on an understanding of the needs of the organization and its employees and how they can best be satisfied. It is also concerned with developing the values of the organization on how people should be rewarded and formulating guiding principles which will ensure that these values are enacted. Reward strategy is underpinned by a reward philosophy which expresses what the organization believes should be the basis upon which people are valued and rewarded. Reward philosophies are often articulated as guiding principles. 2.2.2 The content of reward strategy Reward strategy may be a broad-brush affair simply indicating the general direction in which it is thought reward management should go. Additionally or alternatively, reward strategy may set out a list of specific intentions dealing with particular aspects of reward management. Broad-brush reward strategy (Armstrong (2007), pg. 635) A broad-brush reward strategy may commit the organization to the pursuit of a total rewards policy. The basic aim might be to achieve an appropriate balance between financial and non-financial rewards. A further aim could be to use other approaches to the development of the employment relationship and the work environment which will enhance commitment and engagement and provide more opportunities for the contribution of people to be valued and recognized. Examples of other broad strategic aims include: 1. Introducing a more integrated approach to reward management encouraging continuous personal development and spelling out career opportunities; 2. Developing a more flexible approach to reward which includes the reduction of artificial barriers as a result of over-emphasis on grading and promotion; 3. Generally rewarding people according to their contribution; 4. Supporting the development of a performance culture and building levels of competence 5. Clarifying what behaviors will be rewarded and why. 2.2.3 Specific reward initiatives As Cox and Purcell (1998) write: The real benefit in reward strategies lies in complex linkages with other human resource management policies and practices. The selection of reward initiatives and the priorities attached to them will be based on an analysis of the present circumstances of the organization and an assessment of the needs of the business and its employees. The following are examples of possible specific reward initiatives, one or more of which might feature in a reward strategy: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The replacement of present methods of contingent pay with a pay for contribution scheme; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The introduction of a new grade and pay structure, e.g. a broad-graded or career family structure; 2.2.4 Developing reward strategy The formulation of reward strategy can be described as a process for developing and defining a sense of direction. The main phases are: 1. The diagnosis phase, when reward goals are agreed, current policies and practices assessed against them, options for improvement considered and any changes agreed. 2. The detailed design phase when improvements and changes are detailed and any changes tested (pilot testing is important). 3. The final testing and preparation phase. 4. The implementation phase, followed by ongoing review and modification. 2.2.5 Implementing reward strategy The aim of implementation is to make the reward strategy an operating reality by building the capacity of the organization to put into practice the proposals worked out in the development stage. As Armstrong and Brown (2007) stress: It is always essential to design with implementation in mind. Purcell (1999), believes that the focus of strategy should be on implementation. As explained by Thompson and Strickland (1990): Implementation entails converting the strategic plan into action and then into results. An effective reward strategy is a living process and, in the words of Rosabeth Moss Kanter (1984), an action vehicle, formulation is easy; implementation is hard. A pragmatic approach is required whats good is what works. Implementing reward strategy is much more about process than design how it will be done rather than what will be done. The principles of procedural and distributive justice apply. People must feel that the procedures used to determine their grades, pay level and pay progression are fair, equitable, applied consistently and transparent. They must also feel that the awards distributed to them are just in terms of their contribution and value to the organization. 2.3 Rewards management strategy defined Reward management is concerned with the formulation and implementation of strategies and policies in order to reward people fairly, equitably and consistently in accordance with their value to the organization. As Duncan Brown (2001) emphasizes, the alignment of your reward practices with employee values and needs is every bit as important as alignment with business goals, and critical to the realization of the latter. It deals with the development of reward strategies and the design, implementation and maintenance of reward systems (reward processes, practices and procedures) which aim to meet the needs of both the organization and its stakeholders. Rewards can be regarded as the fundamental expression of the employment relationship. 2.3.1 The aims of reward management Armstrong and Brown (2006), pg.33, identifies the following; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reward people according to what the organization values and wants to pay for. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reward people for the value they create. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reward the right things to convey the right message about what is important in terms of behaviors and outcomes. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Develop a performance culture. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Motivate people and obtain their commitment and engagement. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Help to attract and retain the high quality people the organization needs. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Develop a positive employment relationship and psychological contract. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Align reward practices with both business goals and employee values. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Operate fairly people feel that they are treated justly in accordance with what is due to them because of their value to the organization (the felt-fair principle of Eliot Jacques (1961)). The fundamentals of reward management Recognizing the importance of the part played by line managers in implementing reward strategy and the need to ensure that they are committed and have the necessary skills; Paying close and continuous attention to communicating with employees and involving them in the development as well as the implementation of reward strategy; Being absolutely clear about the objectives of the strategy and resolute about evaluating its effectiveness. The following Reward strategies theories can be applied when developing a reward scheme in an organization. Pay people right (Zingheim and Schuster) Zingheim and Schuster (2000) have laid down the following six principles for paying people right: 1. Create a positive and natural reward experience. 2. Align rewards with business goals to achieve a win-win partnership. 3. Extend peoples line of sight between effort and outcome, motivating smart working over simply expending extra effort. 4. Integrate reward with strategic aims and the kind of contribution desired. 5. Reward individual ongoing (input) value to the organization with base pay. 6. Reward results (outputs) with variable pay. Dynamic pay (Flannery, Hofrichter and Platten) Flannery, Hofrichter and Platten (1996) expounded the concept of dynamic pay and suggested that the nine principles that support a successful pay strategy are: 1. Align compensation with the organizations culture, values and strategic business goals. 2. Link compensation to the other changes. 3. Time the compensation programme to best support other change initiatives. 4. Integrate pay with other people processes. 5. Democratize the pay process. 6. Demystify compensation. 7. Measure results. 8. Refine. Refine again. Refine some more. 9. Be selective. Dont take to heart everything you hear or read about pay. 2.3.3 Components of an effective reward strategy An effective strategy is one in which there are clearly defined goals and a well-defined link to business objectives; well-designed pay and reward programmes, tailored to the needs of the organization and its people, and consistent and integrated with one another; and effective and supportive HR and reward processes in place. Brown (2001) has suggested that effective reward strategies have three components: 1. They have to have clearly defined goals and a well-defined link to business objectives. Recognize the value of everyone who is making an effective contribution, not just the exceptional performers. Allow a reasonable degree of flexibility in the operation of reward processes and in the choice of benefits by employees. Devolve more responsibility for reward decisions to line managers. 2. There have to be well-designed pay and reward programmes, tailored to the needs of the organization and its people, and consistent and integrated with one another. 3. Perhaps most important and most neglected, there needs to be effective and supportive HR and reward processes in place. Armstrong and Brown (2006), have further suggested the following approach to reward strategy. This has the following characteristics: Appreciating that a good strategy is one that works and therefore focusing on implementation programmes; Planning with implementation in mind recognizing during the design process that plans have to be converted into reality and taking steps to anticipate the problems involved; Aligning reward strategies with the business and HR strategies; Ensuring that reward strategy fits the culture and characteristics of the organization, meets business needs and takes account of individual needs and preferences; Being aware of good practice elsewhere but not being seduced by the notion that it is best practice, i.e. universally applicable and easily replicated; Paying more attention to using strategic reward initiatives to support the engagement and commitment of people so that they are motivated and productive, rather than focusing on the mechanics of new reward fads; Bearing in mind that the development and implementation of reward strategy is an evolutionary process it is about doing things better at a manageable pace rather than extraordinary new developments; Providing flexibility within a framework, i.e. developing a flexible approach to the reward of different people but always within a framework that provides for consistent treatment; Appreciating that implementing reward strategy will require a comprehensive change management programme. 2.4 What is Motivation? Many contemporary authors have defined the concept of motivation as; the psychological process that gives behavior purpose and direction (Kreitner, 1995); a tendency to behave in a purposive method to achieve specific, unmet desires (Buford, Bedeian, Lindner, 1995); an inner force to gratify an unsatisfied need (Higgins, 1994); and the will to accomplish (Bedeian, 1993). In this study, motivation is operationally defined as the inner force that drives individuals to achieve personal and organizational goals. Understanding what motivates employees is one of the key challenges for managers. Although it is not possible directly to motivate others, it is nonetheless important to know how to influence what others are motivated to do, with the overall aim of having employees identify their own welfare with that of the organization (Bruce and Pepitone, 1999). While motivation is determined by both monetary non-monetary factors, money has come to play an overly important role in our thinking about the causes of behavior. In most companies, very limited time effort are spent on considering non-monetary sources of motivation (Gratton, 2004). For organizations to address these expectations an understanding of employee motivation is required (Beer et al., 1984). Carnegie (1975) emphasizes the human aspects of management. They postulate that as it is people who make a business succeed or fail it is the organizations chief responsibility to motivate their people so that they will assure success. The author believes that each human being has the potential for creativity, contribution and achievement of business goals. Therefore, the infinite question is how organizations reach this potential and how they stimulate creativity and foster in their people the desire to succeed and to achieve self-fulfillment through their work. The common theme of all the above authors is the belief that people need to be respected and treated as precious human capital, more essential to an organizations effectiveness than its financial capital. Organizations are under constant pressure to enhance and improve their performance and are realizing that an interdependent relationship exists between organizational performance and employee performance. In the following section the focus will be on the motivational theories and the impact that these theories have on enhancing employee performance. 2.5 Theories on motivation The process of motivation as described below is broadly based on a number of motivation theories that attempt to explain in more detail what it means. Some of the distinctive theories will be discussed below. 2.5.1. Needs (content) theory The basis of this theory is the belief that an unsatisfied need creates tension and disequilibrium. To restore the balance a goal is identified that will satisfy the need and a behavior pathway is selected that will lead to the achievement of the goal. All behavior is therefore motivated by unsatisfied needs. The best-known contributor to needs theory is Maslow, A (1954). He formulated the concept of a hierarchy of needs, which start from the fundamental physiological needs and lead through safety, social and esteem needs to the need for self-fulfillment, the highest need of all. He said that man is a wanting animal; only an unsatisfied need can motivate behavior, and the dominant need is the prime motivator of behavior. This is the best-known theory of needs, but it has never been verified by empirical research. 2.5.2. Herzbergs two-factor theory Herzbergs two-factor model theory states that the factors giving rise to job satisfaction (and motivation) are distinct from the factors that lead to job dissatisfaction. It is sometimes called the motivation-hygiene theory. There are two groups of factors. The first consists of the satisfiers or motivators, which are intrinsic to the job. These include achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility and growth. The second group comprises what Herzberg calls the dissatisfaction avoidance or hygiene factors, which are extrinsic to the job and include pay, company policy and administration, personal relations, status and security. These cannot create satisfaction but, unless preventive action is taken, they can cause dissatisfaction. He also noted that any feeling of satisfaction resulting from pay increases was likely to be short-lived compared with the long-lasting satisfaction from the work itself. One of the key conclusions derived from the research is therefore that pay is not a motivator, except in the short term, although unfair payment systems can lead to demotivation. Herzbergs two-factor model draws attention to the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, and his contention that the satisfaction resulting from pay increases does not persist has some face validity. But his research and the conclusions he reached have been attacked first because, it is asserted, the original research is flawed and fails to support the contention that pay is not a motivator, and secondly because no attempt was made to measure the relationship between satisfaction and performance. As Guest, D (1992) has written: Many managers knowledge of motivation has not advanced beyond Herzberg and his generation. This is unfortunate. Their theories are now over thirty years old. Extensive research has shown that as general theories of motivation the theories of Herzberg and Maslow are wrong. They have been replaced by more relevant approaches. 2.5.3. Equity theory To explain how employees judge the fairness of rewards received in proportion to resources invested for completing a task by assessing ones on investment-reward ratio Equity theory (John Stacey Adams) is used, This theory is compared against the ratio of another colleague holding a similar position (McShane et al.2000 pg 79). A comparison can be made using the formula below: Outcomes (Individual) = Outcomes (Other) Inputs (Individual) Inputs (Other) Above formula can be explained, that employees seek to maintain equity between the inputs that they put in to a job and the outcomes they receive from it against the perceived inputs and outcomes of others. The belief in equity theory is that people value fair treatment which causes them to be motivated to keep the fairness maintained within the relationships of their co-workers and the organization. The main concern however is payment; this therefore is the cause of equality or inequalty in most cases. In any position within the organization, an employee wants to feel that their contributions and work performance are being rewarded with their pay. According to equity theory, if an employee feels under-paid then it will result in the employee feeling hostile towards the organization and perhaps their co-workers, which may result the employee not performing well at work anymore. But Adams Equity Theory is very much more complex sophisticated motivational model, in this model more than merely assessing effort put in (inputs) and rewards (outputs). Equity Theory gives prominence to an additional perspective of comparison, were employees compare themselves with others (people who consider in a similar position). Referent others are used to describe the reference points or people with whom we compare our own situation, which is the Highlight part of the theory. The three primary assumptions applied to most business applications of Equity Theory can be summarized as follows: Equity norm- Where Employees expect a fair return for what they contribute in their jobs. Social comparison- Employees determine what their equitable return should be after comparing their inputs and outcomes with those of their coworkers. Cognitive distortion Employees who perceive themselves as being in an inequitable situation will seek to reduce the inequity either by distorting inputs and/or outcomes in their own minds, by directly altering inputs and/or outputs, or by leaving the organization. 2.5.4. Vrooms expectancy theory Vrooms expectancy theory basically separates effort (which arises from motivation), performance, and outcomes. Its assumption is that behavior results from conscious choices among alternatives. Vroom realized that an employees performance is based on individual factors such as personality, skills, knowledge, experience and abilities. He stated that effort, performance and motivation are linked in a persons motivation. He uses the variables Expectancy, Instrumentality and Valence to account for this. Expectancy  is the belief that increased effort will lead to increased performance i.e. if I work harder then this will be better. This is affected by such things as: Having the right resources available (e.g. raw materials, time) Having the right skills to do the job Having the necessary support to get the job done (e.g. supervisor support, or correct information on the job) Instrumentality  is the belief that if you perform well that a valued outcome will be received. The degree to which a first level outcome will lead to the second level outcome. (i.e. if I do a good job, there is something in it for me.) This is affected by such things as: Clear understanding of the relationship between performance and outcomes e.g. the rules of the reward game Trust in the people who will take the decisions on who gets what outcome Transparency of the process that decides who gets what outcome Valence  is the importance that the individual places upon the expected outcome. For the valence to be positive, the person must prefer attaining the outcome to not attaining it. For example, if someone is mainly motivated by money, he or she might not value offers of additional time off. The three elements are important behind choosing one element over another because they are clearly defined: effort-performance expectancy (E>P expectancy) and performance-outcome expectancy (P>O expectancy). E>P expectancy:  our assessment of the probability that our efforts will lead to the required performance level. P>O expectancy:  our assessment of the probability that our successful performance will lead to certain outcomes. Crucially, Vrooms expectancy theory works on  Perceptions   so even if an employer thinks they have provided everything appropriate for motivation, and even if this works with most people in that organization, it doesnt mean that someone wont perceive that it doesnt work for them. Thus, Vrooms expectancy theory of motivation is not about self-interest in rewards but about the associations people make towards expected outcomes and the contribution they feel they can make towards those outcomes. 2.6 Theoretical framework 2.6.1 Relationship between Financial Rewards and Performance Financial rewards practiced by an organization play an important role in motivating employees to perform depending on the type of business its involved in and require their employees to be engaged in.. Therefore, organizations financial performance is ultimately dependent on the employees performance. It is also considered that improper reward practices may result below average financial performance of organizations. Most agree that reward practices act as motivators that shape the employees behaviors. According to prior researches, it is commonly believed that if financial rewards are effectively used, employees are motivated to perform high and that ultimately results financial performance. Financial performance is improved if there is a carefully crafted reward practice (Allen Helms; 2001). It is difficult to relate financial reward with organizational financial performance (Kerr, 1999). Reward must positively influence performance (Nelson, 1994). Regardless to team-based reward, individual reward is still important as individuals could see that their activities are making difference to the organization. According to Zingheim Schuster (2000), a few businesses design their reward system for the optimization of company performance. Basic salary and incentives matches competitive practice and emphasizes performance results. Incentive plans are often used in employment settings to encourage superior performance. While such inducements are found to have positive effects on job performance concerns have been raised over rewards influence on task interest and creativity. (Bartol Locke, 2000; Fay Thompson, 2001) In a research, it is found that employees stock ownership plans and profit sharing are widely used reward practice (Lawler et all, 1995). Hale (1998) and Lawler (1981, 1987) recognized rewards have critical importance as a means of employee motivation. Organizations and manager acknowledge reward and recognition consistently as a motivator of individual employees. Employees understandings and satisfactions with reward system lead to specific behaviors and actions, finally results operational and financial results (Cacioppe, 1999). According to Saxby (2007), it is an avoidable mistake of management for not rewarding employees for a well done job. Tangible rewards are nicer and more meaningful regarding employee motivation rather than intangible praising and acknowledgement. Contradiction to the theory, according to LaBelle (2005) in some cases managers may practice rewards for some behaviors which is unexpected or unproductive. Sometimes worker may misunderstand the objective of getting reward. Some cases of mismatches are discussed below: Safety vs. Productivity: Sometimes, employees do not understand that whether heshe is receiving reward for working safely or for the firms productivity or for the quality of services rendered. 2.6.2 Relationship between Financial Rewards, Motivation and Performance Financial incentives and rewards can motivate. People need money and therefore want money. It can motivate but it is not the only motivator. It has been suggested by Wallace, M.J and Szilagyi, L (1982) that money can serve the following reward functions: It can act as a goal that people generally strive for although to different degrees. It can act as an instrument that provides valued outcomes. It can be a symbol that indicates the recipients value to the organization. It can act as a general reinforce because it is associated with valued rewards so often that it takes on reward value itself. But doubts have been cast on the effectiveness of money as a motivator by Herzberg et al (1957). As noted, he claimed that, while the lack of it may cause dissatisfaction, money does not result in lasting satisfaction. There is something in this, especially for people on fixed salaries or rates of pay who do not benefit directly from an incentive scheme. They may feel good when they get an increase, as, apart from the extra money, it is highly effective ways of making people believe they are valued. But the feeling of euphoria can rapidly die away. However, it must be re-emphasized that different people have different needs, and Herzbergs two-factor theory has not been validated. Some will be much more motivated by money than others. What cannot be assumed is that money motivates everyone in the same way and to the same extent. But do financial incentives motivate people? The answer, according to Kohn, A (1993) is absolutely not. He challenges what he calls the behaviourist dogma about money and motivation. And he claims that no controlled scientific study has ever found a long term enhancement of the quality of work as a result of any reward system. When you look at how people are motivated, claims Kohn, It becomes disturbingly clear that the more you use rewards to motivate people, the more they tend to lose interest in whatever they had to do to get the rewards. He quotes research that has repeatedly shown that the more salient or reinforcing the reward is, the more it erodes intrinsic interest and points out that various devices can be used to get people to do something, but that is a far cry from making people want to do something. Pfeffer, J (1998) also contends that: People do work

Types of Societies :: essays research papers

Types of Societies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  HUNTING AND GATHERING SOCIETIES are the simplest types of societies in which people rely on readily available vegetation and hunted game for subsistence. Only a few people can be supported in any given area in such subsistence societies. Hence they usually have no more than 40 members or so, must be nomadic, and have little or no division of labor. All societies began as hunting and gathering societies. These societies were still common until a few hundred years ago. Today only a few remain, including pygmies in central Africa and aborigines in Australia. Most of the rest have had their territory overrun by other forms of society. Hunter-gatherer societies also tend to have non-hierarchical social structures. There is rarely surplus food, and since they are nomadic little ability to store any surplus. Thus full-time leaders, bureaucrats, or artisans are rarely supported by hunter-gathering societies. Hunting and gathering society consumes a great deal of time, ene rgy, and thought, collecting and hunting for food. Most of these societies today generally live in marginal areas where resources are scarce, so life for the hunter and gatherer seems more oriented toward mere survival. Life expectancy is also very low compared to the post industrial society. Technology is minimal in the hunting and gathering society, which again relates back to the need for expending time and energy finding food. Technology in medicine is also primitive for hunters and gatherers. Equality is great and social stratification is low, opposed to the post-industrial society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  PASTORAL SOCIETIES are societies in which animals are domesticated and raised for food in pastures. Care of animals in the pastoral society still consumes a large portion of time for most of its members. Pastoral societies are also at risk of animal diseases or droughts. These societies do not have the technologies that post-industrial societies have to guard against food shortage. Pastoral society does not afford as much time for leisure as does the post-industrial society. This society does not have the technologies that post-industrial societies have to guard against food shortage. The pastorals are nomadic, and sometimes endure harsh and even dangerous environments in their journeys. Medical technology is also low, so physical pain and death are more common than in post-industrial society. Pastoral societies tended to develop in arid regions where there was insufficient rainfall to raise crops on the land. Pastoral societies were usually nomadic, moving on to a new area after the animals had exhausted the food supply in each pasture.

Genetic Testing Controversies

Genetic Testing Controversies 1-12-11 Biology Genetic Testing, also known as DNA-based tests, is a new method of testing for genetic diseases or disorders. In the test the DNA molecule is examined and other tests include microscopic examination of chromosomes, for stained or fluorescent chromosomes. Genetic tests are used for carrier screening, newborn screening, identity testing, prenatal diagnostic testing, and prediction of disorders later in life such as Huntington’s or Alzheimer’s disease etc. Human Genome Project) Controversies today that genetic testing today faces is with the privacy, consents, equity and discrimination. The privacy of the information that is found may not be confidential between the patient and the doctor it may also be revealed to other people that are not involved in the issue. The controversies with consent are that should the insurance companies be allowed to have the information of medical records and family histories before granting permi ssion to anything. (Friesen, Tim.The Genetic Testing Controversy). The costs of some of these genetic tests are very expensive, some costing more than $1000. Another controversy is related with discrimination to the people shown by insurance companies, where they are discriminating on the people by the information which is received to them by genetic tests. Another example is where a woman who had applied to become an adoptive parent was denied due to a family history of Huntington’s disease which also made her susceptible to the disease. Friesen, Tim. The Genetic Testing Controversy) An advantage of Genetic testing is that it gives information about any disease or disorders a person may have and treat that person immediately for a cure. Another advantage is that these tests help to live a risk free life from the beginning, for example- Genetic testing are done on new born babies, which helps to identify any disorders from the beginning so treatment can be given immediately. Benefits of genetic testing) Another advantage of genetic testing is that there are fewer checkups and visits to the doctor if there is a history of a disease in a family. Another advantage is that if a person is genetically tested and the results are positive, they get to make â€Å"informed decisions† in their life. (Benefits of Gene Testing. National Cancer Institute) A disadvantage of genetic testing is that if a person is positive for a disease which cannot be cured completely, is still in a risk. Related essay: â€Å"Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic Engineering†For example breast and ovarian cancers, you cannot get rid of each and every breast or ovary related cells. Even after the surgery, the risk is still there. Another disadvantage is many people after receiving their test results and testing positive for a disease, leads to depression, anxiety or anger for most people, mostly women in these cases. Another disadvantage of genetic testing is many people face discrimination in getting insurance, or employment due to the results of that person’s genetic test. Citation Pictures http://www. beltina. org/pics/genetic_testing. jpg

10 Zinc Facts (Atomic Number 30 or Zn)

10 Zinc Facts (Atomic Number 30 or Zn) Zinc is a blue-gray metallic element, sometimes called spelter. You come in contact with this metal every day, and not only that, your body needs it to survive. Fast Facts: Zinc Element Name: ZincElement Symbol: ZnAtomic Number: 30Appearance: Silver-gray metalGroup: Group 12 (transition metal)Period: Period 4Discovery: Indian metallurgists before 1000 BCEFun Fact: Zinc salts burn blue-green in a flame. Heres a collection of 10 interesting facts about the element zinc: Zinc has the element symbol Zn and atomic number 30, making it a transition metal and the first element in Group 12 of the periodic table. Sometimes zinc is considered to be a post-transition metal.The element name is believed to come from the  German word zinke, which means pointed. This is likely a reference to the pointed zinc crystals that form after zinc is smelted.  Paracelsus, a Swiss-born, German Renaissance physician, alchemist, and astrologer, is credited with giving zinc its name. Andreas Marggraf is credited with isolating the element zinc in 1746, by heating  calamine ore and carbon together in a closed vessel, however, English metallurgist  William Champion had actually patented his process for isolating zinc several years earlier. While Champion may have been the first to isolate zinc, zinc smelting had been in practice in India since the 9th century BC. According to the International Zinc Association (ITA), zinc was recognized as a unique substance in India by 1374 and is believed to have been discovered by Indian metallurgists before 1000 BCE. Although zinc was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, it was not as common as iron or copper, probably because the element boils away prior to reaching the temperature required to extract it from ore. However, artifacts do exist proving its early use, including a sheet of Athenian zinc, dating back to 300 B.C. Because zinc is often found with copper, the metals use was more common as an alloy rather than as a pure element.Zinc is an essential mineral for human health. It is the second-most abundant metal in the body, after iron. The mineral is important for immune function, white blood cell formation, egg fertilization, cell division, and a host of other enzymatic reactions. Zinc deficiency may also be a causal factor in age-related vision deterioration. Foods rich in zinc include lean meat and seafood. Oysters are particularly rich in zinc.While its important to get enough zinc, too much can cause problems. Too much zinc can suppress the absorption of iron and copper. Ingesting c oins containing zinc has been known to cause death, as the metal reacts with gastric juice, corroding the gastrointestinal tract and producing zinc intoxication. One noteworthy side effect of excessive zinc exposure is a permanent loss of smell and/or taste. The FDA has issued warnings regarding zinc nasal sprays and swabs. Problems from excessive ingestion of zinc lozenges or from industrial exposure to zinc have also been reported. Zinc has many uses. It is the fourth-most common metal for industry, after iron, aluminum, and copper. Of the 12 million tons of the metal produced annually, about half goes to galvanization. Brass and bronze production account for another 17% of zincs usage. Zinc, its oxide, and other compounds are found in batteries, sunscreen, paints, and other products.Although galvanization is used to protect metals against corrosion, zinc actually does tarnish in air. The product is a layer of zinc carbonate, which inhibits further degradation, thus protecting the metal beneath it.Zinc forms several important alloys. Foremost among these is brass, an alloy of copper and zinc.Almost all mined zinc (95%) comes from zinc sulfide ore. Zinc is easily recycled and about 30% of the zinc produced annually is recycled metal.Zinc is the 24th-most abundant element in the Earths crust. Sources Bennett, Daniel R. M. D.; Baird, Curtis J. M.D.; Chan, Kwok-Ming; Crookes, Peter F.; Bremner, Cedric G.; Gottlieb, Michael M.; Naritoku, Wesley Y. M.D. (1997). Zinc Toxicity Following Massive Coin Ingestion. American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. 18 (2): 148–153. doi:10.1097/00000433-199706000-00008Cotton, F. Albert; Wilkinson, Geoffrey; Murillo, Carlos A.; Bochmann, Manfred (1999). Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (6th ed.). New York: John Wiley Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-19957-5.Emsley, John (2001). Zinc. Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements. Oxford, England, UK: Oxford University Press. pp. 499–505. ISBN 0-19-850340-7.Greenwood, N. N.; Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4.Heiserman, David L. (1992). Element 30: Zinc. Exploring Chemical Elements and their Compounds. New York: TAB Books. ISBN 0-8306-3018-X.

Free Essays on The Turn Of A Screw

This novel was, surprisingly, in a way that was not all too completely unaware to me – for I could discern my own thoughts concerning the book – interesting. The intensely complex and intricate (if not confusing!) sentences, upon first thought, made me expect an experience of complete, utter, and total confusion; however, they served not only to keep my interest in the novel – for I had to concentrate to grasp the full, rich meaning of his thoughts – but also to create in me a sense of enjoyment, that of being enriched with the experiences of the main character so that my life and that character's became inseparable, only it occurred not only with the main character, but with the entire plot at once – all characters, all scenes (to which I shall come late), all conversations... everything. I have never seen a man so able to express so much in one sentence, and still be able to have the reader follow his thoughts throughout the entire process. Henr y James was a master of expression and grammar. His ability to form a complex, yet coherent sentence did nothing but add to the quality of the novel. The characters alone added to the quality of the novel. It is not so much as they were entirely believable, but they were believable to the extent of their being in a ghost story. The things that happened to these poor characters were not natural in any sense, but they were completely acceptable from within a ghost story. Miles, for example, was too beautiful in action, too simple in thought, and too tempting in appearance (for both the governess and Mr. Quint) to be considered real; however, he is not too extreme in any of those respects to not have the capacity for existing within a reader's mind. The same is true of Flora. Her childish innocence and elderly cunning create an ambiguous character that is capable of existing. (Is that not an ambiguity of its’ own?) As far as completely realistic and believable characters –... Free Essays on The Turn Of A Screw Free Essays on The Turn Of A Screw This novel was, surprisingly, in a way that was not all too completely unaware to me – for I could discern my own thoughts concerning the book – interesting. The intensely complex and intricate (if not confusing!) sentences, upon first thought, made me expect an experience of complete, utter, and total confusion; however, they served not only to keep my interest in the novel – for I had to concentrate to grasp the full, rich meaning of his thoughts – but also to create in me a sense of enjoyment, that of being enriched with the experiences of the main character so that my life and that character's became inseparable, only it occurred not only with the main character, but with the entire plot at once – all characters, all scenes (to which I shall come late), all conversations... everything. I have never seen a man so able to express so much in one sentence, and still be able to have the reader follow his thoughts throughout the entire process. Henr y James was a master of expression and grammar. His ability to form a complex, yet coherent sentence did nothing but add to the quality of the novel. The characters alone added to the quality of the novel. It is not so much as they were entirely believable, but they were believable to the extent of their being in a ghost story. The things that happened to these poor characters were not natural in any sense, but they were completely acceptable from within a ghost story. Miles, for example, was too beautiful in action, too simple in thought, and too tempting in appearance (for both the governess and Mr. Quint) to be considered real; however, he is not too extreme in any of those respects to not have the capacity for existing within a reader's mind. The same is true of Flora. Her childish innocence and elderly cunning create an ambiguous character that is capable of existing. (Is that not an ambiguity of its’ own?) As far as completely realistic and believable characters –...

Is genetic enhancement an unacceptable use of technology Article

Is genetic enhancement an unacceptable use of technology - Article Example Technology is making it possible for parents to choose the features that they would wish to see in their children by resorting to various modifications. In as much as the procedures are helping improve and advance life, there are concerns about the side effects that would accrue to such individuals. Just like medications that are used to treat various diseases, it is feared that the substances used for such modifications may have adverse effects on human beings and therefore tampering with their growth. The pressure to sue technology is taking a toll on many parents considering its wave. However, the procedure can only be used by few who can afford it considering its cost. This hence means tat there will be a big imbalance and a widening gap between the poor and the as the rich people find ways to make their children more productive and acceptable in the society (Loder, 2013). We may not able to prevent the wave that comes with technology, yet appreciating nature is vital.

Critical Appraisal 1 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Critical Appraisal 1 - Research Paper Example The major study concepts include: sleep loss (deprivation or disruption) and cognitive-behavioral outcomes such as decreased sleep duration, increased daytime sleepiness, decreased alertness/drowsiness (vigilance) and increased accidents/errors (nurse & patients). Variable Identification and Definitions Independent Variable: Fatigue Countermeasures Program for Nurses (FCMPN) Conceptual Definition: â€Å"The 60-minute education component of the FCMPN included information about fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms: neurobehavioral and health effects associated with sleep loss or deprivation; and misconceptions about sleepiness. Strategies for managing alertness, minimizing fatigue, and maximizing sleep duration and quality were highlighted †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The program is discussed in detail in Scott et al. (2010, p. 252) article. Operational Definition: â€Å"The underlying concept of most fatigue countermeasures programs is that fatigue management is a joint responsibility of the emp loying institution and each employee. Comprehensive programs to manage fatigue in work setting usually include the following six elements: (a) education and training, (b) compliance with hours of service regulation, (c) appropriate scheduling practices, (d) countermeasures that can be instituted in the work setting, (e) design (ergonometric) and technology (fail-safe designs), and (f) research† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 252). ... 254). Sleep Quality Conceptual Definition: Not conceptually defined but a likely definition is the weariness on waking and all through the day. Operational Definition: â€Å"Subjective quality of sleep was measured using the PSQI† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 253). Daytime Sleepiness Conceptual Definition: Not conceptually defined but indicates the tiredness in individuals due to lack of or disruptive sleep. Operational Definition: â€Å"The ESS (Johns, 1991) was used to evaluate the severity of daytime sleepiness† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 253). Vigilance Conceptual Definition: â€Å"It is the inability to remain alert during and after work† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 253). Operational Definition: â€Å"Measured by drowsiness and unplanned sleep episodes at work and while driving† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 253). Risk for Accidents and Errors Conceptual Definition: â€Å"Number of incidents of motor vehicle crashes (MVC)† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 255) and  "mistakes involving medication administration, patient care procedures, and transcript issues† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 256). Operational Definition: â€Å"Accident or error data was calculated using data from the participants’ daily logbooks† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 253). Short-Term Memory: Conceptual Definition: â€Å"Mistakes involving medication administration, patient care procedures, and transcript issues† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 256). Operational Definition: â€Å"Error description was calculated using data from the participants’ daily logbooks† (Scott et al., 2010, p. 253). Problem Solving and Coping Conceptual Definition: Not conceptually defined but a possible definition is the ability to intercept and discover errors. Operational Definition: â€Å"Error description was calculated using data

Equity and Trust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Equity and Trust - Essay Example However area of conflict had arisen in the proper disposition of these gifts. A detailed description of Neil’s will and the circumstances related to each of the term stated in the will may prove to be helpful in resolving the conflict. Neil’s will states the following terms : -> 30,000 to be given to the â€Å"Supporters of Elfed Hospital† as a gift -> 60,000 to be gifted to the â€Å"Friends of Thomas Hospital† and -> 400,000 to be used to provide benefits to the inhabitants of Elfed and special privilege to be given to the employees of Neil & Co Ltd and their families. Discussing each of the terms in details would give a clear view of the scenario and will also be helpful in advising the executors of Neil on the probable terms of the declarations made. -> 30,000 to be gifted the â€Å"Supporters of Elfed Hospital† A view on the history behind the relationship between Neil and Elfed Hospital reveals that the main factory of Neil & Co Ltd. is situat ed in the village of Elfed. There is every possibility that considering this fact Neil had included this term in his will, for gifting 30,000 to the â€Å"supporters† of Elfed hospital. Though he mentioned the term â€Å"supporters† and as such there is no legal declaration or discrimination for this particular term, it could be well assumed that the main intention behind mentioning this in the will is to provide welfare in terms of monetary benefits to the Elfed hospital and not in particular to any supporters or volunteers or anyone specific as such.

Mexican Migrant Workers Essay Example for Free

Mexican Migrant Workers Essay Migrant workers have long played a crucial role in the economy of the United States, there has always been a rather heavy flow of both legal and illegal immigrants to the United States. There is a large variety of different jobs available for both legal and illegal immigrants in the United States, many women find work with more affluent families and are employed as nannies or maids. Some women find work in factories, often turning out clothes or toys, which is often labor-intensive low-wage work and especially for those migrant workers that may not be in the country legally. Perhaps the most important role that these women play in the U. S. ’s economy involves our extensive agriculture sector. Prior to slave labor restrictions agriculture in the U. S. was largely dependent on slave labor, which was essentially free as one might expect. The first English colonies imported slave labor as early as 1619 and Spanish colonies had practiced intensive slave labor since the 1560s. Slave labor became increasingly important in producing high-value cash crops such as tobacco, sugar, coffee and cotton. Although slave labor was most important in Southern plantation style agriculture, it also played an integral role in agriculture in the North which is contrary to the popular belief of Northern states being intolerant towards slavery. After slavery was abolished in the 1860s and the slaves were emancipated, it was clear that those involved in agriculture would have to find another source of cheap labor to pick up the slack (Valdez 1). Luckily for North American farmers there were many sources of cheap labor at this time and many people willing to immigrate to find work. Shortly after the abolishment of slavery there was a very large influx of Chinese immigrants, a vast majority of these immigrants were put to work in agriculture as well as being integral to building the nations railroads. The flow of Chinese immigrants was curtailed by the U. S. government when they passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, generally believed to be a reaction to the decline of the gold rush with legislators using the Chinese as a scapegoat. Partially due to the loss of Chinese immigrant labor, many workers began migrating to the U. S. from Mexico and the Philippines. It is important to note that there were plenty of European immigrants that also found employment doing menial agricultural work, however their experiences were generally different than the experiences faced by Mexican workers. For instance, workers from England shared a common language and religion with their employers so it became easier to assimilate into society. Although there was some discrimination towards German and Irish immigrants due to the fact that these were generally Catholic countries, these differences were usually reconciled and didn’t take as much of a toll on those immigrants. However, employers soon found out that their Mexican laborers generally did not go on strike or demand higher wages even when their working conditions were quite poor, this led to increased discrimination and abuse towards Mexican migrants (Valdez 1). The use of Mexican migrant labor declined during the Great Depression, as many of the agricultural jobs filled by Mexicans were now highly sought after by internal migrant workers that hailed from Dust Bowl states and were generally desperate to find work. After World War Two, the U. S. economy was once again healthy and began to thrive as it had before the Great Depression. During the thirty or so years following World War Two a new trend began developing. This trend involved a large number of laborers traveling from the southern United States and Latin America (most notably Mexico) to perform seasonal agriculture work in the more northern states. Indeed, there were plenty of U. S. citizens that performed migrant labor at this time, often being placed in jobs by the Farm Labor Agency, though most employers began to see the benefits of informally employed migrant workers. Although many of these foreign workers were hired through government programs, their contracts were pre-determined by prospective employers. Essentially, this meant that employers had complete control over their workers and if any of them complained about poor working conditions or demanded higher wages they could immediately be deported at their employers whim. Working conditions certainly were poor during this time, many trends that are still perpetuated today began during this period. For instance, most migrant workers depended solely on their crew leader for goods and food which were often sold at exorbitant prices that created â€Å"company† debt for the workers. Aside from the grueling labor, most migrant workers lived in very poor conditions as well with far too many people often crammed into small, dilapidated shacks. Another trend that developed during this period is the increasing use of illegal migrant labor. Beginning during World War II Mexican citizens could legally travel to and work in the U. S. under the Bracero Program, justified due to the fact that crops couldn’t go un-harvested during war time. Essentially a guest worker program, the Bracero Program was active from 1942 to 1964 and during this time it sponsored approximately 4. million border crossings by Mexican migrant workers. This program enforced certain requirements on employers that mandated that an acceptable level of wages, housing, food and medical care be provided to their workers and as a result many migrant workers enjoyed higher standards of living than they had back home. As a result employers began seeking out illegal migrant workers that were not involved in the program, as they could pay them much lower wages while not providing any of the afore mentioned services. Pressure from employers as well as domestic agriculture labor unions (who viewed the Bracero program as an impediment to U.  S. born workers) eventually led to the demise of the Bracero program in 1964. As there was still a huge demand for cheap, agriculture labor and no longer a legal labor pool it is easy to see why there was such a flood of illegal migrant workers from Mexico (Valdez 2). Today, migrant workers are still every bit as important as they were in the past and a large majority of them continue to hail from Mexico. Federal law defines migrant workers as anyone that travels more than 75 miles in search of employment, and by this definition at the turn of the 21st Century there were an estimated 2. million people working as agricultural laborers with a scant 12 % of these workers establishing temporary residences while working and roughly half still considering Mexico to be home. Between 1990 and 2001 the total of Mexican born migrant workers working in agriculture rose from about 30% of the work force to nearly 50%. Although these workers still constitute a small portion of all the U. S. ’s wage and salaried workers they play a critical role in the more labor intensive aspects involved in the production of all fresh, canned, frozen and processed foods consumed in the U. S. More than 85% of all fruit and vegetable crops in the U.  S. require hand planting, hand cultivation and hand harvesting which is extremely labor intensive. Despite their importance in this industry, around the turn of the 21st Century Mexican migrant workers earned an average yearly income that was only about 40% of the official poverty rate (CIA 1). Although the large majority of migrant agriculture workers are male, there is still a very large number of female migrant workers seeking employment within the U. S. To understand the plight of these women we first must understand exactly why they choose to travel to the U. S. in search of work. One of the key push factors for these women is the poor economic conditions that Mexico has historically faced. Mexico went through a very harmful debt crisis in the 1980s that has played a large role in the countries current economic woes. Currently, Mexico’s GDP growth rate is a dismal -6. 5% which places it 200th compared to the rest of the world. Mexico also has an unemployment rate of 5. 5% with an underemployment rate of nearly 25%. Using a food based definition of poverty about 18% of Mexico lives in poverty, however when using an asset based definition for poverty a whopping 47% of Mexicans live in poverty (CIA 1). Due to this impoverished conditions many Mexican women have trouble finding work, and although the literacy rates for males and females are roughly equal in Mexico, and males are generally chosen over women for the jobs that do exist. It is easy to see why so many Mexican women are eager to travel to the U. S. in hopes of finding better jobs and higher wages. Along with money woes, this extensive level of poverty also takes its toll on relationships. When times get tough, there is often more strain at home and husbands and wives are more likely to not get along. Although this is certainly not a problem that is unique to Mexico, there is one key cultural component: Machismo. There is no single, set definition of Machismo, but it is generally viewed as what traditional Mexican culture believes to be acceptable masculinity. Certainly, not every Mexican male fits this Machismo stereotype and there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with the ideals that men should aspire to be strong and tough. However, there are many critics of the Machismo culture and believe that it is very counter-productive and harmful towards women. For instance, it is believed that the Macho man should be able to provide for his wife and family and when poor economic conditions are an obstacle to this the man may often feel inadequate and embarrassed (Soong 1). This wouldn’t be as big of an issue if one of the key pillars of the Machismo man involved violence. Shockingly, one-third of native Mexican women interviewed stated that a husband had the right to hit his wife if she hadn’t fulfilled her obligations and 42% of those interviewed admitted that they had even been beaten as young girls. It appears that the ability for men to assert their dominance over women through violence is an accepted part of Mexican culture and most men are never punished for committing what amounts to very criminal acts. It is believed that between 1999 and 2005 an estimated 6,000 women were murdered in Mexico, with most of these deaths being caused by domestic violence at the hands of their husbands or boyfriends. Of course, we realize that not all or even most Mexican men behave this way however it is certainly a large enough cultural problem to cause a lot of strain on Mexican women. Many women, already overwhelmed by economic worries, leave Mexico simply to get themselves, and often their children, away from abusive relationships (Soong 2). As we have now outlined two key push factors, both economic and social, it is also important to recognize the pull factors: the reasons behind why women choose to migrate to the U. S. The U. S. is very appealing to Mexican women, as they believe that they will be offered better jobs and better wages upon arriving. Unsurprisingly, American companies are also integral in luring these Mexican women to the U. S. s they have began to rely on the cheap, docile labor that these women provide. In fact, many U. S. companies have been known to use Mexican immigrants as an example for how the American Dream can be accomplished. Many American businesses are now creating marketing campaigns that explicitly target Mexican immigrants, knowing full well that they will attract just as many illegal immigrants in the process. Even though these businesses are only seeking to exploit them, many Mexicans and especially Mexican women are interpreting these ads as a sign that they will be more readily accepted in American society and this makes migrating to the U.  S. even more appealing (Wyans 4). Many Mexican women also believe that the U. S. is some sort of egalitarian utopia, even though that is far from true. With the American societies push to be â€Å"politically correct† and aim for a level playing field, many Mexican women feel that the gender inequalities they experienced in Mexico will not exist in the U. S. This idea of an egalitarian U. S. most certainly stems from the very biased media that America exports to around the world, which undoubtedly paints America in a very positive light. Even though the Mexican woman migrating to the U. S. ay secure a more lucrative job and better living conditions, she will most likely face most of the same social ills she had experienced in Mexico (Wyans 5). When taking these push/pull factors in to account it is no shock that so many Mexican women are migrating to the U. S. Most casual observers assume that these Mexican women are only migrating because they are passively accompanying their husbands but this is certainly not the case, especially in recent years. In fact, more than half of the migrant workers from all Latin American countries traveling to the U. S. are women traveling by the own volition. Migrant workers as a whole are confided to the lower skill sector of the labor market, and the women among these migrant workers usually only find work in the lowest manual positions such as childcare, industrial cleaning, food processing and sewing. Not only are female migrant workers given the worst of already poor jobs, they are almost always paid less than their male migrant counterparts. Employers have also caught on to one key trait among female migrant workers, many of them are unwilling to demand higher wages or complain about working conditions simply because they are responsible for their children at home. This leads many employers to subject women to longer hours, lower pay and worse working conditions than they would expect a male worker to put up with (Cultural Survival 1). As I had previously stated, migrant workers play a key role in harvesting and processing our nations food. A very intriguing example of the role that female Mexican migrant workers play in this sector of our economy involves Maryland’s crab industry. Each year, hundreds of Mexican women travel to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to work for Maryland crab companies. These women generally enter the U. S. legally, by obtaining a temporary work visa known as an H-2B Visa. Although the H-2B program was originally intended to the employer to temporarily supplement his current domestic work force with migrant workers, most of Maryland’s crab companies have begun to rely solely on H-2B workers. The H-2B program is quite similar to the government programs I mentioned earlier. The key similarity and cause for concern is the fact that an H-2B guest worker is essentially bound by regulations to a single employer, so any demand for higher wages or better working conditions can still be met with the threat of deportation (Paral 8). In order to obtain an H-2B visa most women meet with local recruiters in Mexico.  These women are already being exploited before they leave their home town, as these H-2B recruiters illegally force them to pay large fees in order to obtain their H-2B permits. Many of the women that can’t afford these fabricated fees wind up working out loans with their H-2B recruiter, which generally have exorbitant interest rates that put the women further in debt. Legally, these recruiters are not allowed to charge any fees but it is impossible to enforce U. S. relations south of the border. Employers are often able to send certain messages via recruiters that violate U. S.  Civil Rights laws, they are able to suggest that recruiters discriminate when choosing employees and are able to plead ignorance if ever reprimanded for their recruiters behavior. After receiving their H-2B visas, the women cross the border and board a bus that will take them to Maryland. They are not informed how long the trip will take, and although they are told to bring American dollars to buy food, many women either cannot afford to eat or are too intimidated by the language barrier to shop for food and as a result go the entire 2-3 day bus trip without eating (Kloer 1). When these women finally make it to Maryland they typically rent houses that are owned by their employers and located on islands in Chesapeake Bay. Crab companies are not legally required to provide housing for the crab pickers, but most own and operate rental houses in order to ensure that their workers remain close to the crab picking houses. The houses not located on islands may just as well be, because during high tide the bridges and roads connecting them with the mainland become impassable. These houses are usually in very poor condition and the women often complain about such problems as non-working stoves, leaks, and poor plumbing. These poorly maintained houses have also been known to house up to 30 women at one time, some women interviewed reported sharing a bedroom with up to 7 other women. Most women must either share beds with other women or sleep on the floor and generally have little to no privacy while staying in rental housing. To top it off, very few companies give keys to their tenants which means they cannot even lock their houses to protect their possessions while working in the crab picking houses (AUWCL 3). Many of the rental houses also have problems that are in direct violation of the counties housing code, such as broken windows and mold infestations. Despite these infractions, no legal action has been taken by the county in order to ensure that these rental houses be in livable condition. Not only are the living conditions of these rental properties very poor, living on an island is also detrimental to the women in some very significant ways. Since these women reside on an island when not working, they become very isolated from the rest of the local community. One almost wonders if these houses weren’t strategically placed by the employers, because living in such isolation shields their plight from the locals and also forces them to rely solely on their employer (Kloer 2). Since there is no public transportation to and from the island, and these women cannot afford to buy a boat, they must rely on their employer for transportation to the mainland. Many companies only arrange transportation for their workers weekly and on fixed days, because there is limited space on the boat only a limited number of women can go to town at once. As a result of this some women reported having to wait two or three weeks before they could get to the mainland to purchase groceries, this meant that they had to rely on fellow workers for food and other items.