Using ICT-enabled feedback to improve student learning in secondary Literature review

Using ICT-enabled feedback to improve student learning in secondary schools in New Zealand - Literature review Example What is Feedback? Feedback is often described as a systematic dialogue between teachers and students. A proper feedback can help both to assess their strategies.To be more precise,for students it is a method to ascertain the effectiveness of their learning strategies. On the other hand, for teachers, it is a method to assess the problems faced by students. As a result, the teachers are able to adapt more student friendly teaching methods A carefully designed classroom lesson attracts more attention from students (Black and William, 1998, pp. 139-148). In many literatures the description coined by Ramprasad (1983, p. 4) â€Å"Feedback is information about the gap between the actual level and the reference level of a system parameter which is used to alter the gap in some way† is used to define feedback. However, many scholars are of the opinion that such definitions of feedback, makes it a complete responsibility of the teachers. On the other hand, an effective feedback require s both the teachers as well as the students to give their serious effort. (Black and William, 1998, pp. 139-148) In 2006 Boston Consultancy Group (BCG), conducted a survey in the primary school of Bellfield in Victoria, Australia. The survey clearly indicated that Feedback in school level balances positive aspects of teaching with room for future improvement. The survey also showed that feedback encourages teachers to build up their confidence. The survey further showed that constructive and properly tailored feedback help teachers to formulate new methodologies to improve learning in their class... The teachers must gain the student’s confidence. A feedback, which is very critical by nature, can make students feel incompetent. In feedback, teachers need to highlight the achievements of the students in a realistic yet positive manner. By providing students non-judgmental feedback, the teachers can become their mentor. The greatest fear that students have is the fear of being wrong, and it is the responsibility of teachers to encourage them to come out of their inhibition. (Gager and Berliner, 1991 p. 143, 349) Feedback can be categorized into two category, namely â€Å"Formative† and â€Å"Summative† assessment. Formative assessment involves regular feedback throughout the academic year. On the other hand, summative feedback is the assessment done at the end of the academic term. Formative assessment In case of formative assessment, the approach is a combination of formal and informal processes applied by students and teachers for improving the learning expe rience. Formative assessment done by teachers mainly focus on the following points (Heritage and Stigler, 2010, p. 56) The direction in which the student is heading, i.e. the strategy the student is following. The current state of the student The direction the student must take next to make further improvements The priority in formative assessment is to set the learning goals along with the success criteria for each lesson. The feedback help teachers to shape up their curriculum in such a way that the students are able to close the gap between his or her current learning ability and the goal they have set for themselves. The teachers must be aware of certain factors, when they formulate their formative assessment strategies. There are certain factors, which must be

Polysar Limited Essay Example for Free

Polysar Limited Essay Executive Summary This report seeks to explain the key differences between the NASA (North American South American) and EROW (Europe and rest of world) sales performance over the past nine months. There are several reasons causing the sales performance figures currently stemming from NASA to be incomparable with the EROW numbers, including the current practice of transferring large quantities of regular butyl rubber from the Sarnia to the Antwerp production facilities. As Polysar operates globally, it is also important to consider certain international aspects and specific risks. These include, foreign currency exchange fluctuations, potentially creating gains or losses, as well as international taxes and tariffs. The decisions made regarding allocation of profits between the two geographic centers will directly impact the taxes paid in either location. ADD ON WITH SPECIFICS Introduction A high-level overview of Polysar Limited provides an all-encompassing image of the nature of this case, necessary to later effectively focus in on specific financial details and problems. Polysar is Canada’s largest chemical company, with the North American production facility located in Sarnia Ontario. The company splits into 3 main groups including petrochemicals, diversified products, and rubber, of which the latter is the largest representing 46% of sales. This rubber division is the core of the report, as its success is vital to Polysar. The rubber division is split into two geographic centers, in Sarnia Ontario and Antwerp Belgium respectively. (See Appendix 1 for graphical representation). Both geographic centers produce both regular butyl and halobutyl rubbers. In 1985, Sarnia opened a second production facility that has not yet reached capacity. By comparison, Antwerp has only one facility operating at full capacity and still unable to meet demand for regular butyl rubber. To cope with this, the Sarnia transfers large quantities of its production to Antwerp at cost. The inability of the Sarnia facility to earn a profit from these transferred units represents one of the main causes of concern regarding sales performance figures. In order to correctly and efficiently asses the current situation, we will be reviewing a number of criteria, and from there introduce and analyze several alternatives presented by these assessments. Further Recommendations Transfer Pricing As you are aware, the NASA segment is currently charging EROW for the butyl rubber being transferred in order to meet the European demand. This charge is currently calculated on the basis of NASA’s cost. This is only one of three possible approaches that are used to set to transfer prices internally within Polysar Limited. The three options that may be considered are: 1. Set transfer prices at cost 2. Set transfer prices at a negotiated mutually agreed upon level 3. Set transfer prices at the market value  Currently, as the first option is implemented, this is causing the two major problems. The first is in regards to the product mix produced within the Sarnia production facilities. As no profit is recorded for the units that are transferred, the product mix may be decided on a sub-optimal basis. Our team recommends further investigation to determine the necessary information as to if the costs to produce the halobutyl and butyl rubbers within both NASA and EROW. This could lead to decisions of specialization in the Sarnia plants or Antwerp plant for one type of rubber produced if cost savings for that product line is higher than transportation costs of shipping to the other facility. Additionally, another problem being experienced through the current transfer pricing approach is that the NASA does not show any profit on the Polysar internal transfer of rubber. Consequently, the EROW segment may record this profit without the same having the additional fixed costs pertaining to the costly initial investment of the second Sarnia plant amounting $550 million and the associated depreciation. This leads to an unfair representation of profitability for the two cost centers. In terms of which to use for Polysar Limited’s Rubber Segment, setting prices at cost hereby benefits the EROW center, whereas using market price would benefit the NASA segment. This is because then NASA is recording revenue for the units transferred, whereas EROW will not, (provided that the prices in both markets are similar – international arbitrage). With Polysar’s company wide profitability in mind, as well as spirit of fairness in representation for both segments using a de-centralized approach, our recommendation is the use of negotiated transfer pricing. This occurs when the NASA and EROW segments collaborate to agree on a selling/purchasing price for the internationally transferred butyl supply. Implementing this will cause both segments to have better information of the costs and benefits associated with the transfer. To narrow down on what this transfer price should specifically be, a range of acceptable transfer prices will provide an estimate.  As this is an international transfer, there are even more considerations that become relevant. For example, the corporate tax rate applied in North American versus Europe should be considered. Furthermore, management should look specifically into duties, tariffs, foreign exchange rates and risks, as well as governmental relationships. By this token, charging Antwerp a lower transfer price will result in fewer Custom Duty payments as the rubber crosses borders. Flexible Versus Static Budgetary Systems Currently Polysar employs a static budget system for their budgeted level of rubber sales. However, if more butyl or halobutyl rubber is produced and then sold these will cause a variance as composed to budgeted figures. For  example, variable costs will go up, however this may simply be in direct correlation to the increased rubber produced. It is important to be able to analyze if variances are based on volume or cost differences. By tracing the cost variances more closely after implementing this flexible budget system, a better evaluation of management’s performance may be achieved. This can be directly used when considering compensation for managers. INSERT NUMBERS. Employee Compensation Plan Polysar uses the participative budgetary system, which is directly linked to employee compensation. Although this bottom-up approach to budgeting allows for accurate estimates due to managers with specific rubber cost knowledge being involved, it can cause a conflict of interest that may be costly. It is essential, and highly recommended that the NASA rubber division establish a budgetary committee to review the estimates made to ensure the lower level management has not added in budgetary slack intentionally in an effort to achieve their compensation figures based on meeting these targets. However, even the top management currently possesses a huge conflict of interest influencing them in the direction of allowing for budgetary slack as their compensation is up to 50% for both meeting divisional profits, as well as exceeding corporate profit targets. These targets can clearly be met, if costs have been artificially manipulated to be higher than expected. As it is improbable to find members of the budgetary committee who will be completed impartial and not subject to a bonus on the premise of meeting profit targets, responsible accounting should be implemented. This system holds each manager responsible for the estimate of the individual cost and revenue basis for which he or she was in charge of deciding. This means, he or she is essentially responsible to explain the differences between the actual and budgeted results. In order to negate the previously mentioned conflict of interest, it is recommended to include the amount of variance in a manager’s estimate in the calculate of compensation, hereby eliminated large bonuses if the original estimate was not within a certain range of the actual value (extra-ordinary occurrences excluded). Hedging of Risk The nature of the Polysar’s business contains a certain degree of  specialized risk. First and foremost, operating internationally in various currency zones contributes to foreign exchange risk. This can be hedged through capital markets, resulting in lowering risk for the corporation. Also, as there is a great degree of risk for the variable costs of production in relation to the oil, it is imperative to hedge this risk as well. It is very possible to hedge market commodity price risks through capital markets or advance purchase of these oil inputs. This can provide more stability for Polysar Limited as a whole, particularly the key rubber division. Capacity Analysis Appendices Appendix 1 Polysar Rubber

Characters of Catherine and Heathcliff in Emily Brontes Wuthering Hei

The Characters of Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights      Ã‚  Ã‚   Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights can be considered a Gothic romance or an essay on the human relationship. The reader may regard the novel as a serious study of human problems such as love and hate, or revenge and jealousy. One may even consider the novel Bronte's personal interpretation of the universe. However, when all is said and done, Heathcliff and Catherine are the story. Their powerful presence permeates throughout the novel, as well as their complex personalities. Their climatic feelings towards each other and often selfish behavior often exaggerates or possibly encapsulates certain universal psychological truths humans are too afraid to express. Heathcliff and Catherine's stark backgrounds evolve respectively into dark personalities and mistaken life paths, but in the end their actions determine the course of their own relationships and lives. Their misfortunes, recklessness, willpower, and destructive passion are unable to penetrate the eternal love they share .    Heathcliff's many-faceted existence is marked by wickedness, love, and strength. His dark actions are produced by the distortion of his natural personality. Although Heathcliff was once subjected to vicious racism due to his dark skin color and experienced wearisome orphan years in Liverpool, this distortion had already begun when Mr. Earnshaw brought him into Wuthering Heights, a "dirty, ragged, black-haired child"(45; ch.7). Already he was inured to hardship and uncomplainingly accepted suffering. Heathcliff displays his strength and steadfastness when he had the measles, and when Hindley treated him cruelly if he got what he wanted. From the very beginning he showed great co... ...of the novel? Or is revenge the central and recurring idea? Is Bronte proposing that as humans we have the right to meddle with the cosmic, dark and questioning universe just as Catherine and Heathcliff manipulated with their own lovers and family? Perhaps it is simply a book about characters, each to his own, meandering through puddles, with cloudy morals and mistaken ideals. With a darkness within and beauty without, stumbling back and forth a two-mile stretch of land searching for something they've had all along. Maybe it's a book about reality.    Works Cited Damrosch, David, et al., ed.   The Longman Anthology of British Literature: Vol. B.   Compact ed.   New York: Longman - Addison Wesley Longman, 2000. Bronte, Emily.   Wuthering Heights. Norton Critical ed.   3rd ed.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ed. William M. Sale, Jr., and Richard J. Dunn.   New York:   W. W. Norton, 1990.

Doctor

In order to keep the sand dunes at Scrofula/Wanda economically sustainable there are several strategies that had to be done so they wouldn't be destroyed in the near future. Since there were an increasing number of people going to Scrofula to use the sand dunes, the council, state and commonwealth had the act quick to save the sand dunes. The strategies that were used for sand dune management in the Scrofula area include dune reverberation, polymers covering, walkways, and fencing.Dune Reverberation has been used in the Scrofula/Wanda area for the management of sand dunes because it removes weeds and harmful materials which may affect the condition of the sand dunes. By controlling noxious and environmental weeds, irrigating the planting areas, planting recommended dune species and installing wind protection fences, removing bitumen and other debris from the dunes and access roads, replacing the fences, the dunes can be reverberated so that they may main in a stable condition for fut ure generations.The second strategy is to install a network of paths and barriers to prevent people from shifting the sand dunes. Surfers often check the conditions of the beach by looking over them at the dunes. They run up to the top of them so they can get a view of where there are good waves or not. In summer, an astonishing number of surfers will flock to the beach. The result of those people all running up the dune would cause displacement of the sand and weakening of the dunes.To solve the need for people to travel around the beach, the council has installed walkways to provide a path around the area which doesn't involve people walking or treading on the sand dunes. The dunes have been fenced off in case any people wonder off and don't walk on the pathways. On top of that, board and chain stairs have been put put in to protect the sloped areas of the beach which may be vulnerable to deformation. Finally, polymers has been laid over areas of bare sand to stop sand blowingâ₠¬ ¦

Alternative Means of Transportation

Guilherme Cesa Academic Writing Sara Rayfield 04/18/2012 Instead of Horns, Voice Today, most of the big cities centralize interests in improving and encouraging the private means of transportation instead of public. Driving a car can be very comfortable and pleasant, but it causes serious problems. Because of this, we all must change our mind about the ways we move daily and find different ways for locomotion. Mobility is a very exciting thing; the feeling of freedom that it gives can be very rewarding.An example of that is the way society found to punish people: we put them in a prison and do not allow them to move for days, months or years. It is evident and natural that everybody needs to move around daily, whether it is to go to work or go to the supermarket. The most popular way of personal transportation in modern society is the car. A car represents much more than just a way of transportation. The idea of having a car these days transcends the basic idea of mobility; an automo bile represents status and wealth while using alternative ways for transport such as bus, train, or bicycle are depreciated by society as being worse.Looking at how society chooses to move within its territory can reveal a lot of things about what type of society it is. Giving priority to cars means not prioritizing the greater good; it is a selfish way of thinking. More cars being driven means more roads and parking lots, fewer public spaces and green areas, more traffic jams, and pollution. On the places that were supposed to have sidewalks, we now see a wide avenue, the park turned into a parking lot. Gradually, the cities are becoming a place adjusted for the cars instead of the dwellers.As many of the problems that vehicles may cause, the most discussed nowadays is the global warming. The air pollution made by cars and fossil fuel dependents increase the moisture level of the air, which causes the greenhouse effects. The pollution forms a layer around the atmosphere that makes the heat be reradiated from the surface to the atmosphere, causing the global warming. However, hope still exists for Planet Earth by the limitation of usage and dependency on fossil fuels.Besides the main problem that cars cause for the environment, cars nowadays are much cleaner than before, the problem is that we have a lot more cars being driven on the streets and polluting the earth. In addition, cars demand a large amount of raw material to be made and they produce a lot of waste. While driving the automobile, it is not only polluting gas that is being produced, it also affects the ground and water when the tires wear out and fluids, such as battery oil and gasoline, spill from the car.Alternative forms of transportation such as walking and bicycling for short distances, and train, subway, trolley, light rail, bus, and car pooling for longer distances may be a good solution to solve a lot of problems. It will not only help in the amount of pollution in the atmosphere but also would bring benefits in other aspects of our lives; we would save money, it would reduce other types of pollution such as water, land and noise, it would give us a better quality of life, we would spend less time in stressful traffic and the cities would become a more pleasant place to live in.Of course it is very difficult to convince people not to use their cars since we have an inexistent public transportation program; no buses, no trains, no bike lanes, and bad sidewalks. Once the authorities start improving the methods of transportation as well as promoting them, people will begin to see the advantages of changing one to another. Studies from the company EMBARQ have shown that cities can reduce up to 30% of the vehicular traffic over the next 3 to 5 years if improving the public transportation.A good example that this improvement can cause big effects in cities is the Los Angeles Metro promotion; their urban transportation system authorities are making an innovating campaign fo r the city. In order to reduce the traffic, clean the air and make their lives less stressful, Los Angeles’ transit authorities start trying to convince people about the benefits of using public transportation. The way they found to do so was improving as much as possible the service quality offered for metro and buses lines, making them cleaner and more comfortable.Then they worked to improve the image of it and get people out of their cars. They made buses appear more attractive with colorful paints and redesigned the metro stations with paint arts and music. At least, they started working on a marketing campaign to convince people to use their services and encouraging Angelinos to leave the car need. Another facet of public mobility that could replace the use of cars is cycling and walking. Better sidewalks and bike lines as well as providing free bikes rentals as many cities in Europe do would attract more people to use these means of transportation.Walking and cycling ca n be a very pleasant way to move from one place to another in short distances and the gains that it causes are numerous. It gives people a slower-pace routine, and using legs to ride a bike or walk is a very good exercise that improves a lot the body and mental health, it is free and can help to save a lot of money in gasoline and transport fares. It is also a pro-environment way of transportation that does not pollute, it helps to make a more attractive and green city where people can interact with others and with the city environment around them.As a conclusion, changing one way of transportation to another is an action that takes long to happen and it takes a lot of effort both from authorities and citizens. However, if it be done, it will bring positive results for the whole society. The cities would become a better place to live, with streets populated by people and not by cars. Work Cited Network, EMBARQ. â€Å"LA Metro: Promoting Mass Transport† Vimeo. 04 January 2010. Web. 19 April 2012. Pawley, Martin. â€Å"The War Against Car† Open Democracy. Globalization Transport. 8 May 2012. Web. 19 April 2012.

3 key employee retention strategies to keep turnover low

3 key employee retention strategies to keep turnover low As an HR professional, you are keenly aware of the importance of employee retention- both for achieving target department milestones, as well as for the long-term success of your company. Beyond the sunk costs and organizational chaos that take place when there’s a constantly revolving door of employees entering and exiting a business, companies often cite employee retention as a key metric for effective daily operation and overall success.In fact, it goes further than that: companies that build reputations for consistently impressive employee retention rates bolster their brand identities- and you better believe that word travels fast, so you can count on active and passive future candidates discovering that people enjoy working at your organization for the long haul.Your company’s bottom line- and opportunities for achieving industry growth, attracting talent-rich candidates, and realizing long-term success- is dependent on effective employee retention, so you better have a strategy. If your HR team needs to take its retention plan to the next level, consider utilizing the following strategies for keeping turnover low in your organization.Know your industryThe truth is, not all industries are created equal- and neither is how employees are typically treated. What employees expect in one field may be completely different than another, and you better believe that all of the employees in your organization- including everyone from new hires to seasoned veterans- will have some level of expectation regarding how they should be treated by their employer and will respond accordingly based on their perception (regardless of whether or not it’s completely aligned with reality).This mindset isn’t relegated to just your most talented star employees or any specific department- it’s at the core of human psychology. How you’re treated or, more accurately, how you perceive that you’re treated, impacts your resultant behavior. This holds true at home, in the world, and on the job.hbspt.cta.load(2785852, '9e52c197-5b5b-45e6-af34-d56403f973c5', {});So, make sure you’re keenly aware of what the standards are for your industry, and make sure your company is on target in all key areas- including salaries, benefits packages, and additional perks. Even things like your office layout and organization are going to impact employee perception. So, if you want to keep turnover low and employee satisfaction high, make sure you’re meeting their expectations regularly, which includes both current and future industry standards (so be sure to stay on top of industry shifts and trends).Lead the wayNow that you know how important it is to meet industry expectations for employees in your company, create a plan to exceed them. That’s right- in today’s ultra-competitive job market, where hungry and lean new startups are emerging every day and are eager to source new talent for their teams- todayâ⠂¬â„¢s talented job candidates have options, and the laws of attraction apply in the professional world as much as anywhere else. Progressive companies know that investing time, energy, and resources towards developing truly innovative, first-in-class employee incentives will not only attract new talent, it will help keep your existing teams from thinking about whether or not the grass is greener somewhere else. Doing so will also have the added benefit of helping to bolster your company’s brand identity- and trust us, word will spread. Pique candidate interest, and then keep hold of their attention and loyalty as employees, by offering them industry-leading incentives to keep them satisfied and doing their best work over the long haul. Don’t just keep up with other companies- innovate.Listen to your employeesThis one might seem obvious, but you may be surprised to learn that the communications pipeline between employees and leadership in many organizations tends to wo rk slowly- and oftentimes seems as if it barely works at all. Big mistake- and one that your company should actively seek to avoid. Make sure the employees on your team have the tools to voice their opinions regarding the direction of the company and their place in it- think everything from offsite gatherings to regular feedback meetings and annual employee satisfaction appraisals- and make sure that it’s not just smoke but is treated like the valuable data that it is.If employees are telling you that something is working, then keep doing it; if something is broken, then fix it. Don’t forget, active and attentive listening is a key component of any healthy relationship, including the one between employer and employee, and great companies treat their employees as more than cogs in their machines.If you’re looking to reduce employee turnover in your company, consider using the strategies presented here to keep your teams happy and eager to come to work- and do the ir absolute best- every single day of the week. If you put in the work up-front, you’ll create a warm, thriving atmosphere that’s sure to retain talented workers who will bring the results your company wants.

Desert Storm Intelligence Operation

Desert Storm Intelligence Operation Introduction The Operation Desert Storm occurred in Saudi Arabia between January 1991 and April 1991. This operation has been cited as the reason why the United States defeated the Iraqis in the conflict that was between these warring states. The headquarter offices of the operations were based on the United States’ soil.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Desert Storm Intelligence Operation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The operations in US used electronic data that was collected from the battlefield in the form of photographs together with intercepted communication from the Iraqi revolutionaries and their allies. The data was used to predict the enemies’ moves to intercept their operations before any real damage could occur to the United States’ army and citizens back home in the form of planned terrorist attacks. The actions of this off-base headquarters force were felt by the commanders and s oldiers that were on the ground. Their appreciation as well as optimistic perception of this newly proposed and previously untried strategy ushered the use of revolutionized technology in communications, command, and control, not to mention intelligence operations. This paper discusses in comprehensive details the exact application of various technologies in the respective areas of communication, intelligence operations, command, and control. The paper merges this relationship with the overall effect of the respective operations on the Operation Desert Storm. It will then speculate on the effect of the use of otherwise unfriendly technology in terms of the results of the war as well as the strategies that were applied. Besides, it will indicate the downsides of the new technology that was applied in the Desert Storm Operations in the effort to suggest possible solutions to these side effects. Brief Overview of the Operation Desert Storm Soldiers,†¦this morning at 0300, we launc hed Operation DESERT STORM, an offensive campaign that will enforce the United Nations’ resolutions that Iraq must cease its rape and pillage of its weaker neighbor and withdraw its forces from Kuwait†¦Our cause is just! Now you must be the thunder and lightning of Desert Storm (US Navy 1). These moving words form part of the speech that ushered in what has come to be known by the public as the Operation Desert Storm. They were pronounced by General H. Schwarzkopf who was the USA Commander-in-Chief of the US Central Command on 16 January 1991 (US Navy 1).Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More More than half a million of the United States’ nationals, both men and women, were deployed to assist the weaker nation of Kuwait from Iraq’s pillaging. This action was an unprecedented response in terms of magnitude and patriotism especially following the newly ended Tehran skirmishes that had seen to the death of a large number of American soldiers in a botched attempt by the US’ army to free its hostages held in Tehran by Iraqi students and revolutionists. It seemed like a critical point for the United States to reclaim its lost pride to prove to the world that it could indeed interfere with other ‘undemocratic’ nations’ affairs to restore peace and order with the least number of casualties on its side. It is indeed true that there are usually more than just socio-political motivations in every war. This claim turns out to be true for the Desert Storm situation. However, this paper does not address the matter of the causes of war. However, this information may be important in determining the reason why particular strategies were preferred to the more traditional ways of war. However, with such a large army deployed by the United States and an aggregate of an even larger army since other nations such as Britain and Fr ance were also part of the Desert Storm operations, which had been in response to compliance with the United Nations’ resolution over Iraq’s fate in Kuwait, it was crucial that those involved apply a working and comprehensive system to manage the activities and deployment of various units in the fray. Technology Emerging technologies within the final stages of the 20th century, which is in other words the early 1990s, were a poignant driving force behind the Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Of particular interest to this study and context are the command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) systems. All forms of this new technology were being used at all levels and hierarchies of the various army battalions. Through these new inventions, the armed soldiers were much attentive of all friendly cooperation cases of the enemy troops, particularly the Iraqi soldiers and their allies while giving their response in the actual time. They could then plan e ffectively and be ahead of their rival forces.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Desert Storm Intelligence Operation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Based on this emerging transformation in computer expertise, strategies, and measures, the United States’ core authority integrated its operations by using the available applications to carry out C3I tasks. These functions included new and more secure telephone unit to pass voice, data, and pictures, and to pass information over a channel or network. They also included in their applications the diverse military and commercial space-based satellite resources, which made the communication infrastructure flat, with the possibility of using the voice over network. These systems together the applications involved replaced the slow and boring systems that were used by then, thus making communication within the military base and with other stations around the world simpl er and very fast. They also included them in their systems. Their operations were modernized by the use of laser and fiber optic signaling systems and a large number of real-time intelligence systems. These systems could think fast and help in making decisions. They could make calculations and/or control bases, with others even sending warnings if they detected them. They were capable of providing correlated and automated information in the image and database form to all military stratifications (House 17). Through the use of these systems, the United State Central base maintained its closed systems as it was known. Therefore, the rival Iraq could not tap in the information. Such rivals received spontaneous attacks, which were a big advantage to the US militaries who were assured of data security and integrity as they could make secret passes into the Iraq bases by the use of their marine. Moreover, they could communicate with the units using fiber optic channels and/or use the sate llite to control the space (Larsen 6).In general, use of emerging technologies by that era gave the US Control Base a greater advantage over the Iraq forces.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As it soon became apparent to the United States Government acting in conjunction with all the other participants that it would require a revolutionized system to deal with its numbers as well as their operations, including communication interception of its enemies’ correspondence. This strategy led to the adoption and engagement of the C3I system (Boatman 645). On the 17th January 1991, the Operation Desert Storm kicked off with the deployment of 100 TLAMs, abbreviation for Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles that were deployed from bases that were on the ground such as the Persian Gulf, the red sea, and the city of Baghdad. This launching attack effectively cleared more than half of the defense targets by exposing them to land invasion. Moreover, when cease fire was declared from 17th January to April the same year, the various flights that launched these missiles roamed the air by effectively quelling resistance and putting down the enemies’ opposition to culminate the ove rall use of 288 such missiles. These, as noted above, were deployed from various bases including two nuclear powered submarines and tankers. The United States navy employed a very discreet yet highly effective ambushing agenda where it used the navy jamming aircrafts known as the EA 6Bs to locate and immediately decapitate the enemy’s radars before the mission unit could launch its attack. These aircrafts became so critical both to the United States and to its collaborators whose their availability would be the basis of determining whether a mission was to proceed or not (Abrams 3). As it will become evident with the unfolding of the overall campaign that became the Desert Storm, the naval forces and the Marine Corps played an indispensable role especially in the dispersal of the Iraqis’ defense that was pointed towards the sea and towards the south (Marine Corps Specialty). Most of the Iraqi soldiers that were positioned in the Kuwait city were determined to protect t heir strongholds from both air and water attacks and hence the seaward and southwards oriented defense. However, by the simultaneous and overwhelming missile attacks as well as the ongoing maritime dominance throughout the war, the US and other collaborators were able to largely disperse the enemy as well as any resistance being launched at that level in a very initial yet critical to the strategy stage of the campaign. This approach is one of the reasons for the United States’ supremacy in the end. The integration of distributed automated C3 systems made it possible for them to embrace artificial intelligence and be more tactical in their operations. Replacing the manual military operations with more advanced and automated technologies happened in the microprocessor era (Freedman and Karsh 67). During this time, Desert Shield and Desert Storm were the first to sustain large–scale joint or coalition military operation. They were also the first to apply the inspiring bu t unique application of PC devices to manage and coordinate the military functions. However, the technology was thoroughly used in automated C31. Some examples and their roles in the operations are discussed below. Command and Control (C2) There was a great change in coordination and exploitation of approximately one-half million males and females with arms, control of road and rail network, and logistic back up around the globe in a restricted amount of time in a tremendously proficient way. This situation was made possible by the implementation of the new systems C31). Innovation and the use of distributed automated systems kept all echelons in synchronization while allowing total flexibility to commanders who could command several units in different sides of the world by passing orders. Operation tactics were tailored significantly, imaginatively, and strikingly to attain presentation heights, which were not projected or automated by the system. During these circumstances, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) was empowered as no other body had ever been prior to this operation to deal with the resultant and new matters that arose from the conflict. It was also adequately supplied with resources and infrastructure to satisfy any demands from the ground (Davis 48). Thus, it was adept to fulfill the objective for which it was formed, namely the peculiar mission to oust Iraq out of Kuwait. The C31 system ran a number of correlated directives that involved the extensive collection, analysis, and subsequent dissemination of data on and from both the coalitions and enemy forces (Schwarzkopf and Petre 376). Computerization The history of computers and the revolution of processors were among the important historically convenient factors that favored the success and feasibility of the Operation Desert Storm (Freedman and Karsh 67). Computers differ in mass, form, and purpose, from the chip central processing units-entrenched martial units to private data support, desktop , cabinet size small workstations, and Van full notebook workstations. All these examples were brought to the desert by the US Marine Corp. They performed a wide range of automated tasks and support functions. These computers were connected using Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN), which made it easy to share files and information. They also brought along data integrity, security, and access to information by a special token or password. Information access was also made easier by the use of computers. Besides, real time recovery was made possible in case the information was lost. They also helped with easy navigation and reading of grids. Intelligence and Information Gathering The use of aptitude models to support a martial process was an additional extraordinary use of the contemporary expertise. The integration of assorted complicated â€Å"photo-optical, infrared, and electromagnetic sensors continuously observed Iraqs forces from a variety of platforms, which transmitted their observations in pictures, data, and textual formats to military commanders in the desert and contiguous regions† (Desert Shield Para. 12). The information gathered was distributed extensively by means of an assorted class of telecommunications platform to every martial element, together with those at subordinate power rankings, which were then used to arrange assaults or to modify the tactics. The information gathered included detailed graphical information about the enemys forces. Sustaining security road and rail network was only accessible on a restricted root to countrywide control units and chosen rudiments of local, integrated, and particular authority command center personnel. The war in the air began at the H–hour still on the seventeenth of January when the designated aircrews and pilots from both the Navy and the Marine Corps launched their crafts into the air in what would soon become the US and affiliate parties’ dominated skies of I raqi and Kuwait within 43 days (Boyd 51). The aircrafts took off from various runways, with some on the two large amphibian ships, other multiple smaller amphibious ships, and others temporarily setting up bases ashore. The pilots located targets and annihilated enemy troops with little or no casualties on the offensive side since the EA 6Bs would set out before the main flights to survey the area of intended attack to jam the enemies’ radars in preparation for the imminent attacks. Sea sortie pilots covered the maritime regions as their companions in the corps covered the land areas. It is also noteworthy that the air attack was organized into four phases with the first phase’s objective being the annihilation of Iraq’s strategic capabilities. The intended time frame for this strategy had been set at ten days. However, it was completely discharged in seven days. Phase two was to focus on Kuwait’s Theatre of Operations while phase three was aimed at aidin g the efforts that had so far been concentrated in phases one and two. Moreover, it was also intended to focus on the Kuwait based field army. Finally, phase four was intended to cover the ground operations of the US army as well as the collaborative forces. In other words, the intention of phase four was to offer reinforcement (United States Congress 3). So far, within the 0300 hours according to the Persian Gulf time, the Tomahawk Land Attack missiles were already being hurled. In addition, the various aircrafts from six aircraft carriers were flying in the air, creating quite the display in terms of the launch of offensive combat. Subsequently, since Iraq’s critical radar areas had already been leveled by navy EA 6B prowlers, army aircraft poured in and began to bomb the Iraq strongholds for missile, nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare weapon stations. The Iraqis’ critical radar sites had since been annihilated by the anti radiation missiles, also known as HAR M (Bruger 75). During the war, due to the highly advanced airplanes that were being used by both the United states and the allies of the United Nations, in most instances, when the Iraqi pilots spotted an American FA 18 multipurpose aircraft, they usually reacted by turning and fleeing (Medical Mobilization Planning and Execution 23). They Iraqis either went underground to regroup or they went to Iran, which acted as a haven. The FA 18 is a new warfare machine that is capable of multitasking. Whereas it may be a mission to attack the Iraq airfield when it spots another enemy’s aircraft, it can change the mission to deal with the new threats before proceeding to carry out the originally intended task. Thus, the war with the Iraqis was staged on air by the United States among others of the coalition (Burke 54). The war also took place at the water level, with a large number of battleships taking the front of the severed coasts that had completely handicapped Iraq’s econo mic standing. Its economy was suffering greatly when the battleship USS Wisconsin arrived at the Persian Gulf to support other battleships that had already arrived there five months prior when the Operation Desert Shield had been underway. This operation of January 1991 had given way to the Operation Desert Storm. The battleships were responsible for the launch of Tomahawk land Attack Missiles since these missiles were launched off the ships. Additionally, the ships had up to 16 guns for defense from any form of enemy approach or attack during missile launch. Amphibious ships that could convert from another level into battleships and submarines while retaining the option of being used as aircraft carriers were also applied to this war. The damage that was caused by both the United States and its allies in the process of reclaiming Kuwait from Iraq is unprecedented. Perhaps it gave the entire world an idea of what its foes would be up against in the event of a third world war. The in itial stages of the attack were punctuated by bomb explosions whereas the citizens in Kuwait and Iraq reported not seeing any aircrafts. This observation was because the bombs were being dropped by the TLAM missiles as well as F I 17 stealth bombers that were neither seen nor heard as they approached. This situation was based on their build up technology that allows for great accuracy and precision in terms of aiming from long distances off and aerial bases (Crowder 38). The United States together with its allies that were engaging in this war with Iraq noted that their targets aimed at Iraqi revolutionaries as well as other combatant enemies as opposed to civilians and residents of either Kuwait or Iraq. However, regardless of the targeted forces, it is nearly impossible to launch an attack and have no casualties. Therefore, in reporting, quite a healthy portion of civilians are included in the number of casualties of war. Some limitations came with the operation’s quantity of the descriptions formed by both the countrywide and macrobiotic methods. However, the descriptions were more or less devastating. The broadcasting of the described data to the operation military of each unit needed extremely incorporated telecommunication gadgets relative to the ones that worked well with other modes of information transfer. Nevertheless, upon applying the use of military and commercial communication satellites, they managed to pass the needed information to the designated level much faster (Burke 86). However, as the Desert Shield informs, â€Å"The capabilities initiated in this operation were only a beginning to improvements for subsequent and future national security operations, thus greatly increasing the efficiency of imagery information exchange among all components and echelons† (Para. 13). In the midst of the chances acknowledged by the use of current information expertise were widespread set of connections/varying direction-finding gadgets to rea ct to the predicted pressure to the sustaining communication networks. Analogous coercion to Iraqs information network symbolizes a momentous stride towards information processing models and plans, which kept on advancing all over the decade. Besides, even if there were many different systems used to capture images in different units or the task was executed by an agent within the US government, more effort had to be implemented to make sure that all other stations could receive meaningful information from the image sent and that they could make a meaningful and accurate decision. In addition, some tasks were commandeered by the â€Å"Sponsored Intelligence Communication Architecture (INCA) some months prior to the onset of the operations brought about by the National Imagery Transmission Format (NITF) standards† (Boatman 645). These standards ensured that media images could be seen in different devices and that they could be transferred and be available for the different use rs across the word. The standards worked well for them during that era, although they required a more advanced and integrated telecommunication system and infrastructures, which limited their productivity by that day’s standards and needs. The transmission of images and media-related files made the operation successful. The most and remarkable technology to recognize during this era was the strategic utilization of countrywide potential, otherwise referred to as the TENCAP agenda (Gordon and Trainor 4). The technology came up with highly integrated systems that were capable of sharing media file systems especially multiple images across various stations in the battlefield. Surveillance and Investigation Part of the military machine that denotes the Operation Desert Storm was the protection support plan and dual observation and follow-up radar strategies. These technologies formed a critical element of the Operation Desert Storm since they came in handy when it was necessary t o maintain supervision over the enemies. Therefore, they made up for the gap of monitoring. Through this technology, they could locate the enemies approaching their military bases and take the necessary actions (Glenn 45). Communication Systems The use of telecommunication in military bases and/or in their operations was boosted by the use of satellite and voice over network. Information could be sent via data packets. The needed training and command could be given from any source (Glenn 45). They used the public telephone services to do their communications. Therefore, the data and information passed could not be hacked or tapped by public. Large and enormous facilities were deployed to develop the martial and business management and communication devices, which were given a back up by the administration of the United States. They also incorporated the transmission of the multimedia files exchange. As a result, the US army and the alliance soldiers could give immediate and updated information during their operations. The speed of delivery was improved, with the loading of images and the system requirements for portable devices being enhanced, thus increasing the availability of information and quick decision-making procedures. Packet Switched Networking Finally, packet switching made up for a most critical technological advancement during this era of the operation. They installed defense networks in the battlefield, which made it easy for data or information to be sent as packets. The existence of the microprocessor and the flat network infrastructure enhance this progress, thus allowing data to be sent faster and with a less cost. The more advanced multimedia files such as video clips could be sent using this medium. The technology supported teleconference. The deployment of this technology resulted in the development of standards of communications across the network. It has grown to today. In fact, it is the most used across the world. Consequently, it beco mes apparent that although the technological revolution in this day and age facilitated the victory of the United States over the Iraq enemies inclusive of its allies, the technological shortcomings of the day also largely underestimated the successes of the technological genius. Perhaps it is possible upon looking back through the annals of history to suggest modern solutions that were both undiscovered and unrevealed at the time by the respective army commanders. Therefore, a postulation of probable solutions ought to be approached from the perspective of a 1990 commander dealing with intelligence in a 1990 capacitated computer machine. This finding further complicates the recommendation making process. It can perhaps form a possible field of study for future analysts. LAN-WAN Internetworking The integration of the Local Area Network and the WAN was used in this operation. It merged the databases in the US Central Unit and the battlefields. The information access and the responses to the pressing and urgent matters were made easier (Burke 44). Information about the enemies and the type of weapons they used could be captured and stored on the central database and then be accessed by the commanding officers in the different units across the world. This technology made reporting easier, convenient, and orderly kept besides improving efficiency in information delivery. Conclusion The US and other collaborators in the enforcement of the UN resolution requiring Iraq to vacate Kuwait carried out an unprecedented application of strategy and warfare systems that could not have otherwise prevailed were it not for the heavy computerization of the systems. The technology that was applied in this minor clash did not have limitations on its scope that one would expect in a situation that was not outright war, but more of a minor fray. The effects of the use of this high level of technology were the capturing of the world nations’ awe in this situation, as they all experienced the advanced warfare machines deployed by the US, Britain, France, and other nations. However, it was also apparent that these war systems may have operated better if there were better communication channels between the ground and the off-base headquarters at the United States CENTCOM. Communication is a critical requirement for one to win any war. Moreover, confidentiality of the same cannot be overemphasized especially considering that interceptability of the Iraq communication channels probably led to their defeat, which was further compounded when their critical and other radar sites were bombed down before the launch of a major attack on their strongholds. Keeping them in the dark disoriented the sync that is critical to the process of devising a winning strategy by any team in any war. The same situation could be replicated for any formidable opponent. Regardless of the capacity of their armory, upon the disorientation of communication, it becomes impossible to coo rdinate efforts necessary to win the battle. Abrams, Creighton. Field Artillery Desert Facts. Field Artillery Journal 10.2(1991): 2-3. Print. Boatman, John. UK Revises Artillery Tactics. International Defense Review 25.7(1992): 645-646. Print. Boyd, Morris. Focusing Combat Power The Role of the Field Artillery Brigade (42d Field Artillery Brigade) in Desert Storm. Field Artillery Journal 2.6(1992): 46-52. Print. Bruger, Steven. Not Ready for the First Space War: What about the Second?. Naval War-College Review 1.1(1995): 75-76. Print. Burke, Joseph. Medical Support for U.S. Marine Corps Armored Battalion: Problems Encountered During Operation Desert Shield/Storm/Cease Fire, and Some of Their Solutions. Maine: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 1992. Print. Crowder, Wether. Platoon-Based Firing Battery Operations. Field Artillery Journal 4.8(1991): 35-39. Print. Davis, Thomas. Reflection on the Storm: FA Vector for the Future. Field Artillery Journal 8.9(1993): 4 4-49. Print. Desert Shield. Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence Systems In Operation Desert Shield/Storm, n.d. Web. http://ronaldelliott.com/desstrm.html Freedman, Lawrence, and Ephraim Karsh. The Gulf Conflict, 1990–1991: Diplomacy and War in the New World Order. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993. Print. Gordon, Michael, and Bernard Trainor. The Generals’ War: The Inside Story of the Conflict in the Gulf. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1995. Print. House, John. Lessons from the Battlekings (3d Battalion, 41st Field Artillery) in the Desert. Field Artillery Journal 28.10(1991): 16 -21. Print. Larsen, Henry. 38 Artillery Tactics: Before, During, and After Operation Desert Storm. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: University of Oklahoma, Schwarzkopf, Oklahoma, 1982. Print. Medical Mobilization Planning and Execution. U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General Report 93-INS-13: Operation Desert Storm: Full Army Medical Capability Not Achieved. London: U.S. General Accounting Office Publication GAO/NS1AD-92-175, n.d. Print. Schwarzkopf, Norman, and Peter Petre. It Doesn’t Take a Hero. New York: Bantam, 1992. 376. United States Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. Intelligence successes and failures in Operations Desert Shield/Storm. Pennsylvania: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2010. Print. US Navy. Naval History and Heritage Command, 2008. Web.

1984 Questions for Study and Discussion

1984 Questions for Study and Discussion 1984  is one of the best-known works by  George Orwell. This classic novel describes life in a surveillance state where independent thinking is referred to as thoughtcrime. 1984 coined terms like Big Brother and Newspeak that are still in use today, and its powerful exploration of totalitarianism is a key reference point in political discussion and analysis. Reflect on the following questions as you learn about 1984. Whether youre preparing for an exam or preparing for a book club, these questions for study and discussion will strengthen your knowledge and understanding of the novel. 1984  Questions for Study and Discussion What is important about the title of 1984?  What are the conflicts in 1984? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) are in this novel?How does George Orwell reveal character in 1984?What are some themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?What are some symbols in 1984? How do they relate to the plot and characters?Is Winston consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character? How? Why?Do you find the characters likable? Would you want to meet the characters?Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?How does this novel relate to dystopian literature? Is Winston a strong character?How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else? In any other time?What is the role of women in the text? Is love relevant? Are relationships meaningful?Why is 1984 controversial? Why has it been banned?How d oes 1984 relate to contemporary politics/society? Would you recommend this novel to a friend?Why do you think words like Big Brother and Newspeak have entered into our everyday lexicon?What, if anything, scares you about the future Orwell describes? Why or why not?How is doublethink used in the novel? Do you think it could or is used in our current society?Do you think its important that Oceana is constantly at war with someone? What point do you think Orwell is trying to make?How does the age difference between Julia and Winston affect how they view the actions of Big Brother and the government? Do you see differences like this in your own life?  How is technology used by Big Brother and the Party? Does it remind you of any current technological issues?  If you were in Room 101, what would be waiting for you?What is the significance of the name Ministry of Love?How is sexual repression used to oppress the people of Oceana? Are there examples of this kind of oppression in the real world?How are characters brainwashed in the nove l? Do you think this sort of brainwashing can happen in real life? What warnings can we take from Orwells novel?

Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 10

Business Law - Essay Example Stevenson1 in which it was stated that a person must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which if seen with reasonable foreseeability are likely to cause an injury to that person’s neighbour. The definition of neighbour was stated to be a person who would be so closely and directly affected by the act that he should be contemplated of when doing the act or omission. This is what is known as the neighbour principle. The test was reformed in Anns v Merton2 where Lord Wilberforce suggested a twos tagged test. The current position is that of House of Lords in Caparo v. Dickman3 whereby a three stage test was laid down. First, it must be reasonably foreseeable that the conduct of defendant would cause damage to the claimant. Secondly, there must be sufficient proximity between the parties and finally ‘the situation must be one in which the court considers it fair, just and reasonable the law should impose a duty of care of a given scope on the one party for the be nefir of the other’. (Wild et al 2010) The courts in Caparo stated that the defendant, who had undertaken the statutory audit of the public company was under a duty by way of contract to the shareholders as a collectivity and went on to say that individual purchasers of the shares of the company were not owed any duty even if they were existing shareholders nor did any liability arise in respect of the creditors of the company. It is more than evident that the accounts of the company are relied upon and the auditors’ manuals and other material may clearly point out to the fact that there has been reliance. However, the courts have due to policy reasons that the possibility of multiplicity of claims (floodgates argument) and business factors have disallowed such claims. Therefore the main reason of the courts has been that the auditors do not owe a duty to investors where reliance is placed on such audit reports because of lack of proximity; the other reason would be an

How Personal Can Ethics Get Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

How Personal Can Ethics Get - Essay Example The three ethical issues of the case were the unethical behavior of Valarie’s boss Water, personal ethical dilemma of Valarie and the third was Valarie’s sharing the company’s sensitive information with her boyfriend who was outsider of the company. In the case I had faced the similar situation like Valerie; I had used the invoices I had found near the copy machine of the copy room of the office area to the CEO of the company. The paper I had found is strong evidence that can be supported by the actions being taken by Water. I would have also clarified my condition to the CEO and request him to not reveal my name unless some strong action is being taken against Water. I strongly believe the CEO himself would understand that in order to sustain the growths and have competitive advantage such practices should be discouraged and strictly prohibited. The company also has a replacement for Water and an effective team of people who like to work. I would never have shared the organizational information with my boyfriend or anyone close to me. I would have prepared myself for the alternatives so that if things go worst than I have an option for myself. The world does not end there. My moral values are the base for my ethical standards which do not allow me to go against the company interests and policies. The stressors for Valarie are result of poor work place environment, unethical behavior of the boss and the personal factors like work visa and educational issues. The stressors for Valarie are the situational stressors like unfavorable working conditions where the immediate boss is involved in unethical practices and her own frustrations of not being able to do anything about it (Scheck et al, 1997). The second category of the stressors is anticipatory stressors like unpleasant expectations and fear (O’Driscoll and Beehr, 1994). The unpleasant expectations are the expectation raised due to the personal

Funding Streams in the Health and Social Care Sector Essay

Funding Streams in the Health and Social Care Sector - Essay Example There will be bids from consortia for approaches will be included in a wide range of client groups and innovation and sustainability beyond funding will be equally vital. A good number of evidence that may inform an evaluation of the approach will be used in supporting organization activity and are effectively self-sustaining in the long run. The proposal is supposed to be based on realistic level of resources that may help in the overall program. Evaluation of the funded program will be analyzed by the implementation group that will have the role of identifying and sharing lessons learned and the organizations that are successful in this round of bids will have the chance to learn from the operation of the program. The Program’s strategy is intended to ensure high quality, accessible advice that provides a key role in enabling informed choice and in supporting an individual’s pathway through support. On the other side, fund priorities include building the capacity of independent advice and support especially in areas where such kind of activities do not exist and addressing the support and information needs of all the user groups such as people providing care. Moreover, the fund will support the development of a range of advice and support services in relation to the relevant authorities and to evaluate the approaches taken within funded bids to support sustainability in the long run such as informing future commissioning strategies (Great Britain 2011, pp. 59-61).

The United States should intervene in the Syrian Civil War to Essay

The United States should intervene in the Syrian Civil War to overthrow the Assad regime - Essay Example ed out not to be the case because, despite its repressive nature, the Assad government still has a lot of support from the military as well as some of the Syrian population. This is the reason why the United States is duty bound to intervene in this conflict on the side of the rebels and overthrow this regime to end it. It is estimated that more than sixty thousand Syrians have lost their lives since the beginning of the conflict and such a high number of deaths is not reasonable. This number of deaths for the sake of a few men holding on to power is unacceptable and the United States, as the defender of democracy, should lead the way in overthrowing them (Friedman). Syria is one of the countries of the Middle East whose stability and strategic position is essential for the maintenance of stability in the region. The conflict that is currently going on in this country is likely to destabilize the region due to the influx of refugees from Syria to its neighbors as well as the spilling over of the conflict to such volatile countries as Lebanon. In order to prevent such an occurrence in a region where it has many interests, it is essential for the United States to intervene this early in the conflict to establish stability. The promotion of democracy has always been one of the reasons why the United States has seen fit to intervene in the affairs of other states. In this case, Syria should not be an exception mainly because its government has for the last fifty years, been among the most repressive in the world. It is only logical for the United States to intervene because this opportunity promotes its democratic ideals to a part of the world that has until recently, experienced little of it (Friedman). Among the most important reasons for the intervention of the United States in Syria is to ensure that a government, which is friendly to the West, is put in place. The Assad regime has proven itself to be against the strategic interests of the United States and its

International Research Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Research Practices - Essay Example Considering budget, it would be more practical to just select a local firm that can be the company's partner who will be able to make the company's goal of expanding internationally possible. Finding the right partner, though, is an additional task to the company as it is not that easy to find the right partner to do business with. This paper tries to answer particular questions raised with regard to expanding business internationally and business research practices for the coffee brewing systems company, JavaJoy. Since it is too tasking to conduct the research as an employee of the company, a third-party company is contracted to conduct the research on potential international markets. As mentioned above, expanding business globally is a big decision to make and before making the decision, there is lots of work needed to be done. It is not easy to find a country that can be a potential market, more so, find a business partner to represent the company. Extensive research should be done in order to make a sound decision. The research to be conducted is not as simple as it sounds. The tasks can be daunting and time consuming for an inexperienced company. Thus, it is better to just designate the work to a third-party research firm to be the company's partner in making the right decision. With the nature of the tasks to be done, this research firm partner should be well-experienced when it comes to conducting international business researches. They should have a proven track record in terms of making businesses going international successful. The company can seek referrals from other companies who have worked with research firms. One other thing to consider is the services the research firm offers. It is best to have one specific point person who is in-charge of all the transactions of the company and who will be able to answer all queries by the company. It is also best if the research firm can provide different options and suggestions in order to come up with the right decision. The research firm should indeed act as a partner or an ally of the company in making its goals of going global come true. What would you expect of them The partner in conducting the research should be able to understand how the entire business works. It may not be able to determine the right type of market or find the right local company to work with if it does not fully understand the missions and visions of the company. The first thing that I would expect them to do is to take time in understanding and learning the processes of the company, JavaJoy, what types of market does it cater to and what are the goals of the company. They should be able to show an effort that they need to know these things. One other thing that I would be expecting of them is a regular progress report of their research findings as the company, being the customer, should be well informed all the time. They should also be able to provide the company with a detailed breakdown of all the expenses made in order to gather all the information and research data needed. Overall, I would say that these would all sum up to professionalism. The partner to conduct inte rnational market research should be professional enough in the services they render. How would you go in finding such a partner and what would your selection criteria be Before starting to look for the right partner, there should be

The United States should intervene in the Syrian Civil War to Essay

The United States should intervene in the Syrian Civil War to overthrow the Assad regime - Essay Example ed out not to be the case because, despite its repressive nature, the Assad government still has a lot of support from the military as well as some of the Syrian population. This is the reason why the United States is duty bound to intervene in this conflict on the side of the rebels and overthrow this regime to end it. It is estimated that more than sixty thousand Syrians have lost their lives since the beginning of the conflict and such a high number of deaths is not reasonable. This number of deaths for the sake of a few men holding on to power is unacceptable and the United States, as the defender of democracy, should lead the way in overthrowing them (Friedman). Syria is one of the countries of the Middle East whose stability and strategic position is essential for the maintenance of stability in the region. The conflict that is currently going on in this country is likely to destabilize the region due to the influx of refugees from Syria to its neighbors as well as the spilling over of the conflict to such volatile countries as Lebanon. In order to prevent such an occurrence in a region where it has many interests, it is essential for the United States to intervene this early in the conflict to establish stability. The promotion of democracy has always been one of the reasons why the United States has seen fit to intervene in the affairs of other states. In this case, Syria should not be an exception mainly because its government has for the last fifty years, been among the most repressive in the world. It is only logical for the United States to intervene because this opportunity promotes its democratic ideals to a part of the world that has until recently, experienced little of it (Friedman). Among the most important reasons for the intervention of the United States in Syria is to ensure that a government, which is friendly to the West, is put in place. The Assad regime has proven itself to be against the strategic interests of the United States and its

Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Politics - Essay Example On the other hand, Canada is a country with stable and democratic politics, which are focused on conflict resolution and playing their significance. In this case, the paper will conduct an analysis on the issue related to BC Supreme Court ruling on physician-assisted suicide using the Canadian politics concepts. The ruling of the BC Supreme Court on physician-assisted suicide has recently banned the issues since it is considered unconstitutional and it can facilitate the relief and fear from the society (Yosie, 1). Moreover, there is a degree of acceptability in relation to medical practices, such as administering doses of pain medication for hastening death are accepted. In fact, the elimination of laws against physician-assisted suicide can offer a chance for some patients to end their struggle with incurable disease. There is a counter argument in relation to physician-assisted suicide, whereby if the laws against the issue were eliminated this would increase the vulnerability of members of the society like the aged, cognitively impaired and disabled. The other hand, the opponents of the resent BC decision are applying politically charged terms for expressing their concerns, though the truth lies in these extremes. Furthermore, physician-assisted suicide is not considered ultimate salvation for patients suffering from incurable diseases, and it is not a catalyst for mass murdering the elderly or cognitively impaired. The British Colombia Supreme Court ruling has eliminated the criminal code ban on physician-assisted suicide, whereby the court declared the law against assisted suicide to be invalid. In addition, there was suspension by the judge concerning the declaration for allowing Federal Government time to draft legislation with a ruling perception. In fact, during the period of suspension, there was a constitutional exemption for implementing the

Write from Memory Essay Example for Free

Write from Memory Essay The writer and narrator Marcel Proust is a very interesting fellow. The Overture or also called â€Å"Swan Way† describes Marcel early childhood and also opens up to him stating â€Å"For a long time I use to go to bed early.† Marcel Proust describes how difficult it was just for him to fall asleep. He then falls asleep, he then states he was reading a book prior however when he finally fell asleep imagining he is part of the book he was reading or well subject to it, but he awakes to find out that he was asleep. (Proust, 1909) The Overture is more of an autobiographical than anything else. The Overture sets the tone for the rest of his novels and the major theme is the relationship between time and memory. There is one part in the story where Marcel is drinking tea and eating sponge cake. This instantly causes a relaxation in Marcel and eventually reminds him of his past memories where he would have a similar meal back in â€Å"Combrary†. This is another example in involuntary memory as he was not trying to remember the past it just came naturally by the cue of drinking tea and eating a sponge cake. (Proust, 1909) The biggest difference from Marcel Prousts â€Å"Overture† and an more realistic novel is that it isnt organized in genuine sense or rather when Proust wrote the Overture he would talk about the future, past, and present which were laid out in memory. The main characters of the story were all introduced in the beginning. The narrative also changes from first person to third person which was unusual in writing realistic novel as the perspective generally stays the same throughout the story. The way Marcel Proust wrote his long paragraphs to sentences so he could fully tell his metaphors. When reading the Overture I cant help, but be instilled as if I was there with Marcel during that time of his telling it.

Dynamics of Negotiations: Failed GE-Honeywell Merger Deal

Dynamics of Negotiations: Failed GE-Honeywell Merger Deal Conceptually, the purpose of every negotiation is to reach an agreement and realize the desired outcome, through efficient and amicable resolutions. The simple principle is to separate the parties from the issue, and focus on their interests rather than positions. But in reality, the process is not always so-especially in multiparty negotiations, which involves multiple parties with varying interests and differences. The objective of this essay therefore, is to critically analyze the complex nature of multiparty negotiations; with specific reference to a failed GE-Honeywell merger deal. The ultimate aim is to highlight the dynamics of the negotiations from standpoint of the parties interests and positions in the overall outcome. Keywords: multiparty negotiations, desired outcome, interests positions, failed merger. 1. Introduction Multiparty negotiation is defined in this context, as interactions involving multiple parties with varying interests and differences. Multiparty negotiation can be a complex and messy process, often with non-obvious outcomes. A number of elements make multiparty interactions significantly more complex and awkward than two-party negotiations. A notable difference is the variety of decision rules that might occur. For instance, in a two-party arrangement, failure of both parties to reach agreement leads to impasse; whereas, in multiparty negotiations, different decision rules could apply. In this article, analysis is focused on interests, differences and positions of all the parties involved in negotiating the (2001-2005), proposed business merger between General Electric Company and Honeywell International Inc. The rationale is to examine the interplay between the parties, in terms of strategies and tactics adopted during negotiations; degree of awareness of the parties BATNA and extent to which they employed competitive or cooperative strategies. The report also attempts to identify framing/anchoring techniques in the negotiations, and equally consider the role of trust, reputation and expertise in the overall decision/outcome of the negotiations. 2. Main Parties Involved The bid by General Electric (GE) to take over Honeywell International Inc. in 2001 was set to become the biggest merger in industrial history, when the European Commission barred it from taking place1. This transatlantic negotiations for a business merger involved strategic parties such as: GE Manufacturing Company, GE Capital Services, United States Department of Justice, the US Military, European Commission and the European Court of First Instance (CFI). Notable among individual personalities who also participated actively and played tactical roles in the negotiations are: European competition commissioner- Mario Monti and the GE Spokesperson-Jonathan Todd. 3. Institutional and Historical Context In 2001, one of the biggest companies in the world, General Electric-American giant manufacturer of aircraft engines; was attracted by Honeywell Internationals aerospace businesses1-avionics technology, which fit in perfectly with GEs business interests; creating remarkable synergies for these two American companies. GE Manufacturing Company was responsible for operational aspect, while all financial obligations for the merger were the responsibility of GE Capital Services-the financial arm of General Electric. The United States Department of Justice as a critical party in the negotiations, had earlier passed the merger, on condition that GE divest itself of Honeywells military helicopter unit, to protect the US military1. However, approval from European Commission was not easy to obtain and the deal fell through. 4. Interests/Positions of the Parties According to GE-Honeywell, their interest in the merger was to capitalize on core business competencies and create synergies. Other expressed reasons included, increasing market power and sharing infrastructure. The US-Department of Justice was happy with the proposed-merger and consented to it. However, it took cognizance of the concerns of US-Military over the security of their military helicopters; whose manufacture/servicing was vested with Honeywell. In view of this, the Department agreed with all other terms of the negotiations, but recommended that GE divest itself of Honeywells military helicopter unit; to protect the US military1. Conversely, the European Commission-EC was unhappy with the deal and prohibited its emergence. Their interest was to protect European markets from perceived monopoly. EC argued that a merger between GE and Honeywell would create too powerful an entity that would adversely affect the competitive position in the aerospace industry1. They maintained that the merger would give the two companies huge combined market share in the common markets in which they operated1. This, they observed would harm competitors as well as customers, by creating a near monopoly situation1. 5. Strategies and Tactics Adopted All the parties involved in this negotiation failed to invent options for mutual gain. While GE-Honeywell was more of contending and unwilling to concede to any of the demands; the EC on their part appeared to have had bottom-line in the negotiations, as they never considered other options outside their interests. They all exhibited clear case of high-concern for self and low-concern for others. For instance, The EC demanded that substantial chunks (amounting to about $ 7 billion) be divested by the two companies, and restrictions be imposed on the operations of the highly profitable GE Capital Services1. The demands GE said were far more than what it was ready to concede. The American companies and the regulatory authorities resorted to threats and slow/low commitment tactics; while the EC stood on take-it-or-leave-it option. 6. Awareness of BATNA and Use of Competitive/Cooperative Strategy It is obvious that the flexibility of Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement-BATNA, which was supposed to show all the parties what alternatives to negotiated agreements would be, and equally serve as standard against which agreements be measured; was neglected in favor of predetermined bottom-line. GE and its allies for example, recognized court litigation as their only BATNA, while EC predetermined a ban without further options. As it were with many multiparty negotiations, the differences in interests/positions of the transatlantic regulatory authorities; gave rise to competitiveness instead of cooperative strategy, which was unfortunately not resolved. Having used much of delay tactics, their inability to cooperate and explore other options to resolve their differences caused the deal fell through. 7. Use of Framing and Anchoring Techniques Anchoring and Framing are two psychological techniques that negotiators use to influence the negotiation process and its final outcome. While frames give alternative descriptions that help negotiators make sense of complex information and focus on the main issue; Anchors as bobby traps are set by negotiators to win their opponents, by defining the mental parameters within which the process operates. These two techniques featured prominently in this negotiation. For example, the EC being fully aware of its predetermined bottom-line set anchors for GE, by making outrageous demand for huge divestment of $ 7 Billion and other heavy sanctions it knew GE will be unwilling to concede. These high claims indeed misled GE. The US Department of Justice also used Framing technique to quickly self-guard US Military, by recommending a divestment from its helicopter arm from the merger. The Department focused on the main issue and disregarded any other feature outside the frame of the main issue. Also, the resorted name-calling by the merging companies and their allies on EC as being dubious and anti-American business; was part of their anchoring to provoke favorable decision and skew the final outcome. 8. Role of Trust/Reputation/Expertise and the Non-obvious Solution It is glaring that reputation/expertise of the merging companies remained the focal issue upon which the negotiating authorities based their arguments-of which many commentators knew would not produce an obvious solution. GE has a reputation of being arguably, the richest and best aircraft engines manufacturer in the world; and Honeywell was rated worlds number one in manufacture of aircraft avionics. The estimated capital worth of their merger was about $42 Billion2, which indeed played an intimidating role in the negotiation. Lack of trust became a critical factor that determined the final outcome of the negotiations. While EC questioned the integrity of the merger, and viewed it as a plot by the American companies to create monopoly and harm competitors/customers; the American companies and their supporters described ECs position as anti- American business attitude2. This undercurrent of tension/distrust ran so deep across the ranks that some called it transatlantic trade war2. With grandstanding positions by the parties from onset, many opined individuals/groups pointed earlier that there was possibility of non-obvious solution, which indeed became the final outcome 9. Lessons Learnt and Conclusions The important lesson learnt here, which is in total agreement with the concept of negotiation, as can be deduced from above examples is that making multi-party negotiations work successfully is a complicated and complex process. As can be inferred from above analysis, the negotiation fell through because of varying interests, parties differences and lack of trust. Strategically, the merger made good business sense, but contrasting positions hindered its realization hence, a failed merger. This special-type multiparty negotiations, marked the first time in negotiation history that transatlantic regulatory authorities differed significantly in their decisions. Conclusively, it is worth noting here that meticulous consultations with effective use of individual BATNAs, Framing and Cooperative strategies during the interactions; would likely have paved the way for successful negotiations that would be of mutual (win-win) benefits.

Where Does Law Come From? Essay -- The Origin of Law

Where does law come from? Law has been defined in many ways by various leaders and thinkers but there is no universal definition. There are numerous sources and the English legal system adopts the rules derived from these various sources to form the English law. Sources of law include common law and equity, legislation, and international conventions such as the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). It must be noted that customs or constitutional conventions are not law. It is a common misconception that customs or conventions are law. The judiciary have repeatedly held that conventions are not law and thus are not binding. The case of Attorney General v Jonathan Cape Ltd aptly demonstrated this point as the court held that the convention of Parliamentary confidentiality is only a convention and does not carry any legal weight. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand what, and how, are sources of law created and what possible dangers may arise from these sources. Common Law Common law first came about during the reign of William the Conqueror who created a common set of laws which was binding on all in the land. In the 15th century, the Chancellor was given the responsibility of deciding cases and he subsequently created his own court, the Court of Chancery which decided cases based on equity. As a result of the Judicature Act 1873, common law and equity were merged into the same courts to ensure that one enhances, instead of opposing, the other. Consequently, the only distinction between common law and equity is the remedies available to litigants. Today, common law is regarded as case laws which are decisions made by judges in cases. Common law is operated on two concepts of equal importance, namely the do... ...e Human Rights Act 1998 Third Edition, 2006 Articles T.H.Bingham ,’The European Convention on Human Rights: Time to Incorporate’ (1993) L.Q.R. 390 Table of cases A-G v Jonathan Cape Ltd [1976] QB 752 Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association Ltd [1999] 4 All ER 705 Miliangos v George Frank (Textiles) Ltd [1975] 3 WLR 758 R v Goldstein, R v Rimmington [2005] UKHL 63 R v R [1991] 4All ER 481 Royal College of Nursing v Department of Health and Social Security [1981] 2 WLR 279,CA Table of statutes and other instruments Statutes: Abortion Act 1967 c87 European Communities Act c68 Human Rights Act 1998 c42 Interpretation Act 1978 c30 Judicature Act 1873 c66 Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 c51 Parliament Act 1949 c103 Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 c23 European Legislation: European Convention of Human Rights (1951)

Chartism: Working Class and National Political Movement

TMA 02 Task 1 In the history block, you learned about three explanations for Chartism’s support – a reaction to economic pressure, national political movement and an inclusive cultural community. What evidence is there in the extract above of three explanations for Chartism’s support that you learned about in the history chapter of Y180, and which, if any, is stressed most strongly by the speaker? Part 1 In no more than 200 words, write a plan for this essay Introduction: 1. Explain the background and context of the extract 2.This essay will consider the evidence for Chartism’s support in terms of economic pressure, popular radicalism, and cultural inclusiveness 3. It will argue all three factors contributed to Chartism’s support but political focus is dominant Economic pressure: 1. 1837-42 were periods of economic downturn, Chartism attracted support by addressing economic circumstances – mention class legislations 2. Manufacturing populatio n under-represented in the electoral system 3. Mention Asa Briggs, secondary source 1, who highlights the significance of economic circumstances A national political movement: 1.Indicate how Chartism was built on pre-existing support for electoral reform 2. State the popular proposed class legislation changes 3. Use primary source 6 to show the heritage of popular radicalism and the public’s want for reform 4. Mention the use and importance of political language 5. Back up this view with Stedman Jones, secondary source 2 Cultural incisiveness: 1. Chartism welcomed those that were excluded from power in every other way – the working class 2. Mention Ellen Yeo, secondary source 3 to support this 3. Ideal of power to the people Conclusion: 1. Evidence for all 3 factors 2.Final reflection – political movement is most stressed 200 words Part 2 Write the essay, using no more than 800 words. In this essay I shall consider how all three explanations contributed to Chart ism’s support and which factor can be seen as the most dominant. The speech made by an unknown speaker in 1839 is a primary source of information from the Northern Star newspaper, the ‘main voice in print’ (P. 107) of Chartism, and therefore we cannot be sure of its reliability. The motive exists to exaggerate the audiences’ size and enthusiasm, numbers of ‘between 5,000 and 12,000’ (Background) and comments such as ‘loud cheering’ (L. 2) could have been fabricated. The report was published in Chartism’s early years, a time of economic recession and social tension when the Whig party held power. The extract highlights the audiences’ economic circumstances making some references to inclusivity, however I believe political focus is the key theme. To begin with I shall consider economic pressure. Paragraph four of the extract focuses on this factor, the speaker makes several remarks which relate to and evidences the aud ience’s poverty such as ‘ragged clothing’, ‘insufficiency of food’, and ‘insufferable despair’.Chartism attracted support by instilling hopefulness that if democracy was put into practice, people’s economic anguish would lessen, namely that the Poor Law of 1834 would be discarded and taxes reduced. Chartism became an established movement due to a structural transfer in the economy from agriculture to manufacturing; the working classes in these industrial areas were under-represented. Manufacturing industries were prevalent in York and the surrounding areas therefore these economic factors would be close to the audience’s hearts.Briggs, secondary source 1, supports this view by arguing manufacturing communities displayed the strongest support whilst rural areas showed considerably less. The explanation of Chartism being a national political movement is strongly evidenced in the extract. The speaker expresses many political i deas, talking of an end to the established church, as well as addressing class legislations such as opposition to the Poor Law. The speaker states, ‘abolish the army, dash the navy’ (L. 48) ‘crush the church by law established, obliterate the debt from the national ledger, restore republicanism, establish equality’ (L. 50–L. 51).These are long established ideals of popular radicalism which evidences the movement’s political diversity and shows Chartism was able to draw on pre-existing radical support for democratic reform. An account from the Morning Chronicle, primary source 6, shows a flag used during the procession which carried the National Petition to Parliament sporting the phrase ‘we require justice before charity’ (p125). This proposes demonstrators would not be happy with an ‘economic hand-out’ (p126) instead wanting acknowledgment of their political rights; this paper was pro-Whigs so has reason to downplay anti-government protests so may be reliable.Chartist’s had their own political language and this is strong evidence for Chartism being a political movement, the extract uses such language to encourage listeners support, for example, ‘these evils chiefly of a political and social cast arise from one source – class legislation’ (L. 20-L. 21). Steadman Jones, secondary source 2, supports this notion by stating ‘the growth and decline of Chartism was a function of its capacity to persuade its constituency to interpret distress or discontent within the terms of its political language’ (p. 37).Evidence for Chartism been an inclusive cultural community also exists in the extract. The movement did not adhere to the times’ hierarchical style of society as it allowed anybody to join, the speaker demonstrates the movement’s inclusiveness by addressing women who were often excluded from politics, ‘I am glad to meet the brave men and fa ir women of York’ (L. 10). Chartism was all-embracing of the working classes; six working men were deliberated included on the committee that discussed the People’s Charter. The speaker addresses this group several times with ‘Working men’ (L. ), ‘Honourable gentlemen, I mean by this name the working class only’ (L. 17), and ‘the labouring class, are regarded as a cipher in importance’ (L. 22-L. 23). Ellen Yeo, secondary source 3, states the working classes were quite capable of creating their own politics just as they were proficient manufacturers in the economy. Chartism’s ideal of giving power to the people already occurred within the movement as it gave people a political voice, the National Petition’s allowed people whose opinion was rarely consulted by Parliament to put down their signature with a feeling of power and pride.Evidence for all three explanations for Chartism’s support exists in the extract. However I personally conclude that the main focus and draw of support was the movement’s political goals as the speech uses political language to acquire agitators and fight for electoral reform. Many political issues are also addressed not just male suffrage, evidence for economic and cultural factors are present too. I believe that economic slumps increased support as protestors could voice their resentment of suffering, and inclusiveness helped to provide this voice, yet it was the political focus that gave hope for change. 00 words Task 2 Write no more than 150 words for this task. Part 1 Briefly write down two or three pieces of feedback from your tutor on TMA 01. My tutor’s feedback on TMA01 included encouraging remarks regarding the structure and format of my work; I also received good comments on my referencing skills. However it was felt that I only just achieved the learning outcome of producing a relevant, reasoned answer. How have you used that feedback in preparing for TMA 02?Positive feedback showed that my work has a good structure with a clear introduction, main body and conclusion; I have therefore ensured that I did the same for TMA02. I also made sure to reference and use quotation marks around the phrases I included from the materials. In order to avoid unclear sentences in the essay I have studied material on both the Y180 and the BBC, ‘Skillswise' website. This helped improve my sentence construction, grammar and punctuation, and ultimately the flow of my writing. Feedback proved helpful as it meant I made a conscious effort to keep my sentences short so they remain crisp in meaning.