Financial calculation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Financial calculation - Essay Example Planning for a new business or expansion of a business today is never again a simple task. Globalization had caused factors that are previously 'foreign' to local business, becomes more and more influencing. Local producers cannot relax and keep producing mediocre quality products as foreign competitors entering the local market. The furniture industry for example, has become an international business rather than local. Local furniture producers in a country as far as Jamaica are threatened by the presence of US competitors ('Globalization and', 2003).The global environment has made planning a more complicated task as non-financial measurements are become increasingly important toward business forecasts. Specific preferences of the industry, habits of international competitors, and other non-financial factors must be considered, to prevent bias reporting of financial forecasts. Nevertheless, financial performance is still the main indicator of corporate success or failure. This is wh y the financial calculation has always been incorporated within academic studies.Financial performance of a corporation can be evaluated by observing financial ratios. Financial ratios are indicators designed to elaborate certain aspects or corporate financial performance. Different aspects are elaborated by different ratios. There are four types of financial ratios, they are:Profitability ratios display the rate of return resulted from company operation over a certain period. The amount of profit itself is not sufficient to describe corporate performance over the period. Excess of revenue over expenses are compared to total sales and corporate assets in order to obtain a ratio that describe how much money resulted from existing assets (Financial Ratios, n.d). Several profitability ratios are profit margin, return on equity and return on total assets: Ratios 2003 2004 2005 Profit margin 30.00% 18.75% 11.67% Return on asset 15.38% 17.44% 7.29% Return on equity 35.29% 31.91% 12.73% According to corporate financial statement, Fine furniture is experiencing a significant decline over the last three years. In order to properly assess corporate performance we actually ought to compare corporate ratios with industrial average. However, comparison of the three periods available has clearly displayed significant downward shift. The ratios indicated that profitability performance decline more than 50% over the past two years. Due to limited data available, we are using end of year numbers to calculate the financial ratios, instead of average numbers. Liquidity Ratios Liquidity Ratios display corporate ability to pay short-term debt. The ratios compare liabilities of the company to existing assets, to see how many assets are available to guarantee each dollar of corporate short-term loan. The most well known liquidity ratios are current ratio and acid test ratio: Ratios 2003 2004 2005 Current Ratio 1.24 1.89 1.57 Acid Test Ratio 0.86 1.19 0.79 Fine furniture displayed average liquidity performance regarding liquidity ratios. The best performance was during the year 2004. Current ratio increases during 2004, but decreases again during 2005. Similar patterns are shown by the Acid Test Ratio. Solvability Ratios Solvability ratios have similar functions to liquidity ratios. However, solvability ratios concern long term instead of short term corporate abilities to meet existing obligations. Solvability ratios include debt ratio, gearing ratio and equity ratio. Ratios 2003 2004 2005 Debt Ratio 0.97 0.95 0.94 Gearing Ratio 0.06 0.08 0.10 Equity Ratio 0.44 0.55 0.57 According to financial statements, Fine Furniture has not seemed to take full advantage of long term debt possibilities. This is revealed by the gearing ratio, which displayed that only a very small portion of the capital is financed using long term debt. However, the debt ratio described acceptable

Establishing the Academic Performance of Veterans in the Us Colleges Essay Example for Free

Establishing the Academic Performance of Veterans in the Us Colleges Essay The word veteran comes from Latin word, vetus which means old. It’s used to mean a person who has experience or has served for a long time in the armed forces. Though sometime it may be used to even include those still working in the armed forces (Howe 23). In some countries holidays dubbed Veterans Day have been celebrated to honor the veterans. After World War 2 veteran groups like the veterans of foreign wars and even the American legion pushed for the enactment of the GI bill which has ensured that veterans access free or subsidized education and health care (Howe 23). Objectives †¢ To determine the level of academic performance of veterans in the US colleges. †¢ To understand the reasons why veterans decide to go back to college. †¢ To comprehend the effect of being a veteran on academic performance. †¢ To classify the academic performance of the veterans i. e excellent, moderate e. t. c. Justification Frances claims that the Vietnam veterans, who were on duty between 1956 and 1975, were psychologically devastated and bitter (45) and addicted to drugs (46). They include the people who had an uphill task readjusting to the normal society life, in the US history context (47). Several movies e. g. Hi mom (1970), 1971’s hard ride and Marvel Comic’s movie The Punisher among others have constantly shown that the experience at the Vietnam war for example was so devastating (Jay 23). This warrants a study that probes to know if the government’s efforts to take the veterans back to college is the most appropriate measure. The results will boost the morale of the veterans. The researcher hypothesis will be a Null hypothesis-There is no relationship between high academic performance and being a veteran. It will be assumed that the respondents exam result will be a true reflection of their academic capability and that past exam marks achieved were not characterized by any irregularities. Literature review A number of recent studies keep pointing at the fact that those combat veterans who have PTSD have exhibited memory lapse. According to Nash (112) and Andrew (99), other psychological dimensions including intellectual capacity, veterans with PTSD have been ok just like other non-veterans. According to the newly signed GI bill by the USA president George W. Bush on 30th June 2008, all American young veterans are assured of a chance to obtain a college degree or university degree free of charge (Montreal Gazette). An example of the serious attention being given to this sector is Horatio Alger association’s commitment in 2005 to distribute 10 million dollars to those veterans who fought wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This bill was signed in recognition of the Jewish War Veterans. It was also signed in order to review the educational benefits attached to the military, navy or the air force from which a majority of the veterans emanate and which have been outpaced by the standards of living. The bill has been timely because it eliminates the stringent procedures and replaces them with a minimum of three years of active service to the nation in the military, navy, air force or any other troops like reservists or guardsmen. The veteran benefits are to those who have participated actively in long term state duties and have received an honorary discharge from duty e. g. the American Soldiers who went to fight the war in Iraq and made it back home (National Guard). The financial Aid office and the department of veteran affairs in the US which is based at Ivy Tech in Southern Indiana have been very instrumental in promoting education for the veterans. According to a recent survey by Minnesota state colleges and universities (2007), 80% of National Guard soldiers from Minnesota completing their overseas deployment, said they were keen on beginning or returning to complete their higher education (Karmaz 345). These veterans returning from military duty abroad face numerous challenges i. e. personal, relationship, employment matters and education as they struggle to return their lives to normal civilians (Nash 116). As the president of Las Positas College DeRionne Pollard puts it in her welcome note, the veterans have made an astonishing difference in the lives of their countrymen and women. The peace and freedom that is enjoyed by the US for example as she puts it, is as a result of the tiresome work and a strong sense of duty exhibited by the veterans in their various state assigned duties (Andrews 34). This study will therefore be seeking to establish the general academic performance of veterans and the factors responsible for the standards In veterans elementary public school in Chula Vista that caters for approximately 542 students from grade k-6 in 2007 had an adequate yearly progress of 845 surpassing the 800 mark set by the state of California. Sounds impressive but, how about other schools/colleges? (Neubauer Diane 376) Methodology This study will utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods. In quantitative method, the academic records of the veteran students will be analyzed; their performance will then be compared to the other non-veteran students in the same setting. A test will also be set and administered to all respondents. The research will utilize several resources including stationery, analyzing computers where data is entered and comparison charts and graphs produced. Qualitative method will also be used be used to generate the opinions of the respondents. Unstructured questionnaires will be used to generate this information. All qualitative information of similar nature will be grouped together i. e. information coding. The coded information will then be organized in the form of matrix and then conclusions drawn from the data, E. g. Oral examinations on general topics can also be posed, the respondent’s answers will then be checked for content and their levels of understanding understood. Data analysis The quantitative data on the performance of the subjects will be compared with that of a control reference population of students with the same characteristic but who are not veterans. The qualitative information will also be translated into percentages of the subject who prefer to go back to college for several reasons. The qualitative information will then be used to explain the performance of the veterans quantitatively. For example, if a majority of veterans go back to college because they want to gain knowledge or because they want to develop new careers and assist their families, then we would rightly conclude that the high performance by the same people is purely because of self motivation and not because of the harsh conditions they faced in service for the nation. Results According to (Willenz 56), a case study done on 204 veterans in Michigan, it was found that 60% of the respondents performed well in college at the beginning but later their performance depreciated and they eventually underperformed, with approximately 20% of them dropping out. Of those who dropped out, 90% of them were not going for counseling sessions. The results clearly show that though many veterans want to go back to college, their past experiences plays a major role in what becomes of that decision. However there is a serious need for the veterans to be attached to counselors or psychologists whose therapies should make them fit to go back to college and stay on course to achieve desirable results. Veterans most of the time have suffered severe consequences of war and therefore as a show of appreciation for the sacrifices they made the government through a specifically set financial scheme offers to take them back to school or if they accidentally passed on in line of duty, their family members are given the benefits. These benefits have been characterized with a lot of procedural technicalities that have denied genuine candidates their dues. The most common scenario is that of veterans living in conditions of poverty and engaged in a lot of legal battles with the state in an attempt to prove that they are worth compensating. For the veterans to become normal civilians after participating in military wars there is need for a carefully structured educative system that re- integrates them into the society through counseling and other methods. Recommendations The veterans occupy an integral part of any society. Their contribution in safeguarding the interests of their nation calls for more than is currently being offered even by the US. Young veterans only should have the option of going back to college as compulsory especially if they had not gone to college. But aged ones should be given an opportunity to access the compensation in terms of finances and be able to do what they like with it. The Compensation for duties discharged should not only be education grants but should also include job placements. Because of their selfless actions it would be prudent for the concerned governments to increase the compensations given to those who have been disabled in the line of duty. The duration of service should be a determining factor for compensation.

Depictions of the Reformation in Art

Depictions of the Reformation in Art The corruption and immorality of the Church spurred the Christian Reform movement in Europe, eventually leading to the hundred years of civil war between Protestants and Catholics or the Protestant Reformation. The Counter- Reformation began with the Pope Paul IIIs calling of the Council of Trent in response to Protestant uprising; this movement was initiated by the Churchs attempt to re-establish its power as the only true Church of Christ while pacifying the current disorder as well. The creation of these two rivaling movements jeopardized the Roman Catholic Churchs absolute authority in Europe, dividing it into the regions of the Protestant North and Catholic South. Influenced by these two opposing movements, the North and South branched out into different directions in terms of its culture and artistic style of painting. They developed unique style of painting, depicting differing themes, styles, and contents based on their dissimilar beliefs. What influence did the reform moveme nts have on the paintings from the south of the Alps, the north of the Alps, and the Netherlands and were the artists from these regions inspired by each other despite the divergence in their styles? The paintings by the artists from the South of the Alps would most likely been influenced by the Counter- Reformation, while the works produced from the other two regions would reflect the influence of the Protestant Reformation due to their geographical locations. Therefore, the content and purpose of the works from these regions should differ but some similarities may exist in the artists painting techniques because it was common for artists to travel to Rome during this time. It is interesting to analyze how the style in 16th and 17th Century Europe was shaped by the religious disparity and the development of new ideas which were reflected in the paintings. Since it is inaccurate to generalize the whole European continent into only two sections, I decided to narrow down my topic by focusing on the South of the Alps, the North of the Alps, and the Netherlands. I chose to study these regions because the South of the Alps was the center of Counter- Reformation strongly embraced by the Roman Catholic Church, while the North of the Alps was the birth place of the Protestantism. And the Netherlands was the hot bed for dispute between Calvinism and Catholicism. I referred the Protestant Reformers as one group, choosing not to deal with the Protestant sectarianism, a division within the Reformers due to the difference in their interpretation of the sacred texts, as part of my research. The final spark of the Protestant Reformation was The Ninety-Five Theses written by Martin Luther in 1517. His work disclosed Churchs dishonesty, rousing doubts in peoples minds about the Catholicism and also the Churchs authority. His criticism of the sale of indulgences and the Roman Catholic clergys abuses quickly earned popularity among people, regardless of their social standings and wealth, ultimately giving birth to Protestantism. Martin Luther condemned the sale of indulgences as a violation of the original meaning of confession and penance. Indulgence is the forgiveness of the temporal punishment for sins that have already been confessed. Reformers like Zwingli and Calvin had also commented on the corruptions within Church, but Luther was the one who introduced the radical idea of purifying the Christianity by physically breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church. The Luthers idea spread rapidly throughout the Europe, threatening the Roman Catholic Churchs established auth ority especially in the North. In addition to being known as the center of the Counter-Reformation, the South of the Alps was known as the center of stylistic development as well. It was the place of passion and innovation with the overflow of new artistic styles eventually giving birth to the Italian Renaissance. The artists from all of the Europe visited Rome and were inspired by the unique Italian styles. Aside from the innovative styles of Italian Renaissance, its content was often strictly religious. The Roman Catholic Church attempted to re-establish the catholic faith among people by regulating the artworks produced. The southern painters were forced to bring back the medieval tradition of producing strictly religious art, branching off into the different direction from the Northern painters. Scipione Pulzone was famous in Rome as the prototype of the Southern painters during this time period for his strictly religious paintings. The Lamentation, one of his most famous paintings, serves as the prime example of the art commissioned by the Church. Painted in 1592 for the chapel of the Passion of Christ in the Jesuit church of Gesà ¹ in Rome, this painting is clearly influenced by the Counter- Reformation in that it demonstrates the new artistic style advocated by the holy council. The Crucifixion of the Christ is the focus of this art piece, drawing viewers attention directly to the idealistic image of Christ in the center. Like other southern painters during this time period, the artist propagated faith by portraying the lives of saints and Christ in a realistic yet intensely dramatic manner. The careful details, facial expressions, along with the shadows cast on people enhance the lifelike characteristics. The depiction of the folds on peoples gowns is also note-worthy. The artist adds details such as tears of Virgin, the crown of thorns held by John, and the pallor of the Christs body to portray people in a more expressionistic manner. Moreover, the spotlight on the Christ in the center contributes an illusionistic and dramatic element to the painting which counter-balances the paintings realistic image. The light cast on the Christ, in comparison to the dark background, creates almost a theatrical impression. These characteristics represent the style of art in the south of the Alps during this period, also called the Italian Renaissance. Catholic Italy and Lutheran Germany shared in a lively commerceand the art of the sixteenth century in the north manifests the benefit of the exchange. Although the religious clash tormented the sixteenth century Europe, the exchange of artistic ideas continued to thrive. In the North, the intellectual shakeup of age-old faiths and opinions prepared the way for a new and nonreligious outlook on the world-the Enlightenment-when the rise of a scientific view of nature would challenge forever the dogmatisms of the past, also called the Northern Renaissance. However, the art of northern Europe during this period is also characterized by a sudden awareness of the advances made by the Italian Renaissance and by a desire to assimilate this new style. In other words, while the content of the artworks produced in the North differ from those of the region south of the Alps, the style was similar. Many northern artists traveled to Rome to study the new art in firsthand and others were exposed to the Italian style of painting through the direct contact with the Italian artists who came to the north. The influence of the Italian art varied according to the artist, the time, and the place; the northern artists generally kept their local traditions while adopting on ly single motifs or the general form of a composition. The Northern painters in general moving away from depicting biblical scenes and turned to painting ordinary people in a commonplace setting can be inferred to have been influenced by the Protestant- Reformation. Especially in the north of the Alps, the artists quickly incorporated Italian style into their artworks while avoiding portrayal of religious themes. The famous work, The Battle of Issus, by Albrecht Altdorfer in 1529 is a great example of a northern painting that diverges from the works produced in the regions south of the Alps. Albrecht Altdorfer represents the Donaustil (Danube Style), which depicts the landscape and stresses mood and passion. Although Altdorfers style is unique and personal, it still reflects the influence of Protestant- Reformation in that it eliminates depiction of religious themes. Moreover, his style clearly diverges from the style of painting prevalent in the regions of the south of the Alps. The painter gives a birds eye view of an Alpine landscape as the setting and depicts the battle scene in which the Alexander the Great overthrows the Persian King Darius. Instead of illustrating the strictly religious theme, the artist chooses to focus more on depicting the historical event. The crowd of people in comparison to the vast nature in the background suggests the moralizing theme of the insignificance of h uman life. He uses the vast nature in the background to symbolize the power of cosmos and the illuminating sky to represent the immense space. The slight trace of Italian Renaissance is shown by the meticulous details the painter uses for the image of Alexander the Great and the dramatic and illusionistic portrayal of the setting. Also the idealistic impression of the artwork as a whole resembles that of the Italian Renaissance paintings. Another praise-worthy example of Northern painting is The Judgment of Paris by Lucas Cranach the Elder, who is the representative of German Protestant painting. This work is a great example of how his works shifted from religious to humanistic subject matter when he became a follower of Luther. His humanistic subject matters include mythology, history, and also portraits. The Judgment of Paris illustrates the scene from mythology in which the three goddesses boast off their beauties in front of Paris. The humanistic subject matter along with the background landscape reflects the typical characteristics of Northern paintings. The cupid in the painting serves as a symbol for love and affection while the German armor that Paris is wearing in the painting represents his social status as a knight and his honor. The artist does not dress the goddesses after the antique manner. Cranachs composition featuring the nude was inspired in an attempt to learn from the style of Italian Renaissance. The Four Apostles by Albrecht Durer in 1526 is a remarkable northern painting that is stylistically influenced by Italian Renaissance. This art piece is unique in that the painter expresses his own religious and political testament, sympathizing the protestant cause and [warning] against the dangerous times, when religious, truth, justice, and the virtues all will be threatened. Unlike other Northern paintings, this piece does contain religious meanings, but it distinguishes itself from Italian paintings by eliminating any glorification of the Church. This piece was hung in the city hall, the four apostles symbolically representing the guardians of the city; they are cautioning people against the sermons of false prophets who will misinterpret the word of God. The four apostles are symbolic representative of various ideas such as the four temperaments, of the human soul, and also the four ages of man. In this painting, Durers experience of traveling to Italy allows him to harmonize t he two opposing styles of northern naturalism and southern monumentality. The realistic visualization of the four apostles reflects the northern naturalism while the monumentality of the figures along with the vivid use of color and sharp lighting mirror the Italian Renaissance. Durer, along with Cranach and Altdorfer, serves as an example of northern artist who illustrated contents related to Protestant-Reformation while incorporating styles of Italian Renaissance into his paintings. The Netherlands was the exceptional region in North in which Calvinism and Catholicism co-existed. In the late 16th Century, the Northern Netherlands was able to break away from Spains influence, while the Southern Netherlands remained under the rule of Spain. Therefore, the Northern Netherlands eventually embraced Calvinism while the Southern Netherlands remained as supporters of Catholicism. It is important to realize that Dutch and Flemings were not predestined to become Calvinists and Catholics; it was solely caused by the geographical and military circumstances. No curtain existed between the North and the South that forbid the exchange of ideas. In fact, Constantin Huygens, a diplomat and an art critic, referred to great painters of Amsterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague collectively as the painters of Netherlands. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the Northern Netherlands was only influenced by Calvinist ideas, which also applies to the Southern Netherlands. In the early 17th Century Catholicism was suppressed and catholic churches were demolished due to the iconoclast movement, but the protestantizing of the Northern Netherlands was still a slow process. Most artists chose to remain as Catholics, although exact number is hard to determine. However, the attempt to repair damage caused by the iconoclast movement was not as extensive and as systematic in the North as in the South. The Northern Renaissance in the Netherlands took on a completely different form from the Italian Renaissance because the Church no longer was the major patron in the North. Instead, the wealthy merchant middle class were the primary patrons of the art and thus, the Dutch masters painted small pictures for their small houses, not for the Cathedral altars. Since large church commissions were no longer available, artists changed their styles in accordance to the taste of their new customers. The artists from the Netherlands specialized in intense realism, depicting lifelike features with an unflattering honesty, unlike the Italian Renaissance painters who specialized in idealism and simplicity. Therefore, the basis of art for the Northern Renaissance was observation while for the Italian Renaissance, it was theory. The Northern Renaissance in the Netherlands indirectly reflects the influence of Protestantism in that religious themes no longer prevailed in art, although more direct causes were the changing structure of the Netherlands economy and culture. The artworks produced in the 17th Century Netherlands were more conservative compared to those of Germany, concentrating on the nature and the past times of the prosperous Dutch merchants. The direct portraits, realistic still-lifes, landscapes, marine-scapes, and genre paintings showing scenes of everyday life were popular subjects of the Dutch artists. A Scene on the Ice by Hendrick Avercamp in 1625 is an accurate representation of a typical Dutch style, illustrating the commonplace scene of people enjoying winter sports in the quiet village of Kampen northeast of Amsterdam. His style clearly reflects the Northern Renaissances realism and its use of details, faithfully depicting the winter. He enhances his realistic rendering by using a frosty day to convey a sense of depth; the pearly gray tonality here becomes ever paler and the forms less distinct as they move into the distance. His work is unique in that it successfully portrays all classes of Dutch society through by using meticulous details, from the poor fisherman surveying the skater to the well-dressed ladies riding in an elegant sleigh driven by a groom. This is the typical genre painting of Northern Renaissance departing itself from the religious influence of Roman Catholic Church of Italy. A seascape, along with landscape, also became very popular in Holland due to the rise of merchant class; view of Dordrecht from the Dordtse Kil by Jan Van Goyen painted in 1644 serves is an impressive seascape painting. The artist uses monochromatic phase, which is a technique in which a single color dominates the painting, to unify each view of nature; the golden brown aura dictates the scene, from the hazy clouds to the city skyline. He reached the summit of Northern realism by lowering the horizon to focus more on the atmospheric conditions overhead and by creating an illusion of standing on the opposite shore of the port. Unlike the Northern Netherlands, the Southern Netherlands was more influenced by the Counter Reformation than the Protestant Reformation. The Reborn Catholicism in Spain had an undeniable impact on the Southern Netherlands provinces. Moreover, France sent numerous religious orders and congregations to Spanish Netherlands in order to secure the Catholics authorit y. The disparity in the contents of the paintings resulted from the disagreement in Protestants and Catholics perspectives of the human relationship with god. Unlike the Protestants who claimed that humans are capable of having a direct communication with god, the Catholics argued that intermediaries, such as saints and the Virgin Mary, are essential for humans to connect with god. Therefore, Catholics created artworks of saints, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus and gave reverence to them, as a way of getting closer to god. Although the Catholics asserted that they are not worshipping the intermediaries, the Protestants criticized this practice and led the iconoclastic movements. Iconoclasm is a deliberate destruction of religious icons and symbols within ones own culture for religious changes. The Protestants and Catholics conflict was caused by the difference in their perspectives of the sacred and secular;while the Catholics maintained the clear separation of the two, the reformers recogni zed the connection between the two. Consequently, the Roman Catholic Church clergy advocated strictly religious and sacred artworks whereas the reformers preferred artworks depicting the lives of ordinary people. The Northern Protestant painters believed that an ordinary life could glorify God just as much as a life `in the ministry ; since god created humans in His image, the reformation artists claimed that they are glorifying god by portraying the natural beauty of his creation, in other words, the people. These differing ideas are well conveyed through the artworks produced from the regions south of the Alps, north of the Alps, and the Netherlands mentioned above. My thesis is partially proven to be correct in that Italian art was definitely influenced by the Counter- Reformation and that German art was influenced by the Protestant- Reformation. But contradicting to my statement, the Netherlands was influenced by both religious movements. According to the Art History Professor S arah Blick from Canyon University, the Counter- Reformation had a more direct influence on art produced after 1520s then the Protestant Reformation. Therefore, she suggested me focus on the lack of religious content in the artworks in order to study the influence of Protestant Reformation during her interview. Although artworks from each of these regions have distinct characteristics that set them apart, Italian style of painting frequently perceived in these artworks indicate that artists were inspired by each other. Because I had to narrow down my topic, many new questions emerged from my research. I am curious to know whether the various Protestantism had different influences on art. For this research, I referred to Protestants as one group but I want to extend my research so that I can investigate on the influence of the Protestant Sectarianism on art. Bibliography MacCulloch, Diarmaid. The Reformation A History. New York: Viking Adult, 2004. Print. The Annotated Mona Lisa. Missouri: John Boswell Management, Inc., 1992. Print. Helen, Gardner,. Gardners art through the ages. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College, 1996. Print. Iconography of the Counter Reformation in the Netherlands heaven on earth John B Knippings Art of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. HyperHistory.net. Web. 07 Oct. 2009. . Scipione Pulzone (Il Gaetano): The Lamentation (1984.74) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: metmuseum.org. Web. 07 Oct. 2009. . Janson, H. W. History of art for young people. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2002. Print. Matters of Taste: Genre and Still Life Painting in the Dutch Golden Age. Welcome to Albany Institute of History and Art. Web. 07 Oct. 2009. .

No Clear Answer Concerning the Decriminalization of Prostitution Essay

No Clear Answer Concerning the Decriminalization of Prostitution To decriminalize or not to decriminalize? That is the question people in the United States and other nations have been asking themselves for decades. Many countries, including Costa Rica, Italy, Norway, and Singapore, do legally sanction certain forms of prostitution, and some find it odd that a nation like the United States, which prides itself so heavily on the principle of individual liberty, would forbid any type of activity between two consenting adults. Nonetheless, countless Americans find the prospect of legal prostitution offensive to their ideals concerning traditional moralism, sex, or womanhood. While morality debates may rage on, it does seem rather strange that almost all state governments in the U.S. still prohibit what seems to be a harmless, victimless activity. The truth is, though, that prostitution is not as harmless or victimless as it seems. In fact, all too often the women involved in the trade are not even working out of their own free will. Aside from the brutal realities of forced prostitution, other problems lurk beneath the surface, as well; but could the harm associated with prostitution be alleviated through decriminalization? It is impossible to know for certain exactly what would happen were legal prostitution a reality, but in order to effectively evaluate the consequences of such a change, the potential dangers and benefits must be considered. First of all, with legality, prostitution would become safer for both the client and the prostitute. There could very easily be a government registration system through which prostitutes could get a license, the monthly or weekly renewal of which would require health check-ups. S... ...oral sphere, the answers are largely subjective and based on personal feelings rather than on the objective reality of the world. The fact remains that there are people who are willing to buy and sell sexual pleasure, and a better question to ask is, what is the best way of managing these transactions that will result in the least possible harm and the most possible benefit? While there is no clear answer, it is clear that the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the perpetuation forced or abusive labor could be diminished significantly with the decriminalization of prostitution. If the government, however, is not willing to fight the greatest evils associated with the business--the trafficking and forced labor of women and girls--these problems would likely grow worse with legalization, thus making it better for the United States to keep its current policy. No Clear Answer Concerning the Decriminalization of Prostitution Essay No Clear Answer Concerning the Decriminalization of Prostitution To decriminalize or not to decriminalize? That is the question people in the United States and other nations have been asking themselves for decades. Many countries, including Costa Rica, Italy, Norway, and Singapore, do legally sanction certain forms of prostitution, and some find it odd that a nation like the United States, which prides itself so heavily on the principle of individual liberty, would forbid any type of activity between two consenting adults. Nonetheless, countless Americans find the prospect of legal prostitution offensive to their ideals concerning traditional moralism, sex, or womanhood. While morality debates may rage on, it does seem rather strange that almost all state governments in the U.S. still prohibit what seems to be a harmless, victimless activity. The truth is, though, that prostitution is not as harmless or victimless as it seems. In fact, all too often the women involved in the trade are not even working out of their own free will. Aside from the brutal realities of forced prostitution, other problems lurk beneath the surface, as well; but could the harm associated with prostitution be alleviated through decriminalization? It is impossible to know for certain exactly what would happen were legal prostitution a reality, but in order to effectively evaluate the consequences of such a change, the potential dangers and benefits must be considered. First of all, with legality, prostitution would become safer for both the client and the prostitute. There could very easily be a government registration system through which prostitutes could get a license, the monthly or weekly renewal of which would require health check-ups. S... ...oral sphere, the answers are largely subjective and based on personal feelings rather than on the objective reality of the world. The fact remains that there are people who are willing to buy and sell sexual pleasure, and a better question to ask is, what is the best way of managing these transactions that will result in the least possible harm and the most possible benefit? While there is no clear answer, it is clear that the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the perpetuation forced or abusive labor could be diminished significantly with the decriminalization of prostitution. If the government, however, is not willing to fight the greatest evils associated with the business--the trafficking and forced labor of women and girls--these problems would likely grow worse with legalization, thus making it better for the United States to keep its current policy.

An Unpredicted New kind Of Warfare Essay

World war one continued for four years across a vast and stretching from the English Channel to the northern Swiss border. In 1914 the prediction was that the war would be over by Christmas. At the beginning of the war, The Germans thought they could capture France before invading Russia therefore preventing a war on two fronts. But because of the failure of tactics they couldn’t succeed, and this was one of the main reasons the war lasted for such a long period. It was no longer each side trying to capture the other in the war but stopping the enemies movements in trench warfare and using new technology to soften up enemy, if it didn’t back fire. Defense was now the key to winning the war and was far superior than the offensive. The trenches were hard to capture by advancing troops because of increasing firepower from machine guns. Crossing no-mans land was committing suicide for the troops as machine guns could inflict enormous damage on advancing infantry. The realization of the advantage of defense resulted in the enhanced rate of advancing technology. This was one of the core reasons for stalemate upon the Western Front because technology was advancing at such a rapid rate and new inventions were being introduced in a hasty manner. Many of the new inventions were not sufficiently tested and many of the ideas were not thoroughly thought through which resulted in unnecessary delays. Aircraft at the start of the war was used primarily for reconnaissance work, spotting enemy trenches and movements before a possible attack. But this alerted the enemy’s attention and gave them time to prepare resulting in the attacker’s job being more costly and difficult to undertake. Barbed wire was massed produced on an industrial scale by both sides as barbed wire entanglements were unbreakable for troops, stopped cavalry in their tracks, and slowed troops down completely. Attempts were made to destroy barbed wire with shellfire but the barbed wire is just lifted and often ends up in a bigger mess than before. Chlorine gas was first introduced in April 1915 by the German army against the French army. Chlorine gas destroyed your respiratory organs and you had a long slow death. But poisonous gas was an extremely unreliable method of attack as the direction of the wind may change at any time and return the poison in the direction of the attacker killing your own troops. Also, as with many other weapons that were developed it can only be used once to an advantage, as their element of surprise is lost. Gas masks were quickly distributed to both sides and gas was not such a great fear as it was first thought Tanks were invented to be the technical solution to the major problem of both barbed wire and machine guns. They had an armour plate to protect troops whilst attacking and caterpillar traction to allow them to cross-hilly and muddy ground. But the first Mark I tank was a weak and variable weapon. It was used at the Somme in 1916 but neither their performance nor numbers could help win the battle. It was not until Cambrai in 1917 that tanks were used on a large scale. They crunched their way over the barbed wire and German trenches creating a huge hole in the German defenses. A General on horseback commanded his armies in battle up until 1914. After 1914 telephones were working. Battles could be safely won from far away behind a desk. But though this development in communications may seem a great success, but telephones in reality were useless in attack, because the commanders didn’t have a good perspective of the war and didn’t know everything as they would be if they were sitting on horse and overlooking the battle which led to troops often pulling back because of lack of communications and broad view of the battle. In 1914 neither the French nor the British armies were trained for trench warfare. They had to adapt which took them several years and accounted for several of their failures and delays. French generals felt infantry charges were a necessity to win the war despite the huge advances in technology. And Germen generals thought that with enough ammunition and man power and gradually wearing down the enemy they would win the war. Eventually in 1917 the French army refused to attack any more, only to defend because of the horrific numbers of casualties lost for only a few miles gained. A term to explain this was the cannon fodder. The battle of Somme in 1916 is a good example for a shocking case of awful miscalculations by the leadership of both sides; Britain lost around 419,000 men for only a strip of land about 25 km long and 6km wide. These huge loses were due to bad planning. The men were untrained and advanced towards the enemy walking and carrying heavy packs on their backs. These â€Å"big pushes† which was a belief shared by British Kitchener and Haig were mere execution of side’s troops as they were walking straight into machine gun fire. The first World War was the first war between two vastly industrialized economies and factories on both sides mass-produced inconceivable amounts of artillery and ammunition. Industry was under an incredible amount of strain and it was not until 1917 that the munitions industry was able to produce adequate quantities of ammunitions. Railways played a major part in the transportation of troops form one area of the western front to the next along with food and other supplies. Both sides were also both able to keep going because of the huge numbers of men and supplies continuously brought by trains and trucks. Basically both the central powers and allies were never in a drought of resources. At the outbreak of war on the Western Front, the Allies and the Germans were relatively equal in their strengths and weaknesses. Bad leadership held up many of the British and French attacks resulting in unnecessary numbers of casualties. Germany spread its men out over many of the fronts not only in the eastern front, but also in the Western Front. One argument is that if perhaps they had concentrated on only one front they may have had a chance of success as opposed to spreading out the troops over a large area. The deadlock ended in 1918 when it was broken by eventual collapse of the central powers. It was ultimately attrition that proved the crucial decider but it was a series of events and inventions that had not happened before which gave way to the end result. The submarine campaign was important as it brought America into the war with fresh troops and much needed resources and resulted in a huge blow to the German morale. In conclusion, there was no one true reason for deadlock on the western front, but that it was due to several problems. Technology advanced too rapidly, generals were not adequately trained for trench warfare. As one quote would say â€Å"The great war was fought with 20th century weapons and 19th century tactics†. The war was able to be kept going due to the fact they were both vastly industrialized economies and neither side was able to eliminate the other since and the governments of both sides directed the industries towards mass production of uniforms, ammunitions, ships, explosives etc†¦

900,000 Iraqis Killed in Repression and War

900,000 Iraqis Killed in Repression and War Casualty counts in Iraq have generated a war of their own. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health published a study that estimated that in the 18 months following the American invasion in 2003, 100,000 more Iraqis died than would have been expected had the invasion not occurred. The study sparked controversy over methodology. It wasnt adding up body counts from bombs and bullets but surveying households about births and deaths that had occurred since 2002, verifying the cause of death through certificates only when possible... which wasnt often. When the same team updated its study in 2006, the death toll was up to 654,965, with 91.8 percent caused by violence. Conservative organs like The Wall Street Journal went nuts, charging that, because the study was funded by the liberal activist George Soros, it was not credible. (Where the Journals editorial page gets its logic is one of the great enigmas of the age). Saddam Hussein and the Death Toll in Iraq The well-documented Iraq Body Count site was putting the figure at one-sixth that of the Johns Hopkins study, though it was relying exclusively on verifiable press, government or non-governmental organizations reports. There comes a point though when casualty figures reach such a level that debating higher or lower numbers becomes an exercise in churlishness. Of course, theres a difference between 700,000 and 100,000 dead. But is that to say that a war thats caused 100,000 dead is somehow, in any possible way, less horrific or more justifiable? The Iraqi Ministry of Health produced its own casualty count of Iraqis killed as a direct result of violence not by survey  or estimates but by verifiable deaths and proven causes: At least 87,215 killed since 2005, and more than 110,000 since 2003, or 0.38% of the Iraqi population. One of the Journals strange and utterly meaningless comparisons in its 2006 editorial discrediting the Johns Hopkins count was that fewer Americans died in the Civil War, our bloodiest conflict. Iraq's Death Count Equivalent in the United States Heres a more telling comparison. The proportion of Iraqis directly killed in the war would amount to 1.14 million deaths in a country with a population the size of the United States a proportional figure that would exceed any conflict this country has ever known. In fact, it would be almost equivalent to the sum total of all American war casualties since the War of Independence. But even that approach understates the extent of suffering of the Iraqi population because it only looks at the last six years. What of the death toll under Saddam Hussein? 23 Years of Slaughter Under Saddam Hussein In the end, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning John Burns wrote in The Times a few weeks before the invasion, if an American-led invasion ousts Mr. Hussein, and especially if an attack is launched without convincing proof that Iraq is still harboring forbidden arms, history may judge that the stronger case was the one that needed no inspectors to confirm: that Saddam Hussein, in his 23 years in power, plunged this country into a bloodbath of medieval proportions, and exported some of that terror to his neighbors. Burns proceeded to estimate the arithmetic of Saddams brutality: The largest number of deaths during his reign is attributable to the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988). Iraq claims to have lost 500,000 people during that war.The 1990 occupation of Kuwait and the ensuing Gulf War caused 100,000 deaths, by Iraqs reckoningprobably an exaggeration, but not by much: the 40-day bombardment of Iraq before the three-day ground war, and the massacre of escaping Iraqi troops on the highway of death make the estimate more credible than not.Casualties from Iraqs gulag are harder to estimate, Burns wrote. Accounts collected by Western human rights groups from Iraqis and defectors have suggested that the number of those who have disappeared into the hands of the secret police, never to be heard from again, could be 200,000. Add it up, and in three decades, about 900,000 Iraqis have died from violence, or well over 3% of the Iraqi populationthe equivalent of more than 9 million people in a nation with a population as large as that of the United States. Thats what Iraq will have to recover from over the next decadesnot just the death toll of the last six years, but that of the last 30. Staring at the Abyss As of this writing, the combined combat and non-combat deaths of American and Coalition soldiers in Iraq, since 2003, total 4,595a devastating toll from the western perspective, but one that must be multiplied 200 times to begin to understand the extent of the devastation of Iraqs own death toll. Analyzed that way (since the cause of the violent deaths is not, to the dead and their survivors, nearly as relevant as the fact of the deaths themselves) even the Johns Hopkins figures become less relevant as a point of dispute, since, by focusing only on the last six years, they underestimate the breadth of the carnage. If the Johns Hopkins methodology were applied, the death toll would climb well above 1 million. One last question bears asking. Assuming that 800,000 Iraqis lost their lives during the Saddam Hussein years, does even that justify killing an additional 100,000, supposedly to be rid of Saddam? He who does battle with monsters needs to watch out lest he in the process becomes a monster himself, Nietzche wrote in Beyond Good and Evil. And if you stare too long into the abyss, the abyss will stare right back at you. Nowhere has that been more true, in this young and morally stunted century, than with Americas monstrous battle in Iraq.

Listo Systems Essay Essay Example

Listo Systems Essay Essay Example Listo Systems Essay Essay Listo Systems Essay Essay Listo Systems direction decide to implement â€Å" Black Box† . a new anti larceny informations security system to undertake recent addition in informations larceny. The new anti larceny system will act upon the motion of informations every bit good as the working manner of full staffs. Cami Machado. an experient staffs of Listo system who was managing â€Å" traffic† undertaking and proficient staff preparations and support is chosen to take â€Å" Black Box† installing undertaking. Sing her first-class path record to implement new hardware and package. company chose her to take the undertaking. She is excited about the concern chances traveling to make by installing of new â€Å" Black Box† undertaking. However. the installing procedure will non be easy. as it seems. She is confident about her ability in successfully put ining â€Å" Black Box† but worried about the staffs opposing the procedure of installing. Most of the proficient staffs are against this undertaking. Further. artists’ staffs believe that the great impact of this undertaking will be on creativeness procedure. In add-on to this. installing of this undertaking will increase the hazard of fring originative staffs to challengers who do non hold â€Å" Black Box technology† . Causal variables â€Å"Causal variables are those factors that influence the class of developments within an organisation and its consequences or achievements. These variables are within the organization’s control and can be altered by the organization† ( Hersey. Blanchard A ; Johnson. 2008 ) . In this instance. â€Å"Black Box† is the causal variables. This undertaking has ability to act upon Listo development procedure every bit good as the terminal consequences or achievements of Listo. Further. â€Å"Black Box† execution determination is wholly under control of Listo direction and the determination of installing can be changed by the Listo direction if they want to. Intervening variables The human resources that are affected by the determination of Listo System of implementing Black Box ( Causal variable ) are step ining variables ( Hersey. Blanchard A ; Johnson. 2008 ) . The current status of most of the Listo’s proficient staffs and artists’ staffs who are defying the installing of Black Box are step ining variables in this status. Most these step ining variables ( proficient and creative persons staffs ) will choose to go forth the Listo for rivals if there demand is overlooked. Potential end product variables Potential end product variables are the dependent variables that reflect the accomplishments of the organisation ( Hersey. Blanchard A ; Johnson. 2008 ) . The extends to which the â€Å" Black Box† can command the hacking and informations larceny of Listo system will be the possible end product variables. The end product variables in this will depend on the proper installing of â€Å" Black Box† and the committedness and motive shown by step ining variables ( proficient and creative persons staffs ) towards the aim of this undertaking. If I were Cami After thorough analysis of insouciant. intervening and stop consequence variables. I have found that insouciant variable is cardinal of three variables. Casual variable create state of affairs of step ining variables. which will hold great impact on terminal consequences variables. Trying to alter step ining variables will non alter the terminal consequence variable by much instead seeking to alter insouciant variables will be effectual on both intervening and stop consequence variables ( Hersey. Blanchard A ; Johnson. 2008 ) . In this instance. seeking to alter the attitude of proficient staffs and creative persons staffs will be much less consequence on terminal consequences variables. Alternatively. I would instead bespeak suggestion ( aid ) from those apposing staffs on how to implement this new undertaking to fulfill their complain. Modifying Black Box installing undertaking harmonizing to their petition will better terminal consequence variables. If I were foreman If I were Cami foreman. I would concentrate my clip on motive and commanding. The planning to put in â€Å" Black Box† and organisation require to put in â€Å"Black Box† is already finished. Now. I have to concentrate all my attending on commanding that everything is traveling harmonizing to the program. If non. what commanding step should I need to take to convey undertaking on path. Further. to heighten efficiency. employees’ motive is necessary. Being foreman. it is my duties to actuate employees to travel frontward to achievement of organisation ends.

Tonia Beaver Values Essay

Tonia Beaver Values Essay Tonia Beaver Values Essay Tonia Beaver Office Procedures Values Essay I have very strong values about getting work done on time, and I am very picky about making sure it is done correctly and to the best of my ability. I also believe in being honest and not cheating or helping anyone else to cheat. I was raised by my grandparents, and they taught me to always plan ahead and get things done early so that I know that I have turned them in, and so I wouldn’t have to rush to get things done, so that they would be done correctly. If you get your work done before it’s due, it gives you more time to do other things that might need to be done, or be able to get started on another project. I didn’t really have a culture effecting my values, as I am sure there are many people in different cultures who do have to deal with how it effects them and the way they do things. The only thing I dealt with being catholic as I am sure it is the same pretty much in all other cultures is being honest, don’t lie to get ahead. I have had to make a couple ethical decisions throughout my life, one was at work, when I had a supervisor ask me to do her work so she could leave early for a hair appointment. I didn’t think it was fair but since I was just an assistant I did it, so that she couldn’t try and get me in trouble, but then it started becoming a regular thing a couple times a week, so finally when I started getting frustrated, another supervisor asked me what was wrong, and why was it taking me so long to get done

Machines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Machines - Essay Example There are other factors beside the physical limitations of human body; these factors include emotions and moods of human beings. Such factors are not in the control of human beings nor can the machines be developed to suit the mood and emotions of the individual who operate them. We can easily observe that in scenarios where machines are manually operated by the humans the maximum efficiencies achieved are not more than 75 to 80 percent however in case of automated machines where machines are operated by humans with the help of other machines the efficiencies achieved can be as high as 99 percent in some of the cases (Kroemer, Kroemer & Kroemer-Elbert, 2001). So when we analyze the prospects of creating machines according to the limitations of human beings, in addition to the physical limitations, emotional limitations should also be considered however incorporating the emotional limitations is very difficult and requires concepts like artificial intelligence to be integrated into th e machines.

Race and Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Race and Religion - Essay Example He then illustrates the attitude the religious community had towards the black population as they were not accepted as Christians. Rather, the community placed the black people in an environment associated with inferiority and slavery. Furthermore, black people are wrongly associated with the mark of Cain, which was falsely used to misrepresent these individuals as cursed. Father Brown states that traditionally in Exodus, the Jews would cry and tell their trials and tribulations to God who would come down to help them. Brown states that the white American religious denomination also attempted to adopt the same culture. However, West Africans had other approaches when it came to interaction with God. Hence, in this perspective, Brown illustrates the differences that existed in the religious activities of different races. He also illustrates how black West African individuals had to adapt to the western principles of religion. Father Brown also states the discrimination that existed towards black people even in some rituals in the church. These individuals were prohibited from singing certain songs, which further shows how European Christianity made blacks inferior individuals. The attitude that existed towards the black Catholics at that time made these individuals attend other churches that gave them the possibility to express themselves and feel the Holy Spirit. Brown relates to the fact that individuals from other races such as the Germans during the fall of the Berlin wall also sang souls which helped them relate with the spirits. This shows the necessity of this element which was denied to the black populations in the earlier times. Brown also relates the oppression that the African Americans endured to the walls of Jericho. He states that the reason individuals during these times related to the song about Jericho was because it resembled the situation they were experiencing. The African Americans were

General Motors vs Ford Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

General Motors vs Ford - Assignment Example eir major difference is the volume of sales, their operational strategies and the customer’s perception on their products (General Motors Corporation,1998). General motor is an international automaker because of its presence in almost all countries in the world. It has many international plants and joint ventures. With its presence in 157 countries, it can be concluded that it is a global venture. Further, it exports numerous vehicles and spare parts in different countries hence it can be considered as an ardent exporter(Barabba,2004). Ford is one of the largest automakers in the world with many subsidiaries around the world. Being an international organization, it has many brands of vehicle around the world hence it can be considered as global. Ford exports different types of vehicles and spare parts throughout the world and so it can be termed as an exporter(Batcher,1994). In conclusion, although both companies have international presence, General motor has more global presence because of its superb financial performance in its international subsidiary unlike Ford that posts excellent performance only in North

Financial Analysis Exercises and Questions Essay

Financial Analysis Exercises and Questions - Essay Example Practice 2-14 Expanded Accounting Equation Assets Liabilities Capital Stock Retained Earnings Case A $20,000 $ 8,000 $ 8,500 $ 3,500 Case B $16,000 $ 9,000 $ 5,000 2,000 Case C $57,000 11,000 14,000 32,000 Case D 46,000 30,000 20,000 ($4000) Exercise 2-6 Balance Sheet Preparation Simon Company Balance Sheet as on December 31, 2006 Assets Liabilities and Owners' Equity Cash $ 179,750 Liabilities Accounts receivable 123,000 Accounts payable $62,500 Supplies 3,750 Mortgage payable 479,500 Land 130,000 Building 418,500 Owners’ equity* 313,000 Total assets $855,000 Total liabilities and owners' equity $855,000 *Owners’ equity (01/01/06) $210,000 Less: Distributions to owners during 2006 $(21,750) Add: Net Income $124,750 Owners’ equity (12/31/06) $313,000 Exercise 2-8 Income Statement Preparation Beckstrom Corporation Income Statement For the Year Ended December 31, 2006 Revenues $ 384,000 Less: Expenses Advertising expense 15,000 Supplies expense 46,000 Rent expense 10,000 Utilities expense 3,000 Salaries expense 61,000 Miscellaneous expenses 4,400 Income before tax 244,600 Less: Tax (30%) 73,380 Net income $171,220 Exercise 2-9 Cash Flow Computations 1. Net cash flow provided (used) by operating activities Cash receipts from: Customers $270,000 Less: Cash payments for Wages Utilities Advertising Rent Taxes 82,000 3,000 4,000 36,000 67,000 Net cash flow provided (used) by operating activities $78,000

Beer licenses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Beer licenses - Essay Example Any alcoholic beverages that exceed a five percent alcoholic content are not regulated by the cities or counties but instead are regulated by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Any business that is involved in the distribution, manufacturing, sale or storage of beer are required to obtain permits from the city or county where the business is to be located. When building a business of this kind, my client has become aware of the necessary steps it takes to acquire such licenses that are needed in order to follow all of the rules and regulations to build a thriving business. In order to do so, it was necessary to research the laws in Davidson County to see what types of licenses or standards that my client must meet in order to sell beer in this establishment. Through research, I have found the licenses that are appropriate in order for my client to be able to sell beer to the public in Davidson County, Tennessee. One group that was able to help assist my client in learning more about obtaining a beer permit for selling alcohol on their premise is the Metropolitan Beer Board that actually helps to establish beer laws and determine rules and regulations for selling beer in the Nashville Metro area. Since this is not a dance hall or catering establishment, there are different applications that are to be filled out. One of the necessary documents is the Beer Permit Application. The Beer Permit Application is to be completed by my client in order to seek a permit to serve alcohol on the premises only or for off-premises only. The information required as set by the Beer Permit Application is the type of business that my client is running and it is up to the Beer Board staff of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee to determine whether or not the application will be approved. The Beer Board Application is a permit is designed for those who

Introduction to business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Introduction to business - Essay Example Models are not only used to describe the current position and functioning of the entity but also the future position and the share that the company wants to achieve in the long run. The type of model that the organization adopts will go a long way to determine how the customers relate with the organization, how the employees are motivated and also how possible is it for the company to meet its long term plans. Different business models and theories have been adopted by various leaders in the management of their organizations. One of these business theory and models is the human relations theory. This theory is mostly concerned with the human factor in the company, leadership and the motivation of the workers (Heron, 1993). This theory assumes that both the employer and the employee are social beings and can relate on a common ground. This is also based on the assumption that the employer was so much concerned with the employee behavior at the work place. The level to which the organi zation is going to meet its objectives depends so much on the general perception of the employees and their general attitude towards work. The human relation theory also makes an assumption that how well the people’s needs are put into consideration, the better they are able to perform in their places of work. People naturally want someone who will be there for them and by the management showing concern about their needs is a way of giving them more reason to be proud and identify with the organization. The theorists who came up with this model suggested that to a given level, the managers could predict the behavior of their employees at the work place. This theory is mainly concerned with employee motivation and general satisfaction at work (Heron, 1993, p. 242). Different categories of people are motivated differently according to human relations theory. Rational- economical man is the type of employee who is motivated by being let to exercise those things that are of self interest but at the same time taking full advantage of the gains that come up in the organization. The second class of the employee is the social man who is motivated by being allowed some social time and allowed to be part of the groups in the organization. This type of employee will be motivated by even those things that are considered not as important to other people, for example, being allowed some time to go on a company trip or even a short business vacation where he is to meet other people. The self-actualization man, according to human relations theory, is motivated by those things that will help him to feel fulfilled as an individual. These things are like any advancements or achievements that the employee achieves and is recognized for them by the company. The management can motivate this employee by allowing him to be free and support any innovative ideas that he may come up with. The fourth type of individual is the complex man and as the name suggests, this employee is not easy to understand and he may stand for different things at different times. This man is motivated by understanding his needs personally and or as a group and trying your best to satisfy them in the best way possible. The human relation theory is a theory that applies so much in the day to day running of many businesses because many firms are concerned with productivity and this is achieved by making sure that the employees, who are directly concerned with this production are well catered for their

Financial Analysis Exercises and Questions Essay

Financial Analysis Exercises and Questions - Essay Example Practice 2-14 Expanded Accounting Equation Assets Liabilities Capital Stock Retained Earnings Case A $20,000 $ 8,000 $ 8,500 $ 3,500 Case B $16,000 $ 9,000 $ 5,000 2,000 Case C $57,000 11,000 14,000 32,000 Case D 46,000 30,000 20,000 ($4000) Exercise 2-6 Balance Sheet Preparation Simon Company Balance Sheet as on December 31, 2006 Assets Liabilities and Owners' Equity Cash $ 179,750 Liabilities Accounts receivable 123,000 Accounts payable $62,500 Supplies 3,750 Mortgage payable 479,500 Land 130,000 Building 418,500 Owners’ equity* 313,000 Total assets $855,000 Total liabilities and owners' equity $855,000 *Owners’ equity (01/01/06) $210,000 Less: Distributions to owners during 2006 $(21,750) Add: Net Income $124,750 Owners’ equity (12/31/06) $313,000 Exercise 2-8 Income Statement Preparation Beckstrom Corporation Income Statement For the Year Ended December 31, 2006 Revenues $ 384,000 Less: Expenses Advertising expense 15,000 Supplies expense 46,000 Rent expense 10,000 Utilities expense 3,000 Salaries expense 61,000 Miscellaneous expenses 4,400 Income before tax 244,600 Less: Tax (30%) 73,380 Net income $171,220 Exercise 2-9 Cash Flow Computations 1. Net cash flow provided (used) by operating activities Cash receipts from: Customers $270,000 Less: Cash payments for Wages Utilities Advertising Rent Taxes 82,000 3,000 4,000 36,000 67,000 Net cash flow provided (used) by operating activities $78,000

Introduction to business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Introduction to business - Essay Example Models are not only used to describe the current position and functioning of the entity but also the future position and the share that the company wants to achieve in the long run. The type of model that the organization adopts will go a long way to determine how the customers relate with the organization, how the employees are motivated and also how possible is it for the company to meet its long term plans. Different business models and theories have been adopted by various leaders in the management of their organizations. One of these business theory and models is the human relations theory. This theory is mostly concerned with the human factor in the company, leadership and the motivation of the workers (Heron, 1993). This theory assumes that both the employer and the employee are social beings and can relate on a common ground. This is also based on the assumption that the employer was so much concerned with the employee behavior at the work place. The level to which the organi zation is going to meet its objectives depends so much on the general perception of the employees and their general attitude towards work. The human relation theory also makes an assumption that how well the people’s needs are put into consideration, the better they are able to perform in their places of work. People naturally want someone who will be there for them and by the management showing concern about their needs is a way of giving them more reason to be proud and identify with the organization. The theorists who came up with this model suggested that to a given level, the managers could predict the behavior of their employees at the work place. This theory is mainly concerned with employee motivation and general satisfaction at work (Heron, 1993, p. 242). Different categories of people are motivated differently according to human relations theory. Rational- economical man is the type of employee who is motivated by being let to exercise those things that are of self interest but at the same time taking full advantage of the gains that come up in the organization. The second class of the employee is the social man who is motivated by being allowed some social time and allowed to be part of the groups in the organization. This type of employee will be motivated by even those things that are considered not as important to other people, for example, being allowed some time to go on a company trip or even a short business vacation where he is to meet other people. The self-actualization man, according to human relations theory, is motivated by those things that will help him to feel fulfilled as an individual. These things are like any advancements or achievements that the employee achieves and is recognized for them by the company. The management can motivate this employee by allowing him to be free and support any innovative ideas that he may come up with. The fourth type of individual is the complex man and as the name suggests, this employee is not easy to understand and he may stand for different things at different times. This man is motivated by understanding his needs personally and or as a group and trying your best to satisfy them in the best way possible. The human relation theory is a theory that applies so much in the day to day running of many businesses because many firms are concerned with productivity and this is achieved by making sure that the employees, who are directly concerned with this production are well catered for their

Animal Cruelty Essay Example for Free

Animal Cruelty Essay Today I am going to talk to you about innocent animals who have been uncared for, neglected and most of all subjected to cruelty. If you didn’t know already, the RSPCA stands for The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This is the world’s oldest animal welfare organization; originally set up just to look after farm animals, later expanding to include all animals. A group leader founded this organisation in 1824 by the name of Richard Martin who was an MP. But in reality his name doesn’t compare to what I’m going to tell you. First of all let’s start off with the reality. Despite British people being known as animal lovers these figures will shock you. The RSPCA receive approximately one phone call every 25 seconds each year – most sharing animal cruelty stories and asking for help. Every year roughly 140,000 animal cruelty complaints are investigated and out of that number 3000 were found guilty. More statistics include, 143,000 animals are rescued and collected, 214,000 are treated and helped and 70,000 animals were found new homes. After all the RSPCA have files upon files of stories so sad that I would be surprised if anyone could remain unaffected by them. The exact details of the 200 starving dogs remain unclear but the main facts wre uncovered by the RSPCA and police. Inspectors from the RSPCA found 204 starving dogs crammed in a filthy shed after an elderly woman had died. The Yorkshire terriers were in complete darkness, dripping in urine and piled in plastic travel boxes so full excrement the dogs had to crouch 3 inches from the top of the box. Six pups had died and one had been half eaten by littermates. What am I supposed to add to this? Well, some lost eyes because of infections, others couldn’t stand up properly because they were used to such terrible conditions. The pet charity that found them said that â€Å"the stench was unbearable, dead pups had melted into the floor, some had tumours like footballs, most hadn’t seen daylight†. The windowless 60ft shed was in the back garden of an elderly woman who shockingly lived in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex. Rescuers said it showed years of neglect and suffering of these poor innocent puppies. As soon as they were discovered the RSPCA spent weeks trying to re-home the dogs. This shows that the RSPCA are a well worth charity Rescuers said it showed years of neglect. But one of Mrs Stevens’s three sons, Chris, said: â€Å"She loved the animals. † Charities are trying to rehome the dogs. How on earth can this womans son say she loved animals? It makes me sick to my stomach that people can treat any animal in this way. There should be stronger punishments for people that neglect or cause harm to any animal there are no excuses! I only hope that all of the dogs find warm loving homes. Neglect and abandonment are the most common forms of companion animal abuse in the United States. Just imagine that 1 in 3 animals are uncared for, if you look around here in this room that could be you. Just recently you may have seen in the news a women was caught picking up a cat and dumping it into a council bin. Why would anyone want to do that!

Merton’s Theory of Scientific Ethos

Merton’s Theory of Scientific Ethos Robert Merton and the institutional imperatives of organised science. Do you think that the normative structure of science is working today? Why? Robert Merton has been hailed as the most important American sociologist of the 20th century[1]. His oeuvre includes works on the theory of knowledge, the sociology of science as well as functional and structural analysis. This essay will examine one of the most significant claims of Merton, that is that science is regulated by four distinct norms. While his work has arguably to the foundation of a whole academic discipline[2], the normative notion of science itself unites various strands of enquiry that are testament to the diverse personal and scientific interests of Merton. In nuce, Merton’s claim that science is essentially a normative endeavour conducted to the tune of shared ethical rules, straddles the fields of the philosophy of science and theories of knowledge just as it draws on assumptions located in the domain of moral philosophy and the theory of truth. The essay will approach this complex in the following way. First, Merton’s claims will be outlined in as much detail as possible. Second, the essay will sketch the main lines of criticism that Merton’s theory of scientific ethos has attracted. Finally, an example of scientific debate will be examined in view of Merton’s claim that will allow us to assess the validity and usefulness of Merton’s theory. Merton’s thesis about the normative structure of science goes back to an article he published originally in 1942, early on in his career[3]. The essay is short and, with the exception of mentioning two works by Talcott Parsons, makes no references to its immediate philosophical context, the emerging sociology of science. Furthermore, Max Weber is not mentioned at all throughout the piece. Nevertheless the article has become one of the most celebrated and debated publications in the theory of science. Merton contends that science is characterised by four interconnected but distinct organisational principles. These principles are ethical in nature and function as structural imperatives for science. First, science is universal insofar as contributions to it are ‘assessed on merit and significance’[4]. Second, scientists judge scientific theses against empirical material that is available, and ‘suspend judgement’ until all the facts are known. Merton calls this ‘a methodological and institutional mandate’[5]. Third, Merton maintains that scientists are committed to disinterestedness, and do not regard self-interest as a viable motivation for scientific work. The objective for scientists is to advance scientific knowledge rather than personal interests. Fourth, scientific knowledge that has proven to be reliable and accurate is to be readily available to every member of the scientific community, a phenomenon that Merton calls ‘communismâ₠¬â„¢. [6] Merton’s sketch of all four principles in the article is brief. Organised scepticism receives especially short shrift with just about two paragraphs[7]. In these two paragraphs Merton conspicuously fails to provide a definition of it altogether and instead discusses the wider context of this ‘methodological and institutional mandate’[8] for scientists. The question is whether Merton has presented a picture of science that is accurate today. The problem is that it is not quite clear what Merton actually says. He has been praised for his eloquence, but his admirable articulacy sometimes obscures the meaning of his thesis. The essay will now examine some of the more obvious criticisms. The first difficulty concerns the main thrust of Merton’s argument. In arguing that four normative principles organise scientific endeavour, is he making a normative or descriptive point? Are these observations of empirical nature or do they outline prescriptive ideals that ought to guide scientists in their work? We may take Merton’s thesis to articulate some more general prescriptive standards of science, which ideally ought to be applied in the scientist’s work in order to facilitate scientific progress. [9] Merton makes a point then which requires empirical verification. He has to show that science conducted in this way promotes scientific advancement which scientific work conducted contrary to these norms would not. Understandably this is hard to prove. It requires a historical argument, a narrative of successful scientific development, which to a certain degree he attempts to provide in his article.[10] So what does Merton try to say with his four criteria? The list of norms does not allow us to differentiate between valid and invalid science. It also fails to provide us with guidance as to what good and bad science is in a more general context. Perhaps at some time in the future, science requires secrecy and the exclusion of some parts of the scientific community from the results of scientific work. In fact, critics pointed out that Merton’s thesis works on the peculiar assumption that only academic science is science. Industrial research must by nature fail to comply with his standards of enquiry and hence cannot aspire to be science[11]. A nonsensical conclusion since much of sciences progress is owed to research in an economic and entrepreneurial environment, conducted for reasons of profit and the furtherance of self-interest. Yet, perhaps all these interpretations of Merton’s argument overlook the obvious. Possibly, his four standards of scientific discovery only make an observation on the nature of science in general. In this way Merton must be understood to make a simply descriptive point that scientific conduct is regulated by norms that may not always be explicit and unarticulated. If we would take him to argue this, his argument then all of a sudden fits into the wider functional theory of science that he was keen to advocate[12]. Merton argues that the adherence to the four norms produces a system of knowledge that has features that we associate with science, and which have subsequently have come to be synonymous with science. The scientific ethos is then only a historical by-product and Merton’s succinct formulation of this ethos in four principles of scientific behaviour simply describes the way in which science is done. Research that does not comply with these standards may still be science but does not contribute to science as a coherent system of human behaviour. Merton’s normative structure of science thus tells us something about the way in which science has come to sustain itself as a system of knowledge[13]. The four standards of scientific enquiry fulfil a function in generating systematic knowledge that contributes to the advancement of science as a coherent system of human interaction within a (academic) community. Critics have pointed out that this vision of science is not less problematic than the ones we have sketches above. Two general accusations have been levelled against this Mertonian notion of science. The first criticism argues that Merton is simply stating the obvious or, even worse, that his argument is tautological[14]. The second criticism is of different calibre and claims that Merton’s normative vision of science advocates one particular type of scientific endeavour that de-legitimises other forms of research[15]. Both criticisms warrant some closer examination. The first criticism is easily outlined and echoes some points made earlier. If Merton believes that the normative principles structure scientific knowledge then he can be taken to make either of two points which are different in scope and nature. First, he may simply be stating the obvious, describing the way in which science is being conducted. Any future changes to this may result in the end of science as we know it and as a coherent sub-system of human conduct but may give rise to the development of a new system of science, along different, yet unknown lines. Norms and standards, in this scheme of things, are contingent yet critical for the type of science that is currently institutionalised universally. Unless Merton attaches some value to this current form of science, his observation is bordering on the tautological, since it fails to tell us anything about the way in which we ought to do things in science. If he does associate the current state of science with a particular valu e, he needs to tell us what is so valuable about this specific type of science, an issue that philosophers of science discuss through the lens of scientific innovation[16]. Philosophically, this requires some wider justification, something that Merton fails to do. In fact, there is a plethora of criticism that targets exactly the kind of (modern) science that Merton seems to find commendable. Feminist and environmentalist criticism abounds. So there is evidence to the contrary that he would have to confront. The second criticism draws on radical theory and maintains that Merton’s normative notion of science acts as a gatekeeper to exclude other, conflicting visions of science. His theory of scientific endeavour thus fulfils a political function that translates into the suppression of deviant forms of scientific conduct. Bourdieu makes this claim forcefully in an article on Merton’s sociology of science in 1990 when in an unflattering way he calls Merton’s work ‘a hagiographic vision’[17]. Further on he writes: †¦ if Merton takes note of the existence of the work of scientific production, he continues to apply to it analytical categories which hare imposed on him by this very world itself, so that what he present as a description of its positive laws of functioning is often little more than a record of the normative rules which are officially professed by its members. He therefore departs only in appearance from the ‘internal’ reading†¦[18] This is a damning observation since the critical content of Merton’s theory of normative science resides in its ability to provide an external as well as internal picture of what scientists do[19]. If Merton, as Bourdieu claims, only replicates in his vision of science the self-understanding of scientists, his theory is little more than self-congratulatory contribution to identity formation in the scientific community. On a more sinister note, propagating these standards of scientific enquiry would deny other scientifically orientated behaviour the badge of honour. Merton’s theory of normative science would then become the main vehicle for defending a particular version of science, resting on values and principles that are far from universal. This is the point where theory spills over into institutional practice and may result in exclusion of scientists that fail to conform to a particular type of scientific behaviour. A brief example may demonstrate this problem. In 1994 two American professors published ‘The Bell Curve’, a sociological investigation into the link between race and intelligence[20]. Their work presented ample empirical material while their conclusions were particularly repugnant. The book included an argument for and against various social policies and therefore the authors deliberately placed their work in a political context. Although they adhered to all obvious scientific standards critics labelled the book as a political treatise with a foul set of conclusions. One of these conclusions was the authors maintained that there was evidence that African Americans were of inferior intelligence to White Americans. There can be no doubt that this repulsive claim strikes everyone who does not harbour racist attitudes as demonstrably false. Academic critics consequently slated the books’ premises and conclusions and pointed to a whole array of either ethical or method ological inconsistencies in the work[21]. What does this mean in the context of Mertonian imperatives for scientific discovery? First of all, Merton’s vision of science claims that disinterestedness is a norm of scientific enquiry, hence however abhorrent the conclusions are scientists must pay no heed to the social or political ramifications of their endeavours if they wanted to preserve science as a coherent system of human activity. Given the social context of race studies this is a plea for unethical behaviour while salvaging an internal code of practice that may have repellent consequences. To contend that scientists can conduct their enquiries in a bubble of self-contained norms is nonsensical. It is far more likely that scientists constantly re-negotiate the standards and norms of their work[22]. Science is a social endeavour, yet the social norms that apply to scientific conduct are drawn from wider society not from the reclusive community of academics only. Secondly, however, it is exactly the violation of the proclaimed standards of scientific behaviour which allows scientists to re-assert and re-evaluate the boundaries of science as a particular type of human conduct. Adherence to the self-professed norms thus does not advance science as a body of knowledge but produces a sterile and eventually inert body of knowledge that lost its connection with the purpose of scientific enquiry, to better the human condition. Thus science is in a constant process of boundary revision and definition, interacting with society and its needs. Merton’s internalist functionalist vision of science cannot accommodate this aspect of scientific endeavour and hence fails to acknowledge the actual purpose of science in the wider context as well as its resources for constructive change and transformation. References Pierre Bourdieu. Animadversiones in Mertonem. In Robert K. Merton. Consensus and Controversy, edited by Jon Clark, Celia Modgil, and Sohan Modgil. London New York Philadelphia: Falmer Press 1990, pp.297-301. Cynthia Fuchs Epstein. Seredipitous Science and The Prepared Mind: Merton on the Microenvironments of Discoveries. In Contemporary Sociology. A Journal of Reviews, September 2005, Vol.34, No.5, pp.477-453. Steven Fraser (ed.). The Bell Curve Wars. Race, Intelligence and the Future of America. New York: Basic Books 1995. Lowell L. Hargens. What is Mertonian Sociology of Science? In Scientometrics, Vol. 60 (2004), No.1, pp.63-70. R. Herrnstein and C. Murray. The Bell Curve. New York: Free Press 1994. John Law and David French. Normative and Interpretive Sociologies of Science. In The Sociological Review, 22 (1974), pp.581-595. Robert K. Merton. The Normative Structure of Science [1942]. In Robert K. Merton. The Sociology of Science. Theoretical and Empirical Investigations. Edited and with an Introduction by Norman W. Storer. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, pp.267-278. Nico Stehr. Robert K. Merton’s Sociology of Science. In Robert K. Merton. Consensus and Controversy, edited by Jon Clark, Celia Modgil, and Sohan Modgil. London New York Philadelphia: Falmer Press 1990, pp.285-294. Nina Toren. The Scientific Ethos Debate: A Meta-Theoretical View. In Sic. Sci. Med., Vol. 17, No. 21 (1983), pp.1665-1672. Jonathan H. Turner. The Structure of Sociological Theory. Homewood: The Dorsey Press 1978. 1 Footnotes [1] Epstein, Serendipitous Science, p.447 [2] On the background of the sociology of science cf. Hargens, Mertonian sociology. [3] Merton, Normative Structure. [4] Toren, Scientific Ethos Debate, p.1666 [5] Merton, Normative Structure, p.277 [6] Merton, Normative Structure, p.273-275 [7] Merton, Normative Structure, p.277-278 [8] Merton, Normative Structure, p.277 [9] Toren, Scientific Ethos Debate, p.1667 [10] Merton calls for a ‘comparative study of the institutional structure of science’. Merton, Normative Structure, p.269 [11] Stehr, Merton’s Sociology of Science, p.286 [12] For his contribution to functionalism cf. Turner, Structure of Sociological Theory, pp.69-76 [13] Law and French, Normative and Interpretive Sociologies, p.584-585 [14] Toren, Scientific Ethos Debate, p.1666; Bourdieu, Animadversiones, p.299 [15] Law and French, Normative and Interpretive Sociologies, p.585 [16] Law and French, Normative and Interpretive Sociologies, p.581-585; Toren, Scientific Ethos Debate, p.1668 [17] Bourdieu, Animadversiones, p.298 [18] Bourdieu, Animadversiones, p.298 [19] Stehr, Robert K. Merton’s Sociology, p.289 and Law and French, Normative and Interpretive Sociologies, p.582 [20] R. Herrnstein and C. Murray. The Bell Curve. New York: Free Press 1994 [21] cf. Steven Fraser (ed.). The Bell Curve Wars. New York: Basic Book 1995 [22] Law and French, Normative and Interpretive Sociologies, p.586

Political Correctness Essay -- essays research papers

Political Correctness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The term â€Å"Political Correct† has been in the nation’s vocabulary for only a short period of time but has changed the way that we view life and communicate with one another. Political correctness, politically correct, and P.C. are terms that refer, to a social idea that is characterized by efforts to redress, mainly by the use of language, real or supposed discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, nationality, disability or any other criteria that could offended a particular group .The main goal behind political correctness is to prevent the exclusion or the offending of people based upon differences or handicaps. In an essay written by Michiko Kakutani entitled The Word Police , she examines the idea of political correctness and questions society for taking a good idea and making a mockery of it. Kakutani is quick to point out in her story that know one can argue that the moral idea’s behind being political correct are wrong but that those in potions of authority have gone completely out of control trying to rewrite the view of the world in a rigid unyielding style that forces words and phrases into the minds of ever person in America. Groups like the MLA (Modern Language Association) have taken words that have been used for centuries and have created new ones overnight that are political correct and non offensive, the problem is that society is not prepared to be political correct overnight and who is to judge w...

The Eighteenth Emergency - Look closely at the words used by Byars by analysing the words used in the quotes. :: English Literature

The Eighteenth Emergency - Look closely at the words used by Byars by analysing the words used in the quotes. ‘The Eighteenth Emergency’ Target: Look closely at the words used by Byars by analysing the words used in the quotes. At the beginning of the novel ‘The Eighteenth Emergency’ Byars presents Mouse as being scared because Marv is after him. In the middle Byars describes encounters between Marv and Mouse in a way that creates tension. Later on in the novel Byars presents Mouse as beginning to change because he was only thumped in the mouth by Marv. At the end of the novel Mouse is shown to be bold and strong, and therefore Mouse is shown to change from being weak and minute in the world to being courageous and confident in himself. At the beginning of the novel Mouse is presented as being really scared and weak because Marv is after him. The text ‘Some boys are going to kill me’ shows that he is scared and exaggerating. Also ‘He started thinking again about Marv Hammerman’ is showing he is always thinking about him, which shows he is worried. ‘He came up in his mind the way monsters do in horror movies, big and powerful with the same cold, unreal eyes.’ This shows you what Mouse thinks Marv looks like, big and a person who doesn’t care how scruffy he is, despite his power to frighten people. Monsters in horror movies tend to be strong, scary characters. ‘Cold, unreal eyes’ suggests that Marv Hammerman has no feelings which is not normal and suggests he is animal-like. In the middle of the exciting story, Byars describes encounters between Marv Hammerman and Mouse in a way that we are made to feel sorry for Mouse even though it is his fault, also it creates tension. The sentence ‘Mouse thought his own face might have been made of thin rubber, it was changing expression so rapidly’ shows he doesn’t know what to do, and is just standing, waiting for Hammerman to hit him. Also, Byars is holding back information in the sentence as she is not telling us whether his expressions are of hatred or worrying. ‘Hammermans nostrils widened a little, and Mouse wondered if Hammerman could smell fear the way animals could.’ The words ‘nostrils widened’ and ‘smell fear’ suggests Mouse is relating Marv Hammerman to a savage beast, ready to pounce. Later in the novel Mouse is presented as a changed boy because he retaliated a little which stops Marv Hammerman from hitting him again. This suggests that Mouse had found courage. The phrase, ‘Mouse seemed bigger’ shows us that he is more noticeable by people

Communication Paper Essay

I would like to take this time in welcoming you to this presentation on communication marketing in health care. We will first be identifying different and most common communication used by consumers and health care providers, such as e-mail, a web-based forum, and/or electronic medical records just to name a few. We will also be discussing the benefits to the patients, an aspect relating to the values and importance of maintaining patient confidentiality when using these types of communication, some reasons that these types of communications are an effective way of communicating between consumers and their providers, how these types of communications may differ from others, and lastly, how might media and social networking change communication in health care today and years to come. Now, join with me as we discuss the different types and most common communication used by consumers and their health care providers. Many communication channels are used in healthcare, each with different properties. These channels may be synchronous or asynchronous, mobile or fixed, secure or no secure. Because of this, participants must decide which channel best suits the issue about which they need to communicate. Synchronous channels such as telephones and face-†to-†face meetings allow both parties to communicate at the same time, enabling information to flow freely in real time. Synchronous channels are ideal when discussing time-†sensitive issues and exchanging dense information. It is not always convenient, however, for a patient and physician to schedule time to communicate using synchronous channels because they can lead to delayed care, telephone tag, and frustration—when these channels fail to connect, some healthcare issues remain unaddressed. Yet, generally only pagers and synchronous communications are available for patient-†physician  communication. Asynchronous channels such as email, fax, and blogs enable each party to communicate when it is convenient. These channels may be used safely for issues that are no urgent or time-†sensitive. Because time is not a factor when using asynchronous channels, both patient and clinician can be more reflective in their messaging. Asynchronous channels, however, should not be used for medical emergencies or time-†sensitive issues. Another characteristic of communication channels is whether they are fixed (connected to a wire) or mobile. Thanks to advances in technology, many communication channels that were once fixed are now wireless, such as telephones and text messaging. Presenting new technologies is challenging when dealing with an industry entrenched in using the same telephone, fax, and pager systems for decades. Many problems in healthcare stem from the industry clinging to these outdated methods of communication, without understanding the benefits brought about by newer solutions. For example, electronic pagers, which have been abandoned by most industries, are still the core device for hospital communications. While physicians extensively use a mobile core phone outside the hospital, these phones are often banned from being used inside, despite evidence that in most areas of the hospital this technology is safe. Email is often discouraged for clinical communication for security reasons, and more advanced technologies such as instant messaging, videoconferencing, group teleconferencing, or web-†based collaboration are almost unheard of in clinical care—despite evidence that proves the effectiveness and safety of these technologies in healthcare. While physicians have found newer tools such as email useful, they are typically used only in limited situations and not commonly employed to communicate with patients. The reasons for physicians’ reluctance to use e-†communication with patients include concerns about malpractice litigation, fears of being barraged with emails, and the absence of a model that reimburses them for consulting with patients electronically. Communication in healthcare fails for many reasons: necessary personnel cannot be identified or located; they may not be available or may not respond in a timely manner; or the communication channel of choice may not be well suited to the task at hand— for example, e-†communication such as  email should not be used for time-†sensitive issues such as a patient having a heart attack, or in situations that require a dense exchange of information. Pagers, for instance, are more appropriate for time-†sensitive issues, while telephones, in-†person or videoconferencing meetings, or web-†based collaboration tools are more efficient options for exchanging dense information, such as detailed c ase reports. Because case reports require much discussion among physicians, using email only slows down the discussion process. With the ability to reduce costs, telemedicine has been shown to be such an effective medical practice in several instances that its growth and application in the health care industry have raised greatly. One of the reasons for patient satisfaction with telemedicine is a reduction in waiting time, travel time, and the time involved in arranging appointments. The absence of all these issues can facilitate health communication by eliminating many of the burdens involving in standard health care. There also some challenges to the patient privacy with web-based communication just as in a facility. Because multiple individuals in telemedicine communication, exposure of confidential records to all parties concerned becomes a threat to the privacy of the patient. Additionally, even through medical doctors accept the obligation of maintaining their patients’ privacy rights, the other assisting parties involved in the telemedicine communication may not be held to the same standards (Turner, 2003). As a result of this risk to patients’ privacy rights, telemedicine has struggled to gain acceptance for the legal and medical communities (Sanders & Bashshur, 1995). However, again, as time progresses and this issue tackled by the medical and legal communities alike, solutions should be found to eliminate privacy risks to patients. Furthermore, these solutions should generate increased acceptance of telemedicine practices by all parties concerned and, likewise, should alleviate the fear and frequency of breached to patient privacy laws. In conclusion to the communication marketing in health care, we were able to identify the different types of communication such as e-mails, web-based and  medical records. We were able to point out some benefits and different aspects for the patients values and the importance in maintaining the patients confidentiality and the risks of safety in these types of communications. We were also able to understand the reasons as to how these types of communications are effective between the consumers and their providers and how they differ from other forms of communications as well. Thank you for your time and efforts in taking the time to better understand the communication through telemedicine present and future. References: http://www.uapd.com/wp-content/uploads/Telemedicine-Its-Effects-on-Health-Communication.pdf http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac79/docs/wp/Communication_Healthcare_WP_0724FINAL.pdf