Magdelana Abakanowicz Essays - Abakanowicz, , Term Papers

Magdelana Abakanowicz Magdelana Abakanowicz was born in 1930 near Falenty, Poland. She studied at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, and sought to escape from the conventional art forms through weaving. Abakanowicz creates sculpture in bronze, wood, steel, ceramic, and burlap. Her main subjects are human and animal figures presented in large groups of 50, 80, or 150 exemplars. Abakanowicz also works in drawing, painting, choreographing dances, and architectural projects. Her work can be seen in museums all over the world. Often in her work she explores the alerted reality created by groups of sculpture in a gallery while also drawing heavily upon her personal and family history. Abakanowicz's work demonstrates an evolution from themes to dwellings, to humans, to the primality of organic growth itself. Abakanowicz's strong idealism and forceful speaking style suggest a productive tenacity born of a defensive self-belief. She feels ?overawed by the quantity where counting no longer makes sense. By unrepeatedl y within such a quantity. By creatures of nature gathered in herds, droves, species, in which each individual, while subservient to the mass, retains some distinguishing features. A crowd of people, birds, insects, or leaves is a mysterious assemblage of variants of certain prototype. A riddle of nature's abhorrence of exact repetition or inability to produce it. Just as the human hand cannot repeat its own gesture, I invoke this disturbing law, switching my own immobile herds into that rhythm.?

Safe in My Own Pierced Skin free essay sample

I was a sophomore and waiting for the end of year, but also wishing that it wouldnt come because my mother was moving away. We didnt have a perfect relationship, but it was a precious one. It was a mystery to me how I would survive without her, or how I would say good-bye. We decided to have a mother-daughter day. It was to be an extraordinary bonding day, and it was. I was treated like royalty. My mother wanted to make sure I was happy before she left. That seemed impossible, though, because what she was trying to compensate for was the very thing that was making me unhappy. She asked if there was anything I wanted, anything at all. Jokingly, I said, Ive always wanted an eyebrow ring, expecting her to turn me down. When she said, Okay, we can do that, I didnt know how to react, but it didnt take long for excitement to replace my uncertainty. We will write a custom essay sample on Safe in My Own Pierced Skin or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When we reached a safe, clean piercing place that I had researched, my mother asked for an eyebrow ring thing for my chula. The man at the counter looked at her strangely. I doubt it was because of the Spanglish, but rather wonder how many mothers accompany their daughters for a piercing? Probably very few. My mother checked the tools, the eyebrow ring itself and everything around it. She made sure the gentleman put on the cleanest gloves possible and used the most pristine needle, even though they were all in sterile packaging. When it came down to it, my mother could not bear to watch. The man clamped the area that was going to be pierced and out came the especially sanitary needle. Now there was no turning back. He asked me to count to three. One two It was done before I could finish my countdown. This was a very effective procedure that cut down on my hesitation. A few moments later, there it was two lustrous, silver balls connected by a bar sticking out of my skin in triumph. Wow, wow, wow! was all I could say. I almost like it, my mother proclaimed. I dont like the fact that a piece of metal sticking out of your skin is going to remind you how much I love you, but I almost like it. There I was, walking home, eyebrow first, thinking this definitely was the day my mother had promised, unusual but special. I received mixed reactions to my new accessory. My peers were shocked, fascinated and even speechless. Some wanted to poke at it, as if it were an illusion. I refused, of course, not wanting anything to contaminate my mothers memento. Adults had some negative reactions: You probably got hepatitis and I dont think people should be putting holes in their bodies that dont belong there. I always think, Well, I dont mean to be rude, but I dont suppose you were born with those metal hoops dangling from your ears, were you? With so much hate based on sex and race, I didnt think there would be room for piercing discrimination. I do suppose it emits a kind of image, but isnt that a stereotype? I have told my mother about some people displaying this ignorance. Well, when you go to college or become a professional, youre going to have to take it out, she advises. I highly doubt my piercing impedes any of my skills, my qualifications, or my abilities. So why would I have to remove it? Zora Neale Hurston said, I am not my race, I am me. Well, I am not my piercing or the stereotype that comes with it I am me. I did not do it because of a fad. I did not do it to have a certain image. I am not angry. I am not a criminal. I am neither a poor student nor a bad person. It is jewelry like no other, not because of its location, but because it is a part of me and because of what it means to me. Its a symbol of the bond between my mother and me, which is something I never want to let go.

Virtue Ethics

Virtue Ethics Ethics 5Running Head: VIRTUE ETHICSVirtue Ethics[Writer Name][Institute Name][Date] ¢Ã‚€ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚€ÂÆ'Virtue EthicsIntroductionVirtue ethics has been originated many years ago in different societies that conform on safety and well being of other individuals in the society. The ethics focus on what a person able to do rather than what the person is unable to do. The character of an individual throughout his life is shaped by factors such as beliefs, values and attitudes. Virtue ethics focus on the effective side of individual actions. This paper seeks to establish the application of virtue ethics in my social as well as business life.Virtue EthicsVirtue ethics is a body of knowledge within philosophy that seeks to describe in full details the character traits or virtue that constitutes a good human life. Hartman, Desjardins and McDonald (2013, p. 123) notes that the concept or ethics of virtue moves from what should be done by an individual to who the responsible individual is. Portrait of Aristoteles. Pentelic marble, copy of ...The recognition of the individual is constituted by the beliefs, values and the attitudes people have. These aspects vary from one individual to another individual.The application of virtue ethics changes the nature of justification in ethics. For example in some ethical cases justification of some actions could be tied to self interest (Hartman, Desjardins and MacDonald, 2013, p. 124). However, for such justification I likely to fail given that ethical controversies involve the conflict arising between self-interest and existing ethical values. For example individuals could prefer self-interest to ethical value in some cases where they are required to sacrifice their personal interests. For example: an individual required to pursue ethical value that required giving up large sum of money is unlikely to prefer ethical values. In this context the self interest of such...

Knowledge Management (KM) in Healthcare Systems The WritePass Journal

Knowledge Management (KM) in Healthcare Systems REFERANCES Knowledge Management (KM) in Healthcare Systems INTRODUCTION HISTORY OF KM SWOT ANALYSISKEY ISSUE OF REDDIX HOSPITALSUGGEST CHANGE Learning CultureKey Management processesTools and TechniquesRESOURCESOrganizational Fit2nd Learning outcome:SCOPE OF CHANGE AND VISIONRESISTANCEOPTIONAL APPRAISALCOMMUNICATION TO STAKEHOLDERFINALIZE CHANGE PLANIMPLEMENTING KM AT REDDIX  ObjectivesStrategic model to achieve these objectives  Patient Admission ProcessCommunication of Patient Admission DataSupporting Diagnostic and Therapeutic SciencesPoint-of-Care Data EntryEvaluation: Automated Hospital Information System ArchitectureImplement a Culture change policyThe Intervention Change ModelThe Strategic Change ModelImproved Team CommunicationReduced Problem Solving TimeImproved Patient CareREFERANCESRelated INTRODUCTION KM is a discipline that promotes an integrated approach to identifying, managing, and sharing all of an enterprise’s information assets, including database, documents, policies and procedures, as well as unarticulated expertise and experience resident in individual workers (Wickramasinghe, 2003). There are many dimensions around which knowledge can be characterized such as storage media, accessibility, typology and hierarchy. HISTORY OF KM Knowledge Management (KM) is an essential tool in today’s emerging healthcare system. Hospitals that seek to deploy KM systems need to understand the human element in the process. Earlier, success factors were only restricted to a few healthcare variables such as patient care and cost, but over the years, technology (both clinical and administrative) has evolved as a differentiating variable, thus redefining the doctrines of competition and the administration of healthcare treatments. One of the key objectives of a KM system is to insulate a hospital’s intellectual knowledge from degeneration (Elliot, 2000). The UK public sector now typically spends an estimated  £2 billion per annum on IT, equating to around 1% of the public purse (Holmes Poulymenakou, 1995), while the NHS spends around  £220 million annually on IT in hospitals (Audit Commission, 1995). Information technology is transforming the healthcare environment in ways that go beyond simple consumer health information Web sites (Hoagland, 1997). SWOT ANALYSIS Various Strengths of such organizational structure are: There is a strong control over the employees with clearly defined rules and regulations. The system is highly centralized because of which various decisions can be monitored efficientley.. There is standardization in the organization and everyone is following same procedures and thus there is no scope for any confusion. Weaknesses of bureaucratic form of organizations: The biggest weakness of such form of organization is that there is too much control leading to a lack of innovation initiatives and thus making the jobs dull and boring. Also, this has an adverse impact on the level of morale of employees which is clearly seen in case of Reddix trust hospital. Another weakness is that though decisions can be efficiently monitored it takes a lot of time to take any decision as there are only few people in whose hands such a power rests. In case this group of people is overloaded decision making will become too slow. The chain of communication is too long which generally leads to distortion of the message Bureaucracy itself encourages political behavior in the organization and people try to use wrong means to go up the hierarchy. KEY ISSUE OF REDDIX HOSPITAL Reddix Hospital does have an information system in place. It comprises of Radiology Information System, Patient Administration System, Laboratory Information System and Clinical Patient Record System, Pharmacy Systems and Nursing System. But there is a lack of interoperability between these systems and there is no clinical information governance. Further due to an inefficient Hospital Information System patient files are not available to the concerned caregivers when required. These caretakers are not aware of patients’ medical history and if some wrong medicines are given patients suffer from severe reactions. According to NHS performance report 60% of patients were suffering from life-threatening consequences of improper care. Furthermore nurses and caregivers are not aware of the best practices. Also Reddix is using a centralized computer architecture where softwares being used are 30-40 years old. Such outdated softwares have limited interfaces with other healthcare information systems. Moreover they did not have the ability to interconnect with other desktop applications. In most of the NHS hospitals a distributed form of computer architecture is followed. Moreover Reddix does not use a secure information security mechanism which is again an important point of consideration. Due to above reasons and to ensure an efficient and innovative working of Reddix Hospital Trust it was decided to adopt a proper Knowledge Management System at Reddix. Thus, a combination of all the three systems may be used to address the requirements of various stakeholders to the KM project. SUGGEST CHANGE Reddix can move to divisional form of organization as it will be easy to handle the complexities associated with a complex nature of hospital functions and divisions. In order to promote learning and development in the organization Reddix can use following methods: Learning Culture Reddix need to develop a learning culture in the organization. There should be a free flow of information within the organization. People should be able to share and exchange information and knowledge without any barriers. Senior team should people at all levels to learn regularly and learning should also be rewarded. Key Management processes Learning and development can be fostered through proper capability planning, reinforcing teams, developing values and vision for such teams and maintaining an efficient performance reward system. Tools and Techniques Open communication, mentoring and supporting colleagues, making people learn to see team and organizational goals as same are some tools to maintain learning in the organization. Thus, from above mentioned process Reddix can ensure learning and development of its staff so as to implement KM in an efficient manner. RESOURCES These organizations decentralize decision making to the business units, thereby allowing the corporate office to concentrate its focus on corporate strategy, capital allocation, and monitoring of the operational and strategic performance of business units. This creates the advantage of increasing accountability, given that common/comparable measures can be established across different divisions and internal competition for available capital can be stimulated. Along with its various merits this system may bring about certain disadvantages for Reddix Trust Hospital: First, there is the problem of duplication of services- that is, redundant marketing, manufacturing, and other functional services that are established within each unit. Costs can escalate when functions are repeated in multiple areas. Corporate executives in decentralized organizations can too easily distance themselves from their divisional operations and thus find that they lack the needed insights and skills to understand their disparate businesses. Corporate leaders can also focus so much on capital allocation and corporate strategy (e.g., mergers, divestitures, acquisitions) that they lose touch with the operational side of their businesses. Organizational Fit 2nd Learning outcome: SCOPE OF CHANGE AND VISION Healthcare organizations are facing many challenges in the 21st Century due to changes taking place in global healthcare systems. Spiraling costs, financial constraints, increased emphasis on accountability and transparency, changes in education, growing complexities of biomedical research, new partnerships in healthcare and great advances in IT suggest that a predominant paradigm shift is occurring. This shift is necessitating a focus on interaction, collaboration and increased sharing of information and knowledge which is in turn leading healthcare organizations to embrace the techniques of Knowledge Management (KM) in order to create and sustain optimal healthcare outcomes. This report describes the importance of using Information Technology knowledge management systems for healthcare organizations and provides an overview of knowledge management technologies and tools that may be used by healthcare organizations with a special focus on Reddix Hospital Trust. RESISTANCE Reddix hospital is overloaded with work. Doctors are working for double the stipulated time. The information system at Reddix is centralized and nurses and caretakers have no direct and easy access to patient records. Also there is low level of morale, lack of motivation, lack of innovation and high rate of absenteeism and staff turnover and also high rate of sickness among hospital staff. All these factors prove that Reddix Hospital Trust is following a bureaucratic form of organization. The bureaucratic hierarchy is by far the most abundant organization form as we start the new millennium. They are everywhere all of the time and it is hard to envision a world without them, or indeed any other kind of organization form that will work as well. Elliott Jaques (1989, 1990), firmly believed that the bureaucratic hierarchy’s only problem is that it still lacks complete perfection, and Hammer and Champy (1993), asserted that bureaucracy is a glue that holds organizations together. OPTIONAL APPRAISAL Reddix can use intranet to make the stakeholders properly understand what is KM and how it can enable them to work efficiently. A dedicated blog can be created where staff can exchange their understanding of the concept and that of project a whole and can learn through shared experiences. Also it will help them in understanding the flow of information within the organization and how to use the new method efficiently. A proper detailed view of the new system along with some relevant examples can be easily provided on the portal which will help in a detailed understanding of the concept. However in this system people will learn as per their understanding levels. In case there is some misunderstanding on their part it cannot be cleared and people will start working on their individual assumptions about the concept and project. This may lead to conflict and disputes while implementing the concept. Justify your planned changes? COMMUNICATION TO STAKEHOLDER The project of Knowledge Management affects a number of people related with the organization. These are- doctors, nurses, administrative staff, etc. All these people need to be properly aware of the need of KM in their organization and also how they will be benefited from such a change in the organization. The success of any KM program depends upon the clear understanding of concepts by these stakeholders. FINALIZE CHANGE PLAN Continuous use of knowledge leads to generation of new ideas which can be recorded in the system and again and again use of such idea further leads to generation of new ideas. Thus, KM will give a scope of innovation to hospital staff. Proper storage and availability of information about a patient’s health will allow the team of doctors to communicate easily and take decisions on further treatment in an efficient manner. Also the medication prescribed to patient, allergic records, surgery records, etc are readily available which can form the basis of further treatment. Another important system is to develop a program for providing training with regard to use of new system. Such programs or training workshops should be designed in a manner that each and every person in the organization is properly aware about his/her role in KM and can also help his/her subordinates in achieving efficiency through such a system. This system is good for imparting knowledge about the concept but lack practical approach. For proper implementation of the concept such workshops should be continued for some time after the introduction of KM in the hospital. It will help the staff to get real time experience of getting trained while working. Instant flow of information and improved communication leads to quick decision making. Doctors can communicate with each other regarding the treatment of some critical patient, refer to the case history available at a single place and take decision in a short period of time Reddix can take the groups of staff for some tours to other hospitals using Knowledge management effectively. This will help the staff in getting a real-world idea about use and benefits of KM. This will act as a catalyst to prepare them for them for the next stages of the project. However, this method does not ensure a deep understanding of the concept as methodology of implementing KM varies from organization to organization. IMPLEMENTING KM AT REDDIX Various steps involved in implementation of KM program at Reddix Trust Hospital are discussed as follows:   Objectives Reddix need to implement a KM program so as to improve patient care, reduce accidents, increase the morale level of the hospital staff, efficient decision making and improve the flow of information within the organization. Strategic model to achieve these objectives The achievement of an efficient KM program depends upon the designing of an efficient Application Architecture. The key features of such an architecture or model is discussed as follows:   Patient Admission Process First step in implementing Knowledge Management in Reddix is the automation of Hospital administration and registration systems that are used to â€Å"register† patients into the hospital. A powerful first point-of-contact (point-of-sale) approach for the hospital can be used in the form of embedded-chip smart cards. These cards are capable of holding compact patient medical record and biometrics identifiers. This would enable quick, automated registration and admitting, as well as information for health and health insurance purposes such as eligibility, referral, and pharmacy approval. Communication of Patient Admission Data Next is to automate the data associated with the admission of a patient which is of a relatively generic nature. Made up of standard patient demographic data, insurance particulars, and the patient’s location (department, room number, and bed), the information associated with the event of admitting a patient is of interest to most if not all of the other information systems used in the hospital. In an e-hospital, this patient information is communicated with all other applications in the hospital. Hospitals organize themselves around specialized diagnostic methods, focused medical interventions, and various therapeutic care strategies. Supporting Diagnostic and Therapeutic Sciences According to Becich (2000), it is estimated that 50% to 70% of the major decisions that affect patients are based on information available from clinical pathology (laboratory tests) and anatomical pathology (tissue samples). Thus it is necessary to computerize laboratories, radiology, cardiovascular laboratories, nuclear medicine, etc. For Example: The classical x-ray film processing has been replaced with â€Å"film-less† imaging processes that produce digital images in many hospitals worldwide. Hospital Pharmacy also need to be right from automated drug dispensing devices to robotic workstations used to package and barcode patient medication. Point-of-Care Data Entry Further there is a need to automate the point-of-care data. Procedures (e.g., surgeries, laboratory tests, or x-rays) can be scheduled in an enterprise scheduling system to better allocate many types of resources. Integration between the admitting and orders systems makes the process more efficient and accurate. These orders can be communicated to the appropriate clinical system (e.g., radiology or laboratory) electronically if interfaced or integrated with the order management system. Once an order is placed in a clinical system, the process of performing the ordered diagnostic test or delivering the specified medication or service begins. If the physician could consistently digitize these â€Å"paper instructions,† the improvements in the accuracy, the timeliness, and the appropriateness of patient care would be staggering. In addition, the patient vital sign data (e.g., blood pressure, fluid input and output, temperatures) are written on the patient’s chart. Technolo gy can be used to convert physician voice dictations to digital text (typically the patient’s admitting history and physical and the discharge plan and diagnosis). Evaluation:       Automated Hospital Information System Architecture [Adapted from Mon and Nunn (1999)] Implement a Culture change policy Next is to develop a proper healthy environment for KM. Staff needs to be made aware and trained about the concept of KM and how that is beneficial for different levels of the organization. People should be able to adapt to such a change being introduced in the organization. Such an acceptance will ensure the efficient implementation of KM program. Change Models Here we will discuss two change models which can be applied to Reddix Hospital. The Intervention Change Model The Strategic Change Process Model The Intervention Change Model This model developed by Robbie Paton and Jim MacCalman (2006), is based on the idea of an open system approach which view an organization as a series of interlinked and interdependent elements and components of systems and subsystems. Reddix Hospital is an organization that consists of several elements like that of consultation, pharmacy, patient care, nursing, specialized treatment, clinical information, etc. As per the intervention model firstly the problem is to be identified, which is the lack of a proper information system in the hospital. Next is to analyze and select the change options available which is determined as the need of KM in Reddix. Finally this KM is to be applied at every level and every department and element of Reddix. These functions or elements are interlinked and a change in one will mean a change in all the elements. The Strategic Change Model This model developed by Phil Beaumont complements the implementation stage of the intervention model. This model is also required to be applied at Reddix. It aims at making the staff understand the need for change in the organization. It takes the form of a story-telling which managers often use to promote change. At the start of this process senior managers at Reddix will initiate communication to engage employees in the change process. Next will be focusing on claims, evidence, theories of cause and effect to help employees understand what the need is and how the change will benefit them. Further performance conversation will take place to generate action in order to initiate change and finally closure conversations will be there to signify the successful completion of the change process. Such a process will help the staff of Reddix to grasp each and every part of KM program efficiently so as to use it effectively in their future course of action. Improved Team Communication Proper storage and availability of information about a patient’s health will allow the team of doctors to communicate easily and take decisions on further treatment in an efficient manner. Also the medication prescribed to patient, allergic records, surgery records, etc are readily available which can form the basis of further treatment. Reduced Problem Solving Time Instant flow of information and improved communication leads to quick decision making. Doctors can communicate with each other regarding the treatment of some critical patient, refer to the case history available at a single place and take decision in a short period of time Improved Patient Care An efficient KM system will reduce the burden of knowledge on the staff. They can concentrate on their work. Specialists can be consulted easily and decisions can be taken efficiently. This will improve the condition of patient care in Reddix. REFERANCES Groff, Todd. R. (2003), Introduction to knowledge Management: KM in Business, Butterworth-Heinemann Gay, Paul du (2003), The Values of Bureaucracy, Oxford University Press. Jennex, Murray E (2005), Case Studies in Knowledge Management, IGI Global Miner, John B (2006), Organizational Behavior 2: Essential Theories of Process and Structure, M.E. Sharpe, Inc. Martin, Graeme (2006), Managing People and Organizations in Changing Context, Butterworth-Heinemann. Schwartz, David G.(2006), Encyclopedia of Knowledge Management, IGI publishing. Wickramasinghe(2005), Creating Knowledge-Based Healthcare Organizations, IGI Global. Wickramasinghe, Nilmini( 2007), Knowledge-Based Enterprise: Theories and Fundamentals, IGI Publishing

Should capital punishment be suspended because of racial disparities Term Paper

Should capital punishment be suspended because of racial disparities - Term Paper Example But the question that lies is beyond the validity of imposing capital punishment but rather the effect of color or race that comes with the number of those sentenced for capital punishment. The effects of anger and retaliation are a development of social discrimination and prejudice fueled not just by the wrong act or omission but also the bigotry that comes with such hate. Capital punishment then becomes an added tool for racial discrimination rather than a positive effect of retributive justice. Researches made In 2002, a Governor of Maryland Parris Glendening initiated a research to be done by the University of Maryland regarding capital punishment and although criminologist Ray Paternoster found that the â€Å"race of the defendant was not significant in penalty-eligible cases†, race played an important factor whether the prosecutor sought for a death penalty punishment in a case (Hodgkinson and Shabas 8). There is not just racial disparity but also prosecutor disparity. A t least 43% of total executions since 1976 and 55% of those awaiting execution is for people of color (American Civil Liberties Union, 2003). The General Accounting office in 1990 showed reports that â€Å"race of the victim was found to influence the likelihood of being charged with capital murder or receiving the death penalty." In numerous jurisdictions researchers and case laws have given sufficient proof of racial disparity among persons under death row. In Philadelphia, a study made in 1997 by David Baldus and statistician George Woodworth found results that between 1983 to 1993, a 38% increase in the possibility of a person being eligible for death penalty because the defendant was black. In North Carolina, a study released by the university showed that between 1993 to 1997, a three and a half increase in the possibility of incurring a death sentence when the victim is white rather than black. The area of jurisdiction varies from the number of the race’s population an d possible historical background on racial prejudice. A good example is in the state of Georgia, where University of Iowa law professor David Baldus found that prosecutors sought death penalty for 70% of the black defendants with white victims compared to the minimal 15% white defendants who had white victims. (American Civil Liberties Union, 2003). Further effects of this study will be explained in the latter part of the discussion, as the â€Å"Baldus study† was attempted to be used as a defense in a Supreme Court case (McCleskey v. Kemp (1987). Prosecution disparity is eminent in these cases, it seems that racial discrimination the begun with society is also reflected to the administration of justice. It is the prosecutors who have the discretion in deciding whether cases should seek death penalty. Even in the choice of possible jurors, the prosecution takes control such as in the state of Philadelphia, where prosecutors move to remove 52 % of potential black jurors compar ed to a mere 23 % potential jurors of other races. Jeffrey Pokorak conducted another good research proving racial disparity. He related the important effects of race and gender of all the lawyers authorized to prosecute death penalty cases that evidenced racial disparity. In the 38 states studied, 98% of the prosecuting attorneys are white and almost all are male (Hodgkinson and Shabas 15). Supreme Court Decisions With this issue being established, the

Oil Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Oil Markets - Essay Example This essay looks at the historical of price changes in the oil industry and the influence of market fundamentals. James Smith shares a perspective of trends in the oil prices and takes back to the spell between 1874 and 1974. He argues that during this time the prices of oil were characterized by a stable market (Smith, 2009). During the time, a barrel of oil ranged between $10-$20 (Smith, 2009). This period can be explained to have had a stable supply of crude oil that was accessible even to the remotest nations of the world. Therefore, given the market was with no movement, the price elasticity of demand was insignificant and thus the stable prices. After the ‘golden era,’ the world has experienced insurmountable boom and burst in the economies. The world achieved tremendous progress in the early 18th Century. During this time, the prices of crude oil were relatively low given that the supply was steady. However, the price of oil have increased since and resulted in the worst crisis in the world. The world experienced the great depression in mid-18th century. This was a result of decreased production of crude oil as a result of the war in the Middle East. And given that price elasticity of demand a minimum reduction in supply lead to an increased rise in the price of oil. The 1970s saw the price range between $12 to and $ 53 per barrel and shoot to $ 75 per barrel in 1981 (Smith, 2009). In the subsequent years, the prices continued to drop until it lowest at $12 per barrel in December 2008. However, in July the same year the price has risen to $ 145 (Smith, 2009). At the end of the same year had the price at $40 for a barrel (Smith, 2009). Smith cites a number of economic circumstances behind the trend in prices. There are a large number of factors that prompt changes in the global market for crude oil. The 20th century has witnessed increased and declined consumption of oil at the same time. James Hamilton

Nursing research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 43

Nursing research - Essay Example However, human beings life should not be risked while trying to achieve the overall objective of patients’ safety. The world continues to experience changes in different aspects that impact provision of quality care. In this case, the aspects of technology, medication, equipment, and changes in the units’ scope of services are evolving at a high rate. In effect, these changes require nurses to ensure that they were accustomed to these changes and updated their competencies in line with these changes that brought new interventions to provision of quality care. Importantly, nursing education institutions realize the effects of these changes in provision of care and provide opportunities for nurses to update their educational competencies. In effect, it is crucial for nurses to update their educational competencies either yearly or every six months while in-service in order to stay up-date with the current technology, medication, equipment, or changes in the units scope of services. In effect, they will be able to provide quality care to their

Unit 4 assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unit 4 assignment - Essay Example 4. The criminal investigation department has ruled Medicare fraud as a form of crime. What are the views of the people concerning the criminalization of Medicare fraud? (a) Do people consider Medicare fraud as a criminal activity? (b) Do people blame the authority for their misfortunes? A hypothesis is statement that provides a tentative answer to the research problems according to the proposed research designs and methodology (Creswell, 2008). The following statements represent our hypothesis for the quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research methods respectively. 1. The choice of the hypothesis was based on the role of government in providing basic healthcare to the citizens. The hypothesis provides a tentative answer to research questions that are related to the role of the medical authority in ensuring equitable healthcare services. In addition, the hypothesis provides a direct comparison between the two main research variables. 2. The qualitative research approach provides answers to research questions that cannot be answered through a quantitative approach. The choice of the research question and hypothesis was based on their ability to respond to questions that are related to the society. Although it is impossible to determine the extent to which different institutions contribute to healthcare fraud, it is necessary to determine reasons that contribute to Medicare fraud through the qualitative approach. 3. In the mixed method approach, a researcher will be concerned with the relationship between quantitative and qualitative research outcomes (Creswell, 2008). Thus, the research questions and hypothesis designated for the mixed methods section provide tentative relationship between different research variables and the respective social

Court Process for Colleen M. Juvenile Case Essay

Court Process for Colleen M. Juvenile Case - Essay Example The petition filed gives the juvenile court an authority over the case and the detained minor. The petition filed is then presented to the minor’s family, giving the reason for her detention and the reason to appear in court and also serves as an official charging document (Hedrick, 2012). Once the documents are handed over to the judge of the juvenile court, the judge then places the documents under seal. This is done to prevent any access by just anyone, as it happens with adult documents. This measure is undertaken to ensure that a minor does not suffer the whole of her lifetime, over mistake she committed once. After the reception of the document, the determination and disposition of the case begins, where the minor’s fate is to be determined. The case first passes through the juvenile probation department; the intake officer decides whether the case reaches the threshold of being heard. In so doing, the officer reviews all the information pertaining to the case, as regard the facts and circumstances of the case. This informs him if the information available is sufficient to try the minor. Under such consideration, the officer determines whether the case should be dismissed, heard informally or it should undergo a formal hearing (George, 2008). At this stage, if the information and facts available about the case are not sufficient, the case is dropped at this point. Once the case reaches the threshold for trial based on the available facts, the hearing of the case proceeds within 24 hours of the minor’s detention. The hearing commences by having the charges against Colleen M being read out for her. If she accepts the charges, admits that she is guilty and agrees to meet the requirements of the court that will be set on the consent decree, then the judges will offer her an informal disposition (Hedrick, 2012). Under such a disposition, Colleen M would be required to either be placed under strict curfews or be referred to a rehabilitation program, where her behaviors will be addressed and controlled. She can also be required to pay damages for the harm that she has caused the family of the deceased, through her acts that resulted to the involuntary manslaughter. If all the parties to the case agree to the conditions laid down in the consent decree, then she will be released to go and fulfill the set obligations. However, this is only done on a probation basis, where a probationary officer constantly monitors the behavior and activities of Colleen M, while overseeing her adherence to the conditions set. If she happens to follow all the requirements of the decree and perform as expected by the court, then her case would be dismissed. On the contrary, if she happens to fail in undertaking the provisions of the decree, then she would be required to face a formal hearing (Jones, 2006). If the case passes to a formal hearing, then a decision is reached regarding how the case will be heard. Based on the gravity of the crim e committed by Colleen M, the prosecutor can decide to have the case held in the juvenile court or in a criminal court. The prosecutor then files a delinquent petition. The petition informs the judge of the charges made against Colleen M, and requests the judge to hear and determine the case in a formal hearing

Business ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business ethics - Essay Example Cookson Group plc is a leading multinational company dealing with material science relating to substances as well as chemicals that are required in the production processes of industries such as steel and electronics among others. Moreover, the company is facilitated with enhanced technical services as well as with better R&D facilities. Furthermore, the company performs business activities based on ethical standards as well as quality (Cookson Group plc., 2011). The discussion will emphasize upon critically analysing the code of conduct of Cookson Group plc. Moreover, identification of three major components that demonstrates the values as well as the business ethics of the group will also be portrayed in the discussion. Critical Analysis of Code Code of conduct of different companies signifies that the employees of the companies are required to perform their respective functions complying with the moral standards as well as the values. It has been apparently observed that several c ompanies have given much importance to improve ethical performance within the workplace for encouraging the employees to perform their activities in an ethical manner. Moreover, codes of conduct are viewed to be the statements of values as well as ethical standards of companies. Furthermore, code of conduct provides terms as well as conditions in accordance with the operations of a company that are required to be conducted. It also provides standards for sustaining a better environment as well as in maintaining health as well as safety of products or services that offers by a company. Codes of conduct are formulated on the basis of certain specific sector or issues with the motive of minimising or eliminating those issues as well as to improve performances of those sectors (Mamic, 2004). Code of conduct generally comprises certain major components such as code of ethics and value statements among others. A code of conduct generally signifies a written statement stating the behaviour which is to be adopted by the employees while performing their individual functions within a company. Furthermore, code represents the desire of the management of a company to implement certain specific policies as well as values for conducting business operations in an efficient manner (Venugopalan, 2011). There are varied factors that influence code of conduct which comprise corporate culture prevailing in the working environment of a company as well as standards that are utilised for measuring behaviour of the employees as well as the performances of a company. It has been viewed that code of conduct primarily depends upon the resources that are utilised for monitoring as well as implementing the procedures within a company. Training facilities provided to employees can also be considered to be an influencing factor of code in a company. Furthermore, communication system as well as flow of information in the workplace of a company determines company’s code of conduct (Mam ic, 2004). Code of conduct is required to be developed with an appropriate language. In this similar context, code of conduct of a company is required to be communicated in languages which will be appropriate for the audiences such as customers and investors among others worldwide. Code of conduct represents certain values as well as standa

The Monitoring And Controlling Of Sealed Quench Furnace Engineering Essay

The Monitoring And Controlling Of Sealed Quench Furnace Engineering Essay This Project involves the Monitoring and controlling of sealed quench chamber. Sealed quench furnace is chosen because it is only has both heating and annealing (cooling) process. For other furnaces, Heating and cooling process is done at different furnaces. Sealed quench furnaces are used to eliminate skin decarburization of the work load surfaces after heat treatment and heat -chemical treatment process. The monitoring and controlling of sealed quench furnace is done by using graphical software called Labview. The controlling and monitoring of furnace is done by using the parameters temperature, pressure, oxygen, Raw materials level and flow switch. The furnace is also known as Chamber. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND: Any industry will have various parameters that are to be continuously monitored and controlled from a remote place. In most of the cases the use of manpower becomes almost impossible and therefore remote monitoring and control systems are extensively developed and  used. In this project sealed quench furnace is monitored and controlled using Labview. MOTIVATION: The aim of the project is to study and design the prototype for sealed quench furnace using Labview. Sealed quench furnace is the only furnace has both heating and cooling (Annealing) process. For other furnaces, heating and annealing process is done at different furnaces. It is used to eliminate skin decarburization of work load surfaces after chemical treatment and heat treatment process. The furnace is used for making bearings, engine parts and so on. The furnace has following features Calculation based on mathematical model of furnace. Function of technological diagrams (current profile of concentration of carbon, expected hardness profile after hardening, current state of the process on the diagram iron carbon and iron oxidation). Overhaul Programming. Fully automated and process repeatability. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the report is to simulate Monitoring and controlling techniques using Labview. The Technique used in the project is monitoring and controlling of sealed quench furnace. METHODOLOGY: The controlling and monitoring in Labview is search on internet and read them. The books from national library is useful to get information about monitoring and controlling, Labview, and furnace. The project will also need help and suggestions from supervisors. The technical help is need and is get from national instruments and also attend seminars about Labview is very useful for doing this project. Digital library is also useful to get information about Labview and controlling of furnace. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS: Labview is a virtual instrumentation that based on the computer. By using Labview can generate independent operation executable files. The system will not interface to the work-in-progress system, nor will it be required to produce statistics for monitoring. Scopes: New atmosphere tempering furnace for scale-free tempering of steel. The new plant is able to process batches of up to 1 ton per load under atmosphere with sealed quenching. Components of up to 760mm can now be done vertically to minimize distortion. Maximum component length of 1220mm can be heat treated under controlled atmosphere. Computer-based order tracking, monitoring and management system introduced. The system was designed in-house by P.H. Heat Treatment for commercial heat-treaters. All of the above have resulted in greater competitiveness and improved customer service. Limitation: Controlling and monitoring is suitable for sealed quench furnace. Temperature is limited to 1000ÃÅ'Ã…   C STRUCTURE OF REPORT: Chapter1 Reviews the introduction of sealed quench furnace and Motivation of project. Chapter 2 Literature review of sealed quench furnace and Labview Chapter 3 Overview of furnace system Chapter 4 System design, testing and result discussions. Chapter 5 Advantages, Disadvantages and Applications of sealed quench furnace. Chapter 6 Gives the conclusions and future discussions CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW: FURNACE: Furnaces are used for different heat treating operations depending upon their heat treat requirements 1.150  Ã‚ °-700 °Ã‚  C used for nitriding, tempering, Annealing etc 2.650  Ã‚ °-1000 °C- used for Hardening, Normalizing, annealing etc 3.0ver 1000 °C -used for hardening of hot work steel, high speed steel, sinting etc Furnaces are divided into Batch type and continuous type. Depends upon Batch type the Quench sealed furnace is available as horizontal or vertical furnaces. It may use for annealing, hardening, carburizing, nitriding, nitrocarburizing etc In these two types of chamber used Heat chamber, quench chamber. The heat chamber is used for heating of materials. Quench chamber is also call as Cooling chamber. The process used in this chamber is heat treatment. Heat treatment is the heating and cooling of metals to alter their physical and mechanical properties without changing their shape. Heat treatment is often associated with increasing the strength of material, but it can also be used to alter certain manufacturing properties such as improve machining, improve formability, and restore ductility after a cold working operation. SEALED QUENCH FURNACE: Sealed quench furnace as a name defines, provides quenching under protective atmosphere. The furnace comprises main heating chamber, inlet vestibule, oil quench tank and upper slow cool chamber. It is also known as Muffle or integral quench furnace. In this project defines sealed quench furnace is chosen it has furnace has both heating and cooling process combined in one unit. The application of the furnace is industrial purpose. In industry side the furnace is used for moulding of metals such as engine parts, gear, etc MATERIALS RELATED TO PROJECT: LABVIEW: Labview is a acronym for Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench. It is a graphical programming language. There is no text-based program code like other programming languages, but there is a diagrammatic view of how data flows through the program. Labview is loved tool for scientists and engineers because conventional programming language is built and the task is achieved. Labview is introduced in 1986 and developed by National instruments. It is easily learn programming language. It is chosen because it is faster than other programming languages. The development in Labview program is 4 times faster than other languages. The virtual instrument developed using Labview is, in short called a VI. Uses of Labview: Faster programming: Hardware integration Advanced Analysis Multiple targets and OS Multiple Programming Approaches Professional User Interfaces Multicore Programming Saves time and money Increased Flexibility Applications of Labview: Acquiring Data and processing signals Automating test and validation systems Designing Embedded systems Instrument control Industrial measurements and control Academic Teaching and Research Polymer Technology Civil and Structural Engineering Defence Textiles Bio-medical Engineering Metallurgy http://cnx.org/content/m15428/latest/ Labview Industrial Applications: It is used in Aircraft industry for making of aircraft engine components such as oil pumps, clutches, pinions, yokes, pins, manometer pistons, aircraft carriages etc. It is used in Bearing Industry: bearing rings It is used machine building industry drive axis, gear axles, gear wheels, toothed rings, hydraulic and pneumatic elements, bolts etc It is used in Automotive industry for making of gear box components and drive axles (shafts, gears etc.) CHAPTER 3 SYSTEM OVERVIEW: BLOCK DIAGRAM: labview1 Figure 2.1 Sealed quench furnace with control system The block diagram of sealed quench furnace is shown in figure 2.1. It consists of Labview control system, Endo gas, Carrier gas, Air supply module, and Air pipe. Figure 2.2 Overview of sealed quench furnace The sealed quench furnace has two chambers separated by refractory lined door which can be opened to allow hot charge to be transferred from heat chamber to cool chamber. In order to determine the systems requirements, the parameter using to control the furnace are Temperature, Pressure, Oxygen level, Flow switch and raw materials level. The temperature of the furnace is monitored by thermistor. The first process is in heat chamber is the heating of materials and is controlled by atmosphere, LPG, Indo gas, Nitrogen. Nitrogen is used for safety purpose because use of LPG and indo gas. Indo gas and nitrogen forms carbon potential manage the raw materials used in the furnace. The control valves pressure and oxygen is monitored by sensors. Temperature sensor is used for the actual process held in the furnace. The second process is in the Quench chamber is cooling of materials. In this controlling valves are used for controlling of the furnace. The flow switch is used for level maintenance. In this Labview control system, it has monitor and control of the furnace, with inputs of temperature, oxygen, Endo gas, and pressure. The temperature of the furnace exists the predefined limit it automatically increases the air level and reduces the gas enter in the furnace. The pressure of the furnace is increases the above the set limit immediately out the air from the furnace. When temperature of the furnace reduces the set limit automatically increases the gas enters into the furnace. CHAPTER 4 SYSTEM DESIGN: Step1: Labview 8.6 version is installed and activating on the system. Step2: Figure 4.1 Front screen of Labview Open Blank VI for new project design. In this two windows are opening 1) Block diagram and 2) Front panel Step 3: Press CTRL+E, CTRL+T for both windows shows parallel. It gives flexibility and designer can see the both screen simultaneously. It is shown in figure Figure 4.2 cascade windows of Labview Step 4: In this deigning the monitoring and controlling of furnace, includes the five screens as follows screen Main screen, Report screen, Run screen, Setup screen and About us screen. MAIN SCREEN: The main screen has About Us, Report, Run, Setup, Exit and login icons. The run icon interconnects to the run module. The setup icon interconnects to the setup module screen. The Report icon interconnects to the report screen. The about us icon interconnects to the about us screen. Figure 4.3 main screen front panel Figure 4.4 Block diagram of main screen Step 5: Setup screen: In set up screen the settings of furnace are listed. Figure 4.5 Setup screen front panel Figure 4.6 setup screen block diagram Step 6: Report screen: Figure 4.7 report screen front panel Figure 4.8 report screen block diagram Step 7: Run screen: Figure 4.9 run screen block diagram Step8: About Us screen Figure 4.11 About us screen front panel Figure 4.12 About us screen block diagram CHAPTER 5 TESTING AND EVOLUTION: Problems Arise: The Labview is the latest programming tool and there are not enough reference books are available. Labview is latest design tool how to use this software The designing of setup screen Problem solution: Labview information is get from internet source and some books are getting from national library. Attend the seminar at national instruments, Singapore for using of Labview. CHAPTER 6 Advantages, Disadvantages and Applications: 1. Advantages of sealed quench furnace: Less distortion Process repeatability Minimal pollution Fully automated, Avoids manual errors Systematic analyzing Wastage minimized and cost saving Consistency in case depth and surface hardness. 2. Disadvantages of sealed quench furnace: Very fast quench Corrosive quench tank Fixtures and fitting High cost High safety need Limitation of weight (750 / 1000 kgs) Power consumption high Use only special gases Repeated process not applicable Only used hot quenching oil (oil cost high). 3. Features of sealed quench furnace are shown below Re-carburizing. Controlled atmosphere annealing Bright annealing Carbonitriding Normalizing Hardening Carburizing-hardening Carburizing 4. Application: The sealed quench furnace using applications are shown below Industrial Applications Gear making Engine parts Stainless less steel materials Making of tools Making of steels Making of machine parts, etc PROJECT MANAGEMENT: CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSION: The monitoring and controlling of sealed quench furnace using Labview is designed and tested with valid parameters. The Monitoring and controlling of sealed quench furnace is successfully tested and meets all the objectives required to function accordingly. The problems arise were encountered, it is manageable and solved with technical guidance. The conclusion from the performance results are Graphical programming is flexible and easy. Program design can be changed easily based on the customer requirements. Overall the system is efficient RECOMMENDATION: The prototype was successfully developed to meet its objectives but it could be further improved based on hardware design.

Understanding The Personality Of Athletes Psychology Essay

Understanding The Personality Of Athletes Psychology Essay By 1992, more than 1,000 articles had been published on aspects of sport personality (Ruffer, 1976; Vealey, 1989, 2002). This voluminous research demonstrates how important researches and practitioners consider the role of personality to be in sports. With that in mind, this research attempted to determine if there is a relationship between types of personalities and sports preferences. Athletes from different sports and non-athletes will play a part in this particular study. The primary interest of this study is to examine their personalities and make a comparison. There are lots of concerns on does personality of an individual give way to the types of sport chosen to be played. This would trigger questions such as, is there a relationship between personality type and sport preference? How do people choose the sport they participate in? Would it be a matter of personality preference? Are certain personality types more attracted to certain sports, like in careers? Why some people pre fer individual sports over team sports? What do team players have in common? It seems reasonable to propose the idea that people will perform more to their potential if they understand themselves better and what drives their motivation. Most people do not know what they are capable of achieving. The reason is that they do not know themselves well enough. To know who we are and what we are able to do is especially important in sports. If a person knows more of his or her potentials and what they are able to accomplish, there will be a much greater chance for that person to find success. Therefore, more research should be done in this area in order to be able to help athletes and people in general to decide which sport would be best for them. This is especially relevant for young people, because they are trying to decide which sport they might play and they might even have an inspiration to turn professional later in life. This could relate to a quote by Paul Harris, which states, Personality has power to uplift, power to depress, power to curse, and power to b less. Understanding the personality of athletes also prove to be beneficial to achieve a greater achievement and success in their range of sports participation. According to Cristina Bortoni Versari (2008), her research on basketball team indicated that teams exhibit a predictable personality profile and that by understanding the psyche of the athlete, performance and team productivity can be enhanced. Interpersonal communication amongst players and coaching staff can improve; players can take advantage of their personal preferences and strengths and work on developing other areas identified in the assessment process. Optimal communication and performance can be achieved by identifying the athletes preferred learning and personality styles. Personality types are attracted to and succeed in certain sports just like they do in certain occupations. The more athletes and coaches understand about their personalities and the team profile, the more productive they can be. In their review of the relationship between sport and personality, Eysenck, Nias and Cox (1982) list a number of important conclusions. Based on the three well defined dimensions of personality, extraversion, neuroticism and psychotism, a number of findings are apparent: both average and superior sports person tend to be extraverted and tend to be lower on neuroticism but high on psychotism. On the other hand, extraverts are likely to be at a disadvantage in sports which the emphasis is on accuracy, such as rifle shooting and archery which call for calm, slow and deliberate preparation as researched by Davies (1989). By the same token, participants who are more extroverted might choose a team sport and where there is body contact and more aggressiveness. People who are introverted might be prone to an individual sport and a sport where there is no personal contact. Participants who involve themselves in an individual sport will be more egoistic. Nearly all researchers and reviewers in the area have pointed out the serious methodological shortcomings in this area. Essentially, two reasons clearly exist for this disappointing research. Most such research is weak in both conception and design. In fact, it would be surprising if the result werent contradictory and confusing. With this in mind, the researcher will conduct surveys utilizing the examination of athletes, non-athletes, gender, extroversion, neuroticism, sensation seeking, calmness, and other variables. The researchers will then compare findings and interpret the data gathered among different types of sport, and between athletes and non-athletes. All participants will have to complete a demographic questionnaire that assess gender, age, college major, sport they participate in (only for athletes) and GPA. Personality test will be conducted inclusive of Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck Eysenck, 1975), Global 5 (2008) and Scale from the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personal ity Questionnaire (Zuckerman, 2002). This study is concerned with correlations between measures of personality and different sport involvement within sport participation. One focus of interest is to ascertain what personality is the best for a particular sport, enabling the athletes and non athletes to find more success and interest with the least effort. Most people do not know what they are capable of achieving. The reason is that they do not know themselves well enough. To know who we are and what we are able to do is especially important in sports. If a person knows more of his or her potentials and what they are able to accomplish, there will be a much greater chance for that person to find success. This is especially relevant for young people, because they are trying to decide which sport they might play and they might even have an inspiration to turn professional later in life. Researchers have asked for example, what causes one student to be excited about physical education class whereas others dont even bother to dress out. Researched have questioned why some exercisers stay with their fitness program whereas others lose motivation and drop out. All the lack of interest and drop outs of fitness programs could give way to greater problem for a normal average person because they may not get involved in sports anymore. This situation may have caused the alarming raise of obesity cases in Malaysians aged 18 and above, whereby the statistics showed that obesity cases had increased by 3 times from 4.4% in year 1996 to 11.6 % in year 2006. With the huge increment in obesity cases, it is rather sad to see only a slight increment of 3% for the same years taken, for Malaysians involving in sports. Therefore, the study on personality could give an indicator for a person to select the sport that best suit their behavior and with that, they could stick the regime to i mprove the quality of their life. Understanding the personality of athletes also prove to be beneficial to achieve a greater achievement and success in their range of sports participation. According to Cristina Bortoni Versari (2008), her research on basketball team indicated that teams exhibit a predictable personality profile and that by understanding the psyche of the athlete, performance and team productivity can be enhanced. Interpersonal communication amongst players and coaching staff can improve; players can take advantage of their personal preferences and strengths and work on developing other areas identified in the assessment process. Optimal communication and performance can be achieved by identifying the athletes preferred learning and personality styles. Personality types are attracted to and succeed in certain sports just like they do in certain occupations. The more athletes and coaches understand about their personalities and the team profile, the more productive they can be. This study is apparently the early attempt to study the relationship between personality type and sport preferences in Malaysia. The focus of interest in to ascertain the type of personality best suited for a particular sport, enabling athletes to find more success with the least effort. Besides that, it is easier to encourage non athletes to pick up certain physical activities or sports after their type of personality being known. This collides with the human nature whereby, whenever a person knows of his or her potential, they will further gain interest and develop deeper involvement and passion in it. This theory was originated by Sigmund Freud in 1933; with a number of psychoanalytic theorists have proposed modifications to the original theory, namely Carl Jung, Erich Fromm and Erik Erickson (Mischel, 1986). This theory is based primarily upon self analysis and extensive clinical observation of neurotics. However, this theory has had little direct impact on sport personality research, due to their clinical and psychological focus. In Freuds view, the id, ego and superego form the tripartite structure of personality; in a sense the id is the pleasure seeking mechanism. In contrast, the ego represents the conscious, logical, reality oriented aspect of the personality. The superego represents the conscience of the individual; it is the internalized moral standards of societies impressed upon the person by parental control and the process of socialization. From the view of social learning theory, human behavior is a function of social learning and the strength of the situation. An individual behaves according to how he or she has learned to behave, consistent with environmental constraints. The origin of social learning theory can be traced to Clark Hulls 1943 Theory of Learning. Hulls stimulus response theory says that an individuals behavior in any given situation is a function of his or her learned experiences. According to Bandura in the year 1977, behavior is best explained as a function of observational learning. A considerable amount of research in sport psychology has utilized the social learning approach. The basic position or factory theory is that personality can be described in terms of traits possessed by individuals. Traits are considered to be stable, enduring and consistent across a variety of differing situations. Individuals differ in each trait due to genetic differences. Among the most ardent advocates of trait psychology are psychologists such as Alport, Cattell and Eysenck. The great strength of this theory is that it allows for the easy and objective measurement of personality through the use of inventories. Conversely, the weakness of the trait approach is that it may fail to consider the whole person, since personality according to this approach is represented by a collection of specific traits.

Organizational Ethics Essay -- Business Management

Market economies as ultimately embarked consumer sovereignty as the cornerstone of capitalism; further, bearing moral compasses in a pluralistic society of ethical behaviour. Hence, dictating the normative enactment of corporate social responsibility subsequently undertaken via individual businesses. Consumers under capitalism are, accordingly to ideology, the decision makers on the allocation of society’s resources (N. Smith, 1990). Echoing, mere imperatives for companies to articulate their role, scope & purpose in order to maintain their validity, reputation & self worth depends on their ability to understand their place in society (W. Visser, D. Mallen, M. Pohl, N. Tolhurst, page 101). As such, meriting thorough analysis of FirstGroup plc rather compulsion of fulfilling both ethical and corporate social responsibility in an ever evolving societal landscape will be undertaken. FirstGroup plc operates a transportation business model with a wholesome revenue stream of over  £6 billion & employs 130 000 staff throughout the UK & North America with a testimonial annual total passenger calculus of 2.5 billion and a justifiable 23% market share (UK bus and rail division). Griseri et al (2010) points out such core stakeholders of the company which are reluctantly vital for the existence and success of the company. These stakeholders form the principal resource base for the company. As FirstGroup maintain and improve their ability to on the resources held via their core stakeholders. In contrast, the second group (depicted above) relates to the company’s competitive position within the company’s particular industry and market. The main challenge for the company with this group of stakeholders is to establish and sustain relati... ...ivil society: emerging embedded relational governance beyond the (neo) liberal and welfare state models’, Journal of Corporate Governance, 5 (3), 159–74 Robert W. Kolb (2008), Encyclopedia Of Business Ethics And Society, Vol. 5, page 71 John Henry (2004), Between Enterprise and Ethics-Business and Management in a Bimoral Society, page 111 FirstGroup plc., 2010. Section 3 – Employment, . [online] FirstGroup plc Available at: [Accessed 16 December 2010]. Ghoul, S. et al, 2010. Does Corporate Social Responsibility Affect the Cost of Capital?, [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. Heinkel, R., A. Kraus and J. Zechner, 2001, The Effect of Green Investment on Corporate Behavior, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis 36, 431-449.

Search for Meaning in Shakespeares Hamlet :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays

Search for Meaning in Shakespeare's Hamlet But I will delve one yard below their mines And blow them at the moon (3.4.208-10) What is real? This question, begged by humanity from day one, seems to grow in importance and urgency as the twenty-first century looms on the road ahead. When religion, culture, family, and meaning are all forced to play second fiddle to the almighty dollar, where do we turn for understanding? I think the answer is that we turn inward. After all, there must be something within the human animal to suggest a moral, or a message, or at least an explanation. Hamlet deals specifically with this introspection, this search for meaning. Prince Hamlet's world has come apart at the seams and he is desperately groping for some sort of guidance. He needs a foundation, a primary principle, an answer of even the smallest kind with which to build a coherent worldview. Unfortunately, Hamlet's philosophical free-fall may be a result of his own inability to connect to a world outside of his own grief and confusion. He is adept and resourceful in the world of ideas, but flat-footed and indeci sive in the world of actions. Whereas Shakespearean characters such as Hotspur and Coriolanus suffer from shortsightedness and rash judgements, Hamlet suffers broad abstract thoughts and paralyzing ambivalence. This may be why the play has been able to so stalwartly defend its V.I.P status in the Western cultural conscious. Any thinking modern citizen knows what it means to fit round ideals into square realities. Therefore, it makes sense for Hamlet, one of our foremost fictional figures, to have trouble matching his internal ideals to the external world. In his introduction to the Norton edition of the play, Stephen Greenblatt points out that Hamlet, "seems to mark an epochal shift not only in Shakespeare's career but in Western drama." Greenblatt is referring to the dominance of Prince Hamlet's psyche over all aspects of the play's perspective and mood. Hamlet transports its audience into the Prince's mind and forces them to look at the world from the inside out. The view is startling. It is the source of the play's unanswered questions and thought provoking ambiguities. Shakespeare lets us see the world through the eyes of a man struggling to decide whether any of it even matters.

Swimming: An Important Life Skill

An Important Life Skill Swimming is a very important and necessary life skill to have; for this reason it should be included in part of the wellness curriculum at Negotiation High School. If a person has the proper knowledge of life saving skills/techniques, he or she will be able to save his or her own life as well as other people. Swimming is also an abundant way of exercise. Lastly, it is a pleasurable activity. Did you know that 3,400 people drown in the US per year? Imagine being one of those people.Even if it may not be fast, competitive swimming, basic skills are necessary for survival. If you have the ability to be resourceful and can float for a couple minutes you have the power to save your own life. Lifesaving is another crucial skill to have. When someone is close to drowning, he or she might only have a few moments to live. Within those moments, if a person who has been trained in lifesaving skills, he or she would be able to save the drowning victim. When doing so it is important not to make physical contact with the victim or else he or she might take the rescuer down with him or her.The swimming unit in wellness teaches us how to do so. It also instructs us on the cautions one should take while saving an unconscious victim so it does not result in the victim's neck snapping. Swimming is also a great way of exercise. It does not wear out the Joints so people can use this as a method of exercise even when they become elderly. It is an excellent way to stay in decent physical condition throughout the years. With other sports, people tend to have to give up playing since it often results in Joints starting to ache and wear down. This leads to people having to get urge.With swimming, this is a factor that people are not concerned with since joints are never strained. It can also be a pleasurable activity. If your friends all decided to go to the beach and you were the only one who did not know how to swim, most likely, you would not end up having a g reat time. Learning Just the basic skills of swimming can prevent you from having a bad time at the beach, for instance. There are many sports you can play in the water if competitive swimming is not an enjoyable activity in your opinion. This list of sports include: water polo, volleyball,Frisbee, etc. It can be inferred that swimming is a very imperative skill to know. It can be used to save another person's life or your own life with a few simple techniques and strokes. Swimming, correspondingly, is an amazing way to exercise and stay in shape through the course of a lifetime since it does not wear out Joints like most other sports do. In conclusion, it is also a great leisure activity. These are Just a few of the ample amount of reasons why swimming is a very important course and should be part of the wellness curriculum at Negotiation High School. By Mauritania

Abraham Lincoln Summary

The book Abraham Lincoln, written by James M. McPherson, constitutes not only Abraham Lincoln’s life, but also his remarkable presidency. Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States. He also was considered a peacemaker because his passion was to follow God’s law and create every man to be equal. During Lincoln’s first term of presidency in 1860-1864, he followed his passion by abolishing slavery, otherwise known as the Thirteenth Amendment. Following his first term, his second term’s goal is now known as the Fifteenth Amendment.To say the least, McPherson argues the brilliancy of Abraham Lincoln’s ideas and the colossal contribution Lincoln had regarding the United States of America. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 by Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. Lincoln’s childhood was preserved, and his education was gained through many different schoolhouses since his father was on the move so much. Abe Lincoln’ s love for reading made his father’s relationship with Abe more distant.Since Lincoln did not have love for the plantations or farming, his father grew bitter towards his son’s future. Abe Lincoln’s coming of age required him to realize he was getting old. He decided to marry Mary Todd in 1842. A few years after his father died in 1851, Lincoln volunteered for the militia. This increased his interest in government and the Union. Abraham Lincoln was a Republican with Whig ideology. Lincoln succeeded in his campaign for congressmen and after that, he decided to run for president.Although his campaigns for presidency failed several times, Abraham Lincoln never gave up because he knew it was what he wanted to do. His last candidacy with Senator Douglass was a hard campaign, but Lincoln’s lead in free state votes guaranteed his election as a Republican president. This was only the beginning of a long crucial time for the North and South. The decreasing supplie s at Fort Sumter lead to the start of the American Civil War. The American Civil War was a long lasting war between the Union [northern states] and the Confederacy [southern states].The origin of this war was the quarrel issue regarding slavery. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln stated his view on the purpose of the war. Stating, â€Å"This nation could either be perished from the earth, or might live through this flexible, simple issue, which can only be tried by war† (McPherson 35). Lincoln was not fond of violence, but he knew that this is what it took for the United States to become a country of equality and righteousness. Throughout the war, Abe Lincoln had many commanders that failed him and his hope for winning the war.There was one commander that Lincoln applauded because they had the same military strategy. Ulysses S. Grant was the successful commander that led the Union multiple battles of victory. In fact, Abe Lincoln was so pleased with Grant, Lincoln granted a higher rank for Grant; making him general in chief of all Union armies. As matters bound up throughout this war Lincoln stood tall and firm on his beliefs regarding different issues. One matter rose up about slavery, this was during 1862, the time the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.The Emancipation Proclamation was essentially a document that freed slaves from Confederate territory forever. As a result of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln and his administration decided to adopt a Constitutional Amendment to abolish slavery. This is now known as the Thirteenth Amendment. Although Abe Lincoln did not live to see the issue of the Thirteenth Amendment, his presidency is the foundation of that Amendment. In November 1865, Lincoln was reelected to be president. However, that term did not last very long.In April 1866, Booth, an egotistic member of the Confederate secret service, shot Lincoln in the head. Few might say Lincoln help too much power, but others would proclaim him as a saint. J ames McPherson contends Lincoln’s phenomenal presidency and his great contribution to the United States of America. Without Lincoln, the nation might have still been divided, and segregation would be more than a controversial topic. Abraham Lincoln is a riveting book that tailgates not only Lincoln’s life, but also his fascinating presidency.

Free Essays on Aeneas

Aeneas, the Devoted Hero In Virgil’s Aenied, he illustrates the hero and central character, Aeneas, as a man who presents piety and duty. This human emotion piety, pietas in Latin, is duty towards family, country, and gods. Aeneas always fulfills his duty to his family, his fated city, and his gods. This piousness is what keeps him going through the grueling journeys and challenges, even when things are not going perfectly. Pietas is the characteristic that makes Aeneas stronger through each trial as he makes personal sacrifices and never wavers from his duties to his family, his country, and most of all to the gods. The complete devotion to Aeneas’ family is a commendable trait of piety. Aeneas’ love for his kin is exemplified in his fleeing of falling Troy. He was recalling his story to Dido about how when he realizes that there was no use fighting any longer, and that he must leave Troy; he hurries off to find his family. Once he reaches his family, he has his father, Anchises, on his shoulder, Iulus, his son’s little hand in his own, and Creusa, his wife close behind as they head off for the ships. When he reaches his destination at the funeral mound, he realizes that his wife was missing. Aeneas â€Å"turn[s] back alone into the city†¦ nothing for it but to run the risks again †¦ comb of all Troy, and put [his] life in danger as before†(975-979 II). His devotion to his wife was worth risking his life in order to bring her to safety. As he frantically searches â€Å"in endless quest from door to door†(1001 II) for Creusa, her ghost appeared to him and told to him that she cannot go with him because she was longer living, but to go back to the family and that a special mission is ahead of him. Personal loss is a tragedy that Aeneas must face as he ventures on to reach is fate. His pious personality is the characteristic that saves his family and leads him on his journey to the future founding of Rome.... Free Essays on Aeneas Free Essays on Aeneas Aeneas, the Devoted Hero In Virgil’s Aenied, he illustrates the hero and central character, Aeneas, as a man who presents piety and duty. This human emotion piety, pietas in Latin, is duty towards family, country, and gods. Aeneas always fulfills his duty to his family, his fated city, and his gods. This piousness is what keeps him going through the grueling journeys and challenges, even when things are not going perfectly. Pietas is the characteristic that makes Aeneas stronger through each trial as he makes personal sacrifices and never wavers from his duties to his family, his country, and most of all to the gods. The complete devotion to Aeneas’ family is a commendable trait of piety. Aeneas’ love for his kin is exemplified in his fleeing of falling Troy. He was recalling his story to Dido about how when he realizes that there was no use fighting any longer, and that he must leave Troy; he hurries off to find his family. Once he reaches his family, he has his father, Anchises, on his shoulder, Iulus, his son’s little hand in his own, and Creusa, his wife close behind as they head off for the ships. When he reaches his destination at the funeral mound, he realizes that his wife was missing. Aeneas â€Å"turn[s] back alone into the city†¦ nothing for it but to run the risks again †¦ comb of all Troy, and put [his] life in danger as before†(975-979 II). His devotion to his wife was worth risking his life in order to bring her to safety. As he frantically searches â€Å"in endless quest from door to door†(1001 II) for Creusa, her ghost appeared to him and told to him that she cannot go with him because she was longer living, but to go back to the family and that a special mission is ahead of him. Personal loss is a tragedy that Aeneas must face as he ventures on to reach is fate. His pious personality is the characteristic that saves his family and leads him on his journey to the future founding of Rome....

Richard Nixon Essays - Richard Nixon, Jerry Voorhis, Free Essays

Richard Nixon Essays - Richard Nixon, Jerry Voorhis, Free Essays Richard Nixon Richard Millhouse Nixon, our 37th President of the United States was born on January 9, 1913 on Yorba Linda California. Nixon attended different elementary schools trough out Yorba Linda, Whittier, and Fullerton. In high school Nixon played football, and he also got into debating. After high school Nixon attended Whittier Collage, where he became president of the student body and also won many debating awards. When he graduated Whittier collage in 1934, he received a scholarship to Duke University School of Law. At Duke, Nixon was elected president of the student law association and won election to the Order of the Coif. When he graduated he ranked third in a class of 44 students. After graduating from Duke Nixon was having a hard time finding a job, since the great depression had just ended. He tried to joint the FBI and a law firm in New York. He later returned home and found a job in a small firm. He also meet his future wife Patricia. In January 1942, Nixon joined the Navy as an ensign. Three years later he got promoted to lieutenant commander. Nixon's rise to presidency began in 1936, just after he got out of the navy. He went against democrat Jerry Voorhis, and Nixon won the election after saying that Voorhis was a Communist. As a representative, Nixon worked on the Marshall Plan, and also help write the Taft-Hartley act. In 1948 he was again reelected to the House. Two years later Nixon ran for US Senator against Helen Gahagan Douglas. Nixon won the election by 700,000 votes. In the 1952 election, Richard Nixon was running as Vice President with Dwight D. Eisenhower. There was a dispute over some money, and Nixon was asked to withdraw from the campaign. After a speech he gave, Nixon was once aging in the campaign. Eisenhower and Nixon won the election. Nixon handled the White House's business with very ease, after the President suffered from a stroke. As Vice president Nixon traveled to every single continent except Antarctica, he was booed and stoned by Communist in Peru, in Venezuela his car window got smashed. In 1960, Nixon ran for president against JFK. It was one of the closest elections in history. Nixon lost by 114,673 popular votes. In 1962, Nixon ran for Governor of California and lost to Edmund G. Brown. Nixon once agin g got nominated to run for President. His opponent this time was Hubert H. Humphrey. They both promised to make peace with Vietnam. Richard Nixon won the election and became our 37th President. Nixons main foreign exchange policy was to end the Vietnam war. On 1969 Nixon began holding troops back. In 1972 Nixon blocked Vietnam's food supply from the Soviet Union. Nixon also order their state capital to get bombed. Later congress ordered the bombing to stop. Another foreign exchange policy was to reopen trading with China. China and the United States hadn't trade since 1953 during the Korean war. In 1972 Richard Nixon and Leonid I. Brezhnev, leader of the Soviet Union's Communist party meet and signed a contract to limit the production of nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union also begun to buy wheat from the United States. Among Nixon's domestic plans that failed were, money that should be given to needy families with children, and a plan in which federal government should share tax mone y with state and local governments. Nixon also helped decrease inflation by regulating the rent wages and stop salary increases. Richard Nixons failures include the dramatic inflation rise of 1973. Inflation went up 8.8 %. This was nothing compared to the Watergate scandal. Nixon was accused of holding evidence from court. Apparently the evidence were some tapes of him that could lead to the prosecution of the Watergate break in. Nixon was then impeached. After retiring Nixon spend most of the time paling golf, he also wrote many books, including The Memoirs of Richard Nixon. Nixon was buried with his wife near the house were he was born in. Ronald Reagen was born n February 6, 1911, in Tampico Illinois. Ronald Regain didn't come from a wealthy family, I realize now that we were poor, but I didn't know it at

Biography of Lope de Aguirre, Madman of El Dorado

Biography of Lope de Aguirre, Madman of El Dorado Lope de Aguirre was a Spanish conquistador present during much of the infighting among the Spanish in and around Peru in the mid-sixteenth century. He is best known for his final expedition, the search for El Dorado, on which he mutinied against the leader of the expedition. Once he was in control, he went mad with paranoia, ordering the summary executions of many of his companions. He and his men declared themselves independent from Spain and captured Margarita Island off the coast of Venezuela from colonial authorities. Aguirre was later arrested and executed. Origins of Lope de Aguirre Aguirre was born sometime between 1510 and 1515 (records are poor) in the tiny Basque province of Guipà ºzcoa, in northern Spain on the border with France. By his own account, his parents were not rich but did have some noble blood in them. He was not the eldest brother, which meant that even the modest inheritance of his family would be denied to him. Like many young men, he traveled to the New World in search of fame and fortune, seeking to follow in the footsteps of Hernn Cortà ©s and Francisco Pizarro, men who had overthrown empires and gained vast wealth. Lope de Aguirre in Peru It is thought that Aguirre departed Spain for the New World around 1534. He arrived too late for the vast wealth that accompanied the conquest of the Inca Empire, but just in time to become embroiled in the many violent civil wars that had broken out among the surviving members of Pizarros band. A capable soldier, Aguirre was in high demand by the various factions, although he tended to pick royalist causes. In 1544, he defended the regime of Viceroy Blasco Nà ºÃƒ ±ez Vela, who had been tasked with the implementation of extremely unpopular new laws which provided greater protection for natives. Judge Esquivel and Aguirre In 1551, Aguirre surfaced in Potosà ­, the wealthy mining town in present-day Bolivia. He was arrested for abusing Indians and sentenced by Judge Francisco de Esquivel to a lashing. It is unknown what he did to merit this, as Indians were routinely abused and even murdered and punishment for abusing them was rare. According to legend, Aguirre was so incensed at his sentence that he stalked the judge for the next three years, following him from Lima to Quito o Cusco before finally catching up with him and murdering him in his sleep. The legend says that Aguirre did not have a horse and thus followed the judge on foot the entire time. The Battle of Chuquinga Aguirre spent a few more years participating in more uprisings, serving with both rebels and royalists at different times. He was sentenced to death for the murder of a governor but later pardoned as his services were needed to put down the uprising of Francisco Hernndez Girà ³n. It was about this time that his erratic, violent behavior earned him the nickname Aguirre the Madman. The Hernndez Girà ³n rebellion was put down at the battle of Chuquinga in 1554, and Aguirre was badly wounded: his right foot and leg were crippled and he would walk with a limp for the rest of his life. Aguirre in the 1550s By the late 1550s, Aguirre was a bitter, unstable man. He had fought in countless uprisings and skirmishes and had been badly wounded, but he had nothing to show for it. Close to fifty years old, he was as poor as he had been when he left Spain, and his dreams of glory in the conquest of rich native kingdoms had eluded him. All he had was a daughter, Elvira, whose mother is unknown. He was known as a tough fighting man but had a well-earned reputation for violence and instability. He felt that the Spanish crown had ignored men like him and he was getting desperate. The Search for El Dorado By 1550 or so, much of the New World had been explored, but there were still huge gaps in what was known of the geography of Central and South America. Many believed in the myth of El Dorado, the Golden Man, who was supposedly a king who covered his body with gold dust and who ruled over a fabulously wealthy city. In 1559, the Viceroy of Peru approved an expedition to search for the legendary El Dorado, and about 370 Spanish soldiers and a few hundred Indians were put under the command of young nobleman Pedro de Ursà ºa. Aguirre was allowed to join up and was made a high-level officer based on his experience. Aguirre Takes Over Pedro de Ursà ºa was just the sort of person Aguirre resented. He was ten or fifteen years younger than Aguirre and had important family connections. Ursà ºa had brought along his mistress, a privilege denied to the men. Ursà ºa had some fighting experience in the Civil Wars, but not nearly as much as Aguirre. The expedition set out and began exploring the Amazon and other rivers in the dense rainforests of eastern South America. The endeavor was a fiasco from the start. There were no wealthy cities to be found, only hostile natives, disease and not much food. Before long, Aguirre was the informal leader of a group of men who wanted to return to Peru. Aguirre forced the issue and the men murdered Ursà ºa. Fernando de Guzmn, a puppet of Aguirre, was put in command of the expedition. Independence From Spain His command complete, Aguirre did a most remarkable thing: he and his men declared themselves  the new Kingdom of Peru, independent from Spain. He named Guzmn Prince of Peru and Chile. Aguirre, however, became increasingly paranoid. He ordered the death of the priest that had accompanied the expedition, followed by Inà ©s de Atienza (Ursà ºas lover) and then even Guzmn. He eventually would order the execution of every member of the expedition with any noble blood whatsoever. He hatched a mad plan: he and his men would head to the coast, and find their way to Panama, which they would attack and capture. From there, they would strike out at Lima and claim their Empire. Isla Margarita The first part of Aguirres plan went fairly well, especially considering it was devised by a madman and carried out by a ragged bunch of half-starved conquistadores. They made their way to the coast by following the  Orinoco  River. When they arrived, they were able to mount an assault on the small Spanish settlement at Isla Margarita and capture it. He ordered the death of the governor and as many as fifty locals, including women. His men looted the small settlement. They then went to the mainland, where they landed at Burburata before going to Valencia: both towns had been evacuated. It was In Valencia that Aguirre composed his famous letter to Spanish King Philip II. Aguirres Letter to Philip II In July of 1561, Lope de Aguirre sent a formal letter to the King of Spain explaining his reasons for declaring independence. He felt betrayed by the King. After many hard years  of  service to the crown, he had nothing to show for it, and he also mentions having seen many loyal men executed for false crimes. He singled out judges, priests and colonial bureaucrats for special scorn. The overall tone is that of a loyal subject who had been driven to rebel by royal indifference. Aguirres paranoia is evident even in this letter. Upon reading recent dispatches from Spain concerning the counter-Reformation, he ordered the execution of a German soldier in his company. Philip IIs reaction to this historic document is unknown, although Aguirre was almost certainly dead by the time he received it. Assault on the Mainland Royal forces attempted to undermine Aguirre by offering pardons to his men: all they had to do was  desert. Several did, even before Aguirres mad assault on the mainland, slipping off and stealing small boats to make their way to safety. Aguirre, by then down to about 150 men, moved on to the town of Barquisimeto, where he found himself surrounded by Spanish forces loyal to the King. His men, not surprisingly, deserted  en masse, leaving him alone with his daughter Elvira. The Death of Lope de Aguirre Surrounded and facing capture, Aguirre decided to kill his daughter, so that she would be spared the horrors that awaited her as the daughter of a traitor to the crown. When another woman grappled with him for his harquebus, he dropped it and stabbed Elvira to death with a dagger. Spanish troops, reinforced by his own men, quickly cornered him. He was briefly captured before his execution was ordered: he was shot before being chopped into pieces. Different pieces of Aguirre were sent to surrounding towns. Lope de Aguirres Legacy Although Ursà ºas El Dorado expedition was destined to fail, it may not have been an utter fiasco if not for Aguirre and his madness. It is estimated that Lope either killed or ordered the death of 72 of the original Spanish explorers. Lope de Aguirre did not manage to overthrow Spanish rule in the Americas, but he did leave an interesting legacy. Aguirre was neither the first nor the only conquistador to go rogue and attempt to deprive the Spanish crown of the royal fifth (one-fifth of all spoils from the New World was always reserved for the crown). Lope de Aguirres most visible legacy may be in the world of literature and film. Many writers and directors have found inspiration in the tale of a madman leading a troop of greedy, hungry men through dense jungles in an attempt to overthrow a king. There have been a handful of books written about Aguirre, among them Abel Posses  Daimà ³n  (1978) and Miguel Otero Silvas  Lope de Aguirre, prà ­ncipe de la  libertad  (1979). There have been three attempts to make films about Aguirres El Dorado expedition. The best by far is the 1972 German effort  Aguirre, Wrath of God, starring Klaus Kinski as Lope de Aguirre and directed by Werner Hertzog. There is also the 1988  El Dorado, a Spanish film by Carlos Saura. More recently, the low budget  Las Lgrimas de Dios  (The Tears of God) was produced in 2007, directed by and starring Andy Rakich. Source: Silverberg, Robert.  The Golden Dream: Seekers of El Dorado. Athens: the Ohio University Press, 1985.

Construction surety contract bond underwriting risk evaluation

Construction surety contract bond underwriting risk evaluation Introduction Finance has been the subject of global market confusion and unremitting controversies with matters of greater public and private concern facing unending challenges due to incompetent policies and regulations governing financial affairs.Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on Construction surety contract bond underwriting risk evaluation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The unprecedented hard economic epoch of the recent decades has hit the financial market, thus affecting operations of numerous companies globally through constantly augmenting defaults and losses (Ramsey 43). Generally, one of the worldwide industries that have constantly suffered from financial crises and the related risks is the global construction industry where million of losses occur not only from the economic circumstances, but also due to unrelenting misfortunes that mar industrial growth. In a bid to protect contractors from the rising financial risks that have become more eminent in the current decades, financial institutions are becoming proactive in providing risk transfer mechanisms in the form of surety. Despite decades of surety guarantees by corporations in the United States, little remains known to the public about surety. Therefore, this study explores construction surety bond underwriting risk evaluation. Synopsis of a construction surety contract The financial business world has grown exponentially for decades and become the most responsive industry that constantly provides substantial aid to other industries on risk related affairs. By operating slightly akin to the insurance firms, corporate sureties have emerged stronger in supporting risk related industries including the construction companies by providing surety bonds. In simple terms as defined by CNA Surety, â€Å"surety bonds are three party instruments by which one party guarantees or promises a second party the successful performance of a thi rd party† (1). These three parties or principles involved in the surety bonding include a surety (any financial institution), a principal (contractor) and an Obligee (owner) (Seifert 47). Surety bonds involved in construction or bonding construction companies are contract surety bonds. Obviously, construction is a challenging and risky business that possibly can result into huge losses to constructors and owners is not well handled. Construction surety bonds typically prevent owners from financial and resource related risks that likely occur during project construction.Advertising Looking for thesis on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In its broadest understanding, construction surety bonds normally provide assurance to Obligee or project owners that contractors are capable of performing or completing the project on due time, within the stipulated budget and in the desired design requirement s (McIntyre and Strischek 30). On the same note, construction surety bonds are capable of assuring the venture owners that the contractor will complete the project and pay all the specified subcontractors, material suppliers and manual workers as expected (McIntyre and Strischek 30). Research has identified three common forms of construction surety bonds namely bid bonds, performance bonds and the payment bonds that are common in a large construction spectrum. A bid bond is a construction surety bond that provides financial assurance that the contract is for good will, in desired price and required performance and payment bonds. Performance bond provides â€Å"the owner with protection against financial loss in a circumstance where contractor fails to complete the project and meet terms and conditions of the contract., while payment bond ensure that the constructor makes all payments to suppliers, subcontractors and laborers† (Jenkins and Andrew 2). Background to the U.S. con struction surety industry Perhaps the United States stands out to be among the most advanced countries that have integrated systems to protect innocent civilians from malicious service providers, including malevolent project managers and contractors. The U.S. construction surety industry has expanded exponentially in the current decades and its history and background is long, and its fate has been a mixture of success and failure (McIntyre and Strischek 31). The U.S construction surety industry premiered centuries ago and financial corporations have been offering surety bonds for quite a while, before the government decided to intervene as a service-consumer protection intervention.Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on Construction surety contract bond underwriting risk evaluation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Surety Information Office (1), the year 1893 saw the U.S government, through Miller Act Section 270a, placing a legal mandate to all contactors on public works contracts to acquire surety bonds that guaranteed their constancy in undertaking projects and masking dully payments to all subcontractors and suppliers on project completion. The importance of getting into construction agreements and contracts began at this moment. By the U.S. Government imposing Miller act, one significant issue emerged from this rule. According to Surety Information Office (1), â€Å"the Miller Act (40 U.S.C. Section 270a) requires performance and payment bonds for all public work contracts in excess of $100,000 and payment protection, with payment bonds the preferred method, for contracts in excess of $25,000.† In subsequent moments, approximately fifty American States, including Puerto Rico and District of Columbia began enacting this act. Since this enactment, corporate financial institutions initiated massive campaigns of attracting contractors in such business activities by making the su rety industry quite a competitive sector throughout 1990s when the American economy thrived. Under the strong economy, the contractors remained busy and with minimal failures until the entire world began experiencing economic crunches. Unfortunately, the profitable bonding business became more overwhelming and centered attention for new entrants into surety leading to excess and gratuitous competition within the surety industry that has finally remained shaky 2000 due to high-profile corporate failures. Principles of Premiums and losses While trying to understand underwriting of surety bonds in the construction industry, premiums and losses are two financial terminologies associated with underwriting of surety bonds. The U.S surety bonds, similar to the insurances, have premium and loss terminologies, which represent certain fees. Unlike the insurance premium, surety premium refers to service fee or service charge determined based on anticipated losses (Grovenstein et al. 356). Loss es are unforeseen financial risks that may result from contractors failing to complete the project as per expectations, or even other uncertainties related to project construction.Advertising Looking for thesis on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the case where the surety industry considers risks from the construction company are unpleasant, the financial institution, which is normally the surety, may have to deem a number of alternatives. According to contract bonding principles, McIntyre and Strischek affirm that some of the alternative that assists in minimizing loss chances in sureties is raising premium charges, raising deductibles, reducing bond coverage, intensify underwriting standards or even quite completely from the bonding deal (30).. Perceived significance of surety contract bonding Since the advent of surety contracting and bonding into the U.S federal public works, much has protracted that has led to surveyors considering the imperativeness of surety contract bond underwriting. Surety bonding is a process that involves risk sharing through a business-integrated program that involves several mutual terms and conditions for all the three parties involved (Jenkins and Andrew 1). In actuality, there is no bette r or rather practical alternative of defending the private and the public against financial loss. On the other hand, financial institutions depend on public and private sectors to generate revenues for their survival. Surety bonding on construction favors all the three principals in the contracting deal (Dunn and Sedgwick 15). For the owner, protection from financial loss, safety of the construction and smooth progress of the project is what becomes major benefits in due completion of the project (Ramsey 42). Three contract surety bonds have been supportive in assisting Obligee in undertaking their projects successfully b considering the success of the bonding. The owner believes that the bid bond, the performance bond and the payment bond are core movers to the success of the project. McIntyre and Strischek assert, â€Å"Surety bonds assure project owners that contractors will perform the work and pay specified subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers in accordance with th e contract documents† (30). The contractors (principals) also rely on the surety contract bond underwriting in a number of ways that may deem significant while undertaking their contracting process. During the underwriting process, the contractor feels assured of owner’s cooperation in terms of payment as cases of exploiting contractors seem outdated since the financial institutions scrutinizes owners financial capacity comprehensively. Since the surety corporations have the financial stamina to cover any improprieties resulting from Obligee, the contractor feels assured of getting all the stated pay (Dunn and Sedgwick 15). The surety or the guarantors who are large financial institutions normally receive a financial benefit and commercial reputation over the surety industry since premiums have the potential of chaining the corporate improvement of the firms. Essential information for underwriting a contract bond Underwriting a contract bond has been a quandary for the three parties, with both of them having worries over the successfulness of bonding and the fate of the project under construction. As noted by Glaser, Piskorski, and Tchistyi â€Å"mortgage underwriters face a dilemma: either to implement high underwriting standards and underwrite only high quality mortgages or relax underwriting standards in order to save on expenses† (186). All parties involved in undertaking the contract bonding must observe several parameters before concluding on ways to undertake the surety bonding. During the process, the corporate sureties are normally at higher risks since they are responsible for monitoring and assessing the capabilities of the two parties in the contract bonding (Sacks and Ignacio 46). Nonetheless, it is worthwhile that all the three principles consider seeking legal advice and embedding their bonding procedures through legal frameworks that likely reduces chances of uncertainties. The two (principals and surety) with their underwri ters and producers have the accountability to oversee all the procedures of the contracting process. What contractors and their producers must know Subsequent to a comprehensive coverage of all conditions, terms and procedure of signing the contract bonds, a greater responsibility rests upon the contractor companies and the surety companies as the owner waits in anticipation. As the surety depends on surety company underwriter to undertake a follow up on the contract and plan, the contractor company relies on the producer, who forms part contractor’s external advisory group. The producer is one of the integral players in the contractor’s advisory team and to avoid performance-related risks that may hamper completion of the contract the producer plays an important part. The contractors company must consider the following qualifications from the producer: the producer must be familiar with the local, provincial and national conditions and trends within the surety market. In addition, Ramsey (42) asserts that the producer must posses accounting and finance knowledge, respect and a reputation for integrity, knowledge of the contract law and their documents, substantial experience in management practices and strategic planning among other fundamental aspects. They must understand that the contracting business involving construction company is quite challenging and with numerous uncertainties. For any successful contracting company, understanding of business risks is imperative and this aspect aids in evaluating and assessing the kind of contract bonding that firms associate with during their operations. As suggested by Ramsey, â€Å"taking any and every job available is not a wise strategy† (44). A construction company must understand all the uncertainties including external construction risks as weather, natural hazards, material prices, or supplier’s inconveniences and owner’s-related risks, as well as internal risk like equipme nt failures, staff problems and capital fluctuations. This move is normally the best way of evaluating and managing their risks since it enlightens the company on the genuine projects to pursue and the contract bonds to sign. According to Fayek and Marsh (3764), the contractors must also rely on a sustainable legal expertise team that scrutinizes the owner’s financial potency, as it is normally a challenge for contractors to access data pertaining to owners financial and banking secrets that sureties have. What surety and their underwriters must consider In the context of undertaking the construction bonding process, the sureties that involve corporate financial institutions are the core movers and principals of contract bonding. Apart from the main surety in the bonding process, two actors as mentioned earlier are important in the process of surety contract bond underwriting: an underwriter and a producer, who form part of the entire process (Stevens 440). An underwriter is a professional who works directly for the surety company that has offered to provide bond and undertake the obligation. After a successful collection of the necessary information pertaining to the contract, the bond producer presents the information to the surety company underwriter, who is responsible for making a follow up of the plan for the surety company (Ramsey 44). The underwriter is the most integral person in the advisory team of the surety company. Ramsey) asserts, â€Å"The surety bond producer works with the surety company’s underwriter to ensure that the contractor is bondable and capable of performing the work and paying all parties† (44). In the context of underwriter’s duties, the following are the primary activities undertaken in underwriting by the surety company underwriter. Firstly, the underwriter has the accountability to determine if the contractor possesses the financial potency to support the contract all through. Secondly, the surety co mpany underwriter ensures that the contractor has a positive historical record of paying subcontractors and suppliers immediately (Ramsey 44). Finally, the surety company underwriter ensures that the contractor possesses a good rapport with the banks and other financial institutions. In simplest financial terms, underwriting standards of nowadays surety market emphasize on three important Cs representing capitals, capacity and character in the underwriting process and in understanding the contractor’s business. Since a surety bond acts as a bank credit in several ways, it is important for contractors to have a good reputation since contractors have a challenge of accessing debt capital (Seifert 49). The underwriter also peruses through the contractor’s fiscal year-end statements including balance sheets, cash flow statements, and income statements among others. The table below summarizes the contractor evaluation criterion. (Source: Fayek and Marsh 3766) Project speci fic risk factors affecting contract bond underwriting While trying to engage in the surety contract bonding and agreeing to the terms and conditions governing construction under contracts, the three parties especially the contractor in this case must understand the risks associated with contract bond underwriting. This element explains the reason why the bond producer is an integral actor in the surety contract bond underwriting process in defense of the contractor as this professional recommends an accountability line of consistency regarding the contractor’s competence. Two important forms of risks have been in constant discussions over the existence years of surety industry and contractor’s business, and these are project-specific related factors and performance-related risk factors. To begin with, a construction industry is a challenging field of professionalism as it associates with numerous risks (Cummins 28). As guarantors are currently targeting mega contractor s with large cumulative programs that are highly perilous, risk in itself is a unique issue and very few constructions complete successfully without encountering jeopardy. As postulated earlier, the underwriter examines the capital, capacity, and character of the contractor; nonetheless, the forth c has emerged in the recent studies that denote continuity. The continuity in the case of construction may remain hampered by uncertainties. Project specific risk factors are precarious issues that associate with the project itself and contractors are normally unaware of the unforeseen uncertainties. The project owners will always deem a project successful if the contractor manages to complete it within the stipulated time, designed budget and all other requirements (Grovenstein et al. 159). Project-specific related risk factors may involve natural catastrophes, delays in the supply chain or material deficiency, change in the material prices or even owners lack of cooperation. This aspect explains the reason behind the existence of payment bond that ensures that the owner’s project continues despite the failure of the contractor in paying sub-contractors, laborers, and suppliers (Vedenov, Epperson, and Barnett 450). Project-related risk factors, especially natural ones have been the most challenging to control in the surety bonding. Performance-related risk factors affecting contract bond underwriting Performance related risk factors are uncertainties affiliating with the incapability of contractors to complete the desired project in the requirements highlighted in the contract bonding agreement (Strischek 31). Within the tripartite bond agreement, the caution and worry here is upon the owner of the project under construction and more worse to the surety company. Some contractor’s performance faith has been questionable within the public and to ensure that contracts have remained successful through surety contract bond underwriting, the performance bond emerged (Seifert 48). While trying to understand the concept of performance related risk factors in the contracting process, management practices and strategic planning as contractor evaluation criterion emerged from this point. Performance in the context of surety contract bond underwriting refers to the contractor’s aptitude in completing the agreed project. Some of the common performance related factors may include the contractor’s management delinquency, poor or lack of business planning, lack of contract performance frameworks, project complexity as well as obstructing company philosophies and procedures, most of which are avoidable. How to make an appropriate bond underwriting decision The appropriateness and successfulness of any bond underwriting between the three parties depends on a number of issues that surety companies must always consider before making a decision into the bonding. â€Å"Sureties and bankers have much in common. McIntyre and Strischek pos tulate, â€Å"Both industries underwrite risk to contractors, and both have enjoyed the good time profits of the cycle’s expansion phase and suffered the losses during its contraction phase† (36). Therefore, analyzing risks involved in contract bonding becomes important. However, in certain circumstances, financial organizations have found themselves into the traps of fraudster and money swindlers who pretend to be contractors from reputable companies, leading to serious financial losses (Glaser, Piskorski, and Tchistyi 188). Despite the fact that there are very few decision-support models existing among financial institutions that are sureties and this aspect has resulted into numerous problems concerning contract bond underwriting (Stevens 456). As postulated earlier, corporate sureties should use a number of procedures in determining the probability of having attractive returns from a contract. Before making a decision to engage in any contract bonding practice with the other two parties, viz. the project owner and the contractor, numerous things appear significant for consideration. Before anything else, the financial institution must scrutinize owner’s financial capacity including his/her willingness to pay all expenses incurred in the project and his/her previous behavior with the bank or surety (Ramsey 44). In the beginning of the initial phase, the company must consider hiring or employing a competitive underwriter with appropriate knowledge in all forms of surety conditions, who will deal confidently with the contractor’s producer to avoid incurring financial losses. Bearing in mind that the financial institution will be taking all the liabilities and obligations for the owner, a legal advisory team must prevail to provide information and make all follow ups of the required legal procedures while undertaking the construction bonding (Grovenstein et al. 359). The financial organization must acquire proper background knowledg e and assess the previous character of the contractor on the earlier contracts and agreements. All documents concerning the contractor’s latest fiscal year-end statements must exist in this assessment to provide assurance that the contractor has been loyally paying all sub-contractors, laborers, and suppliers within the slated time. The financial institution, which is the corporate surety, must ensure that the underwriter assess â€Å"the contractor’s latest fiscal year-end statements by examining the accountants’ opinion to review the audit or compilations† (Ramsey 45). They should also assess balance sheet to evaluate the working capital, income statements to estimate gross profits from previous contracts as well as cash statements to appraise operating cash flow among other important construction bonding documents before deciding on the bond agreements (Seifert 49). On finalizing, the surety company underwriter must also consider analyzing the possible risk factors associated with the bonding and ensure they depend on a decision support model in their making their final agreement on the contract. Conclusion Conclusively, there has been substantial literature existing concerning surety bonding in the construction industry yet understanding important procedures in the construction bonding process has been a challenge. Surety companies are the most parties that are at a greater risk of failing in the surety bonding if proper securitization of the owner and the contractor’s intentions in the bonding deal are unknown. Sureties with successful transfer of construction risk have always considered the attractiveness of the risk transfers. Companies engaging in surety bonding normally target the jumbo rates in the premiums, which normally come from seriously risky ventures, and if proper caution lacks in making the appropriate decision in the bonding process, the sureties may be putting themselves into great financial uncertainties . CNA Surety 2005, Surety ship: A practical guide to Surety Bonding. Web. 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