The Friday That Changed My Life - 970 Words

The Monday that Changed My Life That Monday I found my dream! It was an unforgettable day during my internship when I realized that Public Health was not just my interest, but my calling. Before that Monday, I had some vague idea of a career in health promotion. Then I met Lal, a Bhutanese refugee who had spent almost 20 years in the refugee camps of Nepal. That Monday, the vague idea blossomed into a firm desire to advocate for vulnerable populations such as refugees, displaced persons, victims of human trafficking, and more. Individuals such as Lal should not get lost in the chaos of conflict, or stymied by systemic barriers everywhere, including their place of safety. When I sat down with Lal in my cubicle in the darkest corner of the office, little did I know that I was about to begin one of the most emotionally intense and empowering conversations of my career. Lal was my first refugee client at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian aid organization that re settles refugees in the U.S., where I had started my internship in Public Health. My role as a Public Health Intern was to support and assist refugees in navigating the intricacies of healthcare and other social services as they walked their road to self-sufficiency and assimilation into a new culture. It was Monday, and the Health Team had walk-in hours for individuals who needed assistance. I introduced myself to Lal with my biggest smile and greeting in Nepali: Namaste. As nervous asShow MoreRelatedThe Friday That Changed My Life908 Words   |  4 PagesThe Monday that Changed my Life That Monday I had found my dream! It was during my internship when I realized that Public Health was not just my interest, but my calling. I want to advocate for vulnerable populations such as refugees, displaced individuals, victims of human trafficking, and more, so that individuals such as Lal do not get lost in the chaos of conflict, or systematic barriers. When I sat down with Lal in my cubicle in the darker corner of the office, little did I know that itRead MoreThe Friday That Changed My Life999 Words   |  4 PagesThe Monday that Changed My Life It was an unforgettable day during my internship when I realized that Public Health was not just my interest, but my calling. Although I had a vague idea of a career in health promotion, meeting Lal, my first refugee client at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian aid organization, blossomed my idea into a firm desire to become a public health advocate. I saw an opportunity to improve health equity by addressing the barriers that cause healthRead MoreThe Friday That Changed My Life982 Words   |  4 PagesThe Monday that Changed my Life When I sat down with Lal in my cubicle chair in the darkest corner of the office, little did I know that it was going to be one of my very first emotionally intense and empowering conversations of my career. Lal was my first refugee client at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian aid organization that resettles refugees, where I had started my internship in Public Health. My role as a Public Health Intern was to support and assist refugees to navigateRead MoreThe Friday That Changed My Life976 Words   |  4 PagesThe Monday that Changed my Life That Monday I found my dream! It was the unforgettable day during my internship when I realized that Public Health was not just my interest, but my calling. Before that Monday, I had some vague idea of a career in health promotion. Then I met Lal, a Bhutanese refugee who had spent almost 20 years in the refugee camps of Nepal. That Monday, my vague idea blossomed into a firm desire to advocate for vulnerable populations such as refugees, displaced persons, victimsRead MoreShould Baseball And Golf Be A Small Child?1057 Words   |  5 Pagesthat I participated in throughout my whole life, nothing can compare to the brotherhood and bond that football brought to me. I played football as a small child. I enjoyed the short games and practices because I was able to goof off with my friends. I also began playing football during my sophomore year of high school but quit rather quickly. At this point in time baseball still had my heart and triumphed over football in every way possible. It wa s not until my senior year at Thomasville High SchoolRead MoreAnalysis Of Robinson Crusoe s Robinson 1412 Words   |  6 Pagesas being eaten signifies death. He builds from his shelter a fort. To keep him protected from the cannibals. But then later he builds a bower or a place of pleasure. First Robinson was building for survival, but now his attitude of the island has changed. Crusoe is learning to work with his surroundings for survival, rather than loathing in his misfortunes. He is able to find and use everything on the island to carry out life’s basic needs for survival. This growth can be the healing that ultimatelyRead MoreAnalysis Of Robinson Crusoe By Daniel Defoe1611 Words   |  7 Pagesmany influential characters, the most important being the native escapee, Friday. Defoe structured Crusoe and Friday’s relationship as very co-dependent in such a way that may be difficult to interpret on screen. There have been several versions of this film, but I will be focusing and comparing the 1997 version of Robinson Crusoe to the original novel. In the original text, Robinson Crusoe plays an important role in saving Friday religiously as well as physically. After examining the drastic differencesRead MoreHamlets Blackberry : Building A Good Life1129 Words   |  5 PagesEssay 3 In the New York Times Bestselling book, â€Å"hamlet’s Blackberry: Building a Good Life in the Digital Age, The author William Powers discusses the good and bad aspects of technology. In Chapter 9, Inventing Your Life, Powers discusses ways to wean yourself off the dependency we all have on technology. One of the ideas for improving digital life that seemed like t would work was â€Å"no-email Fridays.† No-email Fridays seemed so interesting because it is so simple and such a great concept. This was workingRead MoreWishful Thinking Meets Reality : Rhetorical Analysis964 Words   |  4 PagesRhetorical Analysis Everyone can relate to a time in their life when they desired a â€Å"picture-perfect† life with lots of friends and all the material things they could wish for themselves. However, they realize that maybe the â€Å"picture-perfect† life isn’t what they expected once it becomes reality. In the films Freaky Friday and 13 Going on 30, the audience follows the lives of the protagonists as they face their wishes to have a â€Å"better life†. Throughout the essay, we will examine the audiencesRead MoreThe Journey of Robinson Crusoe 1213 Words   |  5 PagesRobinson Crusoe, famous adventure novel, portrays the eventful life of main protagonist Robinson Crusoe. Author, Daniel Defoe depicts his diverse set of characters with purpose in Robinson Crusoe. Crusoe narrates his journey, and how he established himself with wealth. Crusoe, the youngest son of a merchant, knew he must acquire his own wealth in order to full-fill his Englishman desires. His father encourages him to study law, but Crusoe wishes to go out to the sea. His father is against Crusoe’s

Obesity Is A Rising Epidemic Within The United States Essay

Introduction Affecting over 36% of the population, obesity is a rising epidemic within the United States. An estimated 75% of adults over the age of twenty are classified as overweight or obese (Kolata, 2016). The disease affects women more significantly than men, with a greater prevalence within African American and Hispanic ethnic groups. Extreme obesity (BMI 40), affects six percent, and growing, of the American populace. This rise in obesity correlates not lonely with a lower life expectancy but also a rise in numerous other non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, pulmonary ailments, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health issues. Although the obesity epidemic is seen mostly within developed countries, such as the United States, the non-communicable disease is showing advancing prevalence and incidence rates worldwide, including low and middle income countries. The World Health Organization estimates one billion people are classified as overweight or obese (Kapil, 2016). In ad dition to the plethora of additional health care problems, obese patients are often hard to treat as the health care system does not yet have the equipment to detect, measure, or treat possible underlying problems. The treatment of obesity and related conditions is currently estimated to reach $100 billion within the United States (Kapil, 2016). Accounting for more than 100,000 premature deaths each year, the disease is the second highest noncommunicable and preventable diseaseShow MoreRelatedChildhood Obesity Analysis1473 Words   |  6 PagesParents Child Caretakers Obesity in America is literally a growing problem, affecting every age group. Children are the most venerable group because they have no control over where they have dinner or how often they have fast food. Parents and guardians make decisions about food and are responsible for the health of children. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the last twenty years. This is concerning because Type Two diabetes is a horrible, crippling disease that is affecting childrenRead MoreThe Ideal Healthcare Delivery For Developing Countries On Proper Nutrition And Food Consumption Rates1121 Words   |  5 PagesDiabetes follows behind inactivity and obesity, both of which have increased during China’s economic boom. The nation has accepted the fact that we will have a high rise and development of cases of Diabetes in this century. Did you know that 20 million people have the disease, and that number is expected to double by 2025 (â€Å"Search Publications†)? A highly impor tant control group in this disease is simply educating the countries on proper nutrition and food consumption rates. Another factor thatRead MoreThe Importance Of Childhood Obesity894 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough some countries acknowledge the obesity epidemic, most countries are lagging behind in applying health policy to obesity prevention (Zhang et al., 2014, p. 179). With the exceptions of Quebec, Canada’s advertising policy is restricted to self-regulation with little monitoring in the intensity and frequency of unhealthy foods and beverages advertisements to children (Hawkes Harris, 2011, as cited in Hypertension Advisory Committee, 2013, p. 8). With this information, Canada’s current systemRead MoreObesity Statistics And Rankings : Obesity1442 Words   |  6 PagesObesity Statistics and Rankings The first national survey conducted in United States was in 1963. Many of the studies have suggested that child obesity epidemic is recent and unexpected. Over the last three decades, obesity rates have tripled in the U.S. One out of six children is obese and a one out of three child is overweight. The United States is ranked number one in the world. There has been some control and steadiness in the child obesity rates since 2008, but there are someRead MoreSocial Models Of Health : The Biomedical Model And The Social Model Essay1621 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscuss first the increasing prominence of the social models and their relevance in addressing current population health issues. Second, this essay will discuss the effectiveness of social models when analysing the health-related causes of the obesity epidemic, an example of an issue in population health. Social models of health have a strong focus on the broad determinants of health: these being social, psychological, behavioural and biological (Browne, 2011). They consider both the proximal causesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Satirical Street Art That Sends Messages Of Awareness Of The Corrupt Society1626 Words   |  7 Pagesobese and 8% ate the survey.† With the rising awareness and prevalence, obesity has become an epidemic. In the United States alone, one of every five Americans are overweight, and one of every five are obese. Among the younger ages of childhood and adolescence, the National Health and Nutrition Examination reported that 17% of kids â€Å"age six through nineteen are obese.† This problem, of course, is not limited only to America. Studies performed by the United Nations have reported that in the year 2000Read MoreEssay about Childhood Obesity1310 Words   |  6 Pages If it being looked deeper with or without we realizing, obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, and all this evidence suggests that the situation is likely to get worse. In developed regions such as Europe, the United States of America, and in Australasia, the prevalence is high and increasing but in some developing countries even more extreme situations exist. For example, using World Health Organization standards for obesity, more than 70% of the adult Polynesian population in SamoaRead MoreEssay about Obesity and Fast Food1324 Words   |  6 PagesMany people in the United States believe that if it weren’t for fast food restaurants, they would not be overweight. People have even sued McDonald’s for their weight problem. While fast food may be one of the contributors to the obesity epidemic, it surely doesn’t stand alone. There are many more reasons why people living in the United States are overweight. Some of these reasons include problems within the school systems, peer pressure, education, and even just where a person lives. It’s clearRead MoreCauses Of Obesity In Western Countries1251 Words   |  6 Pages Obesity in Western Countries: Causes and Implications Over the past two-decades obesity has risenn at an alarming rate globally and now is reaching epidemic proportions in the western and industrialized countries†¦ USA. Obesity prevalence in the United states is among the highest globaly as its obesity rate is projected to climb from today’s 30-40% today to a shocking 70% in 20301 . In particular, childhood obesity exhibited the highest growth rate today, tripling the percentage of children overRead MoreObesity and Its Related Issues1510 Words   |  6 PagesObesity and its related issues; diabetes, coronary disease, osteo-disease, and liver and renal failure, is an endemic problem in contemporary American society. So much so, for instance, that First Lady Michelle Obama has announced an initiative fighting obesity. She, too, is calling obesity an epidemic and one of the greatest threats to the future health of the United States. Her approach is multifaceted, concentrating on education, availability of healthy foods, and ex ercise programs for youth so

Impression Management as a Goal Directed Activity Free Essays

Impression ManagementAssignment question: â€Å"Impression Management as a goal directed activity not only sets the boundaries of what is considered appropriate behaviour but also aids in defining what behaviour will be met with disapproval. †(Goffman 1989) Discuss this statement in the context of a practical professional setting. According to Andersen, M. We will write a custom essay sample on Impression Management as a Goal Directed Activity or any similar topic only for you Order Now L. , Taylor, H. L. (2006)impression management is defined as â€Å"good oriented conscious or unconsciousprocess in which people attempt to influence the perceptions of other people about a person, object or event, they do so by regulating and controlling information in social interaction. According to Sinha (2009), â€Å"Impression management is an active self-presentation of a person aiming to enhance his image in the eyes of others† (p. 104). A symbolic interaction noting that impression management is â€Å"the process of authentic self-presentation used when an individual wants to present himself to other people the same way he perceives himself†¦a tactical brand used by individuals. † A variation of this view by Brym and Lie, (2006, p. 44) depicts impression management as a situation whereby â€Å"people deliberately change or modify their behaviour to fit a given situation†¦the process whereby people seek to control the image that others have of them . † The above scholarly views seek to consolidate Goffman’s (1989) view that â€Å"Impression Management as a goal directed activity not only sets the boundaries of what is considered appropriate behaviour but also aids in defining what behaviour will be met with disapproval. † In assessing the concept of impression management it is pivotal to isolate the impetus behindthisconcept. All the above definitions provide a direct inference that this concept involves creating an impressionable illusion which is highly fragile and requires constant attention in order to ensure its sustainability. Keeping in mind that it is a goal oriented model, impression management is a fundamental and universal process that involves a number of influential factors. These factors are social, cultural and spiritual. Considering that this model is set in a professionalenvironment, it is essential to administer an appropriate outlook into impression management in professional localities. Newman, (2009, p. 173) states that â€Å"Impression management allows the production of manufactured personas, which aid in the socialization process. The use of impression management provides people with the necessary skills to create a custom and often falsified perception. †, this may be well suited to the professional environment and its various facets such as job interviews, officerelations between employees and management, firms and both clients and potential clients, firms and other firms as well with the ultimate goal being to create a virtuous professional atmosphere. It is paramount to note that the microcosm represents the macrocosm, in relation to impression management it is hence necessary to carry out a thorough analysis of individualistic measures of impression management before relating this to an entire professional setting. According to Andersen and Taylor (2006), â€Å"Impression management can be seen as a type of con game† (p. 04), relating to the basic scenario of a job interview when a person engages in impression management, they are attempting to manipulate the impression they project onto others, with the goal being to ultimately acquire a job and will do so through the following means of impression management: †¢Good eye contact in order to establish an aura of confidence and honesty critical to the business sector †¢An appropriate physical appearance, aclean, professional persona †¢Chronematic management, being prompt is tantamount to a gesture of a focused individual †¢Kinesis should be reflective of confidence and a potentially aggressive stature appropriately suited to the aggressive nature of the business world In essence, the above seeks to highlight the paramount idea that the person being perceived manages the perception of the perceiver hoping to have a positive impact which in this case is delivering a sublime job interview with prospects of acquiring a particular job position. This approach helps a person carefully craft relationships and by extension they have the ability to alter their position in the socialization process through impression management, especially if now expanding the concept impression management into the actual working environment in an analysis of relationships between an individual whether as a subordinate or a manager. When in the position of relative power such as management, active impression management is supreme, an individual is under the constant debilitating gaze of oftentimes opportunistic employees or subordinates on the prowl for error. Hence individuals in management should leave no room for error in their impression management â€Å"A person’s relative position in society can also influence impression management† (Newman, 2009, p. 172). A person’s posit ion in society and the prestige of impression management are congruent. Managers should exercise extreme decorum, bepunctual, have astute command of a professional ethic of honesty and transparency and above all a professional outlook on their physical presentation. Illustration of how people attempt to control how others perceive them is portrayed through the clothing they wear. A person who is in a leadership position strives to be respected and in order to control and maintain the impression; the person wears a nice suit, carries a briefcase, and acts in a professional manner. The professional clothing and the dignified manner in which the person carries him or herself, plays a large role in the impression management process. The goal behind such a constrictive and extremely rule bound outlook of impression management is so as to create an impression to the subordinates, however not one of fear but of a respectable individual employees are willing to be loyal and ultimately submissive to without any urge of dissent hence having a positive influence on a firm’s productivity and profits due to Herzberg’s motivational factors being fulfilled by management. Another relationship worth analysis is that of impression management between work colleagues, an individual should establish a solid impression amongst colleagues and management, Newman (2009) expands on this notion, â€Å"Impression management is a tool most of us use to present ourselves as likable people† (p. 183). with the impetus being that of creating a virtuous working environment free of tension which makes work more enjoyable for an individual. Ultimately the central lynchpin being that of managing an approachable, responsible, amicable, ‘gossip- free’ impression of oneself. This is advantageous in climbing the corporate ladder for situations whereby an individual is considered for a job promotion from being a lower grade employee to a higher grade, on basis of a character evaluation and impressions regarding that particular individual. If a general view is that of a rude, irresponsible, tension enabling individual, then this view would be to the detriment of an individual as such a negative inclination is almost impossible to remove. Most vital towards maintaining the survival of a business is a solid relationship established between the client and the business through its management and entire workforce, this also affects the resultant impression cast upon potential clients who may be considering working with a particular business, Ferrante (2008) expands on this concept in her book, Sociology: a Global Perspective, â€Å"Even if people are aware that they are manipulating reality, impression management can be a constructive feature of social interaction† (p. 131). People across the globe implement this concept in order to obtain a favourable social outcome. Standardising this opinion in relation to a professional setting, a business needs to portray an impression heavy consolidated with a strong sense of reliability, transparency and good customer relations. A prime example would be that of Econet Wireless Company, already with a well-established impression as the leading, most reliable telecommunications service provider, it is vital to be consistent with such an impression. This is most evident in their customer relations which are friendly and extremely efficient; a dedication to fulfilling a corporate social responsibility through their Econet Scholarship Programme is reflective of an approachable and selfless impression which they constantly subscribe to. Hence an analysis of Econet’s impression management leaves us to conclude that although not completely a perfect impression due to unavoidable disruptions in network, Econet has a dominantly impeccable impression which invokes consumer loyalty and an exponential growth in terms on both customers and sales revenue and hence makes it easier to compare against other firms regarded as having a somewhat weaker, deficient impression such as Net One. There are a variety of social implications within impression management, but not all of the social implications are positive. Some of the repercussions are negative and can even be damaging to the person responsible for the implementation of impression management tactics. According to Newman (2009), â€Å"Impression management can lead to the creation of damaged identities, which must be repaired in order to sustain social interactions† (p. 183). Damaged identities and suffering social interactions can take a toll on a person, whi ch enviably forces that person to retreat to impression management once again. Forexample, if a Muslim woman, who is dictated by religion to wear the traditional full body gear exposing only the eyes(termed the ‘Burka’) is placed in a banking professional environment such as that of Standard Chartered Bank,due to severe stereotyping it would serve uncomfortable for not only the individual, but the colleagues as well the customers and potential customers to conduct banking or business related transactions without invoking a degree of suspicion towards such a woman or a feeling of pity towards an inferred and assumed segregation of Muslim women. It may seem increasingly ironic that the tactic that aided in the damaging and exiling of a person can be the very approach that puts that person back in the social standings. Impression management is a concept to be taken very seriously. It has the power and influence to create a favourable public opinion of a particular person, it can break a person in regards to social standings, and it can repair a damage d persona. Additionally, impression management has the ability to dictate a person’s position in society, as commonly prescribed that a good impression management becomes tantamount to solid business relationships which serve to the advantage of an individual or a firm alike. Conclusion Impression management is a self-presentation technique that focuses on improving a person’s image in the eyes of others. Ever since Erving Goffman implemented the term impression management in 1959, sociologists and theorists have been studying additional aspects of the concept. Impression management presents constructive and favourable images to the public, encouraging a positive outcome. Impression management is a common underlying process that involves social and cultural implications. In regard to the social implications, impression management allows people to carefully craft and construct their public perception. In some cases, in order to obtain a favourable public or social appearance, a person must alter and falsify their persona. The social implications of impression management are not always negative, but there is a fine line between the positive and negative aspects. Impression management in relation to culture has a far more positive outcome. The cultural implications of impression management define the significance of cultural traditions, norms, and ways of life. The clothing people choose to wear, the words they choose to utilise are all apart of the impression management process. It would be highly advantageous to implement means by which to improve on or further establish impression management through following the appropriate rules of etiquette in relation to the professional environment such as desisting from the use of cell phones during board meetings as it is disrespectful and conceited and above all a consistentupgrade and maintenance of one’s impression or otherwise social facade. References Andersen, M. L. , Taylor, H. L. (2006). Sociology: The essentials. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Brym, R. S. , Lie, J. (2006). Sociology: Your compass for a new world. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing. Ferrante, J. (2008). Sociology: A global perspective. Belmont, CA: Thomas Higher Education. Giddens, A. (2005). Sociology. Cambridge, UR, UK: Polity Press. Newman, D. M. (2009). Sociology: Exploring the architecture of everyday life. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press. Sinha, J. B. (2009). Culture and organization national behaviour. Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage Publications. How to cite Impression Management as a Goal Directed Activity, Papers

Dry Fruits free essay sample

Dried fruit is fruit that has been dried, either naturally or through use of a machine, such as a dehydrator. Vine fruits make up over three-quarters of the total global dried fruit volume. Prunes (also referred to as plums) and dates are other examples of popular dried fruits in the EU. Dried fruit has a long shelf life and can therefore provide a good alternate to fresh fruit, allowing out of season fruits to be available. Drying is a good way to preserve fruit in the absence of refrigeration. Dried fruit and vegetables are whole, cut, sliced, broken or powdered, but not prepared further. In addition to drying, certain preservatives may be added to maintain the equality. For instance, sulphur dioxide is added to prevent fruit discolouring. The use and content of preservatives in food is regulated by the EU (see also paragraph 10 on legislative requirements in the CBI market survey ‘The preserved fruit and vegetable market in the EU’ and chapter 5 of this Survey). We will write a custom essay sample on Dry Fruits or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Organic dried fruit is produced without sulphur which results in dark fruit and the flavour is much more characteristic. Vine fruits Vine fruits are essentially dried grapes and comprise sultanas, raisins and currants. The sultana is a soft, juicy, amber coloured fruit with a very sweet flavour. It is largely produced from a seedless white grape and varies in shape from round to oval according to variety. The majority is produced from the Thompson seedless grape. The sultana has its own distinctive sun-drying treatment which varies depending on origin, but which differentiates it from a raisin. One method is to spray the grape with a vegetable-based drying oil, prior to sun-drying. The actual sun-drying process can also vary, depending on country of origin. One method is to sun-dry the clusters of fruit on racks in partial shade. Another method is to place the fruit in the open sun on specially shaped drying areas. Drying can take from a week to ten days until the moisture content has been reduced sufficiently (to around 16%) to produce succulent sultanas. The fruit is then washed and cleaned and given a fine coating of vegetable oil. This keeps the fruit moist and prevents the berries from sticking together. Raisins, dark brown and wrinkled with a sweet mellow flavour, are produced from unseeded or seeded, white or black grapes. The vast majority is, however, produced from the seedless white Thompson grape. A grape becomes a raisin when its moisture content has been reduced through sun-drying, to around 16%. The grape is harvested when ripened to its fullest and is picked in clusters. At this stage the methods implemented for sun-drying vary greatly in accordance with the different countries of origin. Methods used include drying the grapes on clean paper trays between the vines, or placing the grapes on special concrete drying areas. The fruit lies in the full blaze of the sun, as opposed to partial shade, for 2-3 weeks until the grapes moisture content has been reduced to around 16% into the caramel brown raisin we are familiar with. The raisins, as with sultanas, are packed into storage bins to keep the fruit moist, and are washed and oiled before export. Currants are dried, black, seedless grapes. All currants derive from the same variety of grape known as the Corinth and this is from where the word â€Å"currant† originated. The methods for sun-drying currants vary according to the climate and soil of the region, but keeping the grape in the shade for the first part of the drying period is said to produce the best quality currants. Dried tropical fruits such as mangoes, papayas, and bananas are becoming a more common item in European health food stores and supermarkets, where they are sold pre-packed in cellophane bags as well as in bulk (by weight). Usually, these products are sold with sugar added for sweetness and sulphur added for color retention, although â€Å"all natural† product is preferred by the health food stores. Other major developed markets, such as Japan, purchase dried tropical fruits, but in much smaller quantities. Customers The major customers of dried tropical fruits are (a) the dried fruit and nut industry (selling mixed retail packs consisting of dried tropical fruits and other dried fruits and nut, also selling retail packs consisting solely of one dried tropical fruit); (2) breakfast cereal industry (mostly in musli); and (3) the confectionary industry (in fruit and health bars, ingredients to chocolate bars). In most countries, importers or agents act as intermediaries, although some of the packers and food processors also import directly. Health risk: Infestation of dried apricot in bags under laboratory conditions. 185 Mites were found on the exterior of the packing during inspection, which indicates 186 that they migrated from the inside of the infested packing to the surface. The packing differed in its protection to the mite infestation and decreased from polypropylene 188 back with aluminum foil, cellophane sac, polypropylene bag to plastic bag. However, 189 after six months, the mites penetrated into all types of packing. The highest numbers 190 of mites were observed in plastic bags packing. Our field data from supermarkets showed a contamination density with a 231 maximum of 650 individuals per g of dried food. The simulation model indicates that 232 such levels of contamination can be reached quickly during storage of contaminated 233 dried fruit in supermarkets or consumers’ kitchens. From a hypothetical initial mite 234 population of 10 individuals, the risk level observed in supermarkets (650 individuals) 235 is reached very quickly: 42 days of population multiplication on dried figs, 49 days on dried pineapple and 63 days on dried apricots, dates and plums (Figure 2) in 237 hypothetical temperature 25 ? C. The labeled time for consumption is half a year or longer; however, mites are not 239 detected by buyers, consumers, or inspectors in this time frame because the mites 240 are not visible to the human eye due to their small size. Similar observations have 241 been made in grain stores, in which farmers seriously underrated the risk of 242 infestation by mites and psocids (Stejskal and Hubert 2008) because mite 243 contamination was not visible due to the microscopic size of the mites. Exploitation of dried fruit as a carrier of functional ingredients is a relatively new concept, although the functional properties of such products originated from the nature of drying process, where the removal of water leads to a natural concentration of healthy fruit components. Even taking into consideration the fact that traditional drying technology leads to serious losses of bioactive compounds, dried fruit can still be a valuable source not only of energy, dietary fibre and minerals, but also of anti-oxidant activity. Natives in Canada used to dry berries in order to have enough vitamin C during the off-season to protect them against scurvy (Turner, 1997). Due to the application of modern technology, the matrix of fruits and vegetables can be fortified with healthpromoting compounds such as prebiotics, vitamins, or minerals. This is considered to be an important area for future research into the development of functional food markets (Alzamora et al. , 2005; Fito et al. , 2001). Based on the natural potential of fruit, and the opportunities offered by modern technology, the idea arose within the ISAFRUIT Integrated Project to develop novel, convenient, dried fruit products with functional properties that could contribute to the increased consumption of healthy products. New food product development, especially those with functional properties, represents a high risk for any company (van Trijp and Steenkamp, 2005; van Kleef et al. 2002; 2005). Statistics show that many functional food products, even when developed from a sound scientific point of view, encounter poor market acceptance (Hilliam, 1998). Approx. 75% of newly launched food products are withdrawn from the food market during their first 2 years (Menrad, 2003). Consumer acceptance of a specific functional ingredient is linked to consumer knowled ge of its health effects, thus, the first essential step in product development is to explore which diseases consumers are actually concerned about (van Kleef et al. 2005; Menrad, 2003). To consume functional foods, consumers also need to know what benefit they will get from consuming a particular food, and why (Wansink et al. , 2005). For many years, in the European Union, using disease-related information on packages or in product advertisements for a functional food was forbidden (Menrad, 2003). In July 2007, regulations on the nutritional and health claims that can be made for a food were introduced (EC Reg. No. 1924/2006). This provides the food industry with new legislation opportunities to design innovative products with added nutritional value (Schaafsma and Kok, 2005). Apart from the proper formulation of health claims, the product should also be presented in an attractive form so that consumers can accept easily it (van Kleef et al. , 2005). . Statistics show that many functional food products, even when developed from a sound scientific point of view, encounter poor market acceptance (Hilliam, 1998). Approx. 75% of newly launched food products are withdrawn from the food market during their first 2 years (Menrad, 2003). Consumer acceptance of a specific functional ingredient is linked to consumer knowledge of its health effects, thus, the first essential step in product development is to explore which diseases consumers are actually concerned about (van Kleef et al. , 2005; Menrad, 2003). To consume functional foods, consumers also need to know what benefit they will get from consuming a particular food, and why (Wansink et al. , 2005). For many years, in the European Union, using disease-related information on packages or in product advertisements for a functional food was forbidden (Menrad, 2003). In July 2007, regulations on the nutritional and health claims that can be made for a food were introduced (EC Reg. No. 1924/2006). This provides the food industry with new legislation opportunities to design innovative products with added nutritional value (Schaafsma and Kok, 2005). Apart from the proper formulation of health claims, the product should also be presented in an attractive form so that consumers can accept easily it (van Kleef et al. , 2005). Conclusion: In this study, a tendency was observed that consumers appreciated candies and muesli bars with dried fruit and with natural fruit sugars. It seems that this type of product could benefit from adding dried fruit with natural fruit sugars. Similarly, Bech-Larsen et al. (2001) noticed that consumers do not increase the healthiness of yoghurts and juices with functional ingredients because these products are already perceived as being healthy per se. In contrast, spreads could benefit from functional enrichment, because this product is perceived as inherently unhealthy. Risks: Surveys of European and US dried tropical fruit importers, conducted in March 1998, found that importers are less interested in sun-dried product and very competitive overall. The perception is that the product will have too many foreign products (insect fragments, defects, spoilage, microbiological problems, bacteria) and will not pass food safety regulations. Some would be willing to look at the sun dried product and see whether it meets specifications however, all stressed that the market is well supplied and that new entrants must have some comparative advantage in terms of price or presentation. http://www. foodnet. cgiar. org/market/Uganda/reports/Driedfruits. PDF Nutrition: * â€Å"Soft† dry fruit (apricots, raisins, dates, figs, prunes†¦) are rich in arbohydrates and low in fat. They are sources of fibre, vitamins and minerals (vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, vitamins E and niacin (PP), iron, magnesium†¦). The fragility of vitamin C means that there is virtually none in dried fruit. The richness of the carbohydrates contained within their small volume makes dry fruit a favourite food of  sports  people during or after p hysical exertion (mountain biking, hiking, walking, marathon running, etc ). The most calorie-rich of these foods are raisins (1340 kJ/100 g or 320 kcal/100 g) followed by dates (1255 kJ/100g or 300 kcal/100 g). The richest in potassium and sodium are dried apricots. Dried banana has the highest magnesium content. Figs have the most calcium. * Nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds) are rich in  oil: they provide energy in the form of lipids (fatty acids, especially mono- and polyunsaturated ones), and therefore have a very high calorie content (2510 kJ/100g or 600 kcal/100 g). They are rich in fibre, minerals (magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus†¦) and vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, E, PP). http://www. eufic. org/page/en/page/faq/faqid/fruit-dry-nutritional-benefits/ sulphur dioxide Allergic reaction ~ Asthma

Triathlon Essay Example

Triathlon Essay Exercise: 23 min swimming (continuous) 15 min cycle machine (continuous) When I was swimming, I was in the sea and in a wetsuit. I believe that this is a good way to train for the south islands triathlon because I am able to get more comfortable to the conditions and adjust to them. The swimming was mostly continuous for the 23 minutes, and I was using my aerobic energy system with the work being continuous.From this exercise I have learnt not to swim too far out because then when trying to swim back in after doing work for a long period it was quite hard due to the rip, and pull of the waves. For the cycling I was on my cycle machine at home. For the time period I spent on the cycle machine, I was just going at a comfortable pace. The exercise was not too intensive because I treated it more like a warm down exercise. For the 15 minutes I spent on it, in ever stopped. REST PERIOD BETWEEN: from the sea to my house, approximately 600-700 metres away and I walked in betweenExercise: Dua thlon. (Running, Cycling) For my Wednesday training, instead of following my trainer program, I completed a Duathlon in Oamaru. For the Duathlon, it was approximately 14 km cycle and approximately 4 km run. This exercise was all constant while pushing myself to find my limits to get a general idea of what things i will have to train on more than others, e. g. going from cycling to running in one motion. Although I am training for a triathlon, due to weather conditions and advise from my P. E. eacher, it would be too hard for me to complete a triathlon with the water being choppy and having a strong wind. Some things I learnt from doing the Duathlon were to control how much energy I am putting out at the start. There is no point wasting all your energy getting out front, then not being able to finish strong because you ran out of energy. Some strengths that I got out of doing the Duathlon is that I was able to get the feel of the motion from going from cycling to running. You can tra in for this but nothing beats doing the actual thing.In doing this I found that it was a weak point so I would be able to train around that in the near future. CONCLUTION: For the rest of my training program, i followed the days as closely as i could and the days i couldn’t complete my training, i would make up for it the next day or that same day in sport trainings and games. Things i would change if i were to do this again would be to train more around my swimming because when i completed the triathlon on the set date that is what let me down and that was the cause of losing some positions

Grants and Artist-in-Residences are Awesome Opportunities

Grants and Artist-in-Residences are Awesome Opportunities Philanthropy is on the rise. Grants are plentiful, offering funding for publishing, research, workshops, writing, travel, individual/community projects, seminars and more. Grants often require an extensive application process. When applying, youll need a finely-honed mission and letters of recommendation from respected peers. When awarded a grant, youll be required to submit a final report detailing how you spent the funds. Sometimes a sample donation of your work will be requested. Grants are not simply free money. They involve many hours of work, but it is time well-spent. Grants have themes. Grant providers offer grants for specific purposes. Make sure that your project is a good match with the grantors parameters before you begin the application process. Some grants offer funding within specific geographic boundaries; is your geographical location a match? Clearly articulate how you will use the grant money. Include a detailed budget. And explain how this project matches the grants mission. Demonstrate that your requests match the funding guidelines. Explain how this grant will serve your professional career, help others (now and in the future) and expand the grantors mission. Â  If you can communicate these three components, youll be a strong candidate. You need to create a verifiable connection between their goals and your dreams. Grants are about you, the grant funder and the impact the project will have on others. Ive received grants to attend writers conferences because improved writing skills helped at work. Once I applied for and received a little-known $4,000 governors grant for teaching excellence to complete graduate level writing courses. The local state educators association awarded me two $10,000 grants to produce a book with a companion CD about Native American music. The Quaker Lyman Fund funded two grants totaling $5,000 to produce a CD and to support writing and teaching about the importance of spiritual connections in retirement communities. A local bank offered a grant for a writing project for children. The Alex Tanous Foundation funded two summer projects to assist with projects which brought women to my home for 10-week classes. The Puffin Foundation offers grants to save something endangered. My grant project proposal was about saving authentic Native American music, which is also endangered. Two grants, assisting me in completing two music books, arrived. Grant funds can ma ke such a positive impact in bringing creative projects to completion! Artist-in-Residencies (AIRs) have also been welcome gifts during the past 10 years. When I accepted AIR positions at Sleeping Bear Dunes (MI), Acadia (ME), Crater Lake (OR) and Great North Cascades (WA) U.S. National Parks, it became obvious that those without an artistic bent were a bit confused about what I would be doing. Writing and offering one public presentation about my work, was my response. Is that all? some questioned. Yes, that was all. What gifts of time and inspiration! A month of time to create is a present that is difficult to describe. In preparation to apply, one needs to have a vision-a project plan. Make sure your calendar is clear, craft an AIR project on paper, gather references and complete the application. Each park offers a unique experience: Sleeping Bear Dunes reflects Native American legends of the Great Lakes, Acadias rockbound coast/islands strengthen the soul, Great North Cascades offers majestic mountains, wild rivers, mammoth trees and Crater Lakes mystical quality is magnetic! My fifth AIR on Marthas Vineyard at Turkeyland Cove for 17 days of solitude in a magnificent island house resulted in several publications. Hundreds of such opportunities are available all over the world. (Visit www.cafe.org .) Im a writer with a passion to bring written projects to completion. Letters are my tools and words are my medium. Inspirational opportunities abound, but one has to search for a good match and write a convincing pitch. Grants offer money and AIR programs offer inspirational opportunities to connect with beauty and serenity. These gifts will continue to enrich your work for many years.

Effect of Psychological Contract Violation on Organizational Essay

Effect of Psychological Contract Violation on Organizational Commitment, Trust and Turnover Intention in Private and Public Sector Indian Organizations - Essay Example Shahnawaz and Goswami (2011) basically outline the negative outcomes of psychological contract breaches on employers and employees in an organization. Epitropaki (2013: 67) describes an employment contract as a document which can control the activities of employees in an organization, and help them to realize the business goals. Such a contract details what employees are expected of by their employer and the gains that they are entitled to as payment for their effort. On the other hand, Wei and Si (2013: 544) concurs with Shahnawaz and Goswami on the definition of the less formal psychological contract as the beliefs of an individual employee as influenced by the business conditions guiding the interaction between employees and the employer. Alternatively, psychological contract can be construed to mean the perception of individual employees of their duty to their employer and their entitlements (Chiang et al 2012:81). Although, many people view the formal contract as more important to the success of an organization, Shahnawaz and Goswami’s assertion that psychological contract is a mutual commitment which plays an equally pivotal role in forging organizational commitment and the greater productivity is based on scientific evidence (Kraft & Kwantes 2013: 139; (Randmann 2013: 134). But Shahnawaz and Goswami’s argument that it is obvious for either party to fulfill their duty such contracts fails the implementation test. Notably, Zribi and Souaà ¯ (2013: 11) say the understanding of the psychological contract terms between an employee and the organization may be different because both parties have diverse interests and the practice is massively perceptual. Liang and Liu (2014: 56) also note these conflicting understandings of the mutual duties may create an understanding that the other party has reneged on the contractual terms. In addition, employees’ beliefs about of the duti es set up at the

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN CONTEMPORARY NURSING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN CONTEMPORARY NURSING - Essay Example In spite of this, relevant studies indicate that the nursing profession has inconsistently continued to define social justice (Browne 2008, p. 83-85; Judy et al. 2010, p. E3-4), a critical concept that has introduced discrepancies between professional expectations and competence within practice. This paper will critically analyze the concept of social justice within the nursing profession by analyzing related literature and debate on policy concerns and forces that affect social justice within the practice. Also, the paper will analyse the application of nursing professional values in relation to social justice. As identified in the introductory section, the concept of social justice within the nursing practice is surrounded by inconsistencies that cut across nursing expectations and practice. A study conducted by Pfitzinger (2013, p.1) involving the review of literature published on PubMed and CINAHL databases revealed that a majority of currently published articles related to social justice within nursing lacked a defined action plan and had inconsistencies within the definition of the notion of ‘social justice’. Additionally, those that have action plans were unable to guide clearly nurses on how to engage in acts related to social justice. The education system is challenged with inadequate instructional methods that prepare the engagement and integration of concepts of social justice in nursing due to the uncertainty of the topic within practice (Browne & Tarlier 2008, p.85; Judy et al. 2010, p.E1-9). With the existence of such confusion, nurses are not expected to deal accurately with the vice of social injustice within the practice. Interestingly, pressure is mounting on instructors regarding the introduction of social justice concepts within the classroom setting with the looming confusion of defining the concept (Boutain 2005, p.405). Pfitzinger (2013, p.1) clearly explains the

Should smartphones be bsnned in classrooms Research Paper

Should smartphones be bsnned in classrooms - Research Paper Example 1). In addition, the same discourse has identified that the smartphone owners by age group revealed that 23.8% are owned by young people, specifically within the 13 to 24 years range (Alexander, 2012), or those who are considered within the school-age bracket. In this regard, the current study aims to determine the effects of smartphone use in academic performance. Despite the academic benefits that have been published associated with smartphone use; apparently, there are more costs or disadvantages linked to its usage within the classroom setting. As such, one argues that smartphones should be banned in classrooms due to the greater disadvantages associated to its use and its negative impact on academic performance. Impact of Smartphone Use in the Classroom Setting One of the more prominent reasons for arguing that smartphones should be banned is its being used to promote maladjusted behavior, including cheating and posting inappropriate information about teachers (Gutnicki, 2010; ( Barkham & Moss, 2012). As emphasized by Gutnicki (2010), â€Å"smart phones are being utilized to cheat in the classroom and to record/post inappropriate information about teachers. ... Concurrently, smartphones should be banned in classrooms for being a distraction and taking crucial time from focusing on the instructions. From among the schools that have confirmed the distractive effect of smartphones, instituting banning or prohibitive policies of their use within the classroom setting were noted to have gained benefits in terms of improvements of academic behavior. As noted from a spokesperson for Cockshut Hill Technology College in Yardley, Birmingham, â€Å"we introduced a complete ban on mobile phones two years ago because of the disruption they were causing†¦and it has improved behaviour† (Barkham & Moss, 2012, par. 14). If the collective time spent of viewing and attending to applications in the smartphones are removed, these time would completely be focused on academic endeavors and instructors would enhance students’ awareness of subject matters that would benefit them most. Thus, the banning of smartphones has evidently proven that stu dents’ behavior and academic performance significantly improved. Finally, smartphone use were clearly linked to cyberbullying. Banning smartphones within the classroom setting and within the campus would therefore minimize time spent to send distructive messages that aim to ridicule, discriminate, or victimize unsuspecting students. As emphasized, â€Å"a recent survey conducted by the National Crime Prevention Council reported that 43% of middle school students: received an e-mail or an instant message that made them upset had something posted on a social networking site that made them upset had been made fun of in a chat room; had something posted on a Web site that made them upset; had something posted online that they did not want others to see; and were afraid to go on the computer†

European Model Of Corporate Governance

European Model Of Corporate Governance Corporate governance comes into play in cases where the management of the organization has to be carried out by a manager or a group of managers who are not the owners of the organization. In essence, corporate governance is implemented by a business financers in order to monitor and regulate the organizations utilization of their investments (Becht, Chapelle Renneboog, 2000). In this case, the individuals hired to manage the business are paid employees and are responsible for the effective execution of the organizations processes. As a result of this arrangement, it is only natural for a separation to exist between the ownership of the organization and the management of the organization (Brickley, Coles Jarrell, 1997). While this may appear to be a simple concept, modern day business models have allowed corporate governance models to develop rapidly over the last few years and this has led to the development of differing corporate governance models. The implementation of these cor porate governance models generally varies in accordance with the region in which the organization is functioning and the nature of business of the organization. This paper will attempt to compare and contrast the Anglo-American model and the European Model of Corporate Governance. The paper will attempt to perform this comparison in order to ascertain which of the two models more accurately reflect emerging corporate trends. Furthermore, the discussion will make international comparisons based on a variety of different economies. Before moving on with the discussion, it is essential to come to terms with the role of the board of directors of the organization. The board of directors play a pivotal role in corporate governance models. This is because of the fact that they serve as the bridge between the stakeholders of the organization and the management team responsible for the organizations processes (Brickley, Coles Jarrell, 1997). The sensitivity of the role of the board of directors can be judged through the fact that an extensive degree of research has been performed on the functions and composition of the board of directors. Regardless of the corporate culture in the organization, the board of directors remains present as a critical connection between the organizations human capital and the organizations stakeholders. Another reason because of which the board of directors are given extensive relevance is the fact that almost all corporate governance models look towards the board of directors when it com es to the implementation of the corporate governance models (Becht, Chapelle Renneboog, 2000). The characteristics of the board of directors tend to vary with regard to the size of the organization, the region/regions in which the organization is functioning, the existence of the company as a listed or unlisted company and the industry/industries in which the organization is operating. A practical example of the implementation of the European model of corporate governance and the Anglo-American model of corporate governance can be observed in the case of the US and Europe respectively (Brickley, Coles Jarrell, 1997). In Europe, a small number of investors are capable of making pivotal investment decisions and these decisions are generally aligned with the interests of the selected investors responsible for the decisions. In comparison, the system generally followed and proffered in the US calls for the inclusion of multiple opinions and perspectives (Becht, Chapelle Renneboog, 2000). The corporate strategy that is developed and eventually implemented is not finalized until all the investors are and shareholders are in unanimous agreement. Managements role In the case of the Anglo-American countries, it is often considered that the Anglo-American system of corporate governance gives unquestioning support to the management (Becht, Chapelle Renneboog, 2000). This creates a scenario in which the management appears to have a role that is limited to the short run and does not encompass the long run. It can therefore be surmised that the management, in the case of the Anglo-American system of corporate governance, frequently communicates with the stakeholders. As a result, managers in the Anglo-American system of corporate governance try to implement strategies that will show outcomes within the span of a year or two (Brickley, Coles Jarrell, 1997). In comparison, when the management implements the European model of corporate governance, decisions are taken with outcomes expected around five years. In such cases, the shareholders generally hold more decision making authority than that which is given to the managers. Furthermore, controllin g and holding structures are significantly common in organizations making use of the European model of corporate governance. In such cases, the European model of corporate governance is also often referred to as the concentrated shareholder model because of the extensive authority that it gives to the shareholders. This concentration of ownership can often lead to the development of complications in cases where financial resources have to play their part (Becht, Chapelle Renneboog, 2000). The number of equity suppliers is generally deficient in the European model of corporate governance because of the concentration of ownership. Another characteristic of the European model of corporate governance that merits highlighting at this point is that which pertains to the role of the capital market. The capital market holds importance for corporate governance on account of the fact that the developments in the capital market have a direct influence on the corporate controls of the organization (Brickley, Coles Jarrell, 1997). While the Anglo-American model of corporate governance relies heavily on the capital market and seeks to takeover threats in the capital market, the European model of corporate governance gives primary relevance to the stakeholders. Internal Differences Labour motivation is a critically important factor when it comes to the organizations performance. Since labour in the European model of corporate governance is always a part of the decision making process, it is generally more motivated than the labour force in the Anglo-American model of corporate governance. Since the labour is relatively highly motivated, they choose to contribute to the organizations development aggressively (Brickley, Coles Jarrell, 1997). This active participation on the labours part tends to place a limitation on the degree to which the supervisory board can exercise authority (Hanson Song, 2000). Influences of the labours active participation can generally be seen in the development of the organizations human resource management policies. The realist theory of codetermination understands co-determination as labour representation. Labour as the most important stakeholder group besides the shareholders should be represented and have a right to participate in the decision making on the level of the second board, i.e. the advisory board in the two-tier-board system (Hanson Song, 2000). Co-determination as representation does not aim at consent about all matters of corporate governance. It is rather geared towards the right to participate and to be included and heard in corporate governance for the sake of workers recognition as well as for the sake of other stakeholders of the firm because workers participation in decision-making enhances the quality of board decisions. If the shareholders prevent the shirking of the employees of the firm according to the theory of the firm introduced by Alchian and Demsetz (1996), codetermination by labour results analogously in the prevention of shirking by shareholders and managers th at causes damage to labour as shirking by employees causes damage to the shareholders. If the shareholders and/or managers do not perform optimally labour will prevent them from shirking, from not making their contractual contributions to the firm. Industrial relations are traditionally better in continental Europe than in the USA which leads to higher work place satisfaction and higher identification with the firm (Becht, Chapelle Renneboog, 2000). These, in turn, cause higher productivity rates. In the last two decades since 1988, the process of the globalization of capital markets seemed to support the shareholder principle, not the participation principle. In the context of globalization As globalization continues to influence the development of the global economy, corporate governance also becomes subjected to standardization based on the successful implementation of strategies by management teams around the world (Hanson Song, 2000). The case of General Motors and Ford presents an excellent example in this regard. General Motors and Ford have produced in Germany in huge production sites for over seventy years and did not find it unprofitable to adjust to codetermination legislation which is about 35 years old in 2008. In the European institutional setting, there is a greater complexity on the second board level that causes certain additional costs. There is, however, also the gain of additional information about the firm and of greater labour alignment with the aims of the firm as a result of labour representation in corporate governance on the level of the second board level. The participation or co-determination principle can increase corporate performance if it is understood as a principle of representation and not as a consensus principle and if it is instituted together with the control principle of hostile takeovers (Hanson Song, 2000). Codetermination as representation of the employees on the board increases the learning capacity of the organization and also fulfils a pacification function in conflict situations within the enterprise as long as the majority vote of the shareholders or owners is safeguarded. The synthesis between the Anglo-American principle of the capital market as the market for corporate control and the German principle of co-determination as employee representation in corporate governance on the second board level is possible, even under conditions of globalization (Becht, Chapelle Renneboog, 2000). The point to which the two systems of corporate governance, the USA and the Continental European, converge to is the strengthening of capital market control of management in Europe and the strengthening of labour repr esentation in corporate governance in the USA. The purpose of the firm Another difference between the Anglo-American and the Continental European theories of corporate governance concerns the idea of the purpose of the firm (Lipton Lorsch, 1992). The purpose of an institutional part or subsystem of a society is the major resource from which ethical analysis and decision-making draws from since the purpose of action is the most important and defining feature of an action. The purpose of any human action is the major criterion for the ethical assessment of an action or institution (Becht, Chapelle Renneboog, 2000). The reason is that the purpose or aim of an action or institution is the central cause of an action or institution and, therefore, the central criterion for its success and value in economic, cultural and ethical respect. Ethics gives the conditions under which value creation must take place as constraining and as enabling conditions (Hanson Song, 2000). Value creation can take place under the neglect of the personal right of the person or of human dignity if the market conditions cause such groups of individuals to have a weak competitive position. If there is an over-supply of labour its competitive position is weak. The law might have to protect human dignity against exploitation and abuse when competition in the market does not preserve the human rights of the market participants (Becht, Chapelle Renneboog, 2000). Situations of prisoners dilemma in which it is advantageous for the individual to behave opportunistically require the affirmation of ethical and legal rules independent of the utility calculus of the acting individual. Loyalty to contracts e.g. is a principle that cannot be derived from individual utility maximization for each act but must be asserted by the individual on its own meri t for ethical reasons (Thompson Wright, 1995). It can only be justified by rule utilitarianism for the general rule and not by act utilitarianism for each single act. This implies that one has the duty to be loyal to a contract even if a more advantageous contract is available instead. The non-conditional hyper-norm of the economy must be distinguished from the second order positive norms of the institutional setting of business. Some of these positive norms are sometimes suggested to be ethical or normal rules of the first order although they are in fact norms or virtues of economic organization that imply some degree of freedom of specification although their organization touches on ethical virtues, or norms of the second order. The European model of the firm emphasizes that the firm is a multi-purpose institution in which shareholder value plays the central but not the only role (Becht RÃ ¶ell, 1999). The Anglo-American model of the firm emphasizes shareholder value as the onl y or last purpose of the firm to which the other (stakeholder) purposes are instrumental or, at least, functional. At this point, the development will go in the direction of the European model since it is more inclusive and interprets the stakeholders to be of more then instrumental value to the firm. The recent global recession has led to the development of a scenario in which it has become imperative for organizations to exercise corporate governance. It therefore comes as no surprise that the last few years have seen a significant increase in the volume of literature on corporate governance. Furthermore, the increasing trends in globalization and the rapid developments in international businesses have placed organizations in a position where it has become crucial for them to revisit their corporate governance methodologies (Becht RÃ ¶ell, 1999). These recent changes in corporate governance, and the processes of globalization that have induced them, are obviously of historic proportion, radically altering as they have economic, political and social structures. The stakes in these reforms are high and they may be literally life and death for the most vulnerable organizations. Conclusion In the literature of corporate governance, there has been an on-going debate about whether financial or banking models are more effective. As noted above, it is currently being argued that the key to effectiveness does not depend upon whether a country adopts one or the other model, but whether it has a well-functioning legal system which allows for the timely enforcement of contracts. If this position is correct, then the ability of developing countries to enforce a model of corporate governance may be ultimately tied to larger questions of democratic political reform a prospect which many critics feel is being undermined by the very forces of globalization promoting an Anglo American model of governance. An important question that the experience of developing countries raises but one which it was not possible to systematically investigate in this issue is whether individual countries acting alone will be able to effectively enforce an Anglo-American model of governance in a globa l economy. The above discussion attempted to present an in depth insight into the differences between the Anglo-American model of corporate governance and the European model of corporate governance. The discussion made it clear that the fundamental distinction between the two models lies in the fact that they are present in differing business contexts (Warner, Watts Wruck, 1988). These contexts are dictated by the shareholder identity, shareholder concentration, stock liquidity and interlocking ownership. It can be observed here that there is a difference between the two approaches in how they address the two issues of ownership and control. The strengthening of labour representation in the American firm can improve the firms ability to discover chances and weaknesses within the organization and to use this knowledge for increased performance. The strengthening of the market for corporate control through a more active capital market in Europe will improve the performance of management. Furthermore, globalization will move corporate governance in the direction of such a synthesis. It is likely that this model will radiate to the global market. The question of whether economies will converge towards a common corporate Anglo-American governance system, or sustain the present diversity of institutions is one of the key issues facing countries in Europe, the Asia Pacific and throughout the rest of the world (Malette Hogler, 1995). Lower economic growth and higher unemployment in Europe compared to the Anglo-American countries since the mid-1990s, undermined some of the confidence in Europes social model (though by 2005 Germany had returned to its former position as the worlds largest exporter). Despite the pressures towards adopting Anglo-Saxon modes of corporate governance, the divergences in both the policy and practice of corporate governance in Europe have thus far resisted any move towards European standards. However with greater market integration and the developing influence of Anglo-American institutional investors, it is possible the market will play a greater role. Yet debates on company law harmonization in the Eur opean Union have been held up by countries not wishing to see elements of their own systems of corporate governance disappear in the process. One explanation for this impasse is the institutional complementarily thesis which justifies the continuing diversity of systems, rejecting the one-best-way strategy adopted by the convergence thesis. Instead a plurality of models is assumed, each corresponding to local circumstances, supported by a cluster of social norms and regulation, enabling balanced economic development. It can also be argued that the Anglo-American models can serve as an effective method for breaking unhealthy state business relationships and imposing more discipline on domestic corporations (Yermack, 1996). The diversity of corporate models is valuable and is rooted in societal characteristics that together shape the competitiveness of the different models. Though shareholder value may be gaining ground due to the influence of Anglo-Saxon institutional investors, a stakeholder approach is closer to the reality of European social democracies, and the outcome of the confrontation between the two competing philosophies is highly uncertain. It is unlikely that imported Anglo-Saxon capital market related features of corporate governance will work well with Continental labor-related aspects of corporate governance as represented in supervisory boards. It is likely any such European compromise would be more unstable than existing systems. The attractiveness of the Anglo-American finance and governance institutions permeated with inequality and subject to recurrent severe market cycles and financial crisis is open to question as a model for universal applicability. Indeed the damaging consequen ces of the 2008 financial crisis will impact severely upon the world economy, and could well dislodge the faith that the market based governance system is the only rational and efficient one for the future. It is more likely that solutions will be found to pressing problems of equity, sustainability and innovation in a diversity of finance and governance systems, responsive to deeper and wider concerns than the self-interest of the executives who control corporations, financial institutions and hedge funds. The paper served to clarify that while the Anglo-American model of corporate governance seeks to implement external discipline methodologies. This entails the concentration of the organizations resources and attention towards elements such as proxy fights in the competitive landscape, handling liability management claims and the sustenance of management reputation. The Anglo-American model of corporate governance is somewhat aggressive and appears to be a model that continuously demands the organization to function as a challenger in the competitive landscape. In comparison, the European model of corporate governance seeks to make use of extensive alignment between the organizations stakeholders. The external methodologies brought into use by the European model of corporate governance tend to increase coordination and communication across the organization in an attempt to streamline the organizations functions in accordance with the organizations objectives. In addition, the European model of corporate governance also seeks to ensure that the organizations objectives are understood and that the management, stakeholders and board of directors are in mutual agreement on the objectives of the organization. The comparison of the two corporate governance models has served to reveal that the Anglo-American model of corporate governance is an aggressive corporate governance model and in order to exercise the Anglo-American model of corporate governance the organization needs to have a strong foundation (Wolfenzon, 1998). This is because of the fact that the Anglo-American model of corporate governance often requires the managers to make decisions that are in favour of their own perspectives and require over-investment. In this case, the managers do not seek the approval of external stakeholders and proceed with the implementation of their decisions. In this regard, the European model of corporate governance comes forth as the preferred corporate governance model. This is because of the fact that the European model of corporate governance gives the organization the margin of deciding on an orientation that is best suited for the competitive landscape in which the organization is functioning (Wolfenzon, 1998). While the Anglo American model of corporate governance demands that the organization plays aggressively continuously, the European model of corporate governance gives the organization the margin it needs to adapt to changing needs. As a result, the organization can choose to function passively and steadily when it chooses; and functions aggressively when it chooses. In essence, the increased communication and coordination between the strategic, operational and tactical elements of the organization allows the organization to ensure that it does not get exposed to any high-risk scenarios. The recommendation of the European model of corporate governance is based on the pretext that recent global economic trends have proved that it is feasible for organizations to adopt an organization that minimizes their exposure to risk. Managerial reputation and status cannot be given importance over the organizations sustained growth because most organizations that have been successful in the last few decades have chosen to follow their expansion strategies with consistency; regardless of the speed at which they grew. While some organizations chose to grow rapidly by intentionally engaging in high-risk investments, others chose to implement the European model of corporate governance by reducing their risk exposure. Organizations such as these proceeded by studying internal and external scenarios closely before finalizing and implementing a strategy. It is because of this reason that such organizations were able to minimize the degree to which they were impacted by the recent global recession. It can be observed that the European model of corporate governance requires the management to engage in a level of coordination that the Anglo-American model of corporate governance does not call for. As a result, the European model of corporate governance places the management in a position where every decision that materializes into action is of a nature such that is supports the organization and is not influenced by a desire to drive up managerial reputation and status. Another key reason because of which the European model of corporate governance is recommended over the Anglo-American model of corporate governance is because the European model of corporate governance satisfies the need for the generation of shareholder profitability. The Anglo-American model of corporate governance does not give primary relevance to shareholder profitability because the authority to make investment decisions is placed and limited in the hands of a few individuals. In comparison to this, the European model of corporate governance places the organization in a position where the generation of shareholder profitability enables the organization to attract more investors. In this regard, it would be just to bring the paper to a concluding note with the statement that the European model of corporate governance accurately reflects emerging corporate trends. The examples and elaborations presented in the above discussion make it clear that the European model of corporate go vernance responds far more adequately to modern day business needs than the Anglo-American model of corporate governance.

Robert Pirsigs Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Essay

Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values Confronting crises of technological annihilation and personal madness, Robert Pirsig finds each to be a manifestation of a deeper crisis of Reason. In response) he suggests an alternative to our current paradigm of rationality, the "art of motorcycle maintenance." By showing that our understanding and performance derive from our emotional and evaluative commitments, he challenges the cultural commonplace which construes "subjective" states as distortions of "objective" reality. In so doing, he asserts that "wholeness" or sanity may be achieved only through "passionate caring," and an awareness and acceptance of how our emotions and values shape our experiences. Further, he shows that technology, a manifestation of our values, may be controlled only through emotional and moral commitment. A restorative rhetoric, on Pirsig's analysis is, then, one in which the passions and values are recognized as the very ground of being in and interpreting the world. The crisis of reason As he begins his "Chautauqua," Robert Pirsig finds himself in a twofold crisis. He characterizes the public dimension of the crisis as arising in large part from the technological fragmentation of nature and man. Having transformed nature from a field of daffodils into a field for its own potential appropriation, technology, as Marshall McLuhan has noted, now also "shapes and controls the scale of human association and action" (McLuhan 8). Seemingly indifferent to human values and developing under its own logic, technology increasingly isolates us from our natural environment, from one another, and even from ourselves. For though we may be in touch with Belgrade or Toky... ...ight give, the Sophist being "a hunter of young men of rank and distinction who works not by violence, but by persuasion." ("The Middle Speech of Plato's Phaedrus," Journal of the History of Philosophy, 9 [1971], 421). Pirsig admits that his defense of the Sophists against Plato is not original; indeed such a defense dates to the nineteenth century. Everett Lee Hunt elaborates this point in his "On the Sophists," in The Province of Rhetoric, ed. Joseph Schwartz and John A. Rycenga (New York: Ronald Press, 1965); and in "Plato and Aristotle on Rhetoric and Rhetoricians" (Historical Studies of Rhetoric and Rhetoricians, ed., Raymond F. Nowes [Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell Univ. Press, 1961], p. 20), he writes: "It is to Hegel that the Sophists owe their rehabilitation in modern times." Hunt also shows that Lewes, Grote, Sidgwick and John Stuart Mill all joined in the defense.