Six Pillars Of Information Architecture - 906 Words

Six Pillars of Information Architecture  © [1] By: Shawn G Brown Part 1 of 6: Terms or Term Objects Sub-Title: Leveraging logic [2] to establish domain specific Information Architecture. Preface: The six pillar methodology is language based and falls under the auspice of informal logic. [3] The informal branch of logic gets its bones from argumentation theory. It is a methodology whereby goals are achieved through understanding domain specific language and applying implementation analysis to the findings. The Six Pillar approach, which I designed as a process methodology contains six methods hence the wording Six Pillars. Each method name correlates the type of data required to complete the base metadata for the†¦show more content†¦Term objects indicate a relationship between primary operating principles and business process within an activity domain. Term objects introduce taxonomy as associative metadata, and unveil activities associated with term object sets for business units, divisions or the enterprise – based on the language of the activity. Business units in an enterprise have multiple sets of term objects in use of which all users of term objects in that unit will (or should) know the practice and meaning of. Process implementation workers activities mandate dependencies thereon, based on the functional position of the individual or group implementer. The position title of the individual or group within the enterprise hierarchy is irrelevant at this point. The process and position indicate the activity object set. When combined with term object sets, definition and correlation for the activity of the information architecture begin to take place. Some term objects are common to all divisions and operational functions, while other term objects are used only by specific sub-domain activity entities and activity processes under the enterprise domain. For example, businesses must perform some type of financial accountability. Hence, each division or unit must provide their specific record of accountability in accordance with established principles and processes. These processes and principles have (or shouldShow MoreRelatedIslam And Its Impact On The World1560 Words   |  7 Pagesproceeded with his followers to spread the infectious word of Islam and its ideals. Due to the fact that Islam accepted many different types of long-standing cultures and diverse people, it has therefore attained and formed their ideas of art and architecture and implemented them in their own lifestyles. One of the many elements that were obtained from this blending of cultures is the art of cuneiform, along with the creation of loose-leaf manuscripts which would allow the Islamic people to transcribeRead MoreProcess Controls And Technology Controls1288 Words   |  6 PagesProcess Controls Technology Controls Process Controls IT and Security Strategic Management, Policy and Architecture – Architectures, policies and strategies defined to run IT services Organizational Structure, Roles and Responsibilities and Standards for interactions between groups; authority for security and external security related Communications ïÆ' ¼ Training and Awareness – Processes to increase visibility and knowledge of security risks Assessment and Auditing and Processes to assess the environmentRead MoreUniversity of Phoenix: Islam Worksheet1148 Words   |  5 PagesGod. 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Different techniques to hunt were shown by looking at wall paintings, in the Paleolithic era paintings were found in deep caves and showed a realism of the animals they depended on for food, where as the Neolithic era paintings were located on smoothRead MoreElectronic Devices And The Key Driver Of The Performance1443 Words   |  6 PagesOver the last decades, electronics industry had a tremendous growth and became a main pillar of the overall world’s economy. Electronic mobile devices are replacing the conventional ways people used to interact and perceive information, and created unprecedented uses that don’t have conventional counterparts: health and fitness trackers, smart watches and virtual assistants to name a few. The sustained advancement of the semiconductor silicon based technology is the key driver of the performanceRead MorePolicy Issues Of Maternal And Child Health Essay1467 Words   |  6 Pagesbelow the standard recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). 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The founding of Rome, Roman architecture, and Roman entertainment, seem to be those final few pieces that made Rome complete. The FoundingRead MoreThe Menorah Is A Common And Very Sacred Symbol Dating1599 Words   |  7 Pagestheir stems, emphasizing the importance of spreading light to others. This design reflects the Menorah’s exact purpose in the Holy Temple, which was to spread the light of Godliness to the entire world. The Menorah contains a total of seven branches, six of which represent human wisdom, guided by the center branch of Divine light. The Menorah’s design and representations serve as an inspiration of enlightenment. The Menorah is also said to be a symbol of the nation of Israel and its mission to be aRead MoreReport on Historical Place-Changunarayan2613 Words   |  11 Pagestemple is adorned by some of the best specimen of stone, wood, and metal craft in the valley. The temple stands as the epitome of culture, religion, history and faith of the Kathmandu valley. The main physical aspects of this place are: Historical pillar   Garuda Statue of Bhupalendra Malla Chanda Narayan (Garuda Narayan   Sridhar Vishnu   Vaikuntha Vishnu   Chhinnamasta   Vishworup Vishnu Vikrant Narasimha Kileshwor 1.2 Objectives Every project has its own objective to explore facts and figure. SoRead MoreHow Analytics Helps An Organization Optimize Their Business Processes1730 Words   |  7 Pagesin providing their customers with relevant affordable mobile phone, cable TV and internet broad band services that suit and can satisfy their various needs. Pillars of analytics competition Digicel Group’s success so far and the ability to actively compete on analytics can be attributed to some key characteristics identified as the four pillars of analytics competition by Davenport and Harris (2007) in their book Competing on Analytics . The company’s distinctive capability can be seen in its ability

Smoke and Mirrors Corporate Social Responsibility and Tax Avoidance Article

Essays on Smoke and Mirrors: Corporate Social Responsibility and Tax Avoidance by Sikka Article The paper "Smoke and Mirrors: Corporate Social Responsibility and Tax Avoidance by Sikka" is a delightful example of an article on finance and accounting. Sikka focuses on identifying gaps in the organizational talk, decisions, and actions by outlining how companies promise responsible conduct but engage in tax avoidance and evasion. The author outlines that major corporations rarely provide detailed information on their taxation plans, but offer reports that have promises of socially responsible conduct. US government estimates indicate that 66 percent of domestic and 68 percent of foreign corporations did not pay any taxes between 1998-2005. Although corporate tax rates have declined in the UK from 52 percent to 28 percent in 2008, tax avoidance is still high. Developing countries that receive financial aids such as Africa lose about 8 percent of their GDP through transfer pricing and tax avoidance schemes that transfer profits to developed countries. Despite their claim to integri ty and transparency, the author demonstrates that various corporate including professional accounting firms indulge in tax avoidance due to lack of moral compulsion. The hypocrisy is perpetuated by the pursuit of remuneration, profits and media accolades and has led to imprisonment and of executives and corporate fines. Companies engage in social responsibility hypocrisy through corporate talk while their actions indicate disparities in ethical conduct and tax disclosures.   My point of view In my opinion, big corporations have failed to be socially responsible since it is evident they engage in tax avoidance and evasion in order to report higher profits and high share prices. I believe the accounting framework has loopholes that allow firms to avoid or evade taxes through transfer pricing, offshore tax havens and royal programs that are perpetuated by the inconsistencies in their accounting across the globe. In my opinion, the lax corporate governance framework and greed by executives encourage tax avoidance in order for the business to report higher profits and ensure a higher return to shareholders. Professional Accounting firms have failed in their public responsibility of protecting the public interest through ensuring financial records are correct. The accounting firms collude with corporation executives to report higher profits in order to attain higher remuneration and status in society. The big corporations must have the moral obligation to pa y taxes and disclose their tax plans in their financial statements. The taxes help in building the economy through providing the necessary infrastructure thus paying taxes should be both a legal and ethical expectation of any business.

Endangered Native Animal Corroboree Frog †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Endangered Native Animal Corroboree Frog. Answer: Location and Background Corroboree frogs are one of Australias most critically endangered species. These frogs mainly inhabit 1.3 to 1.8 kilometers above the sea level at the Sphagnum wetland of sub alpine area (Corroboreefrog.org.au 2017). It has been found only in the national park of Mount Kosciuszko. The name bears the tradition of the Australian Aboriginals. The decline of the population of this kind of frogs has drawn attention from nature activists and scientists to protect them from becoming extinct. Critically Analysis of the Reasons of extinction The species does not get challenges from any natural predators as it secrets poisonous toxins but there are several factors that have been fueling to the extinction of the species. Chytridiomycosis The species has experienced severe attack from a specific fungus named Batrachochytriul dendrobatidis. The disease that is cause by the fungus named Chytridiomycosis has already contributed significantly in mass extinction of other species in eastern Australia (Scheele et al. 2017). The fungus attacks keratin that is present in high amount in the adult frogs or in the tadpoles. The infection caused harmful changes into the frogs skin layers that eventually become deadly. Climate change The climate change is another significant factor that has been contributing in the extinction of Corroboree frogs. The heat increase due to global warming is alarming. It has been affecting the breeding pools of the frogs and damaging their eco system (Environment.gov.au 2017). Ultraviolet radiation The increased Ozone has largely increased the UV radiation. The high exposure of ultraviolet rays has caused serious damage for the amphibious existence. The UV rays affect the embryos and egg DNAs. The radiation also caused harm in the water and damages the other bio organisms (Brannelly et al. 2015). The alpine lakes of that region are not deep; therefore the low organic carbon in the water causes great threats for the Corroboree frogs existence. Bushfire It has been observed before that bushfire can kill of a significant number of Corroboree Frogs. The sphagnum wetlands bushfire in the Kosciuszko Park caused threat for the frogs lives as they did not come back to the area again (Abc.net.au 2015). The fire destroys their natural shelter, breeding areas, causes high dehydration. Construction During the 1970s the construction of the Hydro-electric project in the snowy mountains has eliminated a large number of Corroboree frogs of that region (Hunter 2012). The construction of roads in this area causes low water level and dry outs and hampers their natural breading places. Close to Extinction The Corroboree frogs are registered in the red list by International Union for Coservation of Nature as critically endangered. The EPBC and NPW Act also have identified the species as endangered. An investigation in 2014 revealed that the total number of the Corroborree frogs are not more than 50 which is which got reduced by 99% since 1980s (Theconversation.com 2017). Immediate effective human intervention is necessary in order to prevent them from acute extinction. Different strategies for protection: compare, contrast, challenges The New South Wales National park and Wildlife Service and other institutions like the Amphibian Research Centre and the Canberra University collaboratively undertaking various strategies to ensure the protection of the Corroboree frogs in the region through a five year plan. Monitoring the population trend Various treatments will be applied in this stage like the precipitation, altitude, size of population and catchment, breeding or non-breeding habitat, before and after population size (Skerratt et al. 2016). The tadpoles will be minutely observed to examine the success of the breeding. As the study takes place for a long period, so it may experience fluctuations in the process of receiving effective data that can represent the population data appropriately. Breeding trials The trial reintroduction of the Corroboree frogs aged between 4-5years can increase the population. However protecting the existing frogs should be first priority and they should not be harmed in any way during the trial process. Protecting their habitat The drainage pattern of the region must be evaluated and repair the existing damages without hampering the natural habitat. The natural habitats of Alpine Bogs are listed in the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Environment.gov.au 2017). The threats will be minimized. The climate in the Research centre or Zoo is controlled and quarantine facilities are provided to protect them. The ongoing development and construction might contradict this process. Protection from pathogens James Cook University is experimenting to build the immunity from the Chytrid fungus (Brannelly et al. 2016). However the expensive genetic research is creating challenges. Developing community awareness The camping of the outsiders must be restricted. The conservation management will set some specific rules and guidelines have to be set for the people. The feral animals will be controlled (Braysher and Arman 2014). Translocation The scientists in the National park have developed few fungus free artificial breeding pools where the eggs of the Corroboree frogs have been successfully relocated (Scheele et al. 2014). The frogs take almost 5 years to grow mature so whether the eggs are able to survive that much time in the artificial pool is yet to be explored. Personal Point of View I believe the immediate concern should be the protection of the existing frogs as only about 100 are left in the whole world. Too much experiment might end up in harming them. However only after ensuring the best natural habitat they must be allowed to breed naturally. After that only few can be selected to incorporate the human intervention to increase the number. Effective precaution and preparation must be taken prior to the experiment. The human intervention might save the Corroboree frogs of the Alpine from extinction as it did for the Galapagos tortoises. References ABC News. (2015).Endangered frogs bouncing back in ACT: ecologists. [online] Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-15/namadgi-endangered-northern-corroboree-frogs-bouncing-back/6291648 [Accessed 12 Sep. 2017]. Brannelly, L.A., Berger, L., Marrantelli, G. and Skerratt, L.F., 2015. Low humidity is a failed treatment option for chytridiomycosis in the critically endangered southern corroboree frog.Wildlife Research,42(1), pp.44-49. Brannelly, L.A., Hunter, D.A., Skerratt, L.F., Scheele, B.C., Lenger, D., McFadden, M.S., Harlow, P.S. and Berger, L., 2016. Chytrid infection and post?release fitness in the reintroduction of an endangered alpine tree frog.Animal Conservation,19(2), pp.153-162. Braysher, M. and Arman, O., 2014. Managing Feral Horses in Namadgi National Park, Australia: A Sensitive Operation. InProceedings 26th Vertebrate Pest Conference. Hawaii(pp. 149-155). Corroboreefrog.org.au. (2017).Fast Facts Corroboree Frog. [online] Available at: https://www.corroboreefrog.org.au/biology/fast-facts/ [Accessed 12 Sep. 2017]. Hunter, D., 2012. National Recovery Plan for the Southern Corroboree Frog, Pseudophryne corroboree, and the Northern Corroboree Frog, Pseudophryne pengilleyi. Scheele, B.C., Hunter, D.A., Grogan, L.F., Berger, L.E.E., Kolby, J.E., McFadden, M.S., Marantelli, G., Skerratt, L.F. and Driscoll, D.A., 2014. Interventions for Reducing Extinction Risk in Chytridiomycosis?Threatened Amphibians.Conservation Biology,28(5), pp.1195-1205. Scheele, B.C., Skerratt, L.F., Grogan, L.F., Hunter, D.A., Clemann, N., McFadden, M., Newell, D., Hoskin, C.J., Gillespie, G.R., Heard, G.W. and Brannelly, L., 2017. After the epidemic: Ongoing declines, stabilizations and recoveries in amphibians afflicted by chytridiomycosis.Biological Conservation,206, pp.37-46. Skerratt, L.F., Berger, L., Clemann, N., Hunter, D.A., Marantelli, G., Newell, D.A., Philips, A., McFadden, M., Hines, H.B., Scheele, B.C. and Brannelly, L.A., 2016. Priorities for management of chytridiomycosis in Australia: saving frogs from extinction.Wildlife Research,43(2), pp.105-120. The Conversation. (2017).Australian endangered species: Southern Corroboree Frog. [online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/australian-endangered-species-southern-corroboree-frog-16189 [Accessed 12 Sep. 2017].

Market Orientation free essay sample

Until July 1987, the responsibility for distributing and supplying power in the country rested on ECG. The Government created the Northern Electricity Department (NED) as a subsidiary of Volta River Authority (VRA) in 1987 which took over from ECG the responsibility for the running and development of electric power systems in Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. The Company is responsible for the distribution of electricity in the southern part of Ghana namely, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Volta and Western Regions. Electricity Company of Ghana is among some of the major utility providers in Ghana. They’re the major supplier and distributor of electrical power in most households, institutions and firms in Ghana. Apple Computers, Starbucks Coffee, Virgin Group, L’Oreal, Nike, Singapore Airlines, Banyan Tree and Samsung are among some of the most successful brands in the world. Much has been written about the power of their brands that has allowed them to dominate their respective industries not only in the domestic markets but also globally. We will write a custom essay sample on Market Orientation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Most if not all accounts of success of such brands have emphasized on the branding process, the systems of brand management and the role of the brand equity in enhancing the company’s overall profile. The dynamics and the cultural aspect that are the powerful underlying forces behind these brands are rarely talked about. In today’s market trends, success and profitability depends more on the vision and philosophy of the companies that drives their activities rather than on their business unit level strategies or product level. It is important to document the role of brand equity in a company’s market capitalization and shareholder value maximization. But to achieve such a thing, companies need to develop a culture and an orientation that does not only supports market oriented thinking but also nurtures the integration of cross functional integration of thought and activities. This article takes a detailed look into the components of such an orientation and what makes a company’s internal structure conducive to building strong brands. Market orientation is usually defined as the organization wide generation, dissemination, and responsiveness to market intelligence. This definition at once changes the dominant paradigm that has defined marketing for decades. Marketing has traditionally been defined within the narrow confines of the 4P framework. Such a conceptualization of marketing has relegated marketing to a tactical discipline to be performed by middle level marketing managers who did not possess the overall holistic view of the organization. But the connected knowledge economy, globalizing, converging and consolidating industries, fragmenting and frictionless markets, empowered customers and adaptive organizations among others are forcing organizations to alter their view of marketing. The concept of market orientation is built on three pillars of customer focus, coordinated marketing and profitability. An organization’s capabilities to develop an orientation towards each of these three pillars depend on their internal structure and culture.

Child Welfare in the Together Youth Shelter

Kickstart Your Writing with Nanowrimo

Kickstart Your Writing with Nanowrimo Kickstart Your Writing with Nanowrimo Kickstart Your Writing with Nanowrimo By Brittiany Cahoon If you find your writing suffering latelyperhaps due to the shifting weather and gray skiesNanowrimo may be just what you need. Founded nine years ago, the yearly write a novel in a month event will have more than 100,000 participants from across the globe trying to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Thats over 1500 words a day, or just over four pages of typed text. It sounds crazy and probably is, but Nanowrimo teaches important writing habits that no fiction writer can afford to ignore: 1. Discipline: Assuming full-time novelists write one or two books a year, that writer probably writes somewhere between 500-1000 words a day. Forcing yourself to write more is like the old story of the marathon runner training with weighted shoes. Once the handicap comes off, youre even faster. 2. Ignoring the internal editor: With a quota of four pages a day, you cant afford to be a perfectionist. Your writing will be full of typos, spelling errors, and idiotic dialogue. Here is a sample from a participant of previous years: I think I am going to go to lunch now. Lunch? Now? Yes, I think this would be a good time. A good time? Why do you think it is a good time? Because I am hungry, and I am bored. But by allowing yourself to write crap you also allow yourself to write, which is more important. 3. Losing control: Many new authors try to control the plots of their stories and novels, resulting in deus ex machina situations, wooden characters, or unbelievable twists. Writing this fast forces you to give up control and simply write what comeswhich can later be edited into something readable without losing the spontaneity and realism in your rough draft. Nanowrimo novels often stink, but participating is a wonderful way to practice the writing habits you need every day of the year. To learn more or to sign up, visit http://nanowrimo.org. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Because Of" and "Due To" The Possessive ApostropheEducational vs. Educative

Atomic bonb Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Atomic bonb - Essay Example They placed the onus on the prevention of apocalypse on mankind. This was then seen as a reclamation of agency on the part of a beleaguered species which felt that it was doomed as a result of the inexorable progress of science and technology. The world wars made it clear to man that science was something that could be used for causing unimaginable misery on mankind. The atomic bombs that were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki proved to even those who were not directly affected by the destruction the power of such bombs. There was thus, a fear of atomic power as something that could trigger off apocalypse or the end of mankind as a species. This fear was then expressed through movies such as The Day the Earth Caught Fire and The Day the Earth Stood Still. These movies were made in the wake of the world wars and the effect of these wars and the incredible human loss that they caused can be seen in them. The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a movie that was released in 1961 and it was dir ected by Val Guest. The movie narrated the story of a possible apocalypse and how the human race attempts to avert this crisis. The movie makes it very clear that the reason for the crisis to have happened in the first place was a series of nuclear explosions that were conducted by the Soviet Union and The United States of America. These explosions are then said to have an effect that is catastrophic and the future of the whole of mankind is then in jeopardy. This ability of science to affect the whole of mankind is something that arises out of mankind’s recognition of itself as a singular entity. This recognition came about in a major way as a result of the world wars where the world was united in war, with the whole of humanity fighting on one side or the other. Humanity then was seen as a whole. This however, also meant that nothing could be completely local ever again. The atomic bomb and its ability to wipe out the whole of humanity in a single strike was something that created a great deal of fear amongst the people of the world for whom even the unity of humanity and its future lay in the answer to certain questions. These questions centred on how to use science and the way in which it would progress. This was then seen in movies that were a part of the genre of science fiction. Science fiction could then be employed to articulate the fears of an entire generation of people who had no say in their own future where it would be decided by the ruling class of politicians. The dehumanizing ability of the bomb, where millions of people would be wiped out without leaving traces of individuals was also something that the people of this era was extremely fearful of. The movie’s depiction of individual human beings can then be seen to be a consolation of the desire on the part of the audience for individuality (Guest). Another aspect of the movie is its focus on the Cold War. Released in 1961, the movie talks of the nuclear explosions that were con ducted by the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The tussle between these major powers led to countries becoming a part of one power bloc or the other. However, it also led to fear among mankind as to what the ultimate outcome of such rivalry would be. It is significant that the arms race that took place between these two powers is referred to in this movie. It is thus, again the fear of science and the pace of its progress that leads to fear amongst the masses. It is this fear that movies of the

Birth of the Modern Age Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Birth of the Modern Age - Essay Example Our reasoning is simple, a bit nave perhaps, but just and sensible: we need to establish continuity between the past and the present. First, we assume that the so-called modern age in human history came sometime after the period we are investigating. This allows us to set aside, at least for the moment, the disagreements among historians and other experts as to the exact dates on when the modern age began and whether we are still in or beyond it. Second, we also assume that the writers whose works we are to analyze to answer our question really existed, and that their accounts represent a true image of reality as they perceived it. Some may have used literary tools to paint a subtle imagery of the times in which they lived, but our knowing the trick allows us to look beyond the images and into the underlying reality of their 15th-16th century world. Third, our knowledge and observations of what historians call the modern age allow us to identify distinguishing characteristics that mark a transition from the old or ancient world to the new or modern one: the way humans performed their activities of learning, earning, governing, and looking at the world around them. These so-called modern ways - the scientific method of learning, the transition from feudalism to the rule of law, democratic government and free market economics, and a widening focus from the local and regional to the international and the universal world - are facets of the human character and culture that we witness in ourselves now and that we see as taking root in the hearts and souls of the writers whose written works we are to analyze. If we can pin down these modern developments as having their definite origins only to the period 1400 to 1600, our task would have been easier. Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, a study of written works before and after 1400 is beyond the scope of this paper. Given these assumptions and limitations, how can this writer establish continuity between past chronicles and our observations of the modern world How can we conclude that the period 1400-1600 represents the birth of the modern age This last intellectual stumbling block was overcome when the writer had to decide which of the several works in the collection to include in this paper, taking into account this writer's personal biases and assumptions. The solution was simple: choose on the basis of a positive, optimistic, and hopeful image of the world, both in the present and in the future. Having taken this crucial step, the writer became "one" with each of the twenty historical figures whose selections were chosen, observing the world through their eyes and with the same positive attitude. This is how the writer established continuity between the present and the past, and the intellect having been duly satisfied dispatches itself vigorously to the task at hand. Marks of the Modern Age The modern age marked a revolution in human thought, a new outlook towards wealth, work, and money, the governance of peoples, and a more universal view of life and the world. As we assumed, this modern age happened sometime after the year 1600, the 17th century, so we question ourselves if it had its birth in the two centuries that preceded it. Before we dive into the world as it was in the 15th and 16th centuries, let us summarize what we know of the 14th century (the years 1300-1399). It was a period that saw millions of people die from famine and the plague, and

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

Gun Control - Essay Example Advocates argue that pro-gun control laws such as implementing a complete ban on possession of assault weapons can play a key role in limiting and/or restricting access to such weapons and hence ultimately result in reduction of violent crimes and attacks (Moorhouse and Wanner, 2003; Hemenway, 2006). Critics, however, disagree stating that no amount of pro gun-control laws can prohibit violent attacks and crimes involving assault weapons and that there is lack of literature substantiating the relationship between gun prevalence and violence (Carter, 2006). Regardless of the immense and widespread debates and controversies centered on the policy of gun control and the hysteria, panic, and terror accompanying the same generating varied emotions across diverse sections of the society, the fact that it still remains one of the most pressing issues in modern day America cannot be denied. This essay aims to discuss, analyze, examine and understand the issue of gun control against the vario us arguments in favor of as well as against it. The essay essentially argues in favor of passing of legislation that outlaws assault weapons. Gun culture in the U.S.: Overview and implications Firearms have off late risen to an elevated status commanding a central position as a critical public policy issue. The long-running debates and controversies related to firearms and it’s impact and implications on the American way of life demand a permanent and effective solution in order to end the chaos and restore the instability and dent caused in the social structure. However the solutions offered so far appear bleak at best, largely because the issue of gun control is difficult to deal with given that the gun-culture is an inherent part of the American society. The politics of guns: The proponents of gun control have persistently and vehemently defended the right to bear firearms citing their democratic rights to do so, granted by the U.S. constitution. Ownership of gun has come to be the fundamental democratic right of citizens in the U.S over the years (Burbick, 2006). The National Rifle Association who are the staunch supporters and defenders of the possession of firearms have consistently defended the right to bear firearms and continues to do. In a recent move by the NRA, the association once again launched full-fledged efforts to counter President Obama's bold gun control plans (The Guardian, 2013). Various new laws have been passed over the years granting the citizens an exclusive right to hold concealed firearms as a response to cater to the epidemic-level fears and anxiety among the citizens concerning their safety. Such favorable laws have escalated the access to firearms to the common public which in turn paved way for the development of a lucrative firearms manufacturing market that are now found to strongly lobby against any policies aimed at restricting or banning the possession of firearms. Such efforts on the part of the pro-firearms and ant i-gun control lobbyists have essentially blunted the political efforts bringing the political momentum to a temporary halt (Squires, 2012). The gun control policy is perceived by the opponents as a conflict between the rural hunters and shooters of NRA and other pro-gun organizations versus the government and law enforcement officials (Bruce and Wilcox, 1998). Critics argue that the consistent efforts by such pro-gun organizations have made access to firearms easier, particularly among the children, youth and the mentally unstable sections

CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE CONTRIBUTION OF HERITAGE TO THE UK TOURISM

CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE CONTRIBUTION OF HERITAGE TO THE UK TOURISM In the growth of an economy there are those activities that contribute a lot to the growth; they act as the backbone of the economy. According to Boyd Timothy (2003) The UK has diversified such activities and tourism has contributed to huge earnings in the country that has gone ahead of other economic earning activities. Investing in heritage tourism has proved to pay dividends to the UK economy and has not disappointing since its inception. This paper critically evaluates the contribution of heritage to the UK tourism industry outlining the benefits that has come with it. Billions of pounds have been earned as income to the UK economy contributing a lot to the gross domestic products. It tackles the historical context of heritage, the value and role of heritage to tourism, the supply and demand of heritage and gives facts and figures on the issues. As explained by Davies Prentice (1995) numerous visitors have flocked to visitors the heritage sites such as museums to experience a taste of what UK has to offer. Heritage on the other hand consists of various types of tourism; these include events and festivals focused on heritage and traditions; physical attractions for instance museums and heritage centers; destinations that are associated with renowned people; holiday based packages e.g. tours to ancient sites; routes and journeys aligned to heritage place; themes in heritage; historic events; and traditional functions. The benefits that come along with tourism firstly include direct benefits such as businesses issuance of tourism products and services. According to the Deloitte Report (2008) there current contribution to the economy for direct benefits amount to  £52 billion which constitute 3.7% of the GDP. This figure has incorporated value addition to the tourism related products. There were also 1.36 million jobs in 2007 supported directly by tourism. These figures have risen to  £ 85 billion and  £86 billion in 2005 to 2007 (Deloitte Report, 2008). Secondly, is the contribution there is indirect benefits that include support given to tourism businesses. Thirdly there are spill over benefits that include retail, manufacturing and health and life services (Deloitte Report, 2008). In focus to the heritage tourism every tourist has his or her taste; this calls for various activities to tap every tourist to enjoy. The destinations, museums, tour operators have customized the heritage tourism to different levels which makes it possible for every tourist to be attracted in one way or the other. As stated in Light (1996) in Heritage Tourism and Historic Towns the development of tourist holidays where they are related to an aspect of tourism e.g. art history or historic railway development and touring heritage sites where tourists are guided to. Heritage tourism has been segmented in to three where the first are individuals who travel independently; groups who travel on shared heritage interests; and groups who travel together without a common interest in heritage (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2009). Developing ways to get attractions for these segments has played a significant role in the development of tourism since there are customized products developed to target each segment. Heritage has brought about various benefits and is very important to the economy of UK. Heritage tourism is a major attraction for tourists from other countries which provide jobs and earnings to locals (Nuryanti, 1996). It is also a major source of foreign currency. In addition it provides revenue that is used for various beneficial purposes such as conservation. It also enhances the image of the country making it a major tourist attraction for levelers. Heritage tourism is concentrated in London, historical sites such as the York, Lincoln, and Edinburgh; the Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare and Wordsworth Grasmere and other famous people; and famous sites e.g. Stonehenge (Davies, Prentice, 1995). The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has been involved in the development and investment of tourism in the UK. According to the HLF report released in 2010 heritage tourism had contributed to a massive  £20.6 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (The Heritage Lottery Fund report, 2009). This was higher than any other product or services industry such as advertising, filming, and car manufacturing in the UK. This highlights the need for increased investment so that there can be huge and better returns. It has also contributed to 195,000 full time equivalent jobs that has originated from historic buildings, the country side, parks, and museums (The Heritage Lottery Fund report, 2009). This means that the potential of heritage can be exploited to ensure the country grows and develops immensely from the earnings. Figure 1: heritage based visitor economy (Source: The Heritage Lottery Fund report, 2009) To critically analyze the earnings and activities in the industry there were more that 10 million trips made by tourists from foreign countries to the UK annually where 4 out of every 10 citing heritage as the key motivation behind the visits; this was more than any other single factor contributing to the trips. In addition, heritage tourism is worth  £12.4billion annually which is spent by the attracted visitors in heritage sites (The Heritage Lottery Fund report, 2009). This includes money spent in entrance fees to the heritage sites; and other purchases that are done connected to heritage products and motivation e.g. buying at curio shops, or restaurants and accommodation expenses for the tourists. Domestic tourism also known as staycation is also another source of income and part of the  £12.4billion earned (The Deloitte Report, 2008). An estimated 60% is obtained from domestic tourism where residents have supported their country grow though daily visits to such sites (The Deloitte Report, 2008). A whooping  £7.3billion has been spent in expenditure in the heritage industry where most of the money has gone to building, renovations and maintenances of heritage attractions, parks and museums. The GDP of the country has continued to benefit a lot from this investment where an estimated at  £7.4 billion annually has been earned as salaries and wages, profits ¸ and income by the tourism business community including hotels, curio shops, restaurants, and also the heritage sites included (The Deloitte Report, 2008). The addition of economic multipliers to the earnings such as proceeds earned by suppliers to the tourism dealings the annual total GDP contributed by heritage tour ism hits highs of  £20.6 billion annually. Figure 2: showing the sector contribution to the UK GDP (Source: The Heritage Lottery Fund report, 2009) It is with no doubt that these earning can be increased to higher figures in future through taping in to the high potential in heritage tourism. This means that the government in collaboration with the tourism departments must come up with more attractive policies that will ensure funding to tourism so that it has the framework that will support it have the best earnings (Nuryanti, 1996). In view of the fact that tourism is a fast growing industry and it can contribute maximally to those who invest in it; the unique part of heritage tourism should be advanced in the UK so that it becomes the leading figure in it. With such measures the countrys tourism sector will remain vibrant and sustainable presently and in future (The British Tourism Review, 2009). Heritage tourism is the 5th largest industry in the UK; this is contributed by the fact that the UK has a rich and vibrant heritage and very important not only to the numerous visitors who flock the country but also for the local, regional and national economies (Nuryanti, 1996). It has been revealed that a huge percentage of the visitors to the UK do so on the grounds of heritage, pageantry, history and culture. In tapping more to the potential of tourism through effective tourism weeks, marketing of the tourist sites and attractive holiday destinations the country stands to reap maximum benefits (The British Tourism Review, 2009). The HLF should enhance adaptability, welcome, place making, choice of goods and services, skills, quality, access, and information provision so as to ensure a successful industry (Nuryanti, 1996). The HLF should be driven by the fact that tourists spend on the basis of relative cost/bilateral exchange rates, destination attractiveness, overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP), consumer expenditure, and investment. There should also be effective management of factors such as security/safety, alternatives (availability/relative cost), taxation, globalization, incomes and inflation so that the visitors can have confidence in the trips to the country (VisitBritain, 2009). sSecurity is a major concern especially with the development of terrorism and many terror threats coming from terror groups that act as militia. Security may come as a threat in view of the London bombings and suicide bombings occurring globally targeted at developed countries. There must be more segmentation of tourist products to enable all people of different income levels are able to visit the sites; while taxation needs to be checked to ensure the participants in the heritage tourism industry are not affected negatively in their business. The HLF cannot do this alone but needs the help of all the stakeholders who must contribute to ensure an efficient tourism industry majoring on heritage as an asset. According to the Heritage Lottery Fund report, (2009) the HLF has the mandate to make this dream a reality because it remains very vicious and is achievable through proper mechanism. The most recent has been the investment of  £4.4 billion since 1994. The funding involved eight of the most attraction in England, twenty one of UKs world heritage sites and 14 national parks (The Heritage Lottery Fund report, 2009). Over the years there have been extensive studies on the progress of the investment where visitor surveys and economic impact studies. In the studies it has been found out that typical increase in the number of visitors by more than 50%; 88% of visitors rate the value for money of HLFs investment as either good or excellent; an estimated 32,000 jobs have been sustained in the tourism sector as a direct result of HLF funding; and every  £1million of HLF funding leads to an increase in tourism revenues for regional economies of  £4.2million over 10 years (The Heritage Lottery Fund report, 2009). The HLF focuses on enhancing heritage tourism through exploiting the potential in the strengths of the country which include natural/historical/cultural assets; the English language; accommodation; food and drink; and international connections (history and transport) (Boyd, Timothy, 2003). With these advantages on their side they are able to build a strong empire that contributes to vibrant growth in the economy and development of other vital sectors. There are weaknesses that make this exploitation a challenge which according to the The British Tourism Review, 2009 in the article Achieving The Full Potential Of The Visitor Economy include transport infrastructure; expense of visit not value for money (e.g. visitors pay the second highest amount of tax in the world); logistics (e.g. Visas) are expensive and complicated to attain compared with other countries; welcome and skills of people in the industry; and short summer seasons. In the Heritage Lottery Fund report (2009) it is estimated that 53% of people who make trips annually do so to experience what historic towns and cities have to offer; 42% make visits to the museums and galleries, translating to 40 million people annually visiting museums and galleries. 10 million trips are made to the historic parks, 1.2 billion visit the country side, 38 million visit historic buildings cathedrals and castles and an estimated 250 million visit the Britains inland natural features such as canals and waterways. Putting into consideration the high potential in the tourism sector can grow explicitly if developed; as cited by the HLF report Investing in success the tourism economy is estimated to grow by 2.6% annually between the years 2009 and 2018; this is a much higher estimate that the 0.8% estimated growth in retailing, manufacturing and construction sectors (The Heritage Lottery Fund report, 2009). In conclusion the potential in the heritage industry is immense and with the numerous gains there is need to ensure they are safeguarded from any destruction. More efforts are needed to make sure the full potential is achieved so that the economy can grow sustainable. Sustainable management should be key issues in the maintenance so that visitors can be encouraged to visit not just one time but numerously so as to increase income. The HLF has the challenge to make better policies that will ensure all the potential is exploited and also sustainable use of the resources. The UK government through HLF should make sure should develop policies that maximize on both volume and value; enhance adaptability, and support long term sustainable economic growth. A more efficient and effective heritage tourism industry should not only be the goal of the HLF and the government but also all stakeholders that benefit either directly or indirectly. There should also be very tactical measures that ensu re improved domestic heritage tourism which will not only make earnings but also teach the locals about their traditions and heritage.

Degradation of Moral Values in Indian Society Essay

Human beings enjoy the maximum freedom and power for governing their habitat and environment. This power sometimes enables them to misuse the resources Materialism has led us to a degradation in our moral values. India is the most ancient civilization. Vedas were written in India. Buddha got divine knowledge here. We are proud of our rich cultural heritage but today we have forgotten those ideals, values and principles which were so dear to our ancestors. Take for example, the concept of joint family. Today, no young couple prefers a joint family. We do not want to be grateful to our parents. Rather, we want to disown them. The next most prominent degradation in our moral values reflects itself in the form of corruption. In India, corruption is prevalent at all the levels and the irony is that even if we accuse that they are guilty, they remain supreme. These developments are not good for the national economy and the moral conditioning of our younger generations. The free market economics has added fuel to the fire. When we find that everybody is corrupt. So, we waste no time in becoming the part of this corrupt system. Another steep decline in moral values manifests itself in the form of our poor educational system and teaching methodologies. In fact, the poor educational system in all the parts of the nation has led to poor moral values in the society The students do not respect their teachers. Copying during the examinations is a common practice. Best of the brains are drained to the West because the offers are tempting- and nobody misses the opportunity if offered once. Further, in Indian society, respect for elders is taking a backseat in the name of modernization. Our cultural values have taught us to respect our parents and help them during the times of their helplessness. However, the growth of nuclear families has led to complete ignorance of parents and elders. We never approve of such a deformed social and cultural chaos in our nation that was known for her warmth and family  traditions for over several hundred centuries. Criminals should be banned from politics and should be treated with an iron hand if they try to disturb the democratic norms laid down by our Constitution†¦ The Election Commission has done well by forbidding candidates with criminal records from fighting elections. In our schools, the traditional Indian values must be taught and reinforced. Schools can change the face of our society. The concept of joint families must be promoted among the young couples. This concept would enable them to take fruitful guidance from their elders. Education should be imparted according to Western norms. However, Indian values must also be enforced so that our children remain in touch with their roots.

12 Angry Men: Jury’s Conflict Involved on Verdict Essay

Any jury trial is bound to have some sort of conflict involved when coming to a verdict. The portrayal of a murder case in the movie, 12 Angry Men, involves many different examples of conflict, as well as the approaches to conflict used by different characters. Almost every conversation in the film involves conflict, since the characters are all debating whether or not the boy being tried for murder is guilty or not, but there are a few scenes in which different types of conflict and different approaches to conflict seem to stand out. The room in which the men are sitting and debating the case has a table with each of the men sitting around it. Jury member number one, who sits at the head of the table, takes on the role as the leader of the discussion by formatting how the voting goes and asking all members whether they agree to any decisions made. In one scene, the older man with the summer cold comes over to jury member number one and tells, â€Å"stop being a kid. K. I. D. Kid.† Jury member number one responds, â€Å"Just because I am trying to keep this thing organized? Here, you take the responsibility. I’ll just keep my mouth shut, that’s all.† This scene is an example of Ego/Identity conflict because of the beliefs that the man with the cold see’s jury member number one as being a kid because he is younger than him. Jury member number one seemed to take the responsibility of leading the group just because of his number, but the man with the cold seemed to get upset and cre ate a conflict with him because of his age. See more:  Social Satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay The different types of characters in the jury decision create many different examples of approaches to conflict. Jury member number two, the quiet man with the glasses, becomes the target of many of the other characters. When the men are all going around and explaining their reasons for why they feel the boy is guilty, Jury member number three interrupts and says, â€Å"what about the switch-knife found in the man’s chest?† Jury member number two says, â€Å"Wait a second, there are some people who haven’t talked yet, shouldn’t we go in order?† Jury member number three says, â€Å"forget about the people who haven’t gone yet, be quiet will ya?† This causes jury member number two to quiet down and not respond. This approach to conflict is an example of competing because of the win-lose outcome of the conflict. Jury member number three makes sure that he uses his alpha male status and shuts down jury member number two without any complai nt. The last situation is an example of conflict as well as the approach to conflict. When the men choose to make an anonymous vote and one of them writes â€Å"not guilty† on the paper, jury member number three calls out the man who had grown up in the slums and says that he changed his vote because he fell for the preaching of the first member who felt the boy was not guilty. After yelling at the man, the old man finally admits to changing is vote. Later, jury member number three attempts to apologize for calling out the man who grew up in the slums and he just walks right past him without responding. This is an example of Ego/Identity conflict because jury member number three judged the man who grew up in the slums and expected him to change his vote because of his past. The approach to the conflict later is avoidance because the man who grew up in the slums chooses to not respond to the apology and walk right past the man without getting into any type of conflict.

Challenges, problems and conflicts that may occur in teams Assignment The WritePass Journal

Challenges, problems and conflicts that may occur in teams Assignment Introduction Challenges, problems and conflicts that may occur in teams Assignment ) assert that emerging reliance on organized research is a weakness that has the potential to slow the progress research. Others have widely utilized the challenges to the teamwork concept over the course of the past generation to produce quick and successful project results (Eddy, Tannenbaum and Mathieu 2013). Personal experience has shown that by working with a team and by being a vital part of the effort to find miniscule details in several literary research projects, the team potential for effective decision making is markedly increased (Ibid).   During the challenge to identify specific passages that related to research in the texts,   team efforts aided during the process of wading through a wide range of literature. The experience and camaraderie increased positive feelings, which in turn served to further enhance the research results (Ibid).   Hackman (2011) identifies the clear challenge that the concept of   shared responsibility created between the collaboration group and the team enables a better decision making model. The very first challenge to the concept of teamwork is for management to weigh the effort of team formation versus the streamlined and much less complex individual application (Ibid). However, with only one person on the task, the likelihood of delay or detriment increases (Eddy, Tannenbaum and Mathieu 2013). This is a very effective argument for teams: redundancy. Teamwork has been found to increase the potential for success substantially (Murase, Doty, Wax, Dechurch, and Contractor 2012).   As technology evolves and more resources became available, teams have evolved past the simple construct into a much more complex creation that are commonly able to meet challenges that exist at the start up stage. However, a question that must be asked is if the effort of forming a team offset by the potential knowledge gained from the experience (Ibid)? If the decision can be better   accomplished   alone, the effort of creating a team is not worth the result. Organisational theory is utilized in the effort to streamline business and predict human behaviour that occurs in the organisational setting (Dyer,Dyer, and Dyer 2007).   Teamwork has become a growing challenge in this field as the strength of the potential for gain has been recognized in the business world (Ibid). The Contingency Theory argues that there is no best method to the creation of a team, but each situation is unique and must be fit to the individual application (Decostanza, Dirosa, Rogers, Slaughter, Estrada, and O. 2012). This is a primary challenge that must be addressed in every team operation process. Others cite the process of teamwork decision process as cumbersome and a burden to individual potential (Zingone, Franks, Guirguis, George, Howard-Thompson, and Heidel, R. 2010).   The challenge to the   teamwork decision making concept is that it has the potential to be as positive or detrimental as the members allow.   Personal experience has illustrated how te am decisions and course correction was essential due to the fact that the work simply could not be done by one or two people and benefited from the teams input (Ibid). Further, there were many points of view that required a varied field of knowledge, making team decisions essential.   Finally, the deadline was very short increasing the pressure, which the team was able to minimize (Decostanza et al 2012). It took a team decision that served to guide the project past the difficult points in order to achieving the target goal (Ibid).   A primary challenge from the outset of any team effort is morale and energy (Ibid). Another challenge to an effective team decision making is the creation of a cross functional working environment that will be conducive to supporting the entirety of the effort (Tohidi 2011).   The process of team process requires that the members know how to function and provide incentive (Ibid). Personal experience has demonstrated that   especially as a project begins to develop, the pressure creates issues that cause members of the team to leave, or splinter from the original.   This form of teamwork friction can turn a small issue into a major problem (Beatty et al 2012).   Challenges in this area include disputes over leadership positions which in turn hobbles the entire decision making process and serves to skew the research (Ibid). Beatty et al (2012) Identifies four particular challenges that must be addressed in order to enable a team decision making process to be successful: a) Appropriate formation b) Members are accountable for both individual and team work c) Assignment promotes team development d) Timely communication In each case, careful consideration before implementation has the potential to increase effectiveness consequently reducing issues (Ibid). The creation and implementation of an effective team is essential in the decision making process and is faced with many challenges as the group comes together to find a solution (Dyer et al 2007).   A primary hurdle facing a team is the initial assessment of which person will be best suited to which specific task within the scope of the project (Ibid). As Dyer et al (2007) Illustrates, the role determination at the outset can have a tremendous impact on the subsequent performance of the entire team.   Personal experience has demonstrated the fact that the right leader can make or break a team project from the very beginning (Ibid). Further, primary challenge that the leader will mitigate is the identification of the proper employees to become part of the team decision making experience (Ibid).   Weak leadership in a team setting often leads to many voices, which in turn have a variety of directions and takes away from the capacity to make effective decisions (Ibid).   Leaders in a team provide resources, rewards and management that are effective focusing and maintaining the project goals (Schultz, Wilson, and Hess 2010).   Lacking any one of these elements will quickly become a challenge to the entire organization.   Teams have a real potential to start off well, and then flounder when the perceived leader does not provide the pieces necessary to progress as a group (Ibid).   If there is a method but no practical application for that method, the entire group is left at a standstill. Team leadership is responsible for guiding the members to produce the best effort for the benefit of the entire project (Ibid).   The style of leadership in a teamwork setting is important, as it must fit with the temperament of the project.   A successful team decision is due to the capacity of the leader and team to work together in a positive, upbeat environment (Sarrafzadeh and Williamson 2012).   Leaders that have instilled a sense of doom and gloom have seldom evoked the same level of skill from the teams (Ibid).   Management leadership that is worth their pay assists t development of the teamwork effort while integrating the individual goals with that of the group. Atkinson (2013) defines the role of organisational culture as reflecting the overriding assumption regarding the method of work and the limits of what is and is not acceptable. Principals are often at the heart of dissension in the teamwork environment if there is a lack of structure and coherence during the formation period (Ibid).   Personal experience has illustrated that different team approaches can cause substantial strife. With no clear structure the negative discussion took up vital research time (Ibid). The dynamic of teamwork issues will vary according to the size of the team, the bigger the effort the more complex the application (Goldman, B. and Shapiro 2012).   Research has shown that when working in larger groups, the difficulties are multiplied and the need for coordination is only enhanced as the group grows in scope (Ibid).   Conversely, personal experience with a small team of three or four individuals has the capacity to be as effective as much larger, less c ommunicative teams (Atkinson 2013). Once the team has begun to work issues such as Groupthink must be avoided in order to progress (Sikorski, Johnson, and Ruscher 2012).   As the establishment of routine sets in during the team environment, there is the threat of following the leader (Ibid).   There is the potential for team members   to follow the group, even if they had an opposite opinion (Ibid). This has clear potential to set the entire effort back as it is necessary to go back and deal with the issue.   Further, this mentality lacks creativity and innovative depth that can doom a team’s effort from the very beginning (Ibid).   Tannenbaum, Mathieu, Salas, and Cohen (2012) identify three modern challenges to the operation of an effective team: a) Dynamic composition of the members b) The distance and technology that are involved. c) Empowerment and delayering Personal experience has illustrated that there are significant challenges in each of these areas, particularly cross cultural challenges as research partners are often on completely different sides of the planet (Sweet and Michaelsen 2012). Recent projects commonly have had to include translation programs and uncommon times to meet. In each case the culture and area of my partner serves to influence the project (Ibid). Emerging technology has made it possible to extend the resources which can be a significant enhancement to the team potential (Ibid). Others argue the extreme increase in the cultural diversity of team makeup creates more issues than benefits and adversely impacts the underlying integrity of the study in question (Sweet and Michaelsen 2012).   When an international team first comes together, the very basic elements of language and cultural understanding are very critical points that must be considered as the team is given assignments.   A lack of adequate understan ding of the social dynamics has the potential to not only hobble and slow a team’s efforts, but in very many cases completely derail the process (Ibid). An emerging challenge to any team decision making model is the continuous upgrade and application of technology (Buchanan, and Huczynski 2010). With computers, tablets and mobile computers becoming a vital tool, the mix of the forms of technology can lead to a significant issue. Personal experience with this dilemma came when during the attempted transfer from an Ipad to a research partners PC.   This quickly became an issue as it was necessary to obtain the correct application to make the one program work with the other. Further, this same concept translates into the manner in which the entire team communication effort is managed (Child, 2005).   The method and manner of organization throughout the team process has the potential to create a myriad of issues. The issue of finding emails and means of transferring data from my platforms to the groups is a continuous challenge which creates a situation in which the group cannot fully share scheduling information and updates due to t he different nature of the programs used (Ibid).   Leadership must account for and adapt to the many layered technological nature of the modern work place (Ibid). Conclusion The concept of team decision making in organisational theory is credited with being the next evolution in business. With the evidence presented in the study illustrating many of the potential benefits, there were areas of concern that could serve to diminish many of the expected returns of implementing a team based network. The primary expectation for a team project is the increase in resources and depth, which in turn adds to the capacity to make more informed decisions.   Issues surrounding the team   itself ranging from organisation, leadership, technology and personal cohesiveness all serve to come together to impact the overall effectiveness of the concept.   There is clear evidence to support the assertion that a team can produce better decisions, yet, this is dependent on the unique factors that surround the formation, implementation and result of the team experience. If any one area of the teamwork process is lacking, so too is the final result. Beginning with the determination of needing to form a team, choosing leadership and structure, to communication and goal sharing the team decision making process is a highly complex, delicate instrument that has the potential to make better decisions than past models. In every case, the team has the potential to exceed expectations or fail miserably, which in turn will be determined by the members themselves.   In the end, a team is individuals that share a common vision and the will to make it happen. References Atkinson, P. 2013. Corporate Culture.  Philip Atkinson Consulting, 1 (2), pp. 1-10. [Accessed: 3 Dec 2013]. Beatty, S., Kelley, K., Metzger, A., Bellebaum, K. and Mcauley, J. 2009. Team-based learning in therapeutics workshop sessions.  American journal of pharmaceutical education, 73 (6). Child, J. 2005.  Organization. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.. Decostanza, A., Dirosa, G., Rogers, S., Slaughter, A., Estrada, A. and X, O. 2012. Researching teams: Nothings going to change our world.  Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 5 (1), pp. 3639. Doina, R., Mirela, S. and Constantin, R.. The Organizational Culture and the Factors of its Formation .ANALELE UNIVERSIT\uA\cTII DIN ORADEA, p. 561. Eddy, E., TANNENBAUM, S. and MATHIEU, J. 2013. Helping Teams to Help Themselves.  Personnel Psychology. Goldman, B. and Shapiro, D. 2012.  The psychology of negotiations in the 21st century workplace. New York: Routledge. Hackman, J. 2011.  Collaborative intelligence. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Hirst, G. 2009. Effects of membership change on open discussion and team performance: The moderating role of team tenure.  European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 18 (2), pp. 231249. Huczynski, A. and Buchanan, D. 2013.  Organizational behaviour. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Johns, G. and Saks, A. 2011.  MGMT20001 Organisational behaviour. Sydney: Pearson Choices. Murase, T., Doty, D., Wax, A., Dechurch, L. and Contractor, N. 2012. Teams are changing: Time to â€Å"think networks†.  Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 5 (1), pp. 4144. Sarrafzadeh, M. and Williamson, K. 2012. Multicultural, Virtual Work Places: Opportunities and Challenges for LIS Educato.  International Journal of Information Science and Management (IJISM), 10 (1), pp. 89102. Schultz, J., Wilson, J. and Hess, K. 2010. Team-based classroom pedagogy reframed: The student perspective.  American Journal of Business Education (AJBE), 3 (7). Sikorski, E., Johnson, T. and Ruscher, P. 2012. Team Knowledge Sharing Intervention Effects on Team Shared Mental Models and Student Performance in an Undergraduate Science Course.Journal of Science Education and Technology, 21 (6), pp. 641651. Sweet, M. and Michaelsen, L. 2012.  Team-based learning in the social sciences and humanities. Sterling, Va.: Stylus Pub.. Tannenbaum, S., Mathieu, J., Salas, E. and Cohen, D. 2012. Teams are changing: are research and practice evolving fast enough?.  Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 5 (1), pp. 224. Tohidi, H. 2011. Teamwork productivity effectiveness in an organization base on rewards, leadership, training, goals, wage, size, motivation, and measurement and information technology. Islamic Azad University of South Tehran, 3(1) pp. 1137-1146 West, M. and Lyubovnikova, J. 2012. Real teams or pseudo teams? The changing landscape needs a better map.  Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 5 (1), pp. 2528. Zingone, M., Franks, A., Guirguis, A., George, C., Howard-Thompson, A. and Heidel, R. 2010. Comparing team-based and mixed active-learning methods in an ambulatory care elective course.  American journal of pharmaceutical education, 74 (9).

Legalization for an Ancient Plant argumtative essay essays

Legalization for an Ancient Plant argumtative essay essays Legalization for an Ancient Plant (Cannabis Sativa) Marijuana is a controlled substance that should be legalized for medical and recreational use by responsible adults. With the Marijuana proposition coming up on the November ballot for legalization of up to 3 ounces. If approved, could generate massive tax dollars for the state of Nevada. Legalization would also remove a great tax burden from the state for imprisoning and supporting marijuana offenders. Any discussion of marijuana should begin with the fact that there have been numerous official reports and studies, every one of which has concluded that marijuana poses no great risk to society and should decriminalized. (The National Academy of Sciences) "Analysis of Marijuana Policy"(1982) In this argumentative essay, I will discuss the history of marijuana, the effects of marijuana, the ways that marijuana could be utilized in the medical field, and will discuss the reasons that marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana is defined by (dictionary.com), as a strong smelling plants from whose dried leaves a number of euphoria causing and hallucinogenic effects. The synonyms for marijuana are marihuana, ganja, pot, grass, weed, dope, skunk, Mary Jane, and Cannabis Sativa. The plant has been grown for fiber and as a source of medicine for several thousand years. The first uses of cannabis as a medicine are believed to be as an antiseptic and analgesic. Over the years marijuana has been used to treat sore eyes, earaches, edema, inflammation, hemorrhoids, asthma, skin diseases, cholera, stimulate an appetite and even to ease the pains of labor. In the 20th century, the advancements in medicine have allowed doctors to find many more uses for this miracle plant. By isolating the active drug in the marijuana plant doctors have been able to synthesize this drug. Although they have found ways to replicate the drug, it has not been as productive as the smok...

Cross-cultural Conflicts and Leadership for Managing Conflict Essay

Cross-cultural Conflicts and Leadership for Managing Conflict - Essay Example nment will look briefly at some of the common roots of cross-cultural conflict in global organizations, determine their causes as cited by experts, and consider whether it is possible to mitigate the causes before the conflicts occur. The common roots of cross-cultural conflicts include language differences or misunderstandings in communication, differences of perspectives due to different cultural values and outlooks etc. The way in which messages are communicated is also important as two opposing communication styles can create conflict. For example, American are usually more blunt or direct in communication, preferring to ‘cut to the chase’ whereas in many Asian cultures people are often less blunt and may be perceived by Americans as ‘beating around the bush’ (Ford, 2001). The unfamiliarity with other cultures also leads to people tending to stereotype â€Å"to fill in missing information† (McShane, 2004: 394). Another fundamental cause is the individualist-collectivist divide i.e. both perceive and deal with conflict itself very differently. Direct confrontational conflicts are less likely to occur in collectivist cultures because group commitment, conformity and harmony are greater priorities than for individualists (Carsten, 2007: 28). However, this does not mean that ‘tensions’ do not exist that can affect individual morale and performance. In terms of perceiving the nature of conflict, the realist conception sees it as competition between individuals and groups over incompatible goals or scarce resources, whilst the constructivist conception puts it down to â€Å"divergent perceptions or beliefs about the nature of the situation, the other party or oneself† (Kevin, 2004). In practice, combinations of the two underlying factors may be at play i.e. ‘mixed motives’. Before taking steps to merge or acquire foreign companies for example, the two cultures must be analysed for compatibility. For single multicultural organization interested in

IS Strategic planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

IS Strategic planning - Essay Example Heads of department from both faculties would meet together on a regular basis. Communications and report structures would become more collaborative, involving joint reports on key strategic partnerships. The cost savings of a single faculty office would not be achieved, but estimates suggested that the joint working proposed would be less costly than Plan A. Students and staff would experience no disruption under the new arrangements, although again potential developments in terms of new courses and research were envisaged. One potential hurdle was the increased levels of bureaucracy. Staff already moaned about the amount of paperwork and there was a danger of increasing the number of committees under the joint arrangements. Re-engineering will involve integration of latest technological aspects such as cloud computing features and components to the system to ensure that all long term institution’s technological needs and IT requirements are met. The applications which are given priority include database, data warehousing components that will enable the company to meet the short term IT strategies. The hardware and other support software are also given priority. The testing should be carried in two stages. First every system unit is thoroughly tested. This is done by exposing the prototype system to the users. The errors that will be realized are fixed before system integration. Another test will be performed after the different sub systems are integrated. Training will be conducted in phases. All the employees in different business units should fully understand the system and how it works. The security issues should also be dealt with during the training. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats identified for the Midchester University were provides a wide environment and covers the elements such as support systems for information technology, academic programs and the IT

U4 Discussion Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

U4 Discussion - Coursework Example In the case of accessing files shared, a user maybe unable to access files that they ought to access when logged on locally. This may be due to permissions which are assigned to the user or to the group of which the user is a member. The permissions given (both share permissions and file permissions) should be checked to see if there is an exception to the rule (Microsoft Support, 2006). The exception includes an explicit deny permission to a certain file or folder. Deny permissions assist in enumerating the certain tasks that can be performed by users. Sometimes it is necessary to restrict access, more so to printers. In companies it is necessary to know what is being printed on the printer network. For example in the accounts department, the settings of the printer are configured to prevent every domain user from using it. It also allows tracking of the legitimate checks that have been printed. Other situations includes when a company wants to restrict printers which use expensive supplies. In healthcare the privacy and confidentiality of information is a virtue, thus restriction to what is printed and who can print comes in handy. Printer administration can be simplified by use of printer pooling. This is a standard feature of windows 2000, XP and NT that allows an administrator to spread out printed output to several printers (pool). It enables the server to have good management of multiple printers using a single printer instance, this provides some sort of load balance and it is important for administrative purposes. 3. Although your textbook does not talk at length about printer priorities (involving multiple print queues or objects), do some research on this topic and tell how it differs from printer pooling. Under what circumstances would you want to implement printing priorities? This is different from printer priority which involves setting different virtual

Green Mile Book Report Essay Example for Free

Green Mile Book Report Essay To some people the words Book-report  mean rent the movie and write a report on that. Yes, it is easier to watch a three-hour movie rather than read a 536-page book. With most books turned movies, though, the book is far too detailed to fit everything. This is how it is with the book The Green Mile and the movie The Green Mile. There are similarities but, there are also a lot of differences between the two. The main parts of the book and movie are alike: Coffey being caught with the two dead girls in his arms, Coffey saves Hals wife and Coffey dying at the end. There are smaller details that are alike and that is more important than the main parts. One small thing is that Paul does have a UTI in both the book and the movie. This is a small part but it brings a lot to the movie and the book because this is how Paul finds out that Coffey is innocent. Another small thing is the placement of the prisoners in the book and the movie. They arent exact but they are pretty close and this shows importance when the mouse, later called Mr. Jingles, walks up and down the green mile. Lastly, a small detail that is the same in both the book and the movie is the last sentence. Paul explains his punishment for killing one of Gods great miracles. This is very important because it brings the whole movie and the book to a close. Along with the similarities there are major differences and minor differences between the book and the movie. The major differences that I noticed between the book and the movie are: the mouse doesnt die at the end in the movie, and there is no real character in the nursing home that bugs Paul in the movie like there was in the book. A smaller detail that is different is that in the book Paul asks Coffey to tie his shoe and Coffey cant do it. This turned into a major point in the book because it went through how the dog was killed with meat and Coffey was carrying his lunch tied up, when he was found with the girls. The only way Coffey would have been able to use the meat would have been to untie the package his lunch was in and then retie it. In the movie this isnt even explained which is kind of sad because it shows that he really isnt the one who killed the girls. Another factor is that in the movie everything is shortened to save time. This is because people dont want to sit through a five-hour movie. Lastly, the movie was created by the  impression the scriptwriter got with the help of Stephen King so of course there is no way they could have the exact same ideas all the time. This is a great book and a great movie and there is no way that the movie could cover everything that the book covers because there is a time limit with movies when people start to lose interest. Ways that the differences could become less evident would be by in each scene add detail even if it is just one line for a character it would make the book and movie seem more alike. Instead of two people looking at the book and combining their idea it would be one idea shared by millions. Everyone says dont just a book by the cover , well with more books turning to movies I think that that saying should be modified. The saying for nowadays would have to be Dont judge a book by its movie.  I am not saying that all books turn movies are bad. I am saying if you didnt like the movie and see the book try to read it because there might be more to the story than what the movie covered. Overall both the movie The Green Mile and the book The Green Mile are very good stories but to get the whole story you should both read the book and watch the movie.

Black Magic vs. White Magic in Shakespeare’s The Tempest Essays

Black Magic vs. White Magic in Shakespeare’s The Tempest â€Å"A man who governs his passions is â€Å"truly wise†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. The heavens have not seen nor has the earth borne a more glorious person than the man who always obeys reason. Not all the crowns of the world can adorn his head fittingly; only eternity can recompense one of such high virtue. To have a quiet soul is the only pleasure of the world† (Anderson 173-4). Where is the line drawn between good and bad magic? Who decides which form of magic is evil and which is not. Why was there a Glenda the good witch and the wicked witch of the west (Wizard of Oz)? According to Robert S. Ellwood, Magic is widely practiced in primal and traditional societies. In such contexts magic is not simply a pre-scientific way of attaining practical ends- it may also involve at least a partial symbolic recognition of the society’s spiritual worldview and of its gods and myths. In this respect magic often merges with religion, and indeed the line between the two is frequently blurred (Ellwood, Encarta). Prospero definitely exposes the gray ...

Youths Today Are Too Obsessed

Totally agree! Youth today are too easily obsess with all kind of thing, not only material thing but also idol, games, something that may attracted their attention. E. g. â€Å"American idol† A new generation has come of age, shaped by an unprecedented revolution in technology and dramatic events both at home and abroad. They are Generation Next, the cohort of young adults who have grown up with personal computers, cell phones and the Internet and are now taking their place in a world where the only constant is rapid change. Did you think anything about your dream, your health or your family; forget about computers, it’s just material things. WHAT IS OBSESSION? It’s a passionate feeling of fascination that often quickly evolves into domination. One who becomes obsessed does so out of a lack of self worth or self esteem. The person they are obsessed with is their object of self worth. They believe that this person, as their mate, will bring value to their life. Th is person also believes they have very little value, which adds to the need to have a mate with value. Even if it’s imagined. Materialism Many people these days seem to have their priorities out of line. They seem to put way too much emphasis on material things such as money, jewellery, toys, games, and other things that they think will bring happiness. They feel that these things will make them happier in life and will make them live better lives. There sure are a lot of problems with that theory. So why is it that so many people are stuck in the train of thought of materialism and in an obsession with material things? Here are some ideas. Many people are lonely and feel that this will keep them entertained and happy and make them feel better and fill the hole that they feel. They don't understand the importance of people in their lives so they try to fill the emptiness with materials thinking that it will make them happy and fill that gap. Another reason is that they just want to show off to people how much they have and own. They think that this will make them a better person because they own these things and that the more they have the better off they are. They believe that it's a race to see who can have the most things, because whoever has the most, is somehow the best. Something is clearly wrong there. Also, many people are insecure, and are obsessed with what other people think of them. They don't comprehend that they are who they want to be and who they become. They instead, rather believe that they are who other people claim that they are and therefore try to get as many cool things as possible, or beautiful things, to make other people wow at what they have. They feel like if other people think that what they have is awesome, then that must mean that they are an awesome person. It is tough for many people to get out of that train of thought. Finally, a lot of people do it without thinking. They are just caught in the wave of people who are materialistic. If they see something cool, they feel that they have to get it and don't completely think through whether or not they need it. Of course, this isn't the situation for all people. Some people just like the look of jewellery or like certain things or collecting items as a hobby. However, for a lot of people they are becoming lost in materialism and need to find the real things that make them happy and not the fake things. They need to locate the big ideas of life and find what truly makes them happiest. If you liked this article, a great book to read would be: The Gospel According to Larry. It is a book on materialism and a boy who tries to fight for a non-materialistic world movement. Trend toward something In this and other countries we tend to have an obsession with â€Å"youth† – especially for females. We have grown into a truly youth obsessed society, and the cosmetic, food, beverage, and supplement offerings are proof of the incredible market there is for anti-aging beauty products. There's a glut of marketing that targets the beauty consumers, where the same products in many of these campaigns can do so much more for our health. Case in point: years ago there was an herbal product that claimed to treat and prevent gray hair. The product was originally formulated to lower cholesterol. During their research, they found that the product not only lowered cholesterol, but a considerable amount of test subjects lost their gray hair. What angle could they take? Health, vanity, health, vanity, health, vanity†¦ not surprisingly, they focused their marketing campaign on the gray hair aspect, not on the cholesterol treatment. I don’t disagree with their logic. Now that I have a few gray hairs, I want to track down this product. I can’t remember what I ate for dinner last week, yet I can remember a beauty product from well over a decade ago. How’s that for case in point? ***As an example, why if I send a bunch of teenage or youth to a village or a country without taking any entertainment gadget such as computer and even cell phones, they certainly will get bored. I love fashion but I’m not obsess with it Things are like this because people are corrupted by society. For many years, we are geared towards wanting the best things, the hottest spouses, and the shiniest sports cars–all so that we can have the bragging rights. By being able to boast about your wealth gives you power. Ultimately, power is what we all want–being able to tell people what to do so that we get what we want, when we want it, and the way we want it. Material objects that cost a mother lode makes us feel good when have it in our possession–a Louis Vuitton bag or a Lamburgini are so damn expensive that when we do have one to flaunt, we feel like we are at the top of the social hierarchy because vitrually no one else can have what you have. YOU can afford the expensive stuff, not â€Å"other people. In short, it's all about greed, pride, lust, and corruption. Clearly, the world is messed up. Reasons Why youth today tend to obsess with material things. â€Å"How long can you go with out using an electrical device? How long would you go without power? Does your bank account reflex your narcissistic materialism or need for survival. The answers to those questions would be a good gauge of whether â€Å"we† are ob sessed. † Good points nicshack. Our culture seems to be obsessed with the acquiring stuff and things. We have a very consumptive economy and ecology and we need to make some fundamental changes on a wide spread social and philosophical level or we might be in trouble as a species. Here's what it boils down to: because we live on this slightly tilted planet Earth, revolving a certain distance from the star Sol, life as we know it can exist and flourish and grow and change and fill this great big Universe with life and light and hope. We owe it to ourselves as a species, our children, and our ancestors; to nurture and live in harmony with our planet and fellow life. So you have to ask yourself, do you help life continue and grow? Or do you tear things apart and consume for the sake of consumption to try to fill a hole that should be filled with love and empathy? I know it sounds really heavy and pedantic, but we seriously need to wake up and evolve, break the cycles of destruction in all forms, and start building and learning. It all comes from self satisfaction. People live their lives feeling very unsatisfied, there are always desires. These desires are a very unskilful attempt at becoming happy. When people become obsessed with material things, it is out of fear – if they already possess the matter, they don't want to lose it because they feel without it, they will be unhappy. Other people desire and cling to money and what not because they feel that if they have it, they will be happy. But in both cases these people are driven by fear. Fear is heads on the coin, Desire is tails. Both complement each other. When people compare, they do this because they're attempting to please the self-identity that they carry of themselves, the idea they have of themselves, of who I am. If the I is better off than others, they feel happy. And if it isn't, they feel that they have to gain more material goods. The reason, primarily, is because we live in a capitalist society and is ‘taught', from the moment we first enter society that the gaining of material wealth is our reason for being. The acquisition of status in our society comes from the striving for and gaining of wealth and the trappings associated with it. Once acquired, the structure or system we live within tells us that we require more to maintain our status and that, actually, we can never have enough. Karl Marx wrote about it in the Nineteenth Century. How many times a day are you bombarded with advertisements, telling you that you ‘need' this, that or the other product? That if you don't have it, you're somehow missing out? While this may sound very obvious and simplistic, it's the stuff we're surrounded by all the time – constant messages informing us that our lives are in some way lacking or incomplete until/unless we have that house, this car, that phone, this brand, etc. We're so used to it that we don't question it. Zombie-like, we believe we ‘need' these things – and that's what keeps everybody on the same treadmill and all the multi-million dollar companies in business. Ways to solve your â€Å"bad habits†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"It's like I have to buy things to validate myself. † It sounds to me like you get envious of other people's possessions because you feel inferior or inadequate, and something in you believes that if you just had what they have, you wouldn't feel inferior to them anymore. As far as how you can stop obsessing over material possessions, I think the root cause of your coveting other people's things comes from your own feelings of inferiority and low self-esteem. I think that by building up your own self-esteem, you will be able to love yourself more as a person, completely independent of material possessions. Then when you see other people with nice things, you won't feel like you need those nice things to be â€Å"as good as† that person, because you will know that you are a good person regardless of what you have. One of the best ways that a person can build self-esteem is by volunteering. Helping others actually helps you in ways that you would never anticipate until you do it. Try to find an organization that is close to your heart, and ask if they allow teenage volunteers to help out on weekends. Do you love animals? Volunteer at a pet rescue. Do you enjoy spending time with kids? Volunteer at a children's hospital or in a church nursery. Do you feel for the homeless? Volunteer at your local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. There are also national organizations like the Ronald McDonald House, United Way, The Salvation Army, etc. ho helps people in the community and are always looking for volunteers to keep them up and running. By doing something that helps others, you will help build up your own self-esteem. You begin to see yourself as someone who is important to others, who is able to do something that is valuable and helpful to society. I can tell you from experience that even doing something as mundane as cleaning out kennels makes you feel important when you t hink about the reason WHY you're cleaning those kennels – you're helping that rescue save the lives of more animals that would otherwise be put to death. You are saving lives by doing something as simple as cleaning a kennel or taking a dog on a walk, and that makes you a seriously awesome person. When you see yourself in that light – as someone who is important to others, who is helpful to their community, who can give to others in a positive way – you will really begin to internalize those feelings and feel good about yourself as a person. Also, being able to see others who have a lot less than you will really put those materialistic feelings into perspective. When you go out to a rural community and hand out shoes and coats to kids who are walking around barefoot because their family literally cannot afford to put shoes on their feet, it really makes you think twice about what's important in life. It can be a real good eye opener. I hope that helps! I don't think you're a brat, the fact that you said you don't want to be a brat and don't want to be shallow shows just how much you are not those things. Give yourself more credit, you already sound like a good person who is on the right track in life by trying to do the right thing. Other information that can be used It can seem, in the affluent parts of our globe, that to buy is our fortune. It could also be said that, if buying is good, more buying is better. Of course, we’re in the middle of an economic crisis and some folks might think we need moderation in interaction with the human-created marketplace—that we not treat it as some magically powerful entity that must be worshiped with human sacrifice. Are we completely obsessed with material possessions? Do they mean anything?. Here’s a representative sample of the comments: â€Å"An iPhone to match your sneakers? Sneakers to match your vest? † â€Å"I love clothes and dinners out with friends, and new shiny things but understand the completely vapid nature of these things. † â€Å"They only mean something if you let it mean something. If it makes you happy then buy it. † â€Å"Honestly, if you have the CASH to buy this stuff up front, go right ahead. † â€Å"Few people lie on their death bed and talk about that car they should have bought or that purse that they were so close to buying† â€Å"As someone below pointed out it does have a huge impact on making the world as we know it go round† â€Å"†¦yes we are obsessed, and its not a good thing. And yes, these things are important but shouldn’t be occupying our thoughts and efforts to the extent at which it is. † † Its all one big contest and a race to the finish line. Its a shame most people don’t stop and look around them more often. † I was happy to see, at least, a range of responses in the normally affluent participants on the site. I was very sad about a few of them: â€Å"If it makes you happy then buy it. †, â€Å"Honestly, if you have the CASH to buy this stuff up front, go right ahead. † Here’s where the idea of materialism brings up the idea of human sacrifice. Who suffers for the extraction of the raw materials needed to make all the fanciful things people buy? Who receives no help in their daily lives because they happen to live where the marketeers won’t put their markets? Who sweats away their days making the toys of the affluent? Who can any longer ignore that We are One Human Family and what hurts one hurts all ? Spiritual Quote: â€Å"Whether as world-view or simple appetite, materialism’s effect is to leach out of human motivation—and even interest—the spiritual impulses that distinguish the rational soul. For self-love,’ ‘Abdu’l-Baha has said, ‘is kneaded into the very clay of man, and it is not possible that, without any hope of a substantial reward, he should neglect his own present material good. ’ In the absence of conviction about the spiritual nature of reality and the fulfilment it alone offers, it is not surprising to find at the very heart of the current crisis of civilization a cult of individualism that increasingly admits of no restraint and that elevates acquisition and personal advancement to the status of major cultural values. The resulting atomization of society has marked a new stage in the process of disintegration about which the writings of Shoghi Effendi speak so urgently. â€Å"To accept willingly the rupture of one after another strand of the moral fabric that guides and disciplines individual life in any social system, is a self-defeating approach to reality. If leaders of thought were to be candid in their assessment of the evidence readily available, it is here that one would find the root cause of such apparently unrelated problems as the pollution of the environment, economic dislocation, ethnic violence, spreading public apathy, the massive increase in crime, and epidemics that ravage whole populations. However important the application of legal, sociological or technological expertise to such issues undoubtedly is, it would be unrealistic to imagine that efforts of this kind will produce any significant recovery without a fundamental change of moral consciousness and behaviour. †