Exchange Rate Regimes and Their Impacts

Introduction The theory of production and trade affirms that there exists no country, which is able to produce all commodities that its citizens require. This means that the country has to rely on other countries for supply of the other goods that the country does not produce or rather produces in quantities that are much lower than its demand.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Exchange Rate Regimes and Their Impacts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At the same time, there could be other nations, which are in need of what the country produces in excess. This therefore makes the country export what it produces in surplus while being forced to import what it requires but is in deficit within the country. As such, when a country exchanges goods and services with other countries for money, or other goods, international trade is said to have taken place. The exchange can be between two countries, economic blocs or even between continents. International trade brings in concepts of foreign exchange. This arises where the trading countries do not use a common currency. During importation, the importer is required to convert their local currencies so as to make purchases in the currency of the exporting country. On the other hand, payments to exporters are made in the local currency, and therefore the exporter is also required to convert the money into his or her country’s local currency. Currencies of different countries have different exchange rates against currencies of other countries. The amount of a given currency that will be used to purchase a single unit of another currency is called the exchange rate. Under normal market situations, the exchange rate of a particular currency against another currency keeps on fluctuating, depending on the demand and supply of that currency. The government controls the quantity supplied of a currency in a given country directly or indirectly. T herefore, the supply remains relatively constant and its curve becomes a straight vertical line.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The quantity supplied of that country’s currency determines demand for the currency. When more quantity is supplied, the demand for that currency will fall, and when less is supplied of that country, the demand will rise (Greenaway, 2011). There is a need for a country to control its currency exchange rates in order to maintain a stable balance of payment. To achieve this objective, there are four regimes that dictate the exchange rates. An exchange rate regime refers to the policies employed to determine the exchange of a currency against another currency (Gandolfo, 2002). There are basically four exchange rate regimes: Floating, also known as flexible exchange rates Pegged, also known as fixed exchange rates Managed floating exch ange rates Exchange controls Each individual exchange rate regime has its own characteristics as outlined below. Flexible, also known as Floating exchange rate regime Under the flexible exchange rate regime, forces of demand for and supply of a given currency determines the exchange rate. This forces play just like in an ordinary free market of goods and services, the difference being only that the good in subject is now becomes a particular currency held in bank deposits. As pointed earlier, the amount of local currency supplied in a country is determined by the government. This implies that the supply of the foreign currency will be fixed, and only its demand that will vary as illustrated below Fig 1Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Exchange Rate Regimes and Their Impacts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the diagram above, the forces of demand and supply will fix the exchange rate at R0. â€Å"Th is rate is referred to as the equilibrium exchange rate, and the quantity demanded of the currency will be equal to the quantity supplied of that currency† (Greenaway, 2011, p.96). When the demand for Euros decreases, the quantity supplied will be more than the demand and this will result into a surplus as shown in fig 1. On the other hand, when the demand for Euros increases, the quantity supplied will be less than the demand and this will result into a shortage as shown. If the Euros are being exchanged against the dollars, a surplus in the supply of Euros will lead to depreciation. The exchange rate will be higher at R2, which implies that the value of the Euro against the dollar will have gone down. On the other hand, when there is a shortage in the supply of the Euro, appreciation of the Euro occurs. The exchange rate will come down to R1, and this implies that the value of the Euro against the dollar will be higher (Greenaway, 2011). Pegged/ Fixed Exchange Rate regime Un der the fixed exchange rate regime, the exchange rates are fixed by Central banks and other financial agencies found in countries with strong economic base such as the US. The forces of demand and supply still exist in the markets, but they do not necessarily determine the exchange rate (Ghosh Wolf, 2002). Fig 2Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As shown in the diagram, the equilibrium exchange rate as determined by the forces of demand and supply is R0. When then government (through the central bank and other exchange rate agencies) fix the exchange rate at R1, there will be a surplus in the supply of the Euros and more people will be willing to exchange the Euros for dollars. To maintain the exchange rate at R1, the government will purchase the surplus Euros from the market and hold them in its foreign exchange reserve. This will continue until eventually the quantity of Euros supplied will be equal to the quantity of Euros demanded. A new equilibrium exchange rate will therefore be set at R1. Pegging the exchange rate at a higher rate than the equilibrium exchange rate is called devaluation. On the other hand, when the government sets a lower exchange rate, as shown in R2 in fig 2, there results a shortage in the supply of Euros. The demand for the Euros will increase and exert pressure on the new price. In order to prev ent the exchange rate from going back to the equilibrium, the government provides more Euros to counteract the shortage from its foreign exchange reserves. Pegging the exchange rate at a lower level is called revaluation. Under the pegged exchanged rate regime, the government is therefore constantly involved in fixing the desired exchange rates, which are not necessarily in line with the market forces of demand and supply. It is responsible for maintaining the rates at the chosen rates through interventions, either a devaluation or revaluation (Greenaway, 2011). Managed floating exchange rates regime This regime combines some aspects of flexible exchange rates regime together with other aspects of pegged exchange rates regime. This means that forces of demand and supply are allowed to play their role, and at the same time, the government also intervenes to create some required situations. There are usually changes in the exchange rates, either increasing or decreasing and end up bei ng either temporary or permanent. Temporary changes in the exchange rates are called fluctuations. They usually cause uncertainty in the trends of market movements. Therefore, it becomes difficult for policy makers and investors to make good decisions since they are not able to predict future occurrences. When this occurs, the government or other exchange rate agencies are supposed to intervene and maintain a stable foreign currency exchange rate. When the changes in the exchange rates are permanent, the government is not supposed to intervene, but rather allow a new equilibrium rate to be established by the market forces of demand and supply. These new exchange rates are then supposed to be adopted. On the other hand, when the changes in the exchange rates are temporary, the government is supposed to intervene and try to stabilize them. However, it is difficult to determine whether a change in the exchange rates will remain permanently or whether it is just temporary. This means th at the government will not necessarily take full devaluation or revaluation, but rather try to moderate the changes. The government tries to act in line with the movement of the exchange rates (Mussa, 2000). Lack of full devaluation or revaluation provides room for the government to respond appropriately, whether the changes turn out to be temporary or permanent. Managed floating exchange rate regimes are also referred to as dirty exchange rate regimes. Exchange Controls Under this regime, formulated monetary policies are employed to influence the exchange rates so as to match desired levels. This regime is different from fixed currency exchange rate regimes in that there are no specific fixed rates that the government focuses on maintaining. The adjustments are dependent on the balance of payment, rates of interest and market objectives desired by the central bank. The adjustments can be done directly, whereby the government is directly involved in setting the desired exchange rate s, or indirectly through controlled market operations. This regime also combines some elements of both fixed and floating exchange rate regimes. Impacts of Exchange Rate Regimes on Macroeconomic Activities Each individual exchange rate regime has its own advantages and disadvantages, which affect the economy in very different ways. The regime chosen for a given economy affects the economy in a way different from that another regime will do in the same economy (Ghosh Wolf, 2002). The fixed exchange rate regime, for example, promotes international trade. The stable exchange rates so created results into certainty in that economy. Exporters and importers are relieved the burden of dealing with unstable exchange rates, and they can therefore, arrange their trade activities more efficiently. They are more assured of profits as compared to economies with flexible exchange rates. International trade and foreign investments play a critical role in the growth of an economy, and therefore th is regime may be preferred in a hypothetical economy. In addition, fixed exchange rates also promote international investments. Capital lenders and investors will be willing to put their long-term investments in economies where the exchange rates are not fluctuating. Furthermore, these stable exchange rates will also assist the investors and other policy makers in formulating valid decision, based on the information obtained from the currency markets. This will in turn, have an impact of increasing the total GDP, and consequently boost the growth of that economy (Mussa, 2000). Fixed exchange rates also assist by removing market and economy speculations. Investors are relieved the burden of frequently moving their assets from one economy to another due to the panic caused by unstable markets. This further promotes economic growth in the economy where the investors retain their capital. In economies where fixed exchange rates are maintained, the economic stability will reduce inflatio n, as policy makers will be able to monitor movements in the exchange rates, formulate, and implement appropriate policies. The economy is generally put under control and long-term decisions on how to manage it can be made. In addition, the stable economy will also provide investors with a good platform for making appropriate business decisions (Ghosh Wolf, 2002). One of the disadvantages of fixed exchange rate regime is that it lacks independence. To maintain a stable rate of exchange, market forces are not allowed to play their role in the market. The projected exchange rates therefore do not reflect the correct exchange value of the currency it is being measured against. Furthermore, maintaining stable exchange rates requires active management of the rates whereby the government, through the central bank is forced to intervene and counteract excess demand or supply. This is done through revaluation or devaluation. This regime also fails to reflect current changes in the rates th at take place in the market over some time (Gandolfo, 2002). The flexible exchange rate regime also has its positive and negative macroeconomic impacts. First, this regime helps countries in dealing with situations of balance of payment (BOP) differences. It is suitable in correcting deficits that arise from international trade. In such situations, the value of that currency falls in relation to the currency of the trading partner. This automatically creates a new equilibrium, and therefore the deficit is automatically eliminated. In addition, flexible exchange rates remove restrictions that hinder free flow of capital and finished goods between countries. This promotes free international trade, in which the market forces of demand and supply of a particular currency dictate the exchange rate. In turn, the increased free trade is likely to boost growth in that country’s economy. Furthermore, removal of the monetary policies will attract more foreign investors, and this will p rovide more employment opportunities to the local citizens. Flexible exchange rates do not require the government to maintain official foreign currency reserves since devaluation is not required. In effect, this increases International liquidity. Countries will not hold reserve currencies of other countries, which eventually reduce inflation. International monetary institutions such as IMF will also not be required to maintain huge currency reserves (Qureshi International Monetary Fund, 2010). Since flexible exchange rates rely on forces of demand and supply, cases of surplus or shortages will automatically be cleared. Desirable rates of interest will also be dictated by demand and supply forces, and therefore government monetary policies will not be required. The economy under this regime is therefore self-driven. On the other hand, flexible exchange rates create conditions of uncertainty in the market. The rates keep on fluctuating from time to time, and this has an effect of dis couraging international trade. The discouragement arises because of the higher risks of incurring losses when operating under uncertain market conditions. It also scares away investors, which lead to slower economic growth. The resulting slow economic growth implies fewer employment rates and a decrease in a country’s GDP. Moreover, the flexible exchange rates encourage speculations. This leads to frequent inflows and outflows of capital, and eventually destabilizes the whole economy. Investors shy away from making investments and consequently the world liquidity increases. When the liquidity is too high, interest rates tend to rise, people end up losing jobs, and the investments made tend to go down (Mussa, 2000). Under flexible exchange rate regimes, it becomes unable for the government to intervene in the market, either through revaluation or through devaluation. This is likely to cause inflation to the economy due to absence of control. The inflation rate may escalate to alarming levels, leading to an adverse economic performance. Under managed exchange rate regimes, the government is involved in exercising some protectionism, which favors local industries. Its occasional interventions in the currency exchange market create room for formulation and implementation of desired policies. For instance, the government may undertake revaluation to increase demand of locally produced goods or services in the international market. By so doing, local industries are provided with a favorable environment to conduct their operations. In this scenario, more employment opportunities are also created and the economy is likely to grow at a faster pace. On the other hand, the government may wish to devalue its currency against external currencies, in order to increase the country’s capacity of importing. This will be preferable when the country’s imports supersede the exports. A stronger local currency will enable the country to afford the imports more â€Å"cheaply†. However, it is important to note that these slight involvements of the government in fixing the exchange rate affect the balance of payment. There is likelihood of deficits or surplus, which could have been avoided if the economy was operating under the flexible exchange rates regime. In order to enjoy the advantages of the different exchange rate regimes, many economies tend to employ a mixture of two or more regimes. This means that the benefits of markets’ demand and supply forces as well as devaluation and revaluation are involved. Therefore, the economy is allowed to go freely through market adjustments, and at the same time, the government is able to intervene and implement corrective measures to achieve desired rates of economic growth. Conclusion It can thus be concluded that the concept of exchange rates plays a critical role in determining the success of a country’s economy. It is therefore very important to understand the four regimes, and implement the regime that will best suit a country’s economy. The different advantages and shortcomings of the various regimes may also make it necessary for an economy to combine two or more regimes, depending on the market requirements. As pointed out, concept of exchange rates is an important tool in international trade. Good understanding of this concept is also important for any country that aims at maintaining a steady pace of economic growth, though controlling inflation (Gandolfo, 2002). Reference List Gandolfo, G. (2002). International finance and open-economy macroeconomics: With 3 tables. Berlin: Springer. Ghosh, A. R., Gulde, A.-M., Wolf, H. C. (2002). Exchange rate regimes: Choices and consequences. Cambridge: MIT Press. Greenaway, D. (2011). The world economy: Global trade policy 2010. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Mussa, M. (2000). Exchange rate regimes in an increasingly integrated world economy. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund. Q ureshi, M. S., Tsangarides, C. G., International Monetary Fund. (2010). The Empirics of exchange rate regimes and trade: Words vs. deeds. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund. This research paper on Exchange Rate Regimes and Their Impacts was written and submitted by user Maria A. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How to Improve the People Contribution to Project Management

How to Improve the People Contribution to Project Management Abstract In the modern day business environment, organizations are constantly forced to exhibit innovation and enhanced performance so as to remain relevant and profitable in an ever increasingly competitive arena. The input of both the individuals and groups in the organization is invaluable to the achievement of organizational goals.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on How to Improve the People Contribution to Project Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This research paper sets out to explore various dimensions that contribute towards effective and efficient group processes in an organizational setting. This shall be achieved by going into a detailed discussion as to what effective group processes consists of. To this end, an analysis on what group process refers to shall be offered and its relevance to leadership and organizational development addressed. How these processes affect the levels of commitment and performance exhibited by individuals working in groups shall also be outlined. In addition, a discussion regarding the various issues that may affect group processes shall also be presented. Introduction In the past few decades, the importance of project governance in various sectors has gained prominence. This has mainly been due to the fact that we have been moving into an era where businesses employ most of their resources into various projects which are aimed at increasing productivity, enhance competition and improve quality of goods and services offered. As such, project management mechanisms have been developed to ensure that any proposed project completes its course with little to no complications. Project governance and management often refers to the rules and regulations instituted by an organization to ensure that a project achieves its purpose (Kerzner, 2006). However, in the recent past, there have been many documented reports which indicate that most projects started off by organizations end up failing or fulfilling the expected purpose. Methodology According to McGuire and Ikpa (2008), the most suitable tool to use while evaluating situations is analyzing the correlations that exist between the aspects presented. As such, the study shall use the descriptive correlation research method.Advertising Looking for report on project management? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is because it seeks to identify the relationship between two variables which in this case are group dynamics and project success or failure in various organizations. Data used to compile this report shall include peer reviewed articles related to this topic as well as books used in class and other online sources. Group process To have a better understanding of the term ‘Group process’, it would be a worthwhile endeavor to shed some light on what each word means. As regarding to human resource in an organizational setting, a group can simply be defined as a given number of people who carryout various organizational tasks together in a bid to achieve predetermined goals and objectives (Brown Harvey, 2006). A process on the other hand refers to a course of action characterized by a series of stages that is implemented to facilitate the achievement of particular goals and objectives. With these concepts and definitions in mind, we can therefore proceed to defining the term Group process as used in organizational development. Webne-Behrman (2008) defines group process as the procedures implemented by member of an organization who are closely working together in a bid to come up with the best solutions to handle or solve a common problem. Impact of group processes to organizations Leadership refers to a process through which one person uses the help and support of others towards achieving a particular goal or task. Strong leadership is not only desirable but also essential to th e success of the business for it is through it that organizational goals are met. As mentioned earlier, understanding group process enables leaders to support groups as they work towards achieving organizational goals. As Brown (2000) asserts, an expert in group process can be able to evaluate a group’s ability to work as a problem solving and decision-making entity, all the while designing measures to counter undesirable behavioral traits that seem to inhibit the group’s ability to perform as required. Greene Burleson (2003) further contend that the success of any organization depends mainly on the effectiveness and ability of the leader to inspire. Studies have it that the stock prices of well led companies increased by over 900% in a 10 year period as opposed to a bare 74% growth recorded by those companies that lacked good leadership.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on How to Improve the People Contribution to Project Management specificall y for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This fact effectively underscores the importance of understanding group dynamics because a leader is deemed worthless if he lacks the backing and support of a team/group. It is therefore important that all leaders work towards cultivating and generating an intellectual capital for their firms. By understanding group process, a leader is better placed to motivate group members towards working together as a team. This duly gives an organization a competitive advantage over other competitors in the market. In most organization, only a fraction of the capability of the work force is utilized because leaders do not fully understand how best to motivate employees. Huszczo (2004) acknowledges that managers cannot gain much by coercing the employees to work harder. Instead, an increase in productivity can be achieved if the leaders invest highly on retraining programs, ensure availability of essential resources, and provide mot ivational attributes like bonuses, promotions and even pay increments to act as incentives. Such interventions can only be discovered if leaders understand how groups behave and react to certain positive or negative stimuli. An exemplary leader should ensure that his organization has a sense of purpose and is working towards the achievement of some organizational goals. He/she should also set out to generate and sustain trust between the administration, employees and clients. Malhotra (2000) asserts that this will result in the promotion of hope and confidence amongst the organizations worker force. These qualities heighten the levels of optimism within the organization all the while boosting employee’s morale and guarantees future success in all organizational endeavors (Porter Lilly, 1993). However, if a leader does not understand the needs and behaviors of different members of a group, there is a high likelihood that the leader’s efforts to reassure employees will fail because employees tend to follow leaders who understand them and their work needs.Advertising Looking for report on project management? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Project management: A brief overview The Standish group (1995) report has for a long time been noted as the landmark report on IT project failures. The report displayed results gathered from executive managers who had invested in various IT projects across different sectors. The results indicated that: â€Å"31.1% of projects will be canceled before they ever get completed. Further results indicate 52.7% of projects will cost over 189% of their original estimates (Standish Group, 1995)†. In regards to success rates, the report indicated that; â€Å"only 16.2% for software projects that are completed on-time and on-budget (Standish Group, 1995)†. Ever since the report was presented, the number of failed IT projects across different sectors has been increasing at an alarming rate. Case study: Queensland Health Government of Queensland Australia Queensland Health is an organization dedicated to the provision of healthcare services to the Australian community. In a bid t o improve its efficiency, accuracy and cost reduction in service delivery, the organization thought it wise to modernize its payroll system (ERP). As such, the project which cost the organization $64.5 Australian dollars was expected to end by June 2010. However, the project which aimed at replacing the aging payroll system that had been in use ended up as a major failure for the organization. This failure not only had serious financial repercussions to the organization, but also left thousands of employees with little to no pay due to major cut-over. Even though, the organization is yet to provide a conclusive report accounting for this failure, the press and business analysts highlighted the major mistakes that were made during the project. Contributing factors as reported by analysts and the press Key contributing factors as documented in various literatures included but were not limited to: poor project planning, lack of clear roles and responsibilities for project team members, poor communication skills and training. In addition, the stakeholders were not engaged effectively in the project and there was evidence of tension between government departments. On the same note, the project managers failed to resolve the complex business processes before implementing the new system. Finally, reports indicate that the project requirements and alignment did not meet the needs of the business. In summary, the project failed due to poor planning, communication, managerial and, risk management skills. The same factors have been documented as being among the core factors that lead to project failures in most businesses. Evaluating group success or failure: A literature review According to Ledingham and Bruning (2000), good communication is considered to be one of the fundamental building blocks of a successful organization. If efficient communication is to take place, there must be some levels of trust exuded and mutual respect by parties involved in any given project . Ledingham and Bruning (2000) advance that interaction with each other leads to greater appreciation and hence building of mutual respect and eventually establishment of trust. Considering the adversarial communication currently exhibited in the organization, team building exercises e.g. sporting activities, interdepartmental parties and other social events would have averted the communication hurdles that led to the project failure. Communication issues are complex and dynamic and therefore no one way can be proposed as solving all the problems involving communication in an organizational context. In order to ensure that communication is effective, it is important to consider the relevant channel of communication as settling for the correct channel ensures the message is relayed in the most appropriate manner. Having communication skills within a group ensures that group members evaluate how they communicate in order to avoid conflicts (Pinto, Pinto Prescott, 1993). As such, it w ould also be vital to develop a relevant message and this ensures that the correct information is passed on. This entails understanding the audience and once accomplished it will then be easier to appropriately develop message (Adair, 2009). Setting objectives that one hopes to achieve through the message can also help ensure the message is not only effective but well understood. In addition, Hashmi (2010) reiterates that project failures are in most cases as a result of poor planning, managerial skills and conflicts. As such, the author proposes that an exemplary project manager should ensure that his team has a sense of purpose and is working towards the achievement of some organizational goals. He/she should also set out to generate and sustain trust between the administration, employees, stakeholders and clients. This results in the promotion of hope and confidence amongst the organizations worker force. These qualities heighten the levels of optimism within the organization all the while boosting employee’s morale and guarantees future success in all organizational endeavors (Hashmi, 2010). Shenhar et al (2002) embark on a sensitive topic regarding business success. The authors state that we live in a world whereby projects play a pivotal role in ensuring that organizations remain relevant in a highly competitive business environment. In their article which evaluates the meaning of project success, the authors reveal the fact that most people term a project as successful when it is completed on time and within the budgetary allocation. However, the authors disagree with this clichà © stating that while this may seem true, there are other factors that need to be considered whenever an evaluation of a project’s success is to be undertaken. In their argument, Shenhar et al (2002) state that in some cases, projects that experienced financial overruns and delays often end up being successful business ventures. As an example, they refer to Micros oft Company which experienced a lot of difficulties as they tried to come up with their first operating system. Even though the project had major delays and resource overruns, it is now used by close to 90% of all operational PCs in the world. This and many other examples shows that project success in most cases is not analyzed as required. In contrast, projects can be completed on time and within the budget but fail to cater for the organizational needs. Nogeste and Walker (2005) suggest that having and sharing a vision has proven to be among the most effective ways of ensuring project success. A vision can be loosely defined as the detailed mental image of things to come. Possessing a vision is paramount for any organization since it gives a sense of purpose and meaning to the organization members (Palmer 2008). As such, it is imperative that in any setting there be a leader who comes up with a future plan and then steer his followers towards its achievement. Visions are often for mulated by an individual or a group of people towards a specific purpose. As such, the visions may be highly personalized and may not necessarily conform to the desires of the majority. As a leader, it is important to communicate such visions to the followers and convince them as to the need to embark on the proposals since it is the followers who will determine the success of the vision (Christenson and Walker 2004). This will act as a source of motivation and morale in their day to day activities. According to Nogeste and Walker (2005), sharing a vision of the future reassures the followers of better days ahead. In addition to this, it provides meaning and a sense of belong to the followers and other stakeholders as they deem themselves as part of something greater. A shared vision inspires and motivates them to aim higher and employ extra effort so as to actualize the vision and make a significant difference in their own capacities (Schneider et al, 2008). This in turn acts as a unifying factor and creates a sense of community between them. In addition to this, Turner (2009) contends that communication of visions provides the followers with a theme of change or transformation. From the definition of project management, it is evident that there are some contributing factors that if well defined may drive a project to success. However, Munns and Bjeirmi (1996) assert that there are some factors that may lead to a project failure. They include but are not limited to, inadequate directions on how the project should be managed, unskilled personnel within the project’s team, lack of commitment or support from team members and top management and poor project planning. These factors suggest that if successful project management is to be achieved, there must be a competent project manager, clearly defined goals and objectives, adequate resources and commitment from all parties involved (Mason Harvey, 2006). Fong (2003), states that for project management to be successful, there are various techniques and tools that should be used to facilitate this. For example, he suggests that all projects should have work schedules, execution plans and effective communication channels. These factors enable the project team to avoid under-costing, overspending and delays. These are the most renowned causes of project failures. In addition, Gido Clements, 2009) reiterate that the success of a project is hinged on the belief that individuals involved in the project will execute their responsibilities accordingly. As such, project management entails defining the roles and responsibilities of each party involved in project activities. Failure to do so may lead to a situation where decisions are made slowly and there are many conflicts during the execution of the project. Conclusion From the discussion presented herein, it is evident that establishing a strong interpersonal bond amongst members of a group is of great importance if an organization is to re main successful. In this report, a definition and description of group process has been provided. Similarly, issues such as discrimination, conflict and miscommunication have been cited as being among the most prevalent factors that can influence the effectiveness of a group. In addition, the impact of group process on individual’s performance and commitment levels has also been discussed. Arguably, understanding group process gives leaders a chance to avert most of the common shortcomings that lead to organizational failures. As such, business leaders should ensure that they take time to understand various group dynamics because the future of their businesses may rely on such knowledge and understanding. References Adair, J. 2009, Effective Communication: The Most Important Management Skill of All, Pan Macmillan, New York. Brown, D. Harvey, D. 2006, An experiential approach to organizational development, 7th edn, Pearson Education. Brown, R. 2000, Group processes: dynamics within and between groups, Wiley-Blackwell, New Jersey. Christenson, D. Walker, D. 2004, ‘Understanding the Role of Vision in Project Success’, Project Management Journal, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 39-52. Fong PSW 2003, ‘Knowledge Creation in Multidisciplinary Project Teams: an empirical study of the processes and their dynamic interrelationships’, International Journal of Project Management vol. 21 no. 7 pp. 479-486. Gido J. Clements J. D. 2009, Successful Project Management, 4th edn, South Western Cengage Learning, California. Greene, O. Burleson, R. 2003, Handbook of Communication and Social Interaction Skills, Routledge, New York. Hashmi, M. 2010, Identification of the Root Causes of Software Project Failure, Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, USA. Huszczo, G. 2004, Tools for Team Leadership: Delivering the X-factor in Team Excellence, Davies-Black Publishing, USA. Kerzner, H. 2006, Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling and controlli ng, 9th edn, John Wiley and Sons, New Jersey. Malhotra, Y. 2000, ‘Knowledge Management New Organization Forms: A Framework for Business Model Innovation’, Information Resources Management Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 5-14. McGuire, C. K. Ikpa, V. W. 2008, Policy, leadership, and student achievement: implications for urban communities: Achievement gap, research, practice, and policy, IAP, USA. Mason O. H. D Harvey, D. 2006, An experiential approach to organizational development, 7th edn, Pearson Education, New Jersey. Munns, A. K. Bjeirmi, B. F. 1996, ‘The Role of Project Management in Achieving Project Success’, International Journal of Project Management, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 81-87. Nogeste, K. Walker, D. 2005 ‘Project Outcomes and Outputs: Making the Intangible Tangible’, Measuring Business Excellence, Emerald, UK, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 55-68. Palmer, E. 2008, Ultimate leadership: winning execution strategies for your situation, Wharton Scho ol Publishing, USA. Pinto M. B., Pinto J. K. Prescott J. E. 1993, ‘Antecedents and Consequence of Project Team Cross-functional Cooperation’, Management Science, vol. 39 no. 10 pp. 1281. Porter T. W. Lilly B. S. 1993, ‘The Effects of Conflict, Trust and Task Commitment on Project Team Performance’, International Journal of Conflict Management vol. 7 no. 4 pp. 361-376. Shenhar, A. J., Dvir, D., Levy, O. Maltz, A. C. 2001, ‘Project Success: A Multidimensional Strategic Concept’, Long Range Planning, vol. 34, pp. 699 – 725. Schneider, M. et al 2008, Groups: process and practice, Cengage Learning, New York. Standish Group 1995, Chaos (Application Project Failure and Success). Web. Turner, J. R. 2009, The Handbook of Project-Based Management: Leading Strategic Change in Organizations, 3rd edn, McGraw-Hill, New York. Webne-Behrman, H. 2008, The Practice of Facilitation: Managing Group Process and Solving Problems, IAP, USA.

Management Control Systems Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Management Control Systems - Term Paper Example According to Bedford (2006), different MCS components represent a package if they function jointly with the purpose of attaining organisational outcomes. Following this line of discussion, it is further stated that if the links between the control system components (for instance, financial plan and organisation’s traditions) are not sufficient, then the system may not execute its planned functions. That is, the MCS may be unsuccessful to control behaviour in the anticipated manner (Macintosh & Quattrone, 2010, p. 41). Management control systems (MCS) facilitate businesses to raise the possibility that workers take decisions and actions that are in the businesses' best interest. There are a number of management control components or systems, for instance, accounting controls or non-accounting controls such as conduct and clan controls. Management control components or systems do not function independently, but might connect and influence one another. This notion of MCS function ing as a package has been there for decades pursued by calls to evaluate this feature. The complexity in evaluating particular constituents of MCS individually from other organisational controls is the chance for severe under-specification. Hence, it is essential to know the way arrangements of controls can be united to go well with the specific situation of the organisation. The term package indicates to several MCS being used within businesses that can either be purposely planned or synchronized or not. In the first instance, the complete system could be known as a MCS. The second case portrays a condition within which the various operational MCS are not synchronized deliberately such as due to the design and execution by diverse organisational divisions, and should not be considered as single system but instead as a package of systems. â€Å"Thus, the term ‘MCS package’ leaves open the questions whether and how its management control elements or MCS are coordinatedà ¢â‚¬  (Macintosh & Quattrone, 2010, p. 63). Regardless of its justifiable position within management control study, contingency theoretic approach has developed on organisational eventuality presumption. Organisational issues have described management accounting as well as control systems existence and aim, but the results have stayed somewhat disjointed. This is perhaps because earlier contingent issues - that is, the management control systems further than what is studied - have an effect on the central MCS more than isolated organisational traits and factors. Thus, package approach to MCS has chance to create a contingency presumption of management accounting. As a general notion, a management control systems (MCS) package is a group or set of controls as well as control systems. The individual control systems may be extra conventional accounting controls, for instance, finances and financial measures, or organisational controls, for instance, organisation structure and governan ce systems, together with more socially based controls like principles and traditions. The structure of Malmi and Brown (2008) contain five separate control components: planning, cybernetic, reward and compensation, administrative and cultural controls. Planning controls have two special control systems that are ‘long range planning’ and ‘action planning’. Long range planning usually has a further strategic concentration while action planning has a tactical concentration. The component of planning control has a number of special roles. They create the objectives that facilitate in directing effort as well as activities within an organisation. They as well facilitate correspondence by supporting objectives

The Cost of My Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Cost of My Education - Essay Example On a monthly basis, I have to cover expenses related to my car, food and snacks not included in the meal plan, as well as all extracurricular activity and entertainment costs. Step two. Having established my expense categories, I am now positioned to estimate the actual dollar amounts for each and obtain an estimate for one year. By using a spreadsheet, I am able to view this information by category and obtain an accurate calculation. My annual tuition is $15,000 and the insurance for my car is $4,200. Accordingly, my annual expenses add up to $19,200. Every semester my residency fees cost me $3,500 and the meal plan is $1,250. I expect my books to cost $300, my student activity and parking fees to be $100, and my lab fees to be $75. This means that my semester fees equal $5,225. Because I will be able to walk to class, I don't expect to spend much money on gas every month, about $50. The rest of my monthly expenses should not be more than $250, making my monthly total while in school about $300. During the summer, I'll be living at home and will not have monthly expenses. I can now accumulate this information into a one-year estimate by adding my annual expenses ($19,200) to my semester expenses for two semesters ($5,225*2 = $10,450) and my monthly expenses for the eight months I will be at s

Review the United States v. Lopez case, and write a case brief Study

Review the United States v. Lopez , and write a brief - Case Study Example Later on, Lopez was arrested and charged for possessing a gun in a school. Issue – The impact of the 1990 Gun-Free School Zones Act, which forbids individuals from knowingly carrying a gun in a school zone, on the Commerce Clause. Is the Act unconstitutional? Does the Congress exceed its power to legislate under the Commerce Clause? Holding – Yes, the Congress is exceeding its power. Caring a gun in a school is an offence under criminal law, and does not interfere interstate commerce or any other economic activity. Lopez’s conviction has been reversed by the Court of Appeal, and affirmed by the United States Supreme Court. Rationale – The Court found that there was no obvious and direct connection between the act of possessing a gun in a school and commerce as an economic activity. The court found no connection between 18 U.S.C. Â § 922(q) and the Commerce Clause, which does have limits.

Efficiency of photovoltaic cells

Efficiency of photovoltaic cells This years Nobel Prize has been awarded to an American physicist and chemist whose work paved the way to built efficient and low-cost polymer photovoltaic cells. Professor A. J. Heeger of University of California at Santa Barbara, US received the prestigious Nobel Prize for his research on polymer photovoltaic solar cells over the past two decades. In 1995 Heeger published a paper (science 270 1789), in which he proposed a new approach to fabricate photovoltaic devices, which led to the development of efficient solar cells. This enabled to fabricate renewable, sustainable, and recyclable, low cost photovoltaic devices which are used to convert light energy into electric current. This approach is enhanced and widely used in commercial applications to produce flexible organic solar cells. The increasing demand for energy has created a need for low cost and eco-friendly energy source. Solar power, which is a renewable energy source holds good for producing energy at low cost. Breakthrough Efficiency of Photovoltaic cells depends on the energy conversion and charge collection of the device, which are high in inorganic based photovoltaic device, however organic photovoltaic devices have major advantages over inorganic photovoltaic devices i.e., low-cost fabrication, mechanical flexibility and disposability. This led many researches to focus on polymer photovoltaic cells, hence several approaches have been proposed for fabricating photovoltaic cells like mono and bilayered organic solar cells by using photo induced electron transfer in composites of conducting polymers as donors(D) and Buckminsterfullerene and its derivatives as acceptors(A). However the conversion efficiency is limited by the carrier collection efficiency at the D-A interface. A major breakthrough in the field of organic photovoltaic cells is achieved by overcoming the limitation of the efficiency in the bilayer heterojunction, which is proposed by Heeger. A high interfacial area is achieved within a bu lk material by carefully controlling the morphology of the phase separation into an interpenetrating bicontinuous D-A network, which yields efficient photo induced charge separation, this obtained interfacial area is known as Bulk D-A heterojunction. Even though the bulk heterojunction is previously proposed by Hiramoto et al, [J. Appl. Phys. 72, 3781, 1992] but the fabrication of solar cells is far more difficult than that of Heeger approach. Heeger used composite film of poly (2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1, 4-phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV) and soluble derivatives of buckminsterfullerene namely [6,6]PCBM and [5,6]PCBM to form a polymer blend. To overcome the limited solubility of C60, a series of soluble C60 derivatives are used, this concept of soluble C60 derivatives enabled to realize new device concept. The structure of bulk heterojunction consists of metal electrode contacts (Ca or Al) of different work function to optimise the efficiency of carrier collection of holes from donor phase and electrons from acceptor phase. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is used as anode and Ca or Al is used as anode which automatically extracts electrons and holes from the polymer blend. The performance of bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells depends on the phase separation in polymer blend devices; so much of the research is concentrated on the precise control of the phase separation. The film formation has to be very fast, in order to obtain fine structures i.e., Phase separation has to be arrested earlier, which results in smaller domains than exciton diffusion length. This can be achieved [Adv. Mater. 12, 498, 2000] by spin coating on a heated substrate, so that the solvent evaporates faster. The quantum efficiency (percentage of photos hitting the photo reactive surface that will produce electron-hole pair) of up to 2.9% is achieved by Heeger, which is further enhanced by using different low molecular weight materials [Adv. Mater. 12, 1270, 2000]. Quantum efficiency can be improved up to 10% by using different materials. Evolution A wide range of research is carried out based on bulk heterojunction approach, which resulted in efficient photovoltaic cells; however organic solar cells degrade when exposed to ultraviolet light, which effects the life time of the cells. Energy conversion efficiency is also low when compared to its inorganic counterparts. Fig 1 shows the efficiency achieved by different research groups in the last decade. 7.9% efficiency is achieved by Solarmer Company, which is certified by National renewable energy laboratory (NREL). Whereas Heeger achieved a quantum efficiency of 2.9%, this indicates a rapid development in this field over a decade. Solarmer produce photovoltaic commercial products using bulk heterojunction approach. Another company named Konarka which is founded by Heeger also manufactures plastic electronics and solar cells with bulk heterojunction. Konarka offer conventional products like sensors, portable battery charging for PDA, mobiles and other small devices, microelectronics, portable power, remote power, building integrated photovoltaic. Plextronics is another company developing and selling pre-formulated inks as well as the know-how to print them, which are extensively tested for outdoor lifetime. Device using these products have high lifetimes of the order of years. However the efficiency of polymer photovoltaic cells is low when compared to the silicon based photovoltaic devices. In order to compete with other available technologies, the efficiency of polymer photovoltaic cells should be increased to 15% with a lifetime of 15-20 years [Solar energy, 2009, 1224]. Heeger made a significant contribution to polymer solar cells field by proposing the bulk Heterojunction approach, which has many potential applications in renewable energy.

Eleanor Roosevelt and her Accomplishments Essay example -- People Roos

Eleanor Roosevelt and her Accoplishments As the wife of a popular United States president, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City, October 11, 1884, and died November 7, 1962. She was an active worker for social causes. She was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt, and was raised by her maternal grandmother after the premature death of her parents. In 1905 she married her cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They had six children, but one of them died in infancy. Although she was extremely shy, Eleanor worked hard and became a well known and admired humanitarian. (Webster III, 100). When her husband became the President, Eleanor Roosevelt made herself a strong speaker on behalf of a wide range of social causes, including youth employment and civil rights for blacks and women. She also had compassion for the Jewish and helped them go through the time when Hitler had power. She did all of her work with self-confidence, authority, independence, and cleverness. Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the greatest women who ever lived because of her accomplishments, her benefits to mankind, and her motives to accomplish her goals. Helping other people was what Eleanor Roosevelt lived for. There were many accomplishments made by this woman in social and political matters. For one thing, she spoke out for women to make them more equal to men. In 1928, she helped originate the nation-wide web of active units of Democratic women (Lash, 49). Eleanor believed that women could do just as much as men, especially in politics. The League of Women Voters was where she was "grounded in citizenship and government" (Benton, 237). Because of her experiences with men and other women, Eleanor had been able to make speeches and talk to other women about their rights. Another social matter in which she was concerned about was the treatment of the Jewish. The idea of Hitler wanting to exterminate all Jewish people brought up strong emotions in Eleanor. Her compassion towards the survivors of those concentration camps and gas chambers, made her take part in a memorial service of protest about it. She did what she could to help the survivors of the holocaust escape death, including getting visas for the refugees who managed to get to Spain and Portugal. The issuance of visas to children was another thing that she tried to do to help the younger people escape the violence... ...women, Jews, and Negroes were just some of the many things she believed in and worked for. With more equality between the different kinds of people, there can be more peace and happiness in the world without all the discrimination. Her accomplishments brought about increased unity in people, which was what she did to benefit mankind. All of her experiences and determination motivated her to do what she did, and it was a gift to humanity. Thesis: Eleanor Roosevelt benefited mankind by accomplishing her goals to help others be equal and unified with one another. Her motives helped her achieve this, and made her someone who has done a great deal for humanity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Premises: 1. Accomplishments 2. How she benefited mankind 3. Motivation to accomplish goals Works Cited: Benton, William. "Roosevelt, Eleanor." Encyclopedia Britannica. 1968 ed. Lash, Joseph P. Eleanor: The Years Alone. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc., 1972. Roosevelt, Eleanor. You Learn By Living. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishing, 1960. Webster III, Orville. 50 Famous Americans. Los Angeles: JBG Publishing, 1991. Wilson, H.W. "Roosevelt, Eleanor." Current Biography. 1940 ed.

Raphael’s Triumph of Galatea from 1512

Art is interesting because it is simultaneously distinct and contextual: great art stands on its own, but it also stands in the shadow of that which has come before, and serves as the guiding light to cast the shadows of that which will come after it. Two paintings which share a number of similarities and differences are Raphael’s Triumph of Galatea from 1512 and Bronzino’s Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time from 1546. Each work concentrates on representing mythological characters and events, and concerns itself with notions of love.However, Raphel’s work represents love and beauty as archetypal, more abstract concepts, where Bronzino’s work has achieved both fame and infamy for its sexual overtones, emphasizing erotic love. Raphael’s painting is a fresco, and uses more washed-out colors to represent the dream-like aspect of the events: even as Galatea is on the cusp of divination, the world becomes less real to her, and more dream-like, which is what th e painting attempts to emphasize.Bronzino’s work emphasizes flesh-colors to bring out the striking nudity of its characters, as well as the barely-concealed sexual nature of the proceedings. Bronzino draws the eye to the sexual proceedings between Cupid and Venus by putting Venus in the foreground, which contrasts quite well with Raphael’s focus on the nymph: while she is centered and obviously the focus of the work (the eyes are inevitably drawn to her), but she is drawn to the same scale (relative to the viewer) as the other mythological figures of the work.Additionally, while each work uses mythological characters, each does so to a very different end: in focusing on ascension to divinity, Raphael concentrates on this event as the culmination of earthly beauty becoming transcendent†¦something to which even we mere mortals can aspire. By contrast, Bronzino’s work serves an allegorical function: the borderline incestuous events that are being enacted by Ve nus and Cupid are being overseen by Folly (looking pleased, as an unsubtle indicator that their action is a foolish one) and a horrified Father Time.Other characters are in similar â€Å"reaction shots† of shock and horror. While both Raphael and Bronzino were Italian, their works were products of very different cultural movements. The allegorical art of Bronzino is the textbook ideal of Mannerism: it is intellectual and thought-provoking while at the same time drawing attention to the artificial nature of what is being portrayed.Arguably, such works function more as spectacle than art, as part of the work’s power lies not within the work itself, but in the reaction it engenders from others. Raphael, of course, epitomized the use of the fresco: being painted to complement the opulence of a home, it focuses on the aspects that the rich commissioner wishes to see in himself (the intersection between earthly existence and spiritual divinity is, of course, featured in the home of someone who earnestly hopes their earthly wealth can be tempered by spiritual riches).Obviously, Raphael and Bronzino utilized different mediums in different time periods to represent different events. However, it is striking how, regarding subject matter, each one approached things so differently. Raphael treated the mythological characters with an almost historical focus, and chose to highlight the spirituality and divinity of a single mythological event.Bronzino’s work takes on the nature of a grotesque hypothetical, and serves to remind cultured art aficionados that the decadence of the mythological characters that they so love is nothing to be admired or emulated. Each artist, however, was concerned with what beauty was, whether that answer is spiritual or simple practical: whether it concerns transcendent godly love or simple earthly passion. In the debate between these two points of view, the substance of their art lives forever.

Conventional Veterinary Medicine vs Holistic Veterinary Medicine Essays

Conventional Veterinary Medicine vs Holistic Veterinary Medicine Essays Conventional Veterinary Medicine vs Holistic Veterinary Medicine Essay Conventional Veterinary Medicine vs Holistic Veterinary Medicine Essay There is always lots of talk and discussion about the difference between conventional veterinary medicine and holistic veterinary medicine. Conventional medicine has been around for many years whereas holistic medicine is recently becoming a big thing that pet owners are now turning to. Although the two are working towards the same goal, to better an animal’s life, the two are very different. There is no real research on when exactly conventional veterinarian medicine started. We do know who the father of veterinary medicine is, this would be Dr. Claude Bourgelat. He founded the first modern school of veterinary medicine in Lyon, France in 1862. (Baker, 1992-2013 ). Holistic medicine is just now starting to become popular with pet owners, as they are turning to new ways to care for their pet when they think conventional medicine is too harsh. Conventional veterinary medicine often times does not look at the whole of the animal. It’s often about symptoms and treating them. If your cat is vomiting they may prescribe centrine to stop it or if there is diarrhea, a medication that is synthetically made is prescribed for that. When symptoms persist even with meds then veterinarians will become more aggressive with medications to find a cure. Usually beginning with blood work, x-rays, urine samples and so forth. With synthetically made medicines, you sometimes run the risk of having side effects, and at times the Vet could possibly misdiagnose an illness and prescribe the wrong medication for the animal. Holistic medicine tends to look at the animal as a whole, and not just look at the symptoms. Instead of looking at just the parts of the body that are sick, they look at the whole body of the animal, and attempts to restore health in the emotional, mental, and physical states. Holistic veterinarians believe that there is toxic stress from many things in an animal’s life. Whether it be from environmental or nutritional stresses, they believe the whole animal should be looked at. There are many different types of medicine in the conventional veterinary world. They prescribe medications for anxiety, and depression as well as  medications for the everyday problems such as colds and allergies. When the animal is found with a type of cancer or tumor, there are very harsh approaches to attacking it. They use the same treatments that humans use, like radiation and chemo on your animals. Some of these medications and treatments can cause your pet side effects like vomiting, tiredness, and soreness. None the less, they are made to treat an illness and typically work. Holistic practices look at the animal as a whole. Meaning they will treat the whole animal and not just look at the animals symptoms. Holistic veterinary care involves many conventional and unconventional routes. They will look at the animals behavior, mental state, diet and nutrition, past health history, symptoms and your relationship with your pet. They want the whole picture. Could the animal’s sickness be stress related, anxiety, is it behavioral and so on. Holistic treatments tend to be less invasive and natural. Treatments can include the following. Acupuncture, acupressure, Chinese medicine, behavioral modification, herbal medicine, massage therapy, music therapy, mega-nutrients, augmentation therapy, nutritional therapy and chiropractic care. It can even get into Reiki, which is the simple use of your hands and touch. If a patient arrives in a conventional veterinary’s office with signs of gagging, respiratory difficulty, snoring or exercise intolerance chances are they have brachycephalic. Brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS) is a congenital disorder resulting from primary conformational defects, which obstruct flow of air through the upper airways. (Johnson, 2010) The vet will recommend weight reduction of the patient then they will do a surgery to correct lesions, and also will resection the soft palate. When a patient with the same symptoms appears at a holistic veterinarian’s office, treatment is much different. Instead of surgery, the vet will prescribe a low dose of antibiotics along with other doses of Chinese herbs or appropriate nutrients. One of the Chinese herbs that are prescribed is Houttuynia. It possesses antimicrobial effects, and is useful against both bacteria and some viruses. It increases phagocytic activity of white blood  cells, which can help clear pathogens. (Paula Jo Broadfoot, 2008) This is a less invasive way to treat the patient with natural medications. Conventional veterinarians are less likely to use acupuncture on patients. When a patient arrives with a type of joint problem caused by osteoarthritis, conventional veterinarians most often turn to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. Holistic practices will attempt acupuncture and different herbs. They believe the acupuncture will relieve some of the stress on the joints, and relax the patient so that over time they will no longer be in pain.

Cruel Intentions vs. Dangerous Liaisons essays

Cruel Intentions vs. Dangerous Liaisons essays Separated by age and vastly different times, both Dangerous Liaisons and Cruel Intentions relay a social prejudice towards women that are identical despite contrasting setting details. In each time period, a preconception of a "real" lady's character drives the female characters to wear "masks" of conformity. This, they feel, society mandates, and is, along with other factors, an evident source of the character's rebellion. The characters of Kathryn Merteuil and Marquise de Merteuil each have scenes in which they define their separate but nearly identical urges to be released from this certain social order that confines them to hide their true identities. Each movie includes this scene to delve into the preconceived role in society that directly factors in Kathryn Merteuil and Marquise de Merteuil's reaction to the confined views of her time. Power is of the utmost importance to these caged women. The role of Merteuil revolves around deceit and manipulation while also requiring her to assume the role of a lady for public viewing. In the first scene she appears in, she is being treated like a very respectable lady by Cecille's mom. In both movies, she receives the highest esteem because of her obvious scheming. Kathryn in Cruel Intentions is the class president and apparently has a very high status in her prep school. In accordance, the Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons receives great respect and the utmost courtesy from other wealthy people. Both characters drop their facades occasionally throughout the movies, but this is only when with Valmont. The character uses the mask of a proper lady when she can attain something in return or protect her reputation and she has no need to hide her true self to Valmont because of their similar motives. Cruel Intentions and Dangerous Liaisons give the character of Merteuil a chance to further define the driving force of the woman by including a certain vital scene to her characte...

A Child Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Child Study - Essay Example However, Ahmed’s verbal skills are limited since English is not his first language and the use of Arabic at home has limited Ahmed’s verbal development of the English language. In order to administer Piaget’s test for understanding other’s points of view, I observed Ahmed during his play time. At the start of my observations, Ahmed was reclusive and was not open to the idea of sharing with other children. This was evidenced by Ahmed’s habit of taking toys and retreating to a corner to play on his own without showing any concern for other children. Over time, as Ahmed was exposed to the other children through his daily interactions with them, Ahmed started becoming more and more open to other children. Initially, Ahmed was only willing to accept his own self and would tend to walk away with his toys if some other child came close by. Over time, Ahmed developed enough tolerance to allow other children to come close by and sit while Ahmed played on his own. Ahmed only allowed other children to play with him when he realised that he would have to consistently interact with these children for a period longer than that in the nursery. Essentially, this signifies that Ahmed began to realise that other children had a point of view of playing with the toys that Ahmed had. It could be surmised that this indicates a development in that the child is more willing to accept other children’s points of views as evidenced by Piaget’s research (Rogoff, 2003).

Should Abortion be Legal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Should Abortion be Legal - Essay Example Ousting a soul out of a living being is an act of brutality. Humans are the most civilized form of creatures to exist on earth and such a high status demands them to act responsibly with all the other organisms that we, humans, share this planet with. This entails respecting of the rights of people and animals alike and giving others preference over ourselves (Titus and Ross, 1999). The fulfillment of these conditions leads to a state known as humanity. If humanity demands wellbeing of entire world and not only human wellbeing then the question that arises here is, how humanity can allow abortions. Abortion refers to the killing or premature human fetus, to prevent its birth and commencement into the world. Abortion deprives a helpless and innocent soul from entering into the world, thus restricting it from its right to live. Irrespective of the circumstances, no soul shall be allowed to kill the other as per the basics of humanity, and considering this, abortion must not be legalize d. Why abortions must not be legalized? Imagine a baby, joyful, playful and cheerful in your arms. You start playing with the baby and all of a sudden you tell the baby that you are going to slaughter him for no fault of his own. Just imagine if the baby were to interpret your intentions and understand what you were saying, how would the baby have reacted then? The baby, the cheerful baby, would have begged you for his life. He would have broken down into tears and would have started screaming of your terrifying intentions. But no matter what, if you don’t need the baby, then you just don’t need it. This entire aesthetic dramatization is just a creative account of the definition of abortion. When a male and a female human participate in a successful sexual intercourse, a seed is planted into the ovaries of the female member resulting in the orientation of life of a human to be, the fetus. The example of a fetus is tantamount to that of a flower seed, sown into the grou nd for nurturing and development into a seedling, a plant and finally the flower. Ravaging the seed before it becomes a flower is equivalent to smashing the flower itself, when it has fully grown and developed. Abortion, as explained, is the killing of one life for no reason. Killing of humans is only permissible, logically and legally, under limited circumstances, including self-defense, war or may be in case of euthanasia. But killing of humans, that are premature in their body features, have no fault of their own, which can’t even defend themselves and are entirely dependent upon the mercy of others, is a major crime, a sin and a demented act of cowardice and butchery (Titus and Ross, 1999). On several instances screams out of excruciating pain and suffering have been heard from the aborted children as repeatedly reported by the housemaids and nurses in abortion houses, labor rooms and hospitals. Aborted children usually are conscious while they are led to death and they p erspire in disdain and discomfort striving to gain help from somewhere, somehow. The cold blooded murderers witness the scene and leave the place, without any regrets or sympathies whatsoever. Such cases have been on the verge of increase and an ever increasing number of people commit this crime, today, without any second thoughts whatsoever. Such acts have resulted in a transformation in human attitude towards