Transformational Leadership.Criticisms And Arguments Against Essay

Transformational Leadership.Criticisms And Arguments Against Transformational Leadership - Essay Example I will go ahead and take my stand on the matter and support my stand based on several writers and what they have written about transformational leadership. This is a paper that will extensively be a research on the topic of criticism of transformational leadership. By the time you are finished reading this paper you will have shaped your opinion on the matter of transformational leadership. Theory of Transformational leadership Cox (2001) stated that there are two primary groups of leadership. He stated them as transformational and transactional. However, Downton (1973, as cited in Barnett et al. 2001) was the first who came up with the difference between transformational and transactional leadership but the concept garnered little attention until the articles on political leaders by James McGregor Burns’ (1978) came to be published. According to Burns he made the distinction between transformational leaders as being outstanding/extraordinary leaders who engage with supporters , with their focus on higher order intrinsic needs, and brought up awareness about the value of specific results and new ways in which those results might be obtained and transactional leaders as being ordinary leaders who interchanged tangible/concrete benefits for the loyalty and work of supporters (Barnett et al. 2001; Cox 2001; Gellis 2001; Griffin 2003; Assess & Piccolo 2004). The theory of transformational leadership was further developed by Bernard Bass by questioning Burns’ perception of transformational and transactional leadership as opposites on a procession. Instead he suggested that they are individual ideas and that good leaders illustrate the features of both (Judge & Piccolo 2004, p. 755). Hitler is a good example given of a transactional leader while the best example of a transformational leader is Gandhi. The interest in transformational leadership is as a result of two tendencies (Simic 1998, p. 50). First, important international changes in the economy fro m the early 1970s meant that a lot of large companies in the west, such as AT&T and General Motors had to put into consideration extreme changes in their methods of conducting business. Some of the factors were the rapid changes in technology, an increase in the circulation of products from recently industrialized nations, increased competitiveness among the competitors, pricing strategy in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) being volatile, and changing market structures led to a strong, volatile and competitive atmosphere in which important changes in the organization were crucial. Downsizing and adopting of new types of business agreement were the most common changes carried out. Therefore these changes took their toll on employee empowerment and satisfaction. This broke the old social agreement that had long term employment and in exchange get the employee's loyalty (Griffin 2003, p. 1). Secondly, in the 1970s, we had the contingency theory on leadership. Th e theory on leadership was established in research of behaviors, character, and circumstances and did not account for several untypical features in leaders (Simic 1998, p. 50). These are the fact tendencies that led to the realization of the theory of transformation. Odom and Green (2003), based on research and the analysis of a number of legal cases, claim that when the concept of transformational leadership is used in ethical dilemmas that managers face there is less litigation and better moral results than if the transactional approach to values that is common was used. Within academic surroundings, as a result of transformation

PESTLE Analysis Template Essay Example for Free

PESTLE Analysis Template Essay Your notes Potential Impact: Implication and importance The list below is just to get you started. Remember to put these, and others that you add in the context of your organization or business. For example if you are a small private company the behaviours of a Wall Mart / Tesco or other large international player may well impact on you.If you are a local authority, government changes will change your priorities. In the NHS changes to treatments and public attitudes will also impact etc. About your organization.How might the factors listed on the left impact your business or part of the organization? H – HighM – MediumL – Low U – Undetermined Time Frame:0 – 6 months6 – 12 months 12 – 24 months 24 + months Type:Positive +Negative Unknown Impact:Increasing Unchanged = Decreasing Unknown Relative Importance:Critical Important Un-important Unknown Political – SWOT Trading policies Funding, grants and initiatives Home market lobbying/pressure groups International pressure groups Wars and conflict Government policies Government term and change Elections Inter-country relationships/attitudes Terrorism Political trends Governmental leadership Government structures Internal political issues Shareholder/ stakeholder needs/ demands ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Economic – SWOT Home economy situation Home economy trends Overseas economies and trends General taxation issues Taxation changes specific to product/services Seasonality/weather issues Market and trade cycles Specific industry factors Market routes and distribution trends Customer/end-user drivers International trade/monetary issues Disposable income Job growth/unemployment Exchange rates Tariffs Inflation Interest and exchange rates Consumer confidence index Import/export ratios Production level Internal finance Internal cash flow ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Social – SWOT Consumer attitudes and opinions Media views Law changes affecting social factors Brand, company, technology image Consumer buying patterns Major events and influences Buying access and trends Ethnic/religious factors Advertising and publicity Ethical issues Demographics (age, gender, race, family size,) Lifestyle changes Population shifts Education Trends Fads Diversity Immigration/emigration Health Living standards Housing trends Fashion role models Attitudes to work Attitudes to people doing certain types of work Leisure activities Occupations Earning capacity Staff attitudes Management style organizational culture Changes to education system ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Technological – SWOT Competing technology development Research funding Associated/dependent technologies Replacement technology/solutions Maturity of technology Manufacturing maturity and capacity Information and communications Consumer buying mechanisms/technology Technology legislation Innovation potential Technology access, licensing, patents Intellectual property issues Global communications Inventions Innovations New discoveries Research Energy uses/sources/fuels Communications Rate of obsolescence Health (pharmaceutical, equipment, etc.) Manufacturing advances Information technology Internet Transportation Bio-tech Genetics Waste removal/recycling Email M-learning E-learning Collaboration tools Software changes RSI ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Additional split of information if doing a PESTLE analysis rather than a PEST analysis: Legal – SWOT Current legislation home market Future legislation European/international legislation Regulatory bodies and processes Environmental regulations Employment law Consumer protection Industry-specific regulations competitive regulations ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Environmental – SWOT Ecological Environmental issues International National Local Environmental regulations Customer values Market values Stakeholder/ investor values Staff attitudes Management style organizational culture Staff morale Staff engagement Global factors EU based factors ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ top Remember this is only a tool. Call it what you like – use whatever factors you feel are appropriate. Other variations include: PEST analysis (STEP analysis) Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological PESTLE/ PESTEL analysis- Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Legal, Environmental; PESTEL analysis PESTEL analysis- Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Environmental, Labour (Labor) related; PESTEL analysis (rare no references available) PESTLIED analysis- Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, International, Environmental, Demographic STEEPLE analysis – Social/Demographic, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political, Legal, Ethical SLEPT analysis – Social, Legal, Economic, Political, Technological STEPE analysis – Social, Technical, Economic, Political, and Ecological ETPS analysis – Economic, Technical, Political and Social – Scanning the business environment PESTLE Analysis on an HR department or other internal function While the PEST or PESTLE analysis is primarily aimed at looking at the external environment of an organization, many HR courses ask students to use the PEST or PESTLE analysis model to look at their own function. In this context we need to imagine that the department (HR) is an organization in its own right and look outside. Factors to include in your analysis may include the following: Political What is the culture of the organization, How is the HR function viewed by other functions? Who are the political champions of HR (or its adversaries)? Shareholder views Economic What is the budgetary position of the department, Is more money available? Are our customers likely to spend more or less money on the services we offer? What is happening to the financial status of the organization Interest rates Inflation Salary trends in the sector Sociological Other departmental attitudes to HR Population shifts (age profile) Education Fads Diversity Immigration/emigration Health Living standards Housing trends Fashion role models Age profile Attitudes to career Technological What changes may be coming our way? What new technology/ systems, How do we record attendance, performance? how might this change? Use of and encourage home working? Communications technologies changes of technology that will increase/ reduce the need for recruitment changes to HR software Legal What is happening in our sector that will impact what we do? Minimum wage, Working time, Food stuffs, Under 18 working, Occupational/ industrial Training etc. What changes will impact the services of the organization Environmental Staff morale Staff engagement Need to reduce storage needs Management attitudes (inside dept/ function) Organizational culture PESTLE Analysis for Schools or Education By rapidbi Last updated: Sunday, April 19, 2009 Save Share 2 Comments A PESTLE analysis is a tool that can provide prompts to the governors, management and staff involved in the analysis of the changes in the school’s environment that could impact future finance, planning and management decisions. It can enable them carry out a more comprehensive analysis. A PESTLE is usually used in commercial organisations as a part of the strategic development of a business and marketing plan, however a PESTLE analysis can be used as part of identifying the opportunities and threats (swOT) for operational planning within educational and school environments. The PESTLE provides a simple framework within which to consider external factors. PESTLE is used as part of a SWOT for identifying the external factors (OT) Political Schools being privatised (like the NHS) A government initiative creates the risk that the school may fail to deliver the policy or be diverted away from local priorities etc. Changes to the skills required to be a teacher/ tutor Changes to curriculum with short lead times Requirement to be self managing Requirement to be self financing Economic Central or local government funding decisions may affect school/ establishment finances Closure of a local industry may affect fund raising plans etc. Ability of parents to raise funds for optional activities The need to run breakfast/ after schools clubs Ability to invest ‘savings/ surpluses’ Cost of providing resources: Staff – teaching support Basics – books/ paper Technology solutions laptops etc Interest rates Shortages of materials on national/ international markets Over provision of school places in the area resulting in competition from neighbouring schools The risk of highly valued, key staff moving on to more ‘up and coming’ schools/ academies Social Decline in birth rate, reflecting national trends Local population changes (increasing/ decreasing numbers) Demographic changes may affect likely pupil rolls or the nature of pupils needs e.g. pupils with English as a second language etc. Closure of local firms providing employment Inability to attract staff Social networking – blogs, facebook, twitter Changes to qualifications expected Integration with local community Integration of students with special needs parental preference – an increase in ‘parent power’ has allowed parents more freedom of choice over their child’s school the risk of highly valued, key staff moving on to more up-and-coming establishments Information is accessible to staff anywhere in the world via the Internet Staff were not given enough training or access to effectively change their habits and how they expected information to be made available Technological Changes to standards/ equipment required Risk of selecting the wrong technology at times of change (i.e. windows -v- open source) New computer viruses may affect school/ college operations, Disturbing/ illegal images on the internet may affect ICT security measures etc. Move from paper based books to e-book readers Computer hardware being out of date Computer software being out of date Time to manage IT systems Legislative new legislation may create risks of non-compliance with the law, create new administrative burdens etc Changes to child protection legislation Raise the age of school leaving age Raise/ lower the age of starting school. Nursery/ kindergarten Change to school opening hours Changes to funding of charity based organisations Health safety legislation Environmental A new highway layout near the school may create new dangers for pupils etc Waste disposal Reduction of green space available for activities Changes to local bus routes Using a significant amounts of paper and photocopier toner to produce printed information. For a more comprehensive PESTLE article see our pain page. A PESTLE Template: Area being reviewed Factor: Is factor positive or negative? Political P – N P – N P – N P – N Economic P – N P – N P – N P – N Social P – N P – N P – N P – N Technological P – N P – N P – N P – N Legislative P – N P – N P – N P – N Environmental P – N P – N P – N P – N Remember this is only a tool. Call it what you like – use whatever factors you feel are appropriate. Other variations include: PEST analysis (STEP analysis) Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological PESTLE/ PESTEL analysis- Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Legal, Environmental PESTEL analysis- Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Environmental, Labour (Labor) related PESTLIED analysis- Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, International, Environmental, Demographic STEEPLE analysis – Social/Demographic, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political, Legal, Ethical SLEPT analysis – Social, Legal, Economic, Political, Technological STEPE analysis – Social, Technical, Economic, Political, and Ecological ETPS analysis – Economic, Technical, Political and Social – Scanning the organizational environment Choose the acronym that most suits you or your organization. http://www.familybunker.com/forums/students-workshop/11967-swot-pest-analysis-part-ii.html Examples of SWOTs Strengths and weaknesses à ¨ Resources: financial, intellectual, location à ¨ Cost advantages from proprietary know-how and/or location à ¨ Creativity (ability to develop new products) à ¨ Valuable intangible assets: intellectual capital à ¨ Competitive capabilities à ¨ Effective recruitment of talented individuals à ¨ Competitive Advantage à ¨ Brand reputation à ¨ New product Opportunities and threats à ¨ Expansion or down-sizing of competitors à ¨ Market trends à ¨ Economic conditions à ¨ Expectations of stakeholders à ¨ Technology à ¨ Public expectations à ¨ All other activities or inactivities by competitors à ¨ Criticisms by outsiders à ¨ Changes in markets à ¨ All other environmental condition à ¨ Global Influences à ¨ Nothing PESTEL Analysis for Macro-Environment http://accalecturenotes.blogspot.com/2011/01/pestel-analysis-for-macro-environment.html PESTEL Analysis is used for the assessment of macro-environment (environment which indirectly affects business decisions) in which the business operates. Managers have to identify changes in macro-environment that influence their business decisions. These can be identified using PESTEL analysis. In exams, using this framework ensures that we have gathered sufficient information necessary to analyze the scenario. Other frameworks used are equally acceptable. Below discussed factors are interrelated, points discuss in one factor can be included in other. 1. POLITICAL. The following points to be considered when evaluating the political environment of the industry or business. 1. Availability of government grants or assistance in the form of cash or other asset perhaps upon fulfillment of some conditions. 2. Award schemes to enforce quality standards. 3. Stable or dynamic political environment i.e. is the government changes frequently resulting in changing policies being implemented by every new government or the country are under martial law or war? 4. Rules and regulations are polite or stringent. This indicates the venerability of the business to legal risk i.e. fines (can be discussed under legal also). 5. Barriers to entry and exit. Example by imposing licensing requirements. 6. Provision of training to workers. 7. Provision of infra-structure, includes sewerage, transportation and energy. 2. ECONOMICAL 1. Business cycle, identify the stage from which the business is suffering. The stages are depression, recession, recovery and boom. 2. Industrial cycle, identify the stage from which the industry is suffering. The stages are introduction, growth, maturity and decline. 3. Access to resources, finance at reasonable cost, workers at reasonable rates, material economically and easily and equipment with maintenance and spare parts. 4. Customers suppliers, their availability and bargain power should be assessed. 5. Taxation policies i.e. direct or indirect taxation and rates 6. Inflation, interest and exchange rates. 7. National income can also influence demand for the firms product. 8. Level of unemployment in the country, high unemployment may suggest that employer has dominant position and can negotiate low wage rate with workers 9. Stock market condition rising stock market index means rising demand of shares in the stock market may suggest easily availability of finance at cheaper cost. 3. SOCIAL 1. Stakeholders demand, taste and behavior. Example customer, financers and supplier who may not support if your business conflicts their principles. 2. Increasing or decrease population. Increasing population may suggest that higher demand for younger people products e.g. toys while decreasing population suggests opposite. 3. Attitude to work. Are people committed to their work or they just comply with standards. Healthy workers are more productive than overstressed workers. 4. Income distribution, how wealth for the country is scattered among individuals, even distribution may suggest that majority of the people can buy our product while uneven distribution may suggest that majority is poor and minority is rich which create demand for high volume and low priced and low volume high priced products respectively. 5. Social footprint. Impact that business leaves on the society 6. cultural change should be identified e.g. identifying societies leisure activities, changes in customs. 4. TECHNOLOGICAL 1. Stable or robust. Stable environment may suggest longer product life cycle and low level of obsolesces while robust environment suggests otherwise. 2. New product developments may permit doing business more efficiently, cost-effectively and effectively. Employer may move towards automation, this is turn may affect other factors of the framework 3. Innovation leads to break-through in economy and it may affect society as well. Example facebook, youtube are the products which affecting youths behavior. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL 1. Green house effect has affected the way business trades. There are increasing demands of environment friendly products. Example using hybrid cars and paper bags instead of plastic bags. 2. There are increase emphasis on environmental footprints and sustainability. 3. There are legislations being enacted related to environment. This forces the business to change its policies (the way they do business) and disposal costs to business like restoration of site. 6. LEGAL 1. Competition law imposes restriction of mergers and acquisitions to promote efficiency gained through competition. 2. Employment legislation protects rights of workers by setting minimum wage requirements, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment legislation. 3. Health and safety legislation to protect workers. 4. Imposition of high import duties to protect home industries. 5. Licensing requirement as discussed above Students are advised to think as many points as possible so they can quickly identify if they come in the exam scenario. Having thought its impact on business activities can save you lot of time. PESTEL ANALSIS is frequently used framework in exams and in practice. It is worth spent some time on it.

Prostitution: The Uncontrollable Vice Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"There are women who search for love, and there are those that search for money.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today, the term woman simply denotes one’s sex. It does not define her character, morals and values, or even her profession. However, this was not always the case. At the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century, during the Progressive Era, there was a drive for reform. Various social problems became targets for investigation and intervention: child labour, juvenile delinquency, corruption in city government and police departments, and prostitution. These things were newly discovered social problems; the only differences during this period were the new assumptions, strategies, and expectations of a broad organization of activists. Progressive reform actively decided to take more of a role in regulating the social welfare of its citizens, and those private and public spheres of activity could not be disentangled. Prostitution was an issue that underscored the relationship between home life and street life, wages of ‘sin†™ and low wages of women workers, double sexual standards and transmission of venereal disease. The late nineteenth century response to prostitution revealed the competing ideologies within Progressive reform activity over social justice and social control. â€Å"Most attempts to ‘deal with’ prostitution have consisted almost exclusively of more or less vigorous attempts to suppress it altogether – by forcing the closing of brothels, and by increased police activities against individual prostitutes and against those individual places, such as taverns, where prostitutes frequently solicit.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This paper seeks to prove that the reformers were unable to stamp out prostitution during the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century for a variety of factors. First, I will look at why women in the late nineteenth, and early twentieth century became prostitutes. The gender differences between sex roles will be analyzed in relation to prostitution. Finally, the various failed attempts to abolish prostitution will be discussed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Legally [prostitution] is often defined as the hiring out of the body for sexual intercourse.† Some say that the exchange of money does not need to take place. Albert Ellis, one well-known sexol... ...e of the prostitutes as working women, featured films, books, and television and radio talk shows seem to seek to demystify prostitution, to strip away the glamour and sensationalism. These images represent a conscious attempt to reject the portrayal o prostitutes as outcast women, deviant actors, and criminal types prevalent in the popular literature and scientific journals of the last century and a half. These images of prostitution reveal a retreat from an era of social justice campaigns that sought through economic and social programs to remove the sources of prostitution. Bibliography Benjamin, Harry. Prostitution and Morality. (New York), The Julian Press, Inc., 1964.) Bullough, Vern L. The History of Prostitution. (New Hyde Park, New York, University Books Inc., 1964) Report of the Special committee on Pornography and Prostitution. Pornography and Prostitution in Canada. (Ottawa, Canada, Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1985.) Sion, Abraham A. Prostitution and the Law. (London, England, Western Printing Services Ltd., 1997.) Strange, Carolyn. Toronto’s Girl Problem: The Perils and Pleasures of the City, 1880-1930. (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 1995.)

The Air Quality in Beijing

In a world where man-made air pollutants is evidently damaging the atmosphere, it is ironic that Beijing, the capital of China and the host of the 2008 Olympics, is one of the cities with a serious problem in pollution. Based on a recent report, almost everyday, the Chinese capital is blanketed by a sooty mist which is mainly composed of ozone, a harmful substance to the lungs, and nitrogen oxide, a combustible element.Other substances, such as sulfate and carbon are also present in the air which causes pollution levels to go up five times higher than the safety level recommended by the World Health Organization (USA Today, 2007).The major contributors of the air pollution in Beijing are coal burning in the mining industry, gas stations, industrial factories and also the increasing number of road vehicles. The city has roughly 3 million vehicles and the number is increasing by more than 1,000 per day, which generates thick ground level air dust aside from the pollution in the atmosph ere.Moreover, while it is often sunny in Beijing, the sky is regularly hazy and the smog air is filled with carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles which could pose a problem for the participating Olympic athletes next year (Reuters).However, despite the fact that the pollution in the Chinese capital is getting worse every year, according to a Chinese environmental officer, the national standard grade of the air is Grade 2, which he claims is suitable for any form of activity (Reuters).Despite his claim, health officials of the World Health Organization said that pollution could cause very serious problems to people with heart complications or abnormal heart conditions (Reuters). Given the facts stated above, it is very clear that worsening air pollution is threatening the population in Beijing and also the environment.If this problem is not addressed it could cause a significant amount of damage that could be difficult to reverse References Reuters. (2007). Beijing stops cars for Games clean air test. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www. reuters. com/article/environmentNews/idUSPEK17354820070817?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&sp=true USA Today. (2007). Olympic inspectors to focus on air quality in Beijing. Retrieved October 31, 2007 from http://www. usatoday. com/sports/olympics/summer/2007-10-23-beijing-air-quality_N. htm? csp=34

Current Issues with Health Care Costs Essay

Health care spending in the U.S. continues to soar to unsustainable levels. There are many strategies and views on ways to contain health care costs, while improving the efficiency and quality of health care. Hospital services, physician services, prescription drugs and technology/medical innovation and the aging population are areas that drive the high cost of health care creating an unaffordable dilemma for consumers and employers.(Cowen & Moorhead, 2011) Uninsured individuals who are unable to afford health insurance are less likely to coordinate their care appropriately, leading to poor health outcomes. The aging of the population and the rising cost of health care would cause spending on the major health care programs and Social Security to grow from more than 10 percent of GDP today to almost 16 percent of GDP 25 years from now. That combined increase is equivalent to about $850 billion today. (â€Å"Congressional Budget Office,† 2012) The aging of the baby boomer generation will have an impact on federal spending as well as health care costs. (â€Å"Congressional Budget Office,† 2012) Increase in longevity due to medical advances and technology are a factor in spending growth increases. (Henderson, 2012) The second largest segment of U.S. health care spending is on physician services. (Cowen & Moorhead, 2011) Providers are paid for services rather than patient outcome. This creates little incentive to coordinate patient care with other specialist. A large portion of the aging population has multiple chronic conditions which would benefit from better coordination of care. (White, 2010) With the shortage in primary care doctors and the aging baby boomer generation consuming more care, costs for physicians services will likely increase. A new model of primary care called the patient centered medical home provides better coordination of care, helps lower cost and improve patient satisfaction. (Henderson, 2012) Hospital services account for one of the largest drivers of health care spending. Shortage of  nursing staff is one factor which influences increased wages, as well as the decrease in payment from the Medicare population. (Cowen & Moorhead, 2011) Those costs and differences in reduction of payments are then shifted over to consumers and payers. With the increase in the baby boomer generation, the federal government will need to manage the extra services being utilized through Medicare with an attempt to find ways to reduce payments to hospitals. (â€Å"Congressional Budget Office,† 2012) New and better drugs will help benefit health but may cost more. Prescription drugs are advertised on television each day. Patients are more educated on the drugs used for their conditions and are likely to request from their physician these highly advertised drugs they feel may benefit them. Many physicians are likely to give into the demands of their patients requests leading to more costly medications used that could be avoided. Advancing technology can positively or negatively impact health care costs. Many times over use of technology, especially when there is a less costly alternative can increase health care costs. On the other hand, new technological advances in data collection for a personal health record can be utilized to coordinate care, promoting better quality of care resulting in improved health outcomes and cost savings. (Cowen & Moorhead, 2011) Disease management, Health savings accounts and Retail clinics are just a few of the solutions offered to consumers to help cost. Disease management is offered by many health insurance companies for their members with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, asthma and coronary artery disease. Nurses educate the members on their health conditions and help set health goals to help preven t hospitalizations and improve health outcomes. Studies, however, do not suggest this is a proven cost saving strategy. (Cowen & Moorhead, 2011) Health savings accounts allow people to have more control over how their money is spent. Pretax contributions are placed into the account and money can be deducted to pay for medical expenses. There is hope that the HSA will encourage people to focus on lower cost services. Retail Clinics are a creative way to offer routine care in private stores, in large chains and grocery stores. This is a growing trend with health care being provided by a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner. Care is often more affordable and attractive for those uninsured individuals. (Cowen & Moorhead, 2011) Nursing in the future may expand to become more  focused on the role of the primary care provider. With the shortage of primary care physicians states should consider easing the scope of practice restrictions. Nurse practitioners can perform the role of primary care services just as well and effective as physicians do. There are many factors involved in health care costs that the government and private sector must come together in a coordinated effort to improve. There is no single solution to solving the health care spending dilemma. All of the drivers of health care cost must be addres sed in any reform or cost control discussion. Intellectual Honesty Certification I certify that this assignment is presented as entirely my own intellectual work. Any words and/or ideas from other sources (e.g. printed publications, Internet sites, electronic media, other individuals, groups, or organizations) have been properly indicated using the appropriate scholarly citation style required by the department or College. I have not submitted this assignment in its entirety to satisfy the requirements of any other course. Any parts of this assignment from other courses have been discussed thoroughly with the faculty member before this submission so that there is an understanding that I have used some of this work in a prior assignment. References Cowen, PhD, RN, P. S., & Moorhead, PhD, RN, S. (2011). Controlling Health Care costs: Balancing Public and Private Solutions. In J. W. York, & M. M. Gibson (Eds.), Current Issues in Nursing (8th ed., pp. 424-437). The University of Iowa Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, S. (2010, September). Nursing’s role in health care reform. American Nurse Today, 5(9). Henderson, S. (2012, December 1). The Patient-Centered Medical Home. The American journal of nursing, 112(12), 54. The 2012 Long-Term Budget Outlook. (2012). Retrieved from www.cbo.gov/publication/43288 White, B. (2010, 5/1). How Health Care Reform Will Affect Family Physicians. Family Practice Management, 17(3), 14.

Free Essays on Prostitution In Toronto

Prostitution in Toronto This document, Prostitution in Toronto, was written in 1915. It was a Report by the Toronto Social Survey Commission. It takes a look into a very widespread problem in the social order of Toronto. It gave motives for the source of prostitution and the trends that were generating this large dilemma. In order to understand the author’s argument you must first appreciate what he is trying to say to the reader. Prostitution is a social disease. â€Å"It is not merely an affair between the sensual man and the depraved and avaricious woman, as individuals, but is the outcome of a complex social condition, which through artificial stimulation, multiplies both the demand and supply.†(p.139) The authors were showing that it’s a very intricate problem that is impossible to totally cure and there are several reason why that is the case. There were dynamics that were present when this document was printed that were innate and gained that cause the women to resort to this immoral livelihood. It was caused by immigrating into Canada without money, your family’s social class or lack of jobs as it was a multi faceted problem. Poverty is the first basis the author discusses, followed by housing and sanitation and feeble-mindedness as it related to the vice. Th is evidently all had an extremely detrimental result in prostitution in Toronto in the early 20th century. The intention for writing this document was that at this point in time, prostitution was rising out of control in the then recently ethnically reformulated city of Toronto. The document takes a very critically negative point of view on the occupation that various women of this era were resorting to because of the social condition. There were several misconstrued reasons that were believed by the public for whom and why these women were selling their sexuality for either money or in exchange for gifts. This was a tremendously soft area of knowledge... Free Essays on Prostitution In Toronto Free Essays on Prostitution In Toronto Prostitution in Toronto This document, Prostitution in Toronto, was written in 1915. It was a Report by the Toronto Social Survey Commission. It takes a look into a very widespread problem in the social order of Toronto. It gave motives for the source of prostitution and the trends that were generating this large dilemma. In order to understand the author’s argument you must first appreciate what he is trying to say to the reader. Prostitution is a social disease. â€Å"It is not merely an affair between the sensual man and the depraved and avaricious woman, as individuals, but is the outcome of a complex social condition, which through artificial stimulation, multiplies both the demand and supply.†(p.139) The authors were showing that it’s a very intricate problem that is impossible to totally cure and there are several reason why that is the case. There were dynamics that were present when this document was printed that were innate and gained that cause the women to resort to this immoral livelihood. It was caused by immigrating into Canada without money, your family’s social class or lack of jobs as it was a multi faceted problem. Poverty is the first basis the author discusses, followed by housing and sanitation and feeble-mindedness as it related to the vice. Th is evidently all had an extremely detrimental result in prostitution in Toronto in the early 20th century. The intention for writing this document was that at this point in time, prostitution was rising out of control in the then recently ethnically reformulated city of Toronto. The document takes a very critically negative point of view on the occupation that various women of this era were resorting to because of the social condition. There were several misconstrued reasons that were believed by the public for whom and why these women were selling their sexuality for either money or in exchange for gifts. This was a tremendously soft area of knowledge...

10 causas de cancelación de la visa de turista o paseo

10 causas de cancelacià ³n de la visa de turista o paseo Las causas por las que una visa de turista para ingresar a Estados Unidos puede ser cancelada o revocada son muy variadas, si bien hay 10 que, por su frecuencia, conviene conocer para evitarlas. Destacar que pueden proceder a la cancelacià ³n de una visa de turista, conocida tambià ©n en algunos paà ­ses como de paseo o de placer, las Embajadas, los consulados y tambià ©n las autoridades migratorias como, por ejemplo, los oficiales en los pasos fronterizos o de aeropuerto. No es obligatorio avisar a la persona a la que se le revoca la visa. En este artà ­culo se informa sobre 10 causas muy comunes de cancelacià ³n de la visa y quà © se puede hacer cuando esto sucede. 10 Causas De Cancelacià ³n De La Visa Americana De Turista 1. Quiz la causa ms frecuente de cancelacià ³n de la visa es por permanecer en Estados Unidos ms tiempo del permitido, asà ­ sà ³lo sean 24 horas. Es muy importante  no confundir la fecha de expiracià ³n de la visa  con el dà ­a mximo autorizado para permanecer en Estados Unidos.. El tiempo que se puede permanecer en Estados Unidos est fijado en el documento que se conoce como I-94, o registro de ingreso y de salida. Aunque es muy comà ºn que la autorizacià ³n se extienda por 180 dà ­as, es decir, seis meses, tambià ©n es posible que, en realidad, el oficial migratorio que autorizà ³ el ingreso establezca un tiempo inferior. Es fundamental respetar este plazo, porque si no se hace no sà ³lo se pierde la visa sino que la persona se queda en situacià ³n de indocumentada dentro de los Estados Unidos. Para evitarlo, si se desea permanecer ms tiempo en Estados Unidos debe procederse a pedir una extensià ³n de la visa o un cambio de categorà ­a de visado. En casos muy concretos y excepcionales es posible solicitar con à ©xito que se apruebe restaurar el estatus, lo que se conoce como Nunc Pro Tunc, cuando no se pide a tiempo una extensià ³n o cambio de visa. Tampoco se debe jugar a intentar obtener un nuevo plazo de tiempo para permanecer en Estados Unidos saliendo a Mà ©xico, Canad o Bahamas y volviendo a entrar, ya que el sistema no funciona asà ­. 2. Cuando  la visa ha sido arrancada  del pasaporte donde originalmente se estampà ³, queda automticamente sin vigencia. En otras palabras, no es vlida. 3. La visa tambià ©n se cancela cuando se sabe o se sospecha que se utiliza para un  fin distinto  al suyo propio. Por ejemplo, cuando una persona con visado de turista pasa una larga temporada en Estados Unidos y decide estudiar en una escuela, high school,  universidad o academia de inglà ©s a tiempo completo. Esto no es correcto, ya que la visa  apropiada es la F-1,  la F-3 para el caso de mexicanos o canadienses en zona fronteriza,  si asà ­ lo prefieren, o la J-1. Otro ejemplo es cuando una persona extranjera ingresa al paà ­s con una visa de paseo pero con la intencià ³n de contraer matrimonio. Si el oficial de inmigracià ³n se da cuenta o en la aduana descubren en su equipaje cosas como el vestido de boda se le negar la entrada y se le cancelar el visado. Casarse con visa de turista  est permitido pero puede tener consecuencias muy negativas, por lo que hay que ser muy prudente con lo que se hace y cumplir la ley. 4. La visa tambià ©n es cancelada cuando se sospecha  que puede haber intencià ³n de emigrar. Esto puede suceder cuando una persona con visa de turista entra frecuentemente al paà ­s, por ejemplo a visitar a un familiar. Otro ejemplo puede darse cuando extiende continuamente la estancia. Esos comportamientos son perfectamente vlidos, pero no pueden dar lugar a sospecha de que la intencià ³n es emigrar y quedarse en Estados Unidos. Incluso otras situaciones ms sutiles pueden dar lugar a problemas como, por ejemplo, no tener un trabajo estable en el paà ­s de origen. 5. Cuando se ha causado que el seguro pà ºblico de Estados Unidos conocido como Medicaid gastos mà ©dicos porque la persona extranjera con visa de turista ha tenido una emergencia sanitaria y no ha pagado la factura ni tampoco su seguro mà ©dico. Es relativamente frecuente descubrir estos casos ms pronto o ms tarde  en el caso de paps que se han desplazado a Estados Unidos para que nazca su hijo y posteriormente se regresan a su paà ­s de origen sin pagar el gasto hospitalario. Esta situacià ³n se detecta cuando se pide el pasaporte americano para el hijo por primera vez o su renovacià ³n. En ese momento, si asà ­ lo desean, las autoridades consulares pueden pedir prueba de que los padres han pagado el hospital en Estados Unidos. La misma prueba la pueden pedir las autoridades de inspeccià ³n en el control migratorio al llegar a Estados Unidos. 6. Cuando a un extranjero se le concede una visa de inmigrante (permiso de residencia, tambià ©n conocido como tarjeta de residencia o green card), se le cancela la visa no inmigrante que pudiera tener. En este caso no hay ningà ºn problema porque cuenta con la green card. 7. Cuando una persona ha sido pedida por un familiar en Estados Unidos. Mientras espera es posible que si tiene una visa de turista vigente, à ©sta sea cancelada, aunque no sucede siempre. Tambià ©n podrà ­a suceder que si viaja, una vez que llegue a las aduanas se encuentre que no se le permite ingresar al paà ­s. Esto no tiene que ser asà ­ siempre, ni mucho menos. Pero es posible. La razà ³n es que segà ºn sean las circunstancias particulares de cada caso puede dar la impresià ³n de que la idea es viajar a Estados Unidos para quedarse a vivir con el familiar que ha hecho la peticià ³n, sin esperar el tiempo de demora, que segà ºn los casos puede ser muy largo, particularmente en el caso de papeles pedidos para hermanos. 8. La visa de turista se cancela automticamente si su titular  ha trabajado en Estados Unidos con ese estatus.  Ã‚  Incluso es suficiente tener la intencià ³n de trabajar en Estados Unidos o se sospecha que à ©sa es la intencià ³n del viaje Hay que insistir que legalmente sà ³lo pueden trabajar los ciudadanos, los residentes y las personas titulares de visas que permitan trabajar o que tengan un permiso de trabajo. En ningà ºn caso los extranjeros con una visa de turista pueden aceptar desempeà ±ar una labor remunerada. 9. Cuando la visa tiene un error burocrtico, como puede ser el mal deletreo de un nombre o apellido o una equivocacià ³n en la fecha de nacimiento. En este caso en concreto la cancelacià ³n no tiene efectos negativos para el titular de la visa que obtendr otra con los datos correctos. En estos casos el consulado suele llamar para corregir el error. 10. Cuando el oficial de la CBP que est en la aduana americana cree que una persona a la que previamente le concedieron la visa era  inelegible  o  inadmisible  para ingresar a los Estados Unidos o  se convirtià ³ en inelegible o inadmisible tras haberle sido aprobado el visado puede proceder a su cancelacià ³n. Esta regla tambià ©n aplica en la frontera o aeropuerto a los ciudadanos de paà ­ses en el Programa de Exencià ³n de Visas  que no necesitan una para viajar por negocios o turismo, pero en este caso en vez de cancelar una visa que no existe, se procede a enviarlo de regreso al paà ­s del que procede. Es muy conveniente saber que à ©stas son  22 causas por las que una persona es inadmisible  para USA. El consumo de drogas, que se encuentra entre ellas, es la razà ³n ms comà ºn por las que se cancela la visa a celebridades extranjeras. Adems, estas  20 causas que convierten a una persona en inelegible  por las que el consulado o el oficial de migracià ³n pueden decir no  aprobar o renovar  la visa o para  permitir el ingreso  al paà ­s. Quà © Hacer Cuando La Visa De Turista Ha Sido Cancelada O Revocada Si se quiere tener una nueva visa hay que proceder a aplicar por una de nuevo. Pero en la mayorà ­a de los casos el que se solicite no quiere decir que se vaya a obtener. Por ejemplo, en el caso de haber permanecido en Estados Unidos ms tiempo del permitido puede darse al mismo tiempo que se aplique el castigo de los tres y de los diez aà ±os. En el caso de que se haya utilizado la visa para fines no autorizados, como por ejemplo estudiar, o para trabajar, no hay castigo pero es muy difà ­cil que en esas circunstancias se obtenga una nueva visa. Cuando ya ha pasado tiempo desde que se produjo la cancelacià ³n y las circunstancias de la persona han cambiado en ocasiones el oficial consular puede sugerir que se solicite un perdà ³n, tambià ©n conocido como waiver o permiso. Evita Que Te Cancelen La Visa Con Conocimiento Toma este quiz sobre visas de turista que hemos elaborado para que compruebes si tienes los conocimientos bsicos para obtenerla y conservarla. Lo importante es evitar la cancelacià ³n, ya que a partir de ahà ­ puede ser muy complicado volverla a obtener. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Fraud Definition and Examples

Fraud Definition and Examples Fraud is a broad legal term referring to  dishonest acts that intentionally use deception to illegally deprive another person or entity of money, property, or legal rights. Unlike the crime of theft, which involves the taking of something of value through force or stealth, fraud relies on the use of intentional misrepresentation of fact to accomplish the taking. Fraud: Key Takeaways Fraud is the intentional use of false or misleading information in an attempt to illegally deprive another person or entity of money, property, or legal rights.In order to constitute fraud, the party making the false statement must know or believe that it is untrue or incorrect and intended to deceive the other party.Fraud may be prosecuted as both a criminal and civil offense.Criminal punishments for fraud can include a combination of prison, fines, and restitution to victims. In proven cases of fraud, the perpetrator- a person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act- may be found to have committed either a  criminal offense  or a  civil wrong. In committing fraud, perpetrators may be seeking either monetary or non-monetary assets by deliberately making false statements. For example, knowingly lying about one’s age to obtain a drivers license, criminal history to get a job, or income to get a loan may be fraudulent acts. A fraudulent act should not be confused with a â€Å"hoax,†- a deliberate deception or false statement made without any intention of gain or of materially damaging another person. Perpetrators of criminal fraud may be punished by fines and/or imprisonment. Victims of civil fraud may file lawsuits against the perpetrator seeking monetary compensation. To win a lawsuit claiming civil fraud, the victim must have suffered actual damages. In other words, the fraud must have been successful. Criminal fraud, on the other hand, can be prosecuted even if the fraud failed. In addition, a single fraudulent act may be prosecuted as both a criminal and civil offense. Thus, a person convicted of fraud in criminal court may also be sued in civil court by the victim or victims. Fraud is an extremely serious legal matter. Persons who believe they have been the victim of fraud, or have been accused of committing fraud, should always seek the expertise of a qualified attorney. The Necessary Elements of Fraud While the specifics of laws against fraud vary from state to state and at the federal government level, there are five essential elements necessary  to prove in court that a crime of fraud has been committed: A misrepresentation of a material fact:  A false statement involving a material and pertinent fact must be made. The gravity of the false statement should be adequate to substantially affect the victim’s decisions and actions. For example, the false statement contributes to a person’s decision to purchase a product or approve a loan.Knowledge of falsehood:  The party making the false statement must know or believe that it is untrue or incorrect.Intent to deceive:  The false statement must have been made expressly with the intent of deceiving and influencing the victim.Reasonable reliance by the victim:  The level to which the victim relies on the false statement must be reasonable in the eyes of the court. Reliance on rhetorical, outrageous, or clearly impossible statements or claims may not amount to â€Å"reasonable† reliance. However, persons known to be illiterate, incompetent, or otherwise mentally diminished may be awarded civil damages if the perpe trator knowingly took advantage of their condition. Actual loss or injury suffered:  The victim suffered some actual loss as a direct result his or her dependence on the false statement. Statements of Opinion vs. Outright Lies Not all false statements are legally fraudulent. Statements of opinion or belief, since they are not statements of fact, may not constitute fraud. For example, a salesman’s statement, â€Å"Madam, this is the best television set on the market today,† while possibly untrue, is an unsubstantiated statement of opinion rather than fact, which a â€Å"reasonable† shopper might be expected to disregard as mere sales  hyperbole. Common Types of Fraud Fraud comes in many forms from many sources. Popularly known as â€Å"scams,† fraudulent offers may be made personally or arrive through regular mail, email,  text messages,  telemarketing, and the internet. One of the most common types of fraud include is  check fraud, the use of paper checks to commit fraud.   One of the main goals of check fraud is  identity theft- the gathering and use of personal financial information for illegal purposes. From the front of every check written, the identity thief can get the victim’s: name; address; phone number; bank name; bank routing number; bank account number; and signature. In addition, the store may add more personal information, such as date of birth and driver’s license number. This is why identity theft prevention experts recommend against using paper checks whenever possible. Common varieties of check fraud include: Check Theft:  stealing checks for fraudulent purposes.Check Forgery:  signing a check using the actual drawer’s signature without their authorization or endorsing a check not payable to the endorser, both usually done using stolen checks. Counterfeit checks are considered the equivalent of forged checks.Check Kiting:  writing a check with the intent of accessing funds that have not yet been deposited in the checking account. Also referred to as â€Å"floating† a check, kiting is the misuse of checks as a form of unauthorized credit.Paper Hanging:  writing checks on accounts that are known by the perpetrator to have been closed.Check Washing:  chemically erasing the signature or other handwritten details from checks in order to allow them to be rewritten.Check Counterfeiting: illegally printing checks using information from the victim’s account. According to the  U.S. Federal Reserve, American consumers and businesses wrote 17.3 billion paper checks in 2015, four times the number written in all of the  countries of the European Union  combined that year. Despite the trend toward debit, credit, and electronic payment methods, paper checks remain the most often-used way of making large payments for expenses like rent and payroll. Clearly, there is still plenty of opportunity and temptation to commit check fraud. Federal Fraud Through the  United States Attorneys, the  federal government  prosecutes and punishes various types of fraud specifically identified under federal statutes. While the following list includes the most common of these, there is a wide range of federal, as well as state, fraud crimes. Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud:  using regular mail, or any form of wired communications technology, including telephones and the internet as part of any fraudulent scheme. Mail and wire fraud are often added as charges filed in other related crimes. For example, since the mail or telephone are typically used in attempting to arrange bribes of judges or other government officials, federal prosecutors may add charges of wire or mail fraud in addition to charges of bribery and corruption. Similarly, wire or mail fraud charges are often applied in prosecution of  racketeering and RICO Act  violations.Tax Fraud:  takes place whenever a taxpayer attempts to avoid or evade paying federal income taxes. Examples of tax fraud include knowingly underreporting taxable income, overestimating business deductions, and simply not filing a tax return.Stock and Securities Fraud:  typically involves the selling of stocks, commodities, and other securities through deceptive practices. Examples of securities fraud include  Ponzi or pyramid schemes, broker embezzlement, and foreign currency fraud. The fraud usually occurs when stockbrokers or investment banks convince people to make investments based on false or exaggerated information, or on â€Å"insider  trading† information not available to the public. Medicare and Medicaid Fraud:  usually takes place when hospitals, healthcare companies, or individual healthcare providers try to collect illegitimate repayments from the government by over-billing for services, or by performing unnecessary tests or medical procedures. Penalties for Fraud Potential penalties for conviction of federal fraud typically involve prison or  probation, stiff fines, and repayment of fraudulently-acquired gains. Prison sentences can range from 6 months to 30 years for each separate violation. Fines for federal fraud can be very large. Convictions for  mail or wire fraud can bring fines of up to $250,000 for each violation. Frauds that harm large groups of victims or involve large sums of money can result in fines of tens of millions of dollars or more. For example, in July 2012, drug maker Glaxo-Smith-Kline pleaded guilty to falsely branding its drug Paxil as being effective in treating depression in patients under age 18. As part of its settlement, Glaxo agreed to pay $3 billion to the government in one of  the largest health-care fraud settlements in U.S. history. Recognizing Fraud in Time The warning signs of fraud vary according to the type being attempted. For example, telemarketing calls from unknown callers telling you to â€Å"send money now† in order to take advantage of a special offer or claim a prize may be frauds. Similarly, random request or demands for a Social Security or bank account number, mother’s maiden name, or a list of known addresses are often signs of identity theft. In general, most offers from companies or individuals that sound â€Å"too good to be true† are signs of fraud. Sources Legal Dictionary: fraud.  Law.com.Basic Legal Concepts / Fraud.  Journal of AccountancyFraud- Burden of Proof: Washington Civil Jury Instructions.† Westlaw

Principles and trends in curriculum development Essay

Principles and trends in curriculum development - Essay Example Children naturally express such creativity in their natural communication. Their communications may be expressed in various forms or â€Å"languages†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ in words, drawing, artwork, three-dimensional constructions, music and movement. Young children do not express their ideas in just one form but move naturally and easily between â€Å"languages†. They may vacillate from drawing, speaking, singing and moving (Fawcett & Hay, 2004). A more holistic perspective of learning that likewise entails creativity development is now being supported by many educators, as it threads segregated learning into a more integrated one. Littledyke (2008) has defined integrated curriculum as such: Integrated curriculum thus refers to the use of several different strategies across several different domains and encompassing project and process approaches for holistic learning and development designed to support meaningful learning for children† (pp. 21-22). Curriculum integration hel ps students recognize connections between curriculum areas. These connections are essential to the brain in order to learn effectively. Integration changes the emphasis from the instruction of discrete academic subjects to activities that promote learning through real-life tasks. It blends academic disciplines into integrated topic studies which support creative thinking and problem solving, as opposed to rote memorization and teacher-directed instruction of isolated skills and bits of information (Krogh, 1995). An integrated curriculum consists of a number of strategies that can be applied to deepen meaningfulness and support conceptual development (Bredekamp and Rosegrant, 1992). The initiative to integrate curriculum began when John Dewey (1938) proposed that curriculum be linked to real-life experiences and organized around activities that interest and engage children actively. Dewey asserted that children’s interests naturally progress into appropriate learning activitie s and extend to various areas of study. As implied by the guidelines for appropriate curriculum, the concept of integration can also be attributed to the integrated nature of development; that is, development in the different domains does not occur in isolation; rather they influence one another (Bredekamp and Rosegrant, 1992). An integrated curriculum allows the young child to perceive the world around him more clearly. Furthermore, it provides opportunities for in-depth exploration of a topic and learning that has a thorough coverage; more choices and therefore more motivation to learn and greater satisfaction with the results; more active learning; an opportunity for the teacher to learn along with the children and model lifelong learning; and a more efficient use of student and teacher time (Brewer, 2001). For the teacher, an integrated curriculum is a good planning device that offers much flexibility. If the children lean toward another way other than what the teacher had expec ted, the integrated curriculum quickly guides her as to how to integrate it to a related concept so the flow of learning is not disrupted. At one glance, the integrated curriculum shows the coverage of what the children learn in school. It advocates natural learning, as it follows children’s interests and not impose the concepts that they need to learn. It follows that the skills they learn become meaningful to them, as it sprouts from their own interests. It also gets to touch on

Predictive sales Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Predictive sales Report - Essay Example The upswings in the economy usually offer a rush of expanding the business; on the contrary, downward economy results in low business transaction. In strong economies, business enjoys greater prosperity. Along with that, it is also necessary to consider the other economical indicators of a state in order to exactly determine the scenario (Albuquerque & Vega, 2009). In this report, the economic condition of South Carolina will be highlighted and on the basis of that the retailer will be recommended to stock the inventory. In addition to recommend the appropriate stock inventory, the study also intends to formulate a predictive sales report. In order to shed light on the economic condition of the state, the most important factor that will be considered is the unemployment rate of the state. The unemployment rate will be the factor that will be stressed more. Studies have shown that the unemployment rate of a country has significant impact on the overall trade of a country. Unemployment Rate as an Economic Indicator During recessionary phases, the unemployment rate rises to its maximum level. For example, the unemployment rate during booming and normal phases is far below in comparison with the unemployment rate during recession. The 1975 depression saw global unemployment rate reaching 8.9%. ... The unemployment rate is also considered as the relative measure of the jobs available for employment and the tightness or slack of the labor market. Therefore, the unemployment rate of a state plays imperative roles in presenting the economic scenario of state and is acting as an alarm for the administration and government (Balduzzi, Elton & Green, 2001). Nowadays, business houses have also taken immense interests in the latest unemployment rates of a country or state so as to determine the chances of success for the business. This is principally because the unemployment rate is directly associated with the consumer spending. Thus, more unemployment rate will obviously lead to low customer traffic and reduced business transaction. Since, this report seeks to throw light on the economic scenario of South Carolina so as to recommend an overall inventory stock to the client, involved in physical retailing business, stressing more on the unemployment rate is fully justified. Presentatio n of the Data The data will be gathered from the website of the Job and Labor Statistics. In order to analyze the requirements of the inventory; the study will mainly consider the unemployment rate of South Carolina and along with that overall economic scenario of the state. A trend will be developed and on the basis of that inventory stock will be recommended. The findings of data are presented below: - Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2003 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.8 6.9 6.9 7.0 6.9 6.8 6.8 6.7 2004 6.7 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 2005 6.9 6.9 6.8 6.7 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.9 6.8 6.7 2006 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.1 2007 5.9 5.7 5.6

Situational Analysis of the UK market for Clarks Shoes company Assignment

Situational Analysis of the UK market for Clarks Shoes company - Assignment Example Moreover, Clarks through its IT hub has managed to obtain customer engagement in that has helped the Company to gain a competitive edge against rival companies in the shoe industry. Clarks offers high quality products to the shoe market within competitive prices as they manufacture their shoes in Vietna (Chan 2011: 218). According to research, the improvement of living standards worldwide has allowed for increased consumer spending rates with an increase of professionals and their demand to dress the part. Remarkably, Clarks has utilized technology in many areas of its operations such as e trading and online retailing to boost its sales (Mort 2005: 57). Secure online transactions have made trading for Clarks to be easier and effective as it has grown to include home shopping. In order to achieve marketing segmentation success, Clarks must ensure that it breaks down its broad market that uses different avenues to access information. Lastly, will Clarks to continue to offer shoe variet ies for women, children, and men and which the Company intends to increase its consumer market Situational Analysis in Clarks Shoe company Introduction C. and J International Ltd. popularly known as Clarks Company is an international shoe company based in Britain with the company registering significant sales in shoes as at 2010. The company stands as the thirty-third largest privately owned enterprise in the UK whose ownership is by the Clark family with eighty-one percent while the remaining fraction belongs to employees and other stakeholders. As at 2011, the company had at least one thousand stores in a hundred and sixty countries worldwide. The company started operation in 1825 through the Clarks brothers namely Cyrus and James who started by making slippers from sheepskins, but evolved to become of the leading global shoe brands in Europe and in other continents. In recent times, Clarks shoes have gained popularity in Jamaica through a popular Jamaican artist to the extent tha t they sell out on shoe shops only for thieves to target them. The iconic shoe styles attached to Clarks Shoe Company include Wallabees, Desert Treks and Desert Boots with C & J Clark brands including Indigo, Artisan, Bostonian, Ravel shoes and K Shoes, among a list of many others. In terms of consumers, Clarks offers shoe varieties for women, and men and which the Company intends to increase its consumer market through renowned pop stars, print advertisements and through social media. The advertisement features that Clarks utilizes are through posts on glamorous magazines and on websites, but still maintaining its marketing ideals. The use of print ads is essential for Clarks Company because of their intent to reach out to a wider women consumer target because most of them read glamorous magazines. Presently, this company has an average of $800 million in turnover with the annual shoe sales amounting to thirty eight million pairs of shoes. Clarks has also grown in terms of product innovation to establish new generation active footwear from the old manufacture of professional boots. Task One: Situational Analysis In order for Clarks Company to compete in a global shoe market, its positioning of its various stores is

Gun Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Gun Control - Essay Example nd little remaining threat from wild animals; the government is stable and elected by a democratic process and the citizens of the country have the most powerful armed force ever assembled by humankind in addition to several levels of law enforcement that protect it. Rather than being a means of protecting society, the right to own guns has become a detriment to the safety of society which is in opposition to the intentions of the Founders. As this discussion will show, ‘the right to bear arms’ is no longer a necessary protection in the modern world. Gun control generally works toward legislating and controlling the distribution of the weapon that kills the most people, handguns. Most gun control advocates are willing to compromise on the ownership of rifles and shotguns if handguns could be made illegal, thus statistically reducing the number of gun-related deaths occurring in this country per year. In this way, the right to bear arms is protected based upon the spirit of the Founding Fathers and so are the thousands of usually urban dwellers that die from handguns every year. Of course, it must be acknowledged that when reading the Second Amendment in context, only armed militias have the right to keep and bear arms. However, given the current strong emotions tied to the issue and the popularity of guns in this country, a compromise is the only solution. Individuals on both sides of the issue must learn to recognize that ideologies concerning guns and their possession are formed by a person’s innermost beliefs, cultivat ed by years of thought and shaped by life’s numerous experiences and family cultural context. An ideological debate causes a more emotive response in individuals than does any other. Political ideologies can never die and in politically turbulent times, such as these, are very much alive. The 9/11 attacks, abortion debate, the war in Iraq, the loss of civil liberties, global warming, health care, gay marriage, stem cell research

Nike Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nike - Essay Example loyed wherein the market would be segmented on the basis of the ‘benefits’ sought by the customers and the ‘user status.’ This method of segmentation would provide ‘athletes’ and ‘women involved in fitness exercises’ (say yoga) as two potential market segments. In addition to the aforesaid consumer segments, we can target the various athletic training centers and sports clubs for the new Nike shoe as business customers. We will convince the management of such centers and clubs about the superiority and functionality of the new Nike shoe so that we can sell in bulk to these centers. These institutions will serve as a lucrative B2B market for the new brand. Mass marketing refers to offering the product to the entire market without taking into consideration the differing needs of the customers. Multi-segment strategy refers to offering the same product in more than one segment. We will not adopt the mass marketing or multi-segment strategy for the new Nike shoe but would go ahead with a concentrated strategy when the product is launched. We have decided to target athletes from amongst the possible consumer market segments discussed above. The new shoe from Nike would be of great use to athletes as these shoes are extremely light and do not, in any way, compromise on durability and stability. To begin with, we will go ahead with the B2C model and make the shoe available at exclusive Nike stores as well as through the online store. In addition to this, we will use the selective distribution strategy and make the shoe available at few select multi-brand stores as well. The consumer of the Nike shoe will pass through four distinct stages; Attention, Interest, Desire and Action (referred to as the AIDA Model). The buying process of the consumer begins with need identification. The consumer feels a state of deprivation and feels that he needs a certain product to get rid of the state of deprivation. In other words, the consumer needs a product to satisfy

Gun Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Gun Control - Essay Example nd little remaining threat from wild animals; the government is stable and elected by a democratic process and the citizens of the country have the most powerful armed force ever assembled by humankind in addition to several levels of law enforcement that protect it. Rather than being a means of protecting society, the right to own guns has become a detriment to the safety of society which is in opposition to the intentions of the Founders. As this discussion will show, ‘the right to bear arms’ is no longer a necessary protection in the modern world. Gun control generally works toward legislating and controlling the distribution of the weapon that kills the most people, handguns. Most gun control advocates are willing to compromise on the ownership of rifles and shotguns if handguns could be made illegal, thus statistically reducing the number of gun-related deaths occurring in this country per year. In this way, the right to bear arms is protected based upon the spirit of the Founding Fathers and so are the thousands of usually urban dwellers that die from handguns every year. Of course, it must be acknowledged that when reading the Second Amendment in context, only armed militias have the right to keep and bear arms. However, given the current strong emotions tied to the issue and the popularity of guns in this country, a compromise is the only solution. Individuals on both sides of the issue must learn to recognize that ideologies concerning guns and their possession are formed by a person’s innermost beliefs, cultivat ed by years of thought and shaped by life’s numerous experiences and family cultural context. An ideological debate causes a more emotive response in individuals than does any other. Political ideologies can never die and in politically turbulent times, such as these, are very much alive. The 9/11 attacks, abortion debate, the war in Iraq, the loss of civil liberties, global warming, health care, gay marriage, stem cell research

WesternHistory Eassy 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

WesternHistory Eassy 2 - Essay Example While there were several achievements made before this time, there were essentially four major technological advancements that enabled society to propel forward very quickly in England. In most of these cases, it seems clear that practicality and necessity is truly the mother of invention, just as the old adage claims. Leading into the Industrial Revolution, improvements in agricultural technology led to increased population growth and mobility, which also led to increased demand for textiles and other products leading to the need for more efficient production, transportation and power-generating techniques. The advent of the Industrial Revolution was fueled by improvements in agriculture that created surplus consumables. One technological improvement introduced during this era was a more efficient system of crop rotation. â€Å"Farmers had discovered a crop rotation system that allowed them to forgo leaving up to half the land unused or fallow between each planting. Animal husbandry was becoming widely used† (Bond et al, 2009). By planting previously fallow fields with revitalizing plants that also served to feed the livestock, farmers were able to get much greater yield from their fields and livestock, increasing the available food supply for themselves and the greater populace. At the same time, new innovations in metal-working were bringing this harder material to the farm, making it possible to complete work faster and with less effort. â€Å"During this time the seed drill was invented. This machine made sowing seed more effective, distributing the seeds evenly †¦ New iron plows made plowing easier and less time consuming. Thus, less human labor was required as the output of the farms increased dramatically† (Nosotro, 2010). This meant more food could be produced with fewer workers. More food meant more people were born and surviving. It also meant

During the month of Kartik in the Bikram Sambat calendar Essay Example for Free

During the month of Kartik in the Bikram Sambat calendar Essay During the month of Kartik in the Bikram Sambat calendar (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood. Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayan, where the lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine mother goddess. In preparation for Dashain every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the mother goddess, so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every household. The market is filled with shoppers seeking new clothing, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting. Thousands of sheep, goats, ducks, chicken and water buffalo are prepared for the great slaughter. All types of organisations are closed for ten to fifteen days. Labourers are almost impossible to find; from the poor to the rich, all enjoy the festive mood. Anywhere you go the aroma of Vijaya Dashami is found. The first nine days of Dashain are called nawa ratri when tantric rites are conducted. In Nepal the life force is embodied in the divine energy and power of the female, depicted as goddess Durga in her many forms. All goddess who emanated from goddess Durga are known as devis, each with different aspects and powers. In most mother goddess temples the deity is represented simply as a sacred Kalash, carved water jug or multiple handed goddess holding murderous weapons. During these nine days people pay their homage to the goddess. If she is properly worshiped and pleased good fortunes are on the way and if angered through neglect then misfortunes are around the corner. Mother goddess is the source of life and everything. The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolising goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on to which seeds are sown. A small rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the astrologers. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome, requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence. The room where the kalash is established is called Dashain Ghar. Generally women are not allowed to enter the room where Dashain puja is being carried out. A priest or a household man worships the kalash everyday once in the morning and then in the evening. The kalash and the sand are sprinkled with holy water everyday and it is shielded from direct sunlight. By the tenth day, the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. The sacred yellow grass is called Jamara. It is bestowed by the elders atop the heads of those younger to them during the last five days when tika is put on. The jamara is taken as a token of Goddess Durga as well as the elders blessing. As days passes by regular rituals are observed till the seventh day. The seventh day is called Fulpati. On this day the jamara to be used by the royal household is brought from their ancestral royal house in Gorkha about a hundred and sixty nine kilometres away over the hills north west of the valley of Kathmandu. A parade is held in the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace. The fulpati, i. e. the procession bearing the jamara and other items necessary for the tika, is brought from Gorkha after a three day walk and most of the government officials are eagerly waiting for the fulpati parade to arrive at Rani Phokari in the afternoon. Rani Phokari area is filled with hundreds of government officials meticulously attired in the traditional formal dress. In fulpati, the royal kalash filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by Brahmans from the ancestral royal house on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella, led by the military platoon of the royal priest. The government officials also join the fulpati parade. Whilst the fulpati parade is heading towards the old royal palace, His Majesty the King observes the ceremonies taking place in Tundikhel, the army parade ground in the center of the city. There a majestic display of the Royal Nepalese Army is held. Guns are fired and the entire valley echoes with the resonance sound of it. The firing continues for ten to fifteen minutes to honour the fulpati. By the time the function ends the royal fulpati is already taken inside the Dashain ghar in Hanuman Dhoka Palace. With this the Dashain feasting starts. The eighth day is called the Maha Asthami. The fervour of worship and sacrifice to Durga and Kali increases. On this day many orthodox Hindus will be fasting. Sacrifices are held in almost every house through out the day. The night of the eighth day is called Kal Ratri, the dark night. Hundreds of goats, sheep and buffaloes are sacrificed at the mother goddess temples. In the darkness of the night Durga temples, army barracks, and old palaces all over Nepal hold sacrifices for the mother goddess. The sacrifice continues till dawn. The old palace in Basantapur Hanuman Dhoka, is active throughout the night with worships in almost every courtyard. While the puja is being carried out great feasts are held in the homes of common people where large amount of meat are consumed. The ninth day is called Nawami. The Taleju temple at Hanuman Dhoka is opened for the public only once a year on this day. Thousands of people go and pay their respect to the goddess day. Temples of mother goddess are filled with people from dawn till dusk. On this day the official military sacrifices are held in the Kot courtyard at Hanuman Dhoka. The government allows foreigners to witness this function so hundreds of tourists and diplomats eagerly gather here. Animals mostly black buffaloes are slaughtered by hundreds to honour Durga the goddess of victory and might and to seek her blessing. Military bands play war tunes, guns boom and officers with beautifully decorated medals in full uniform stand there. When the function ends the courtyard is filled ankle deep with blood. On this very day the god Vishwas Karma, the God of creativity is also worshiped. All factories, vehicles, any machinery instruments and anything from which we make a living are worshiped. We also give sacrifices to all moving machinery like cars, aeroplanes, trucks etc. to get the blessing from goddess Durga for protection for vehicles and their occupants against accidents during the year. The entire day is colourful. The tenth day is the Dashami. On this day we take tika and jamara from our elders and receive their blessing. We visit our elders in their home and get tika from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive blessing from us. The importance of Dasain also lies in the fact that on this day family members from far off and distant relatives come for a visit as well as to receive tika from the head of the family. This function continues for four days. His Majesty also receives tika from the royal priests and then gives on tika to his loyal subjects. Thousands of loyal Nepalese people as well as foreigners also receive tika from His Majesty the King as this is said to be auspicious. After four days of rushing around and meeting your relatives Dashain ends on the full moon day, the fifteenth day. In the last day people stay at home and rest. The full moon day is also called Kojagrata meaning who is awake. The Hindu goddess of wealth Laxmi is worshipped. On this day the goddess Laxmi is given an invitation to visit each and everyone. After Dashain the nation settles back to normal. After receiving the blessing of goddess Durga, people are ready to work and acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain thus is not only the longest festival but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of Nepal.

Analysis of the Liberian Conflict

Analysis of the Liberian Conflict Background to this Conflict Analysis The Liberian conflict began in 1979 with civil unrest and ended in 2003 with the forced exile of the then president Charles Taylor. During this 24years period, Liberia has had a number of significant turning points: two regime-changing coups (1980 and 1990) and with them the assassination of 2 presidents, two civil wars, the first in 1989 90, the second from 1997 2003, and two elections, 1985 and 1997. The period was marred with systemic violence and human rights violations which resulted in the death of 150 250,000 people and 1.5 million people displaced (FRTRCLDP, 2009: 3) this is startling given a pre-war population of 2.8 million. However, if we examine the period from the rice riots of 1979 and the 1980 coup we find a steady escalation in direct violence starting from that period. Furthermore there is substantial evidence of structural violence in pre-79 Liberia. The means of financing the regimes of Charles Taylor, Samuel Doe and the True Whig Party, from 1979 to 2003 were very different during reign (Reno 1999,pp102 103 ), but nevertheless the political, hierarchical structures endured throughout this time, albeit with different leaders. This continued to allow a ruling elite to exploit the subjugated masses as it had done for the previous century. Furthermore, the lack of loyalty towards Taylor, by the wealthy elite, is comparable to the lack of support for Does administration, by the same elite, during Does final years in office. The similarities between Taylors reign, the Doe era and the period of rule prior to 1979 demonstrate a cyclical nature to the conflict. Therefore, unless the period under review in this conflict analysis is based around one of the turning points noted above, the selection of a time is almost arbitrary if chosen during this period. Furthermore, if one tries to analyse the conflict at the time of the first civil war or post 1990, the discourse leads to an examination of the conflict and structures during Does rule, and ultimately, this leads to an analysis of the societal structures and conflict potential prior to the 1979/80 uprising. In order to provide a time frame for evaluation, this analysis will focus on the period of 1979 1989 because what comes thereafter is very much a product of what came before. Conflict Analyses The aim of a conflict analysis is to provide a better understanding of the causes and drivers of a given conflict. Several leading development agencies have designed conflict analysis tools to help them to better target their development work and to ensure that they do not aggravate a conflict situation through that development. A summary of few prominent conflict analyses can be found at Appendix 2 Methodology The aim of this conflict analysis is to gain an understanding of the root causes and manifestations of violence in Liberia over the period 1979 1990, in particular focusing at the country level. The analysis will also identify and analyse sub-national, regional and international actors that affected the conflict. The DfID Strategic Conflict Assessment consists of three parts: Conflict Analysis; Analysis of responses to the conflict; Strategies and options for dealing with the situation; The Conflict Analysis Framework of the assessment examines the following areas: Table 1 DfID Conflict Analysis Framework Conflict Analysis (i) Structures (ii) Actors (iii) Dynamics Analysis of long term factors underlying conflict: Security Economic Political Social Analysis of conflict actors: Interests Relations Capacities Peace agendas Incentives Analysis of: Long term trends of conflict Triggers for increased violence Capacities for managing conflict Likely future conflict scenarios (Great Britain, DfID, p10, Table 1). The DfID framework provides a tool which is easily transferable to analyse the Liberian conflict within the parameters set. A secondary aim of this analysis is to see whether we can shed any light on the greed versus grievance debate and to help assess the predominance of one set of motivating factors over the other in the case of the Liberian conflict. Greed and grievance The principle greed arguments focus on the economic benefit that might motivate an individual, or group, to fight and then continue fighting (Mac Ginty 2006: 69) Three pre-conditions, have been identified, by Collier, as conflict catalysts in greed based theories. These are access to primary commodities, the proportion of young men in society and the amount of education available (Collier 2000, 93). Collier goes so far as to rank the importance of these factors but does not suggest that all three need to be present at the same time. Grievance theories of conflict emphasise arguments of ideology, ethnicity, human needs and inter-group competition (Mac Ginty 2006: 71). Idoelogy and ethnicity are often used by the layperson in explaining conflict causation, but a fuller analysis often identifies these as sustaining a conflict rather than initiating it, leaders might use ethno-religious calls to ‘rally the troops, but this is often not the underlying cause (Barash and Webel, 2002: 15) . Based on statistical research, Collier argues (2000: 96) that grievance theories of conflict causation â€Å"are so unimportant† compared to the prevalence of greed based motives, that, â€Å"grievance based explanations of civil war are so seriously wrong†. However, he does admit that that under the right circumstances (such as following and economic slump) grievances motives can be explained. Structures Societies that are socially fractionalised along ethnic or religious divides are significantly less prone to conflict (Collier, 2000: 98). Social division in Liberia lay between 17 groups (FRTRCLDP 2009: 51). The first group consists of the original settlers from the US freed slaves who arrived in Liberia in 1822, this group were known as the Americo-Liberians; together with the Caribbean freed slaves they constituted 5% of the population. The remaining groups were formed from 16 separate indigenous tribal groups. There were further splits along religious lines. The US settlers brought with them Christianity which spread amongst the population. Liberia also had an Islamic population from the African-Arabic slavers of the 16th and 17th centuries. By 1980, this provided a blend of approximately 40% Christian, 20% Muslim, 20% indigenous religions (and a number of individuals practicing some form of hybrid religion). According to the hypothesis, Liberia would be very unlikely to collapse into civil war due to its non-homogeneous nature. This was in fact the case rprio to the arrival of the Americo-liberians; A study by Olukujo (as cited in the FRTRCLDP 2009: 51) notes that for hundreds of years the 16 tribes had lived in relative peace with â€Å"intermarriage, modern education and westernised Christianity, Islam and other foreign influences† blurring tribal ethnicity. Furthermore, each family had a family head and each village a council of elders who would resolve conflicts. However, when analysing the Liberian political and economic structures prior to 1980, we find that it is difficult to untangle the two strands; this is because the Liberian system was very hierarchical with a ruling elite and a proletariat; there was limited, if any middle class. The establishment of the Liberian political system, in the 18th century, was based on a US constitutional model (Outram, 1999: 164) with a Senate and a House of representatives. However, only the Americo-Liberians were allowed to vote. The political elite passed laws which kept the indigenous people subjugated, both politically and economically, Evidence of this self-perpetuation can be seen in the fact that the True Whig Party was the only political party that held officer from 1877 until the coup in 1980, even the previous President, President Tubman, remained in office for an unbroken period of 37 years. It is very unlikely that the True Whig Party would have been voted out prior to the coup, as the indigenous population did not have the right to vote, until a constitutional change in 1984. Therefore those who had political positions were also either economically power or financially well connected. Those without money or power were subjugated by this ruling elite known as a patron-client relationship (Outram, 1999: 165). The President had a significant amount of power vested in him, as both the Chief of State and Head of Government. President Tubman consolidated power in his position, just as Doe did 10 years later, and both following unsuccessful coups. So the evidence suggests that the ruling elite in society were able to exploit self interest and so were motivated by greed. We shall now turn our attention to the motives of the subjugated. When a rebel organisation has the potential to gain sufficient size that the prospect of a conflict has a realistic chance of success, then individuals will be more likely to bond together for grievance based reasons (Collier, 2000: 99). So, if Liberia is viewed through the lens of the masses, then the society is much less divided; with split of 95% indigenous population to 5% ruling elite (FRTRCLDP 2009: 5). This allows us to evaluate the grievance theory model due to Liberias homogenous nature and therefore its propensity to civil war for grievance reasons. The following lists examples of laws that were passed that demonstrate the lack of rights tahts wereexperienceed by the indigenous people REFERNCES!!!! Examples of the laws passed by the government included: the 1864 Ports of Entry Act, which restricted foreign trade with indigenous people, the indigenous werent granted citizenship until 1904. In 1926 the government leased 1 million acres of land to the firestone company, land which was inhabited, they then conscripted local labour for the company and other neighbouring countries. In 1931the Government of Liberia was requested to defend its position over allegations from the League of Nations of svaling the indigenous population. . Economic 1864 passed laws baning trade Political US constitiional arrangement Single party from1877, Political eltie Social Access to education forced adoption referred to as barbarians no tribal problems Unification attempts but more for popular support context of the regional issues at the time. Indeed when Samuel Doe rose to power in the 1980 coup he did so onthe back of a wave of local grievances. Dynamics Manifestation of Violence Defintion of direct and structural Violence, definition of peace and conflict Comparison or 1985 Vs 1955 Structural: no right to vote, land taken away, human salvery and conscript labour, not even citizens til 1904 Quotes form TRC Ref topdown and bottom up Mac ginty p 77, 3rd feature of conflict†¦.. Corruption Issues regarding money and support for wealthy elite Issues of 23 million to release Ellen and the 400m in aid. Table 2 Comparison of Violence Pre 1980 Post 1980 †¢ Ruling Elite (Americo Liberian) †¢ No right to vote for masses †¢ Power vested in the President †¢ President is Chief of State and Head of Government †¢ Army used as security †¢ Suppression of uprising 1955 †¢ Huge personal financial incentives to stay in power foreign investment †¢ NO Ethnic tensions (Olukoju 2006) †¢ Ruling Elite (Krahn tribe) †¢ No Right to vote for the masses Voting overturned †¢ Political structure remains the same †¢ Power vested in the President †¢ Army used as security †¢ Harsh suppression of coup by Gen Quiwonkpa 2985 †¢ Huge financial incentives to stay in power †¢ Escalation of Structural violence and direct violence †¢ Inter-ethnic fighting †¢ Corruption increases as a survival mechanism Conclusion Violence escalation table The following table summarises the level of violence during the period and notes the factors that sustain or escalate the violence. Table 3 Violence Manifestation Violence Manifestation and Explanation Initiation †¢ ‘Colonial structures and exploitation in Liberia lead to → Localised grievances and structural violence, Create opportunities for Sustainment †¢ Individual actors greed → nepotism to galvanise own support → fractionalisation leads to ethno-tribalism †¢ No structural change takes place → continued marginalisation / HR violations Which creates: Escalation †¢ Further grievances which fuel the conflict → Direct Violence as a survival mechanism ‘Poverty and lack of opportunity, intensified by the war have helped promote the attractiveness of fighting as a means of survival (Atkinson, 1997) The story of Liberia between 1979 and 1990 is one of action, inaction and reaction: action by the proletariat and ruling governments (pre and post 1979), inaction by the international community and reaction by regional actors to the. The violence during this period escalated from societal structural violence in 1979 to overt direct violence against the civilian population and opposition groups in 1990. This resulted in an increase of displaced persons, frustrating neighbouring countries threatening to de-stabilised the region. The actions by regional countries coupled with the frustrations of the masses provided the circumstances which could lead to a second coup, and the first civil war in 1989. The DfID Conflict Analysis Framework provides a useful tool with which to analyse a protracted conflict such as Liberia. By examining the structures and dynamics in play at both national and local levels it has been possible to see that the Liberian conflict shows signs of greed and grievance motivations with each playing off the other. The ruling elite motivated by the prospects of substantial wealth and pursuing a desperate attempt to hold onto power, and grievance by the oppressed masses with little prospect of anything better unless they rise up and rebel against the elite. Epilogue The greed and grievance cycle, as discussed in the background to this analysis continued to play out during Charles Taylors reign. Taylor has suggested that his motives for staging a coup had been to force regime change of a brutal dictatorship (Ref). That might have been his altruistic outward cry, indeed â€Å"narratives of grievance play much better with this [the international] community than narratives of greed.† (Collier, 2000: 92). It is clear now that Taylors coup was heavily supported internationally, and regionally (Ref). What is also evident now is that within the first 6 months of Taylors charge for Monrovia, he had not only gained control of 90% of the country, but had also amassed a personal wealth of USD 3.6million. It is also estimated that during the period 1991 1994, Taylor had a personal income of USD 420 450 million per year (REF). In this context it of difficult to see how greed rather than grievance was not his motivating factor. The economics of a war torn society, (particularly one which has an abundance of extremely profitable primary commodities) has an ability to sustain conflict. Once the shackles of a oppressive regime are unable to control the population, the rise of strongmen and warlords is possible . Then, fuelled, by the potential of substantial wealth, they will strive to keep the inferno of conflict burning. Conflict Analyses The World Bank Conflict Analysis Framework. This uses 6 variables (social and ethnic relations, governance and political institutions, human rights/security, economic structure and performance, environmental and natural resources and external factors) which are analysed against given criteria. These are graded and then linked to their impact on the conflict and on the countrys poverty level. This framework allows for the extraction of underlying causes and the opportunities for conflict. The US AID Conflict Assessment Framework focuses on Means, Motives and Opportunities and also includes regional and international factors. The framework therefore allows for a holistic approach and also provides an understanding of the prevalence of greed or grievance agendas in conflict zones. Like the World Bank conflict analysis it highlights causes and opportunities for conflict. The Department For International Development (DfID) Strategic Conflict Assessment (Great Britain, DfID) is a tool that was developed by DfID to assess: risks of negative effects of conflict on programmes; risks of programmes or policies exacerbating conflict; opportunities to improve the effectiveness of development interventions in contributing to conflict prevention and reduction. The assessment criteria allow the assessment to focus on programmes or projects, or at a strategic level on a country or region (Great Britain, DfID, p6).