Monday, September 30, 2019

Organisational Structure Key terms Chain of command Essay

Chain of command – Line linking the top of the structure to the bottom workers Top to bottom Responsibility Accountability Horizontal – People on the same line, but usually in different departments. A span of control is the number of people one person is in charge of. Tall Hierarchal structures Those with a long chain of command Management communicate with those directly below them and further down the line. Example: Marks and Spencer, Next, they’re normally formal organisations. They are tall because there are a lot of people working for them. Advantages Clear chain of command Staff know where they stand They know who there boss is Chances of promotion They know there entitlements and rights Specialist departments Disadvantages Takes more time to make a decision Inflexible, people only know there area of work, and can’t cover for someone who is not in that works in another area. Information might get misinterpreted and distorted along the line of communication because there are so many links in the chain. Read more:Â  Walgreens Organizational Structure Matrix Structure Sometimes an organisation needs to run according to what projects they have to do. In these situations people usually work together in a team to achieve their projects goals. A person working on a project would have two bosses, the boss of the department that they work in and the leader or manager of the particular project that they are working on at the moment. A project may cover some or all of the organisations departmental areas. Senior manager heads a division or team of specialists drawn from different departments. A specialist (e.g. finance) can be part of a number of teams or divisions Advantages Promotes coordination between departments – cuts across departmental boundaries – flexibility and creativity Mixture of knowledge and skills Allows a range of staff to be involved which gives good experience. Disadvantages Confusion between managers who are dealing with a number of projects at one time Projects may be temporary Too many people involved to make decisions.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Can Nuclear Power Ever Be Completely Safe?

Dear Editor, In response to the article „After Fukushima, people ask: Can nuclear power ever be completely safe? â€Å" by Moya Irvine in „Read onâ€Å" April, 2011 I would like to state my opinion. I think that the nuclear power plants are on the one hand very effective, but on the other hand so dangerous, that they could destroy our whole planet. But what would we do without nuclear energy? We have to find some alternative, renewable energies to get an alternative solution to the atomic power plants. When we look back to the nuclear incidents like Chernobyl, Windscale or Three Mile Island we see, that this energy is too dangerous. Such a failure, which happened in Chernobyl circa 20 years ago, also could happen in every other nuclear power plant and so we have to find other renewable energies, that we do not have to use nuclear power plants. Another problem is the nuclear waste, which is produced by the power plants. This issue is till this day not solve. Because of this, we shouldn’t support a technology, which isn’t full developed. The only thing that the atomic power industry is doing, is to store the nuclear wast only temporarily. Until there is no final solution, I think atomic power is not a perspective for the future. Summing up, in my opinion, we should not finance such a dangerous and hostile system. Nuclear power is also not the solution for the climate change. So I appeal to all of the people- let’s stop nuclear power plants and save our kids future, because some day there will may be another Fukushima or Chernobyl. My name

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Describe Operant conditioning, its key concepts, and how it works Essay

Describe Operant conditioning, its key concepts, and how it works - Essay Example The drive to the hospital, the telephone call reminding the patient that chemotherapy is scheduled for tomorrow, can stimulate nausea before the actual physiological trigger, the chemotherapy. The remainder of this discussion will outline the key concepts in operant conditioning. This portion of the discussion will be based on a brief historical outline of the development of operant conditioning. The final section of the paper will focus on the dynamics – the whys and hows – of operant conditioning. It will also expand the discussion from psychological experimentation to real-life situations and examples. The foundational demonstration of operant conditioning is Thorndikes cat puzzle box. Unlike an involuntary stimuli (a bell) Thorndikes cat was placed in a box which it could only get out of by triggering a door opening device, and it could only get food if it was out of the box. The cat had to learn the stimuli (batting the door latch) to earn the reward of food. This is a critical difference from classical conditioning. The subject, the cat, must learn, the stimuli, opening the latch. In classical conditioning the stimuli (Pavlovs ringing bell) is imposed on the dog it is not learned and salivating is an automatic response. In Thorndikes experiments the cat must learn to open the door by stepping on a pedal to open the door, to attain the reward of food. (See illustration on following page.) Websters Online Dictionary defines operant conditioning as, â€Å"conditioning in which an operant response is brought under stimulus control by virtue of presenting reinforcement contingent upon the occurrence of the operant response.† (Websters Online Dictionary, â€Å"Operant Conditioning†) Prior to analyzing how operant conditioning works and discussing the variations and developments that have occurred in operant conditioning a selection of key concepts must be understood. First, what is now referred to as operant

Friday, September 27, 2019

Investment theory and analysis Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Investment theory and analysis - Case Study Example "The Reported Amount reflects a value of $0.02 Per Share of Data Center Relocation Costs." SEATTLE (BUSINESS WIRE) May 13, 1999. Nordstrom, Inc. also reported diluted earnings per share of $0.22 for its first quarter, ending April 30, 1999. Nordstrom's Earnings per share increased by 33%, to 52 cents a share, about a penny more than the analysts at Wall Street had expected. There has also been an increase in sales to about 12% in the fall, amounting to about $1.87 billion. Sales at locations open at least a year (same-store sales), have also increased to an impressive 11%. Nordstrom's Catalog sales gained the most, increasing as much as 30%, followed by sales at the company's discount stores, which increased by about 11%, and sales at the full-line department store, which went up by nearly 9%.This reported amount reflects a value of $0.02 per share of non-recurring costs related to the resettlement of Nordstrom's data center from Seattle, Washington, to Denver, Colorado. Earnings per share also went up by 4.8 percent, above the $0.21 recorded between January and April last year. The company's Net earnings dropped by 2.5 percent, as compared to Net earnings of $31.5 million in the prior year. Company sales also dropped by 0.1 percent, from last year, and totaled $1.0 billion. Nordstrom Historical Stock Chart. Other relevant informationNordstrom, Inc. has an Internet presence at http://www.nordstrom.com, and the company's total square footage is 13,813,000. The company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Whitacre said "We were neither satisfied nor surprised with our first quarter performance. While we have been successful at paring inventory levels, which had burgeoned recently, we must now refine our merchandise... John W. Nordstrom was only 16 years old when he boy left Sweden, his home country, to come to New York City In 1887. He arrived in New York with just $5 left in his pocket, and was not even able to speak English at the time. For some years, he worked in logging camps and mines across the United States, but later went north to Alaska, after learning that gold had been found there.Nordstrom’s business philosophy has been based on quality, value, exceptional service, and selection. The company has built a devoted customer base, and has more than 180 stores across 27 states in America. Nordstrom now has a stock market value of more than $12 billion. Nordstrom, Inc. has an Internet presence at http://www.nordstrom.com, and the company’s total square footage is 13,813,000. The company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Whitacre said "We were neither satisfied nor surprised with our first quarter performance. While we have been successful at paring inventory l evels, which had burgeoned recently, we must now refine our merchandise mix to better align it with customer needs." As of April 30th, 1999, retail store inventory per square foot declined 7.1 percent and total inventory declined 4.7 percent, both from year-ago levels. Gross margin increased 0.9 percentage points to 33.8 percent of sales in the 1999 first quarter. For the quarter, comparable store sales declined 2.6 percent.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Lehman Brother Collapse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Lehman Brother Collapse - Essay Example The news of its bankruptcy sent shock waves not only to the U.S. economy but also to the entire world. It faced around $600 billions of debt from mortgage back securities which caused a significant decline in its stock price. It is considered to be the most formidable case of bankruptcy in the corporate world. Before its bankruptcy, it was a profitable company. According to its 2006 annual Report, the asset under management had jumped to $225 million from the previous year’s $175 million. There were nearly 25936 employees working under the company. It shares were listed in New York stock Exchange and it was traded around $70 during that period. The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers can be attributed to the unfavourable market situation and also to its own policies. According to Luigi Zingale, the three main factors that were instrumental in bringing such depression in the market are market complacency, lack of transparency and bad regulations. Apart from these three market conditions, the financial policy adopted by Lehman was also responsible for its bankruptcy (Zingale. 2008). Delinquency rates dropped during the real estate boom and the banks started providing new innovative mortgage options which led to the decline in lending standards. Bad regulations of money market and The Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 accelerated the process. There was a lack of sufficient transparency in major markets. The market for credit default swaps (CDS) became unregulated and lost sufficient transparency. Lehman financial policy was not favourable for that period. Its asset to equity ratio (leverage) was abnormally high and it mostly relied on short term debt financing. However, the company tried to maintain its ratio before the crisis but it was too late to save the company from going bankrupt. The financial turmoil that originated towards the middle of 2007 has

Macro and micro economics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Macro and micro economics - Assignment Example Letting the price of shirts be x and that of computers be y. The two countries might trade if the price of computers is: y=11/12x d) There will be less trade between the two countries. The economic well-being of the citizens of the two countries improves since both can acquire the commodities locally. a) The worker in Brazil. This is because they can produce one ounce of coffee in loess time as compared to the worker in Peru and also produce soya beans at a higher rate. b) The worker in Brazil. This is because they can produce the same amount of coffee as the worker in Peru but at a faster rate or within few minutes. c) Peru will import coffee. Brazil will specialize in producing coffee and hence export to Peru. Peru will specialize in production of soya beans. d) After the country specialize in producing and exporting those commodities which they can produce at a relatively lower cost and import those goods which are relatively expensive to produce.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Does stakeholder theory provide a better basis for the development of Coursework

Does stakeholder theory provide a better basis for the development of Corporate Governance in the 21st century than agency theor - Coursework Example It is important to understand the meaning of corporate governance to be able to fully discuss its features. Even though there are different variables that come into play because of the different operating environments in different nations, corporate governance may refer to that process that leads to effective control, direction and accountability in organizations. As a result, corporate governance involves elements like control, co-ordination, direction and the checks and balances associated with management of organizations. In addition to the definition of the term corporate governance, it is equally important to point out that the practice has evolved over the years to become a more complex but essential feature for the success of contemporary organizations. The concept of corporate governance has been fast adopted in various parts of the world but with some major variations because of the different circumstantial variations of nations (Clarke 2004). Consequently, there have been d ifferent frameworks of corporate governance that have emerged as a result of this. However, there are two main approaches of corporate governance that can be identified. ... at had a tradition of common law like Australia, United Kingdom, USA, Canada and New Zealand developed corporate governance structures that focused on shareholders’ returns or interests. In their case, corporate governance was supposed to ensure that corporations achieved the objectives set by their owners. Consequently, the two main corporate governance approaches have been termed as insider and outsider approaches respectively. Having reviewed the background of corporate governance it is therefore important that the theories of corporate governance that have been put forth be discussed. Theories of Corporate Governance There are two theories of corporate governance that have been proposed by scholars and of which will form a basis for this discussion. They include the stakeholder theory and the agency theory as discussed below. The Stakeholder Theory Also referred to as the stewardship theory, the theory proposed by Freeman is based on the argument that organizations have a wider obligation of serving the general interests rather than just attaining the capitalistic goal of wealth maximization (Mulili and Wong 2011). The theory holds that firms are socially responsible to all parties that interact with it or those that are affected by the firms’ quest on achieving its set objectives (Freeman et al 2010). As a result, corporate are said to be socially responsible to their stakeholders, that is, the suppliers, employees, clients, shareholders, interest groups and the government among other industry actors they are directly or indirectly involved with. It has been noted that stakeholders are important to corporations because the manner in which they are handled determines their feedback (Gregg 2001). For instance, when they get more in terms of value or extra

Monday, September 23, 2019

How to run a good business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

How to run a good business - Essay Example After all this is done, we'll have to find a suitable place to set up the firm (where the demand of the business is more), the suitable people to run the business, proper equipment and assets and full fledge advertising to promote the business in order to attract the customers. As far as the Samah caf' is concerned, the owner would have to arrange for a large amount of capital to start off with the business as the assets and equipments used in the business will have to be state-of-the-art, up-to-date. Secondly, Samah caf' will have to opt for a suitable place to set itself up where mostly the upper class citizens or the tourists live, as the main market of the business will be sheikhs, the upper class citizens of the city and the tourists. Once the location of the business is decided, it will then have to move its attention towards the qualified staff that would be required to run and maintain the business, as they play a vital role in satisfying the customer needs as they have specialized in that field.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Lab report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Lab report - Essay Example The results shows the values for Lethal Concentration 50 and Lethal Dose 50. From the table of Lethal Concentration 50, Ammonium nitrate is the most lethal most dangerous of the four compounds. This is because the compound has the lowest value and this means that it becomes lethal at lower concentration that the other compounds. the conclusion is valid because of measures that consider data on a uniform scale. All measures are with respects to rat and inhalation and this provides equal base for measuring effectiveness of the compounds. Sodium chloride is the next dangerous compound as it becomes lethal, to cause 50 percent deaths, at 42 ppm. Larger concentrations, more than 1000 ppm are however required for carbon tetra chloride and hydrofluoric acid and this means that the two compounds are less dangerous with respect to the test animal. The observation can therefore be inferred to other animals to the conclusion that, with respect to Lethal Concentration, Ammonium nitrate is the mo st dangerous of the compounds followed by sodium chloride. Data on lethal dose 50 however identifies the least value with sodium chloride, 3 mg/kg, and this means that the compound is the most dangerous of the four. Hydrofluoric acid follows this with a value of 25 mg/kg. carbon tetrachloride and Ammonium Nitrate however have very high values that indicates lower toxixity. The conclusion is further reliable, based on the data, because measures are taken on the same scale, in relation to a single animal species, and in relation to similar delivery mode. A difference is however noted in the trend of toxicity of the four compounds. while values for Lethal Cconcentration 50 identifies Ammonium nitrate as the most dangerous followed by sodium chloride, values of Lethal Dose 50 identifies sodium chloride as the most dangerous followed by hydrofluoric acit. A possible explanation to the

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Critical period in language development Essay Example for Free

Critical period in language development Essay The concept of a critical period is well in nature. In human beings there seems to be a critical for the first language acquisition. Research shows that any human who is not exposed to any language before puberty, becomes completely unable to the syntax of their first language later in life. From my personal experience I have learnt that any individual who learns their first language at infancy and later (at puberty) gets to move from their motherland to foreign land where no one speaks their language, no matter how long these individuals stay from home they can never forget their mother tongue. Accent may change but they will always remember their first language Here is another practical example to prove that there is a critical period in language development. I happen to be living in Africa; my bosses are Italians (man and wife) they have had to learn English and Kiswahili for easy communication with the locals. They have a five year old baby. When the baby is with her parents they always speak in their first language; when she is left behind with the nanny she is spoken to in Kiswahili all the time. The nanny knows no other language apart from her mother tongue and Kiswahili. This baby has been looked after by this same nanny since she was born. At the age of three a teacher from America was employed to teach this girl. She knew no other language but English. Now look at this closely; the baby is now very fluent in two languages; her first one Italian and her second one; Kiswahili. She is so fluent that she corrects her parents on it! She seems to be doing just fine in English for the last two years she has been taught. Interestingly her teach who is very interested in learning Kiswahili asks her enough times to translate to her in English what has been said in Kiswahili by colleagues. I would say that all depends with the stage at which the language was introduced to an individual. The stage in life. †¢ Kiswahili is a language for the East African state and some of the West African.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Human resource management importance in organisations

Human resource management importance in organisations STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION: Human resources management strategy is very important for every organisation to function smoothly. Faced with rapid change organizations need to develop a more focused and coherent approach to managing people. In just the same way a business requires a marketing or information technology strategy it also requires a human resource or people strategy. Strategic human resource management is a branch of Human resource management. It is a fairly new field, which has emerged out of the parent discipline of human resource management. Much of the early or so called traditional HRM literature treated the notion of strategy superficially, rather as a purely operational matter, the results of which cascade down throughout the organisation. There was a kind of unsaid division of territory between people-centred values of HR and harder business values where corporate strategies really belonged. HR practitioners felt uncomfortable in the war cabinet like atmosphere where corporate strategies were formulated. Strategic human resource management is crucial large as well as small companies. In small companies this process may be as simple as the manager or the owner himself taking time to observe employees, along with assisting, assessing and giving regular reviews. However larger companies will require a whole department to be in charge of such activities for the development of employees. The quality of staff members can be improved by meting their needs in such a way that it may benefit the company. Investing in employees and providing them with tools they need to thrive and prosper in the company proves to be a good investment in the long run for the company. So ahead in the literature review we will look in deep about the Strategic human resource management and the company following SHRM in their daily practice and how effective it is for running their organisation effectively. http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-Strategic-Human-Resource-Management?id=549585 http://www.accel-team.com/human_resources/hrm_08.html http://www.mba-tutorials.com/human-resource-management/487-shrm-strategic-human-resource-management.html LITERATURE REVIEW: Strategic human resource management is a complex process which is constantly evolving and being studied and discussed by academics and commentators. Its definition and relationships with other aspects of business planning and strategy is not absolute and opinion varies between writers. So there are many definations for strategic human resources management. A comprehensive Human Resource Strategy plays a vital role in the achievement of an organisations overall strategic objectives and visibly illustrates that the human resources function fully understands and supports the direction in which the organisation is moving. A comprehensive HR Strategy will also support other specific strategic objectives undertaken by the marketing, financial, operational and technology departments. Strategic HRM can be regarded as a general approach to the strategic management of human resources in accordance with the intentions of the organisation on the future direction it wants to take. It is concerned with longer-term people issues and macro-concerns about structure, quality, culture, values, commitment and matching resources to future need. It has been defined as: All those activities affecting the behaviour of individuals in their efforts to formulate and implement the strategic needs of business.2 The pattern of planned human resource deployments and activities intended to enable the forms to achieve its goals Strategic HRM is based on HRM principles incorporating the concept of strategy. So if HRM is a coherent approach to the management of people, strategic HRM now implies that that is done on a planned way that integrates organisational goals with policies and action sequences. A good business strategy, one which is likely to succeed, is informed by people factors. One of the driving factors behind the evaluation and reporting of human capital data is the need for better information to feed into the business strategy formulation process. In the majority of organisations people are now the biggest asset. The knowledge, skills and abilities have to be deployed and used to the maximum effect if the organisation is to create value. The intangible value of an organisation which lies in the people it employs is gaining recognition by accountants and investors, and it is generally now accepted that this has implications for long term sustained performance. http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/corpstrtgy/general/strathrm.htm Strategic Human Resource Management by(Randall S. Schuler and Susan E. Jackson) second edition 2007 Blackwell publishing ltd. Defination of strategic human resource management: SHRM has been defined as ‘A distinctive approcah to employment management which seeks to achieve competetive advantage through strategic deployment of highly committed and capable work force using a work force using an array of cultural, structural and personnel techniques. (storey,2001)pg4 Strategic Human Resource Management theory and practice second edition by,( graeme salaman, john storey and jon bills berry)Sage publisher strategic HR inc. Home According to Wright McMahan, 1992, Strategic Human Resource Management refers to: The pattern of planned human resource activities intended to enable an organization to achieve its goals. Strategic human resource management concentrates on human resouce plans that have long term goals. It has a number of differences with the conventional human resource management methods. It does not focus on matters related to internal human resources. The principal objective of strategic human resource management is to enhance the efficiency of the employees through stressing on business hindrances that take place external to human resources. Objectives for Strategic Human Resource/People Planning For the Organization: There are three goals for this process: Goal 1: Develop the Strategic Human Resource/People Plan/Document and yearly priorities. Goal 2: Ensure successful implementation and change. Goal 3: Build and sustain high performance in people management over the long term. Principal Characteristics of Strategic Human Resource Management: Following are the principal characteristics of strategic human resource management as per Gratton and Truss: There is some type of an express association between the human resource practices and policies and all the strategic goals of the company and the environment of the company There is some co-ordination outline associating individual HR interferences in order to make them reciprocally corroborative. The majority of the responsibility for handling of human resources is delegated downwards http://finance.mapsofworld.com/strategic-management/human-resource.html Strategic human resource management (SHRM) is the purposeful resolution of human resource administration and policy issues so as to enhance a public agencys effectiveness. It requires understanding how personnel functions interrelate in context, recognition of their importance, and commitment by personnel managers, employees, supervisors and political leaders to work together for change (Klingner and Nalbandian, 1998, p. 386). An HR strategy will add value to the organisation if it: Articulates more clearly some of the common themes which lie behind the achievement of other plans and strategies, which have not been fully identified before; and Identifies fundamental underlying issues which must be addressed by any organisation or business if its people are to be motivated, committed and operate effectively. The first of these areas will entail a careful consideration of existing or developing plans and strategies to identify and draw attention to common themes and implications, which have not been made explicit previously. The second area should be about identifying which of these plans and strategies are so fundamental that there must be clear plans to address them before the organisation can achieve on any of its goals. These are likely to include: workforce planning issues succession planning workforce skills plans employment equity plans black economic empowerment initiatives motivation and fair treatment issues pay levels designed to recruit, retain and motivate people the co-ordination of approaches to pay and grading across the organisation to create alignment and potential unequal pay claims a grading and remuneration system which is seen as fair and giving proper reward for contributions made wider employment issues which impact on staff recruitment, retention, motivation etc. a consistent performance management framework which is designed to meet the needs of all sectors of the organisation including its people career development frameworks which look at development within the organisation at equipping employees with employability so that they can cope with increasingly frequent changes in employer and employment patterns policies and frameworks to ensure that people development issues are addressed systematically : competence frameworks, self-managed learning etc. In addition, the HR strategy can add value is by ensuring that, in all its other plans, the organisation takes account of and plans for changes in the wider environment, which are likely to have a major impact on the organisation, such as: changes in the overall employment market demographic or remuneration levels Cultural changes which will impact on future employment patterns changes in the employee relations climate changes in the legal framework surrounding employment HR and employment practice being developed in other organisations, such as new flexible work practices. The six broad interconnected components of this system consist of three planning steps and three execution steps. The top three components represent the need for planning. Organizations must determine their strategic direction and the outcomes they seek. This is usually accomplished with some form of strategic planning. Classic strategic planning is a formal, top-down, staff-driven process. When done well, it is workable at a time when external change occurs at a more measured pace. However as the pace and magnitude of change increases, the approach to strategic planning changes substantially: First, the planning process is more agile; changes in plans are much more frequent and are often driven by events rather than made on a predetermined time schedule. Second, the planning process is more proactive. Successful organizations no longer simply respond to changes in their environment, they proactively shape their environment to maximize their own effectiveness. Third, the planning process is no longer exclusively top-down; input into the process comes from many different organizational levels and segments. This creates more employee ownership of the plan and capitalises on the fact that often the most valuable business intelligence can come from employees who are at the bottom of the organizational hierarchy. Lastly, the strategic planning process less reactive and more driven by line leadership. Once strategic planning is under way, a process must be undertaken by the organization to design and align its HRM policies and practices to provide for organizational success. The remaining step in planning is to determine the quality and quantity of human resources the organization needs for its total force. The rest of the HR strategic system exists for and is guided by these plans, policies, and practices. These execution components contain mechanisms that generate the correct skill sets, invest in staff development and performance, and productively employ them in the organisation. The last component provides a means to assess and sustain the competence and performance of the organization and the people in it with regard to outcomes that the organization seeks. http://gametlibrary.worldbank.org/FILES/844_HR%20planning%20principles.pdf In company called HLB UK LTD the management system, human resource is given due importance while planning goals and long term strategies. The skills that are necessary to meet the organizational goals are developed in employees. This point is considered during the planning phase and included in the policies devised for meeting goals. Nowadays, the human resource department does much more than just recruiting employees for the company. Using the human resource effectively in order to give the company a competitive advantage and completing the set targets, are some of the priorities. The mission statements reflect the strategies, goals and the overall approach of companies. The values inherited and the policies devised by firms are based on the mission statements; which are the driving force that motivate the employees to move ahead. Let us see at the Advantages of Strategic Human Resource Management in HLB UK LTD: There are many advantages and benefits that strategic human resource management offers. It helps analyze the opportunities and threats that are crucial, from the point of view of the company. It is possible to develop strategies and have a vision for the future. The need for competitive intelligence, which is of utmost importance in strategic planning, is fulfilled by means of implementing strategic human resource management. The attrition rate can be reduced, if strategic HRM is implemented properly. It also performs the important task of motivating employees. Development and maintenance of competency among employees, is the most important benefit offered by strategic HRM. It helps determine the weaknesses and strengths of the company, thereby enabling the management to take appropriate measures. It helps keep a check whether the expectations of employees are addressed properly. Business surplus is achieved by making the employees competent enough to deliver the goods. Limitations of Strategic Human Resource Management But at same time there are some limitations as well of SHRM which are faced by the company which are as followes: Resistance to change from the bottom line workers. Inability of the management in communicating the vision and mission of the company clearly to the employees. Interdepartmental conflict and lack of vision among the senior management in implementing the HR policies. The diversity of workforce that makes it difficult for the management to handle them accordingly. Conflict among the employees over the issue of authority and the related fear of victimization. The resistance from institutions such as the labor unions. Changes that take place in the organizational structure. The changing market scenario which in turn creates pressure on the effective implementation of strategic HRM. But if implemented efficiently, strategic human resource management helps in improving the productivity of employees and utilizes their expertise in meeting the company goals. Organizations and companies succeed, or fail, based on the quality and effectiveness of their employees. Todays successful firms recognize that to compete in global markets, they must have world class Human Resource managers who are active participants in strategic and operational decision. Whether they are reengineering the pay and benefits of the company or implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) programs, Human Resources Managers play a central role. The goal of strategic management in an organization is to deploy and allocate resources in order to provide the management with a competitive advantage. It goes Without saying that two out of three classes of resources (organizational and human) Correlated with the human resource functions. Towards maximum effect, the HRM functions must be integrally involved in the companys strategic management process. Strategic management process first analyzes a companys competitive situation, develops its strategic goals and mission, its external opportunities and threats, and its internal strength and weaknesses to generate alternatives. In his second phase, strategic management process determines a plan of actions and deployment of resources to achieve the pre-specified goals. This kind of strategic approach should be emphasized in human resources management. Strategy formulation consists of five major components: Mission is a statement of the organizations reason for being, customers served and their needs, and the technology used. Also presents the companys vision and values. Goals are what the firm hopes to achieve in the medium-to-long term future. External analysis examines the firms operating environment to identify the strategic opportunities and threats. Internal analysis identifies the firms strengths and weaknesses,focuses on the quantity and quality of resources available. Strategic choice is done after the Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) analysis to define strategic alternatives, then the choice is made among these alternatives. http://www.prometa.com/1d3ef1e0.png STRATEGIC APPLICATIONS OF HR BUSINESS FUNCTIONS: Human resources functions refer to â€Å"those tasks and duties performed in both Large and small organizations to provide for the coordinate human resources. The Society of Human Resources Management identified six main functions: 1- HR planning, recruitment, and selection 2- HR development training 3- Compensation and benefits 4- Safety and health 5- Employee and labor relations 6- HR research Activities of the HR planning, recruitment, and selection function are: Performing job analysis that is â€Å" the process of determining and reporting pertinent information relating to the nature of a specific job†. This can be done using a motion Study, a time study or a statistical sample to draw inference about the demands of TacticalApplicationsStrategicApplicationsOperationalApplications Planning, Recruitment and selection Manpower planning Labor force tracking Labor cost analysis and budgeting Turnover analysis Recruiting Workforce planning/scheduling Training and Development Succession planning Performance appraisal planning Training effectiveness Career matching Skill Performanc evaluations Questionnaires, interviews and observation are tools to analysis jobs. This analysis produces job description and job specifications. The following step is the Job designthat is â€Å" the process of structuring work and designating the specific Work activities of an individual or a group to achieve certain organizational Objectives† HR planning that is â€Å" the process of determining the human resource needs of an Organization and ensuring that the organization has the right number of qualified People in the right jobs at the right time†. First of all be familiar With the business strategy, define the impact of this strategy over the specific units Of the organization. Define the skills needed and the additional human resources Required and develop action plans to meet the needs. Methods for forecasting and planning the HR needs: Judgmental methods such as managerial estimates, and Delphi technique. Finally, Scenario analysis using work force environmental scanning data to develop alternative work force scenarios. Brainstorming between managers and HR managers to forecast the future, then the managers will go back to define changing points. Statistical and modeling techniques using historical data to predict the future. Time series analysis, personnel ratios, productivity ratios and regression analysis Benchmarking is to carefully examine internal practice and procedures and measure them against the ways other successful organizations operate. Forecast methods will be compared to other successful organizations. Determining the additional need using both skill inventory and management inventory to specify all available data about the current employees. Depending on a single method of forecasting is not always accurate; in fact a mixture of different types of these methods may be very helpful according to the activity of the organization and type of data. Developing and implementing an action plan to meet the requirements. Recruiting the HR needed to fulfill the organizations goals. Selecting and hiring HR to specific jobs needed. The following figure illustrates the whole process http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/ARADO/UNPAN006257.pdf The areas of business planning, human resources planning, and strategic planning and performance measurement are outgrowths of the desire of managers, stakeholders and stockholders for direction and accountability. These strategic planning sites bring excellent resources to the strategic planning effort. Conclusion: Overall we have seen that the strategic human resource management plays very important role in every organisation which we have seen in case of HLB UK LTD as it increases effenciency of the organisation. A comprehensive Human Resource Strategy plays a vital role in the achievement of an organisations overall strategic objectives and visibly illustrates that the human resources function fully understands and supports the direction in which the organisation is moving. So it is very important for every company weather large or small to have the strategic human resource management as it is the one of the very important tool for business to run smoothly and flexibaly. References: http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-Strategic-Human-Resource-Management?id=549585 http://www.accel-team.com/human_resources/hrm_08.html http://www.mba-tutorials.com/human-resource-management/487-shrm-strategic-human-resource-management.html http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/corpstrtgy/general/strathrm.htm Strategic Human Resource Management by (Randall S. Schuler and Susan E. Jackson) second edition 2007 Blackwell publishing ltd. Strategic Human Resource Management theory and practice second edition by,( graeme salaman, john storey and jon bills berry)Sage publisher http://www.strategichrinc.com/ http://finance.mapsofworld.com/strategic-management/human-resource.html A Strategic Human Resource Management System for the 21st Century. Naval Personnel Task Force, September 2000 http://gametlibrary.worldbank.org/FILES/844_HR%20planning%20principles.pdf http://www.prometa.com/1d3ef1e0.png http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/ARADO/UNPAN006257.pdf

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Great Gatsby-Santiago :: essays research papers

This may be true in all cases, but it is clearly predominant in Ernest Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. It is evident that Hemingway modeled the main character, Santiago after his own person, and that the desires, the mentality, and the lifestyle of the old man are identical to Hemingway's. Santiago is an old fisherman who lives in a small coast town in Cuba. At the time that Hemingway wrote the story, he was also an elderly gentlemen and was such an avid fisherman throughout his life, that books such as "Ernest Hemingway, The Angler As Artist† were written on the sole subject of how this obsession influenced Hemingway's writing. Furthermore, he fished off the coast of Cuba so much that he decided to "buy the 'Finca Vigia' in Cuba, a substantial estate located about fifteen miles from downtown Havana . . .† For entertainment Santiago would "read the baseball." Meanwhile Hemingway often "relied on baseball analogies† in his writing, suggesting that he also loved the game. These similarities between Santiago's lifestyle and Hemingway's cannot be ignored or passed off as coincidence because they are much too precise. Already, from these prominent identical traits it is evident that Hemingway modeled the character of Santiago after his own person. Hemingway had a very characteristic view of life. He believed it was admirable to risk one's life in order to test one's limits. His love of bullfighting clearly demonstrated this. Raymond S. Nelson, Hemingway scholar, states, "He saw bullfighting as tragic ritual, and he lionized the better bullfighters as men who risked death every time they entered the arena -- a stance he admired and chose for himself in other ways." One example of Hemingway choosing this stance for himself was when "he shot and dropped a charging Cape buffalo a few feet before the enraged animal would have killed him." This daring act of Hemingway's sounds peculiarly similar to the sport of bullfighting, and is an excellent example of Hemingway's obsession with courting death. Scholar, John Smith believes that "Hemingway's whole life and outlook suggest that, if he had known in advance of this deadly possibility, he would have embraced it even more enthusiastically." Very simil arly, and not so coincidentally, Santiago had this very same mindset. He also believes in testing one's limits and admits as much when he tells himself, ". . . I will show him what a man can do and what a man endures.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Racism In America :: essays research papers

If someone asked you what it would be like to live in a perfect world, how would you reply? Many people might say something like, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“A place without and arguments or fighting.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Others might say à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“A place where there is not pollution.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  But, has anyone one ever thought to say, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“A place without racism.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ? For some Americans, racism has never even crossed their minds. For others, it is something they have to live with everyday. In some societies in America, racism isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t even a factor, all citizens of the community get along. But, in other societies, racism is a case that could be life threatening. Racism, in definition, is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“the belief that humanity is divided into stratified genetically different socks called races; according to ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s adherentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s racial differences make one group superior to another.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Ethics; Walker, Randolph Meade, 722) If you are a racist, you believe in racism. Racists will often claim that members of their own race or minority are à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“mentally, physically, morally and/or culturally superior to those of other races.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (The World Book Encyclopedia; Pettigrew, Thomas F., 62) For these reasons, many racists think they deserve special rights or privileges. The Bill of Rights was written a little under 200 years ago, yet controlling racism in America is still a task no one can seem to over take. In South Carolina, a Confederate flag still waves high over the capitol for everyone to see. Is the kind of example we want to set for the youth of America? To people in Europe, Asia, and on other continents, America is a wonderful place to live. It has been said to be à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“one of the greatest nations on earth.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Nova; Marshall, Christopher) Yet, our struggle to regulate all of our citizens is a revolutionary war that has yet to and probably will never be won. Slavery is said to be one of the greatest racial tragedies to ever happen in America. Upon the entrance of this new millenium, slavery and racism is still practiced in America. White Americans have their forefathers to blame for the hatred and anger they have in their hearts concerning races different from theirs. What is said to be à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“the God-given right to equality and ultimate freedomà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Nova; Marshall, Christopher) has been crushed for many, by the uncited ignorance of my à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"finelyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ educated people. Racists often need someone to blame for the wrong-doings, hatred and stupidity in America. Who better to blame than someone with skin of a different color? Racism is just another form of prejudice. If a person or group of people acts or dresses differently, these people may get distrusted or disowned. Many people do not recognize the

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

browning :: essays research papers

Barrett Browning was one of the most brilliant poets of the Victorian Age. She was born in 1809 in London, England and was raised with an excellent classical school education. In her early teens she showed great signs of a genius. Many of her poems were written before she was just fifteen years of age. By looking at Elisabeth Barrett Browning she was delicate, but inside this fragile woman there was a superior spiritual and mental being. Browning’s first publication of poems written was â€Å"Essay On Mind, And Other Poems†. In 1846 at the age of thirty-seven she married her soul mate noted English poet, Robert Browning.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As of all great poets life experiences are a large basis of inspiration in their works. Throughout the chapter of her life tragedy and health woes surrounded Browning. She had a blood vessel burst in her lungs and this forced her to stay confined home for an extended period of time. To better her healing process her doctor recommended her to move to a warmer climate. She relocated to Torquay, England and while she was there her brother and two of his friends drowned in a boating accident. This horrific accident had a profound effect on Browning and provided a hue of thought as well as feeling to her poetry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Truly understanding the personal history of Browning enables one to read her poetry and understand her being. After reading dozens of her poems all of them stood out and it was very difficult to just focus on five poems. I will discuss â€Å"Sonnets From The Portuguese† first. I came across the various sonnets in this piece a decade ago and believe her works to be one of the most romantic poems of all times. Browning wrote â€Å"Sonnets From The Portuguese† during the time she first met her husband and one can not help get the impression that it was likely dedicated to him. The love that was blossoming in her heart inspired her to write this literary masterpiece. Browning had various inspirations for her works especially Shakespeare’s spirit. â€Å"Sonnets From The Portuguese† and many of her other works where written in Petrarchan sonnets. Petrarchan sonnets in general are characteristically treat its theme in two parts. The octave, ei ght lines state a problem, express emotional problem, or even ask a question. The sestet, six lines, generally resolves the problem, relieves tensions, or answers the unknown question. browning :: essays research papers Barrett Browning was one of the most brilliant poets of the Victorian Age. She was born in 1809 in London, England and was raised with an excellent classical school education. In her early teens she showed great signs of a genius. Many of her poems were written before she was just fifteen years of age. By looking at Elisabeth Barrett Browning she was delicate, but inside this fragile woman there was a superior spiritual and mental being. Browning’s first publication of poems written was â€Å"Essay On Mind, And Other Poems†. In 1846 at the age of thirty-seven she married her soul mate noted English poet, Robert Browning.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As of all great poets life experiences are a large basis of inspiration in their works. Throughout the chapter of her life tragedy and health woes surrounded Browning. She had a blood vessel burst in her lungs and this forced her to stay confined home for an extended period of time. To better her healing process her doctor recommended her to move to a warmer climate. She relocated to Torquay, England and while she was there her brother and two of his friends drowned in a boating accident. This horrific accident had a profound effect on Browning and provided a hue of thought as well as feeling to her poetry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Truly understanding the personal history of Browning enables one to read her poetry and understand her being. After reading dozens of her poems all of them stood out and it was very difficult to just focus on five poems. I will discuss â€Å"Sonnets From The Portuguese† first. I came across the various sonnets in this piece a decade ago and believe her works to be one of the most romantic poems of all times. Browning wrote â€Å"Sonnets From The Portuguese† during the time she first met her husband and one can not help get the impression that it was likely dedicated to him. The love that was blossoming in her heart inspired her to write this literary masterpiece. Browning had various inspirations for her works especially Shakespeare’s spirit. â€Å"Sonnets From The Portuguese† and many of her other works where written in Petrarchan sonnets. Petrarchan sonnets in general are characteristically treat its theme in two parts. The octave, ei ght lines state a problem, express emotional problem, or even ask a question. The sestet, six lines, generally resolves the problem, relieves tensions, or answers the unknown question.

Living in a dysfunctional family Essay

â€Å"I have learned that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours†. These were the inspiring words of a famous writer and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau that has been etched in my heart as I have envisioned and prepared myself to follow the path that would lead me towards the achievement of my dreams. Living in a dysfunctional family and belonging to the minority are challenges that may either strengthen a person’s character or break a person’s life. Growing up without the full support and presence of my parents was not easy but these circumstances did not dampen my spirit. Instead, being in this situation has awakened my consciousness and I learned to be independent and responsible at an early age. Being the eldest among my siblings, I also became protective and nurturing and I managed to provide a balance between my studies and my responsibilities. At school, I developed a strong interest in subjects like Mathematics, English and History and I have engaged in various sports activities, e. g. soccer, basketball and hockey. Academics and sports have strengthened my mind, body and spirit and have taught me the importance of discipline, team work and camaraderie. In addition, my grandmother, whom I have lived with in the last few years, has instilled the value of obedience, hard work and integrity in my heart. These teachings and qualities will serve as my guiding principle in preparation for a career in law enforcement. Protecting lives and properties and preserving peace are part of my goals in life. I also want to make a difference in the lives of the youth who are lost and who find security in the company of those who violate the law. When I become a law enforcer, I would bridge the gap between my colleagues and the Hispanics and other immigrants so a relationship of trust will be built and strengthened. My entry in the university will not only allow me to interact with people with diverse cultural background. Most importantly, earning a degree in law enforcement will provide me with the skills and knowledge in reaching my dreams and in making a difference in the lives of the youth offenders.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Mr. Mallard’s Story of an Hour Essay

Experimental procedures where destined to be made about the emotion filled story, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin. The story details Mrs. Mallard’s situation about how she feels about her husband and the result when she finds that he is not dead. Kate Chopin does a great job telling the reader Mrs. Mallard’s feeling’s, but not at all tells the reader about Mr. Mallard’s point of view. I will be creating a point of view for Mr. Mallard to try and get a better understanding of what could have been the situation between the two. Since the very day I laid eyes on her, I knew she was the one for me. Her beautiful smile and her ecstatic personality made me come to realize that, I had to claim what was spiritually mine. Her name was Louis, a creative and ambitious young woman. All throughout my days of monitoring her every motion, I gained the courage to grow out of my shy state, and make my approach towards her. So from that point on we started engaging in conversation and growing closer to each other day after day. It seemed as if time had flown by faster than it had ever done before in my life. It came to the point that I loved this woman so much; all of my hard earned money I made from my small job down at the local grocery store in town, I took it upon myself to buy a wedding ring. So then I asked her for her hand in marriage, and ever so joyously she replied with such excitement in her voice, yes! Immediately, tears started rolling down my face and all of my best memories were erased, in storing the special memory that took place that very day. We had a simple but elegant wedding ceremony in the local chapel that she and I were both attending previously. â€Å"Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, I now pronounce you husband and wife. The moment I heard those very words, is when I knew I had accomplished my life goal at being happy. She had gone all around town screaming to her family that she is married now and that she will forever be happy for as long as she lives. I took it that we would always be united as one, and that nothing could ever come between the love we both shared. Several years went past and Louise and I seemed to be doing very well in our marriage. I had given her all of me and it seemed that she had given me all of her as well, but I would get an internal feeling that she was not happy in our marriage. Adding up reasons of why she may be unhappy with how things were going, it just did not seem to add up. It had dawned upon me that maybe she did not want to be with me anymore. Personality wise, she had become the total opposite. Before we got married she was kind, passionate, and had a smile that was golden; then she started to grow silent and mean towards me and others around her. For a while I blamed myself for reasons that seemed to be undeserving, and thought that I mistreated her in some unknown way. Unfortunately, Louise was found to have a very bad heart problem and often times she would blame me for her misfortune. As a caring man I would just accept the blame and try to do anything possible to try to make her forget about the condition and live her life fully. My plan always appeared to not succeed and I grew tired of the mistreatment that I clearly did not deserve. I took matters into my own hands and came up with a plan that would determine just how much she felt about me. I came across the daily paper and read about a local railroad disaster that left a number of people dead and injured. My good friend Richards was the side kick in the situation, I had him tell Louise’s sister, Josephine, that my name was on the death list and that she should tell Louise immediately. After receiving notice that my plan was fulfilled, I began to observe Louise’s reactions towards the situation. I hid in the main bedroom closet in a secret passage way that I created for emergency situations years ago. I heard Louise come in crying and sobbing about the news, I became excited that she was crying over my so called death and I felt that she did still love me very much. Hours went past and I became comfortable with the results that I got in my little experiment, but little did I know, Louise became happy with my death and stated that she was â€Å"free† numerous times to herself really loud and joyously. Very confused I asked myself how she switched feelings so quickly and how could she be happy about the situation. She would talk to herself very in-depth about how her life is now that she is independent and fantasizing about all of the days and years to herself that she wanted for so long. I felt so crushed inside because I had given her any and everything that she could possibly want. I took care of her when she was sick, made all of her wishes come true, and took it upon myself to do anything to make her smile. Why she would treat me this way, I asked myself over and over until I became fed up with it. When Louise went to the bathroom I snuck over to Richards’s house and told him what all I found out about and wanted to give her the news that I was not dead. Richards and I walked over back to the house to tell Louise that I was mistakenly put on the death list, and that I was indeed very much alive. I waited outside and let Richards go in the house first to make the plan free of suspicion and got ready to make my approach inside. Boom Boom! My heart was beating very loudly as I was nervous to go inside. I opened the door and Josephine is first to see me; she screams very loudly in shock of my appearance. Richards tries very hard to prevent Louise from seeing me, but was too late in the action. Louise dropped to the floor immediately and had no sign of life in her. I ran to her to see if she was ok holding her very tight, screaming for someone to call the doctor. The doctor arrived within twenty minutes, after only observing her for five minutes he pronounced her dead due to a heart attack. Tears ran down my face as if someone had poured a bucket of water on my head. I began to feel guilty for her death thinking maybe she would still be alive if I had never made that stupid plan in the first place. Thought maybe if I had known how she really felt, I would have just let her be free from me and live her life happily instead of me standing in her way. I learned a very important lesson that day; things in life should not be taken for granted no matter how much you want it to go your way.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Beowulf vs. Spiderman

Back in the seventeenth century, they had epic heroes like Beowulf, who killed Grendel with his bare hands. Now, they have heroes such as Spiderman who can shoot web from his wrist and crawl up walls. Beowulf and Spiderman have characteristics that distinguish them as heroes, some of which are found in both of them while one has characteristics the other doesn’t. During the Anglo Saxon days, the original hero was Beowulf, the supreme warrior. He had marvelous strength, not like the average being.His true bravery and his powerful will to fight to death is what people genuinely knew him for. However, in today’s society, the modern superheroes are taken as being a regular limited hero. Spiderman for instance, was not born with super powers but was bitten by a spider that gave him the power. Unlike Beowulf, who would kill his enemy, Spiderman has limitations and would not dare kill his enemy because he believes death is never the answer. They’re alike because they bo th put other people’s needs in front of their own; they would risk their lives for someone else’s.They’re also alike because during the times of Spiderman and Beowulf, there are always critics that only criticize the hero; to make them seem like something they’re not. For example, Peter Parker (Spiderman) is always taking pictures for the Daily Bugle to let people know that Spiderman is a â€Å"good guy†, but his imperial figure only wants to make him seem like he is committing a crime. With Beowulf, because he is so vital and was born with this power, average people that do not know him do not think highly of him, want to bring him down.Resolution: Today’s modern superheroes are given super powers like super strength, reflexes and agility, and to possibly have spider webs come from your wrist and have the ability to crawl up walls! But just like any other epic hero, all of them have some challenging obstacles that has altered their life in one way or another that makes them become strong and prepared to be the icon that most people look up too, while others waiting to watch you fall and fail with the city you protect. These superheroes are all somewhat similar because they fight for their people rather than for themselves and they fight only for justice!

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Anselms Ontological Argument Essay

St Anselm (1033-1109) fame rests on his belief that faith is prior to reason: â€Å"I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this I also believe- that unless I believed, I should not understand†. Anselm employed his powers of reason in order to establish, by rational argument, the existence of God (Ally 2010:62). Anselm’s ontological argument When we are really thinking of something (and not merely uttering the associated verbal symbol), that thinking is our understanding (2010:63). Of course, we need not understand that it exists, for we may be thinking of something which we believe does not exist, or we may be thinking of something of whose existence we are uncertain (2010:63). But in any of these cases, if we are thinking of something, if we understand it, then it, and not something else, is in the understanding (2010:63). This point applies to our thoughts of anything including God (2010:63). However, in the case of God, we are thinking of a unique thing, for we are thinking of the greatest thing conceivable, the being â€Å"than which nothing greater can be conceived†( Stumph & Abel 2002:107). Now if a being exists in the understanding alone, it cannot be the greatest conceivable thing, for a being that exists in reality as well as in the understanding would be greater (2010:63). Consequently, since God is the greatest being conceivable he must exist in reality as well as in our understanding (2010:63). Or, to put it another way, if the greatest conceivable being exists in the understanding alone, then it is not the greatest conceivable being- a conclusion which is absurd (2010:63). Gaunilos objections Do we in fact have an idea of an absolutely perfect being? This was the question posed by Anselm’s contemporary, Gaunilo, who noted that the sceptic who is not convinced of God’s existence would not grant Anselm’s assumption that people have an idea of a most perfect being (2010:63). To this Anselm could have replied that he was not trying to convince sceptics that God exists, but to provide Christians with a rational understanding of Christian truth (â€Å"I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand†- Anselm 1987:225). In any case, he would have aintained that he could prove that people have an idea of a perfect being (2010:63). Anselm actually argues that we have various experiences of â€Å"degrees of perfection†- for instance, we experience some things as better or more beautiful than others (2010:64). We can make this kind of relative judgement only because we have a standard of comparison: the idea of absolute perfection (2010:64). It will be seen that the argument here turns on the question how can a finite mind transcend and reach an understanding of an infinite object? 2010:64). What a finite mind feels to be an intellectual grasp of an infinite object may be only an emotive response (2010:64). One ought to remind oneself of the need to distinguish between emotive understanding and the kind of meaning needed for philosophical communication (2010:64). So, although â€Å"most perfect being† has a powerful emotive meaning, has Anselm actually provided this phrase with of a meaning that enables us to discuss â€Å"the most perfect being† philosophically and unemotionally? (2010:64). Is existence indeed an added perfection? That is, is a being that exists necessarily greater (more perfect) than one that does not exist? (2010:64). Allowing that people have an idea of a most perfect being, does it follow that a being corresponding to this idea must exist? (2010:64). Anselm’s assumption is that existence is indeed an â€Å"added perfection† (2010:64). If existence is not an added perfection, there is no contradiction in allowing that the most perfect being exits only as an idea (2010:64). Just because I am thinking of a being, thinking of it as the greatest conceivable being, and thinking of it as existing necessarily, does not provide any evidence that there is actually such a being, for the thought of a necessarily existing being is one thing and necessarily being is another. Conclusion What is significant about Anselm’s attempt to prove God’s existence using reason alone is that it demonstrates the possibility of a distinct contrast between faith and reason (2010:65). Questioning such proofs inevitably raises issues about the relation between faith and reason (2010:65). Even in an age of faith, human beings could not get on without using their reason (2010:65). Clearly, they need to know where reason is appropriately used and where it should be set aside (2010. 65). They need a logical decision process that shows what a valid proof is (2010:65). If this decision process discloses that certain articles of the Christian faith cannot be proved, then they need a theological doctrine that shows how faith and reason are related at the point where reason leaves off and faith takes over (2010:65).

Friday, September 13, 2019

The presupposition of the democratic sort of regime is freedom Essay

The presupposition of the democratic sort of regime is freedom (1317a40) - Essay Example Therefore, what is wrong with the principle that allows one to live in the custom that they desire? Indeed, this idea seems to constitute intuitively of the true definition of freedom and it does in a sense. This is because what everyone wants, on top of all else, is to be happy. Thus, every want is aimed indirectly or directly at attaining the ultimate good. What we can ascertain from this is that, in the deepest sense, what individual wants is to live a life of virtue because a virtuous life is a happy one. Aristotle starts out in Politics by discussing the origins of the city of Polisor. He seems to be clearly fascinated by this form of life that is not so old, and the possibilities that the city offers for human excellence (Aristotle et al 41). Aristotle sees it as being emergent from various natural communities such as villages and families, as well as from the relationships that are present between master and slave, parents and children, and between husband and wife. The manner in which these relationships are ordered and the communities that they are found in calls for an appropriate set of rules. Aristotle makes an argument against people who claim that every rule is the same, insisting on fundamental differences between political rules, mastery of slaves, and household management. This can be taken to indicate the basic freedom sense in Aristotle’s Politics. ... This life lets them engage with other people who are not servants or members of their family, although they are also free. Citizens can participate in the molding of their individual futures, as well as the wellbeing and futures of their community in this life. When the city and the city’s constitution fail, then freedom is lost. Despotic rule can be considered as importation of slave domestic management mode to cities that are inhabited by nominally free people. Tyranny is explained as a form of politics that has serious flaws because of its perversions to the tyrant’s sole interests (Aristotle et al 97). Aristotle considers the two manifestations freedom as democratic freedom and as it happens in the best city possible. Aristotle devotes a lot of time in his considerations of the different types of democracy. He views democracy for its weaknesses and strengths. However, he contends that democracy is driven by freedom (Aristotle et al 101). The fact that persons learn to be governed, and how to govern, is a strong feature of democracy. Using a constitution that has its prime grounded in freedom ensures that elections are done on a majority vote basis since everyone is equal. Aristotle is quick to acknowledge that the majority will often achieve judgment that is better than would be if a few people on their own made it. A more radical form of democracy, which is not sans precedence, is whereby offices are given through lots. However, this position on democracy is not uncontested. Aristotle recognizes three human life conditions that lead to justice claims, which are virtue, wealth, and freedom. It is here that we see the differences that exist between aristocrats,

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Hip Flexion In Kicking Motion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Hip Flexion In Kicking Motion - Essay Example The acceleration of the kicking leg, in addition to the resulting velocity at impact, is concluded by the muscle forces being applied by the kicker. It has been accounted that the speed of the ball at impact was directly proportional to the calculated strength of his themes. The release velocity of the ball in regards to its timing had the strongest relationship to the maximal torque formed during the i. hip flexion, ii. Knee extension and iii. Short ankle alleviating in the kicking leg. In addition the relationship between the maximal resultant forces of the thigh and shank and the release velocity of the ball was tough. The link between the release velocity of the ball and age was elevated however less than with weight or height. Consequently the augment of the body mass means boost in the mass of the foot and this by design increases the release velocity of the ball in the kick. A significant ability in the game of soccer is the capability to kick the ball powerfully and precisely. The instep kick is the kick which is most frequently used for the utmost force as well as distance, as for a shot on goal or a long pass. The force for the long kick is put on from the run-up into the ball, and from the movements of a maximum number of body parts. These comprise hip and trunk rotation, in addition to hip flexion, knee extension and ankle plantarflexion to shape a rigid surface for impact. The kick with run-up creates longer and more potent kicks than the standing kick. This is due to the augmented momentum of the kicker at impact.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Take home exam 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Take home exam 1 - Assignment Example As we hear those patterns repeatedly, they become strengthened in our mind thus being able to learn the language. The model is exemplar-based pointing out that it’s the examples in what we hear that form the backbone of patterns that we extract. Learning is an instance of study and not induction of rules. Connectionism includes different network constructions which include parallel distributed processing. Parallel distributed processing network includes nodes with pathways that strengthen with use. The more we use a particular pathway, the more it becomes strong and vice-versa. Larsen Freeman suggests that the rate at which something happens is a major factor in learning a new language a claim supported by N.Ellis and Schmidt (Gass & Selinker, 2008, p. 220). Also, the easy with which one learns the second language depends on how strongly the network of the native language is established. In an experiment performed by Sokolik and Smith (1992) on learning of noun gender in French, it was concluded that the easy which one could learn depended on age with young people learning more easily. From this, it’s important to note that the network of the native is not as strong in younger people which enhances learning of the L2. Similarly, Stephen Krashen developed five hypotheses that helped to understand the learning of the second language: The Acquisition- learning hypothesis, Monitor hypothesis, Natural Order hypothesis, the Input hypothesis and the Affective Filter hypothesis. In the Acquisition-learning hypothesis, he suggests two ways of developing one’s language; by acquisition which entails taking in of knowledge subconsciously and storing it in the brain and by learning a language which takes the form of instructing the language in a formal setting as in a classroom. According to this assessment, the best way to learn a language is through natural communication. In addition, monitor hypothesis seeks to correct errors in utterances. Krashen

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Alternative Medicine Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alternative Medicine - Research Paper Example ity of ‘old wives tales’ or ‘ancient lore’, both of which are frequently credited with time-tested knowledge that has worked for generations but also viewed with some suspicion. In some cases, the information is quite valid and the necessary research to support it is becoming increasingly available. In other cases, though, the information has been proven wrong, ineffective and sometimes even counterintuitive. Because it is impossible to know, with just an initial look, whether the claims of the article or legend are true as stated, it’s a good idea to question the claims made by conducting a thorough analysis. One substance frequently being used as an alternative to drug therapy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and several other common ailments is the herb known commonly as yarrow. There are a number of different cultivars of yarrow which thrive in many parts of the world, many of which have long-standing traditions as a medicinal treatment. The scientific name for the plant is Achillea millefolium, but because of its widespread presence, it also has many common names. These include gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf and feather-leaf (Dodson & Dunmire, 2007). Some of these names provide a suggestion of how it is used. The plant is said to have been named because of its association with the Greek hero Achilles. â€Å"According to the legend, Achilles’ mother held him by the heels and dipped him in a bath of yarrow. Achilles was forever protected by the herb except for the heels† (Madocks, 2009). Stories of Achilles indicate he always carried yarrow with him into battle because it had the ability to staunch the flow of blood from battle-inflicted wounds. â€Å"In the a ncient world, yarrow was seen as a potent healing agent, whether applied to a wound or taken internally to prevent a cold setting in. Yarrow was the preferred domestic medicine of yesteryears’ mothers who

Monday, September 9, 2019

Can poverty be stoped in Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Can poverty be stoped in Africa - Essay Example But such basic causes are quite intractable and not easily eradicated. In most cases, the causes and effects of poverty interact, so that what makes people poor also creates conditions that keep them poor. Primary factors that may lead to poverty include (1) overpopulation, (2) the unequal distribution of resources in the world economy, (3) inability to meet high standards of living and costs of living, (4) inadequate education and employment opportunities, (5) environmental degradation, (6) certain economic and demographic trends, and (7) welfare incentives" ( Microsoft Encarta 2006 ). Just like many third world countries, Africa is not exempted from incurring debts. Many western governments have made promises to either reduce or remove the massive burden of debt in Africa. Yet, in most African countries, the people still devote most of their land planting and producing cash crops to pay off these debts. However, the debt is so enormous that the possibility to pay the debt off is next to impossible. This creates a vicious cycle in Africa's economy, with the government and its people burrowed deeper into this situation. The phenomenon of jobless economic growth that increases income inequalities and generates too few jobs for low income groups poses a serious threat to the well-being of many nations, both North and South. Government policies should consider not only aggregate economic impact but also the distribution of employment. Socially responsible venture capital and microcredit initiatives can foster employment-generating businesses that complement the local culture and environment. .b. Rout out corruption, which harms society as a whole. Corruption, both in government and business, places heavy cost on society. Businesses should enact, publicize and follow codes of conduct banning corruption on the part of their staff and directors. Citizens must demand greater transparency on the part of both government and the corporate sector and create reform movements where needed. b. Broaden access to education and technology among marginalized groups, and especially among girls and women. The educational attainment of women has strong bearing on the well-being of their families, and efforts to improve education for women and girls must be strengthened. At the same time, steps should be taken to ensure that the current revolution in information technology benefits marginalized groups. This must begin in school. c. Improve government capacity to provide universal access to essential goods and services, including potable water, affordable food, primary health care, education, housing and other social services. Governments around the world have made commitments to this through the 20/20 Initiative, which calls for 20% of national budgets and 20% of foreign aid to be spent on human services. But raising adequate

Sunday, September 8, 2019

What Role Should Government Play In a Globalised World Essay

What Role Should Government Play In a Globalised World - Essay Example This essay stresses that the government of China in the light of the reforms brought about in the policy structure relating to economic, social and technological development is also focusing on the optimal utilization of the natural resource base. Optimal utilization of the existing resource base would help the country gain the due potential in gaining economic and social developments in sustained manner. This paper makes a conclusion that the event of globalization has paved the way for the mutual development of both developing and developed economies through the process of mutual interaction and the transfer of needed funds and infrastructural skills and expertise. With the gaining of needed know-how along with funding support through the gaining of foreign investments the countries are found to grow and develop along the parameters pertaining to manufacturing, innovation, social and economic fronts. However the government of different countries is required to incorporate changes in the policy and reform structures on such a note as would assist in the effective optimization of the opportunities gained in such a global climate. Herein focusing on the region of China the government of the region is found to bring about changes in the policy structure related to manufacturing, research and development functions and also related to labor relations to contribute in the overall developme nt of the social and economic situation of the region.

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Locate the state of Marylands Constitution and examine the major Essay

Locate the state of Marylands Constitution and examine the major elements and articles of the constitution - Essay Example As part of a democratic country, the government’s power rest on the people. (MSA, 2011) This means that the people have the right to vote for their leaders and the right to voice out their concerns. They also have rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The highest official in the state is the governor. Once elected, the governor is expected to act according to what the people want him to do. All services are also implemented through the approval of the governor and the legislative department. (MSA, 20110) The government of Maryland offers various services for the people, such as free public school education, health services and judicial services. These services are funded by the government through the taxes paid by the citizens. The judicial power of the state is vested on the Court of Appeals, which is composed of seven judges. Under the Court of Appeals, there are different circuit courts and district courts. (MSA, 2011) The citizens can avail the services of the judiciary department by filing complaints on any legal manner to the appropriate court. (Maryland Judiciary, 2006) All manners of complaints are accepted by the judiciary, such as for crimes, civil claims, child support, divorce and others. The citizen who needs assistance form any court should fill up a form and submit it to the appropriate court. For example, if a citizen is filing for divorce, he or she must fill up a domestic relations form and submit it to the family services department of the district court in his or her place of residence. After this process, the citizen would have to wait for the documents that he or she has to provide in order for the divorce to push through.(Maryland Judiciary, 2006) The length of time for any legal process depends on the complaints. There is a chance that crimes may require more time than divorces. In cases when the district courts cannot handle a given complaint, or if it requires further legal intervention, then the complaint wo uld have to be passed on to the Court of Appeals. (Maryland Judiciary, 2011) The government also provides social services for families like children’s health care program, emergency assistance for families with children, child care program, and even burial assistance for those families who lost their children. The government also provides temporary cash assistance and refugee cash assistance for those in need. The government also provides public assistance for the elderly and the disabled. To some extent, the government can also help in providing jobs for those who are unemployed. (Maryland.gov, n.d.) One important service that the government provides to its citizens is the Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA). Implemented by the Department of Human Resources, this program provides cash assistance to needy families with dependent children, and who cannot provide for the family’s needs. (Department of Human Resources, Maryland.gov. n.d.) Those families whose incomes do not e xceed $ 2,000 are entitled to receive cash assistance from the government. In terms of education, the government provides several programs to help students. Aside from the free public school system, the government of Maryland also provides scholarship grants to students who fall under certain categories. The government also has a college savings plan, wherein the students choose a specific college plan that suits the family’

Research on behaviour of children with stay at home Essay Example for Free

Research on behaviour of children with stay at home Essay It is a personal and specific decision that has its perks as well as its pitfalls. Advancements in womens rights in the workplace have encouraged women to acquire higher paying Jobs. However, recent research suggests that more women are choosing to stay at home. It is not because of a lack of education or opportunity; they simply dont want to have someone else raise their children. A study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in 1999 found that the more hours a child spent at a non- maternal care before age 5, the less positive the childs interactions with his/her other will be. Two studies published in 2003 conducted by the NICHD found that children in day care had higher levels of stress and were more aggressive than those cared for at home by the mother. There are millions of children, however, who have working mothers and who grow up to be responsible, sucessful adults. Benefits for children raised by stay-at-home mothers. STABILITY: This is the main benefir for your children. Knowing that you are there gives your child stability. You are able to answer your child questions, dry tears, and offer support. In addition, you will never get those year back. They experience fewer emotional and behavioural problems in childhood: want to help ensure your children turn out to be happy and socially well adjusted? Bond with them when they are infants. Thats the message from the university of Lowa, USA, which found that infants who have a close intimate relationship with their mothers are less likely to be troubled, aggressive or experience other emotional and behavioural problems when they reach school age. Bonding with your child has proven to help in a childs mental and emotional development. Consistency: Your children can rely on you. They can trust the consistency on the way you run your household. Being consistent with mealitimes, Chores, baths, and bedtimes teaches children organization and discipline. They need this consistency to give them structure and routine in their lives. Quality time: All kids need quality time with their mothers. Quality time gives them the assurance of being loved all the time. Quality time also keeps your child out of trouble, which often stems from boredom. the memories they will have of you depend on this quality time

Friday, September 6, 2019

Policing Practices and Operations Essay Example for Free

Policing Practices and Operations Essay Law enforcement officers have many duties. Law enforcement officers are sworn to serve and protect society as well as to fight crime. They also maintain order within their jurisdiction, as well as providing other services that the community will benefit from. Most of the time, police officers are considered to be crime fighters, in which this image has been brought to citizen’s attention by the media. The styles of policing should match the community in which they serve, so there is no conflict between the community and the law enforcement officer. The future policing structure does have a huge impact socially, economically, and politically within the community and the police departments general needs so that they can provide the proper policing that is needed. Life threatening situations take place in different circumstances, which includes the law enforcement agencies. Dangers Law enforcement officers face being wounded or murdered as they are on the line of duty in the United States, every year. The greatest threat a police officer will ever face is bodily harm and death. When a law enforcement officer is called to a scene and responds to a disturbance call, the law enforcement officer is confronted with the possibilities of violent actions from an armed suspect. Although, bodily harm as well as death upon a law enforcement officer are not the only dangers in policing. Family issues and stress related illnesses also can be contributing factors to the danger of a law enforcement officer and policing. Law enforcement officer’s jobs can surely take a toll on their lives as well as their well-being. If the pressures of their type of work are handled and coped with property, it could end up becoming life threatening. Today’s law enforcement officers are faced with many dangers within their everyday duties, like rival threats of getting shot. Examples are: vehicle pursuits, traffic control, and foot pursuit, stress, making an arrest, and sun exposure/duty equipment and biohazard exposure. These dangers are exposed to law enforcement officers on a daily basis. This is why it is important for law enforcement officers to wear their bulletproof vests as well as their belts that contain pepper spray, radio, handgun, baton, and handcuffs. All of this specified equipment usually will weigh up to about twenty pounds, which adds stress to the law enforcement officers hips, feet, knees, and back areas. Stress to the law enforcement officers body by getting in and out of their patrol vehicle up to about fifty times within one day, as they have to wear all of their equipment. Law enforcement officers are exposed to the extreme temperatures for many hours at a time. They may have to be in extreme heat c onditions, such as one hundred degree heat, while conducting traffic control at a scene of an accident. They also sometimes have to provide crime scene security when the weather may be in freezing conditions. Law enforcement officers are at the mercy of all weather conditions. Also, a lot of the times law enforcement officers are called to a scene and they are not properly prepared for it because of the weather conditions and they do not have the time to stop somewhere to get what they need to prepare themselves. They may have to stand out in extremely hot or freezing weather without the proper protection they may need or hydration they so desperately have to have. Law enforcement officer’s physical dangers have to be dealt with as well as trying to always be ready for the worst. As this can add so much mental and physical stress upon the law enforcement officer. They have to be aware of their surroundings and environment all the time. Law enforcement officers have to be alert as well as being prepared for all situations that may occur. The officer will rarely have time to get prepared for an emergency call. They have to sometimes rely on the training the received to be able to make important, split second decisions that are based on different circumstances. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks gained the attention from all the departments within law enforcement. Within the federal policing agencies, they took precautionary measures to make sure that the people of  the United States were safe. Even though, the local and state agencies have managed to keep the people’s fears under control within the United States and communities as well. All of the agencies in the United States have to work fearlessly on preventing and reducing the citizen’s fears caused by terrorism. When terrorism is looked into, law enforcement agencies and Homeland security across the world are very imperative that the agencies try to work together in solving the crimes by using shared information and by having departmental as sistance. All in all, terrorism is always a danger for law enforcement officers. Statistics As reports were published by the National Police Officer Memorial Funds said that in 2010, officer’s fatalities treacherously rose. There was a two year drop of law enforcement mortalities in 2010 that rose to 160. This was intensified by about forty percent compared by looking at the year before. The data gathered by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund indicated that for the thirteenth consecutive year, the number one cause of law enforcement officers deaths were contributed by traffic fatalities, within thirty nine states. Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia were also involved in law enforcement officer’s related deaths in 2010. Within the third consecutive year in a row, Texas, Florida, and California were ranked on top of the five states that involved the most of law enforcement fatalities. The Federal law enforcement Officers had a total of eleven law enforcement officers that were lost, including the Federal agents that lost their lives in the line of duty during 2010, along with United States Customs, two United States Border Patrol agents, and three Border Protection officers. According with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (2011) website, it stated that fifty-six law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. Thirty two law enforcement officers that were among the fifty-six, were employed within city police departments. Thirteen of them were employed for law enforcement agencies within cities of a population consisting of 250,000 or more people that reside there. In Puerto Rico and twenty two other states, there was also line of duty deaths as well. There were fifteen law enforcement officers who lost their lives in ambush situations as well. There were fourteen law enforcement officers that lost their lives in felonious attacks while involved in arrest situations. There were eight law enforcement officers that were killed when they were investigating suspicious persons/circumstances. There were seven law enforcement officers that were killed while working on traffic stops/pursuits. Six law enforcement officers were killed while answering to disturbance calls. There were three law enforcement officers that were killed while they were involved in tactical situations, like high risk entry, barricaded offender, hostage situations, etc. There were two law enforcement officers that were killed upon conducting investigations while searching, interviewing, and looking at surveillance. And one law enforcement officer was killed as they were maintaining custody of a prisoner or while transporting a prisoner. With future policing, I feel that it is important to have close communication with the homeland security. I personally feel that the more communication there is, the more we will progress and bring better policing skills. It is equally as important to have communication with all law enforcement agencies to help in improving all policing operations that are dealt with. In future policing, the importance of keeping law enforcement agencies relationships maintained will build better and stronger agencies. With the relationship within law enforcement agencies and homeland security are not as accurate as seemed. It is understood that all agencies serve different purposes, as they are all in charge of different types of areas within society to serve and protect. I believe that joining forces with other agencies would be beneficial. It would be beneficial because by all working together, there could be issues that could be addressed a lot better. Along with lack of communication among law enforcement agencies and homeland security, we would be able to better handle the various criminal issues better. I feel that this can also improve community policing and law enforcement relationships. With the new technology equipment that police officers receive, they can work on their policing styles, such as being reactive or proactive. Once these issues are changed, there will be better communication with other law enforcement agencies, as they would be able to serve and protect in much more positive ways. This will decrease crime rates as well as increasing practices that  are reactive. As crime rates decrease, and proactive and reactive practices are being practiced, then the start of confidence will show within all law enforcement agencies. Although, there are many differences in the power as well as the authority, responsibilities and roles, and the difference in jurisdiction at the local, state, and federal levels within law enforcement officers. It is clearly apparent that all of the dangers within them remain equally the same. References American bar association. (2011). Standards on urban police functions. Retrieved from http://www.americanbar.org/publications/criminal_justice_section_archive/crimjust_standards_urbanpolice.html Federal bureau of investigations. (2011). Officers feloniously killed. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/leoka/leoka-2010/officers-feloniously-killed Crime in America.NET. (2011). Law enforcement fatalities dramatically increase in 2010. Retrieved from http://crimeinamerica.net/2011/01/04/law-enforcement-fatalities-dramatically-increase-in-2010/

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Developments of Stem Cell Technology

Developments of Stem Cell Technology The research of embryonic stem cell is classified under the study of biotechnology, which is one of the most recognized areas of research by the public, as well as one that have the potentials of benefited from the completion of the research7. The embryonic stem cells are the absolute base form of all cells that is within a human, they are frequently known for two of their main characteristics. One is the ability to self-renew though a long period of time while remain non-specialised, and the other main characteristic is the stem cells ability to differentiate and give rise to any specialised cell3. Because of these characteristics, it brings hope to cure diseases that were not possible before, by replacing the damaged cell with a new one that is being derive from a stem cell. Neurodegenerative diseases are a prime example where scientists believe that stem cells are the key to treating the disease. However, the research of embryonic stem cells has always being surrounded with contro versy, due to the pro-life movement around the world. This report will be mainly focused on the use of stem cell on treating neurodegenerative diseases, and a general overview of the progress in the research of stem cells. (202 Words) Review The majority of the research done on embryonic stem cells is directed mostly toward medical treatment such as bone narrow transplant, regrowing a new nerve cell to heal Neurodegenerative diseases and more. The researches of stem cell started in the mid eighteen hundreds, when scientists discovered that some cells have the ability to generate into others. But the application of stem cell only start to boom from 1960s, when the human understanding on natural biological systems had increased to the point that it allowed scientists and doctors to do bone marrow transfers between two humans which resulted in curing a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency in 1968. This is the reason that stem cell research attracted attention from the public, due to the possibilities of curing several different types of diseases or healing damages that were beyond humans natural healing ability. Stem cells are the fundamental cells of all the different types of cells that are in a human body. It has the ability to renew itself, under the correct environment and performs obligatory asymmetric replication (see diagram 1 at appendix 1). This, combined with their ability to transform into any specific cell type that can be found in a human body, makes it possible to create new cells to replace those that were damaged by disease or treatment processes. However, the current understanding of the behaviour of stem cells is not enough for scientists and doctors to use them to completely cure a certain disease. Nevertheless, we currently have enough understanding through research, to show that stem cells do have the ability to lessen the symptoms such ailments as Alzhei mers disease. The research into stem cells has potential of curing most of the long-term diseases known to doctors; however the cost of this research is the main reason of controversy. The reason of the controversy around stem cells is focused mainly because embryonic stem cells can only be gathered when an egg is being fertilized. The process of gathering a sample of stem cells started by triggering a human egg that has been left in cryo for more than the legal limit, to grow into an embryo like the normal growth of a child. Afterward, the egg started to grow for five to seven days where the blastocyst started to form along with the inner cell mass. The whole blastocyst is then moved to a specially prepared culturing plate that is covered in a feeder layer, that is designed to support the growth of the stem cell, and chemicals are added to break the blastocyst to allow the inner cell mass to be exposed. From this point on it is merely waiting for the inner cell mass to grow and divide into stem cells that the researcher can use to test in a controlled environment by using different growth factors that will hopefully allow the scientist to map out the reaction of different types of proteins and the chemical environment that would decide the growth path of these stem cells (see diagram at appendix 2). By this point, most biotechnologists require assistance from people in another field, such as chemical engineer, protein specialist and doctors to help culturing or to understand how this stem cell works. These specialist from other field of science, help scientists to understand the growth factor that is involved in the differentiation of the cells. A prime example would be the use of growth factors. Unfortunately this is also where the controversy starts; a lot of people around the world that support pro-life organisations believe that the research of stem cells is immoral; since every embryo that is being used to extract the stem cells have the possibility of becoming a full child, thus the process of extracting the stem cells would destroy the possibility of life. They believe that the same research can be conducted through adult stem cells, or known as somatic stem cells, that can be isolated from bone narrow, or any other cells that have the ability to self repair, without the need of creating a full embryo. While it may be possible to do so, the concentrations of somatic stem cells are extremely hard to isolate and researchers are currently unable to grow them in cultures for further study. However, most scientists believe that while each embryo has the possibility of developing into a child, the long period of cryo that is used to store the egg, is damaging it, to a point that the death rate of the infant will be higher, along with the fact that these cells were originally scheduled to be destroyed, thus it does not make much difference. Therefore, until either the somatic stem cells can be cultured and proven to be as potent as embryonic stem cells, or the latest induced pluripotent stem cells that are created by reprogramming the adult stem cell back into the pluripotent stem cell stage of development. Scientists are stuck on using embryonic stem cells for the majority of the study. (792) Application Case study The advancement in the field of biotechnologys research into stem cells has already started to show results. In the past, diseases such as Alzheimers, which are diseases that cause the degradation of neurons on nerve cells, which were not treatable by doctors before. The most that doctors were able to do was to relieve the pain caused by the disease, they were not able to locate the source of the disease, or how they affected patients. However, since the development of stem cell technology, scientists have regain hope of finding cure or treatment process that can permanent treat these diseases. Using the same system that was originally designed to house the stem cells, they were able to isolate the infected neuron samples that were affected by the diseases, and therefore, were able to devise a treatment or cure for the diseases as they now have a sample with which they can work. Alzheimers disease is one of the most common neuron degradation diseases seen in the world. In America alone, there are at least 5.3 million people that have this disease. Alzheimers disease attacks the nerves and neurons that are in the brain over a long period of time, which slowly causes memory loss, problem solving skills, thinking, to the point that the brain can no longer function properly, leading to death. Alzheimers disease currently has no cure, as the rate that the human body regenerates the brain cells are much slower than the rate of infection. Therefore, theoretically it will be possible to cure Alzheimers if all infected nerve cells could be removed, and replaced with new nerve cells that were derived from the adult stem cell of the patient. This same application can also be used on other diseases such as Parkinsons disease or sport injury that normally requires years of recovery. Based on a published journal in 2009, scientists were able to use bone marrow derived the mesenchymal stem cell to relieve symptoms of Alzheimers on a mice model that have been purposely induced. According to the research journal, when a patient (or mice in their case) that is presented with the disease, the concentration of amyloid-b (Ab) peptides in the form of amyloid plaques in the brain parenchyma increases, which causes neural loss to the patient. Therefore, in a direct treatment the research team injected bone-marrow-derived-mesenchymal stem cells into the brain of the induced mice, the result showed that there is a diminution of amyloid-b by the reactivation of microglia that were re-stimulated by the injection of the stem cells. Thus the research team arrived at the conclusion that BMMSCs can promote reduction of the amyloid-b through the microglial activation in the induced Alzheimers brain, suggesting a potential therapeutic agent against Alzheimers disease. (453) however, in the journal the research team fail to considered the other cause of Alzheimer the neruofibrillary tangles Conclusion In conclusion, it is clear that the development of stem cells is one field of biotechnology that is emerging quickly as the understanding of natural biological systems increase, along with the fact that the diversity of biotechnology is potentially limitless in the field of medical research. For example, during the process of creating a suitable environment for the embryonic stem cells to grow, researchers have accidentally created a solution that can keep donated organs for longer periods of time, allowing a higher chance of success to the transplant surgery after a long period of travel. In the future, once more is understood about stem cells, the whole technology may be advanced enough to reconstruct an entire limb. There remains much controversy around this field, due to the researchers ethical practices, notably, obtaining new stem cells. Referencing Kil Lee, Jong, Hee Kyung Jin, and Jae-sung Bae. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells reduce brain. Neuroscience Letter 450.2 (2009): 136-41. Web. 31 May 2010. . S. Shihabuddin, Lamya, and Isabelle Aubert. Stem cell transplantation for neurometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Neuropharmacology 58. (2010): 845-54. Web. 12 May 2010. . Stem Cell Basics. In Stem Cell Information [World Wide Web site]. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009 [cited Wednesday, May 12, 2010]ÂÂ  Available at Unknown, Unknown. What is the history of stem cell research? History of Stem Cell Research. AllAboutPopularIssues.org, 2010. Web. 12 May 2010. . Unknown, Unknown. What is Alzheimer? Alzheimers Association. Alzheimers Association, 06 April 2010. Web. 28 May 2010. . Unknown, Unknown. Stem cell. Stem Cell. AlphaMed Press, 28 May 2010. Web. 12 May 2010. . Keener, Kevin, Thomas Hoban, and Rekha Balasubramanian. BIOTECHNOLOGY and its APPLICATIONS. North Carolina State University. North Carolina State University, 06/03/2010. Web. 12 May 2010. . Lindvall O (2003). Stem cells for cell therapy in Parkinsons disease. Pharmacol Res 47 (4): 279-87. Doi: 10.1016/S1043-6618(03)00037-9. PMIDÂÂ  12644384.ÂÂ   Goldman S, Windrem M (2006). Cell replacement therapy in neurological disease. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 361 (1473): 1463-75. Doi: 10.1098/rstb.2006.1886. PMIDÂÂ  16939969. Unknown, Unknown. Stem Cells and self-Renewal. isscr. ISSCR, 2010. Web. 28 May 2010. www.isscr.org/public/SC_self-renewal.pdf Unknown, Unknown. Neurofibrillary Tangles. Department of Pathology. University of Oklahoma, 2010. Web. 30 May 2010. .