Saturday, November 30, 2019

The oppression of women of color an Example of the Topic All Posts by

The oppression of women of color Race and gender are important identities for women of color. The intersection of race and gender can have important ramifications for individual identity and self-identification while racism and sexism can also have repercussions in a variety of social spheres. American society has a shameful legacy of slavery and is a country stratified by race, gender and class. For some, like renowned African American author, scholar and social activist, bell hooks, the United States is a country with a strong tradition of institutionalized racism which permeates all aspects of modern America society (see hooks Aint I a Woman?: Black Women and Feminism, 1981). For many in America, racism is an ever-present aspect of the social condition and is built upon a rigid social code, a white/black binary which has its roots in early American settlement and the shameful tradition of slavery in the New World. In addition to the white/black binary, another binary exists. Need essay sample on "The oppression of women of color" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Our Customers Often Tell EssayLab specialists: I'm not in the mood to write my essay. Because I don't have the time Professional writers suggest: Help With Essay Writing The sexual binary, which is heavily engrained in our society and has been responsible for persistent inequality between the sexes as well as the historical division of labor, coexists alongside the racial binary in modern American society. When the racial binary meets the sexual binary and the two meet, what are the implications? Why is it important to analyze race and gender together and not separately? What is the impact of racism and sexism on the lives of Americans today? What proposals can be put forth to change social attitudes towards women of color? Racial and Sexual Binaries The binary logic of race is inherently hierarchical and in modern American society, white people are perceived of as being superior compared to people of color, according to this subjective racial hierarchy. This hierarchy has important ramifications in the social, cultural, economic and political realms as access to social services, jobs, and political office are presumably easier for white Americans rather than black Americans. Similarly, the binary logic of sex and gender also represents a social hierarchy and postulates that men are superior to women with results in social, cultural, economic and political realms (Wellman 148-165). The intersection of race and gender are very important for women of color who must deal with both the challenges of sexism and racism in modern American society. While race is a social construct, not a scientific one, sex has a biological basis and is usually determined at birth. Race and gender intersect with one another all the time in modern society, particularly when people of color face discrimination on account of both their gender as well as their racial background. This dual form of discrimination is particularly insidious since it further reinforces stereotypes based upon race and sex. Renowned, yet controversial, cultural theorist bell hooks discusses the intersection of patriarchy (discrimination based upon sex and gender) and racism and white supremacy (discrimination based upon the artificial constructions of race). According to bell hooks, we are socialized to think about race and gender through a hierarchical lens and accepted these hierarchies unflinchingly without qu estioning them. Accordingly, women of colour face additional hurdles to their full acceptance in modern American society and this intersectionality shapes their relations with others as well as their personal identification and self-identities (see hooks, 1981). Effects of Racism and Sexism What are the effects of racism and sexism on the lives of people today? In American society there is a definite health disparity in the country as non-whites report a lower level of overall health and access to healthcare. Poverty is also a feature of the social condition of many women of color in the United States today. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine undertook a substantial quantitative analysis of the infant mortality rates between black and white infants and found that a disparity in this important social indicator does in fact exist. Accordingly, this respected journal found that the black-white infant mortality ratio has persisted for decades and has even increased in recent times. In 1960, the black-white infant mortality ratio stood a 2.0, but twenty years later this figure had risen to 2.4. Why such a disparity? What are the causes of such dramatic differences in the likelihood that a newborn black child would not live to see his or her first birthday in compari son to a white child? This study determined that while a variety of factors can account for this disparity, low birth weight remains the most prominent cause of a higher infant mortality rate amongst black babies. In fact, black babies in America have a 300% greater likelihood of being born with a low birthrate relative to their white counterparts. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention found a variety of socio-economic causes for the phenomenon of low birth weight, including poverty, poor nutrition, a lack of knowledge about pregnancy and the challenges associated with it, and access to proper medical facilities. The disparity in black-white successful birth ratios in America thus can be attributed to social forces and socio-economic differences amongst black and white Americans (Carmichal and Iyasu 220-277; Kogan 614) Sexism is another scourge on American society which affects the overall quality of life for women today. Sexism is the belief that one sex is superior to the other and generally implies ideas about superiority and inferiority between sex and gender. While some societies are characterized as being matriarchal, much of Western society is patriarchal and the United States in no exception. The patriarchal nature of American society is explained by a variety of social and historical factors which are beyond the scope of this assignment. Nonetheless, while women in American have made incredible gains in the social, economic, cultural and political spheres over the past century, sexism remains a prevalent aspect of our society. Sexism can be overt, latent or suppressed but it exists and has a variety of social repercussions. Accordingly, women in American earn less than their male counterparts and the employment mobility of women is often hindered by preconceived ideas about sexuality and the economic roles that women can play in the modern world. Anthropologists and cultural theorists have written for years about a pink ghetto, in which women are regulated to a sector of the labour market which is poorly remunerated and oftentimes unrewarding. Ideas about womens work force women into so called female-ghettos in which women predominate and their upward social mobility is hindered by preconceived notions of what women can (and should) do. Accordingly, there is also an invisible glass ceiling which limits the future job prospects of women in American society and their future earning power. Looking at the medical sector again, a profession formerly limited to men, the New England Journal of Medicine reports th at as in young male physicians earned 41% more per year than young female physicians (Baker, 960). Is this the result sexism, either latent or overt? Although it is difficult to say, it is important to remember that these disparities do in fact exist. Social Attitudes and Attitudinal Change As demonstrated above women of color must combat both the challenges of sexism and racism in American society today. Attitudes about women as well as about people of colour continue to impact the lives of women of colour. Social beliefs and values often misrepresent women of color as being uneducated, on welfare or poor working members of society. This is often in contradiction to the hard-working and responsible black mothers, sisters and caregivers in America today. Accordingly black women are disproportionately represented in underappreciated and under compensated employment categories like homecare worker or caregiver. These stereotypes do more to misrepresent the actual lives of women of color than to actually qualify their experiences. While it is true that the opportunities for women of color have changed dramatically since 1900, attitudinal barriers remain. Social barriers are the product of peoples attitudes and these ideas about race and gender remain the most important impediments to the full inclusion of women of color in the wider society. Social programs which can work towards the further inclusion of women of color and against their oppression include Black History month courses in school, generous maternity leave programs for mothers and educational grants aimed at increasingly the post-secondary participation rates of young women of color (Baker 960-963). Concluding Remarks While the sex of an individual is innate, determined at birth and not as fluid as race is in American society, our ideas about sex and gender are socially constructed and also have important social ramifications. Racism and sexism are insidious yet prevalent in society today. As we have seen, racism and sexism can important social ramifications on the lives of people today. Women of colour are thus in a unique position to reevaluate societys conceptions of race, racial identity and sexism in American society. In a global world and in an era of multiculturalism, the rigid and constricting black/white duality is increasingly out of touch with reality and the lives of real people today. This hierarchical binary is being challenged on a daily basis by people like President-elect Barack Obama while the sexual binary is challenged by women who demand equal pay for equal work or who choose not to conform to traditional ideas about sex and gender in American society. Women of colour are thus in a unique position to tear down the socially constructed and inherently inhibiting walls of racial identity and sexism in America today. By navigating the artificial binaries of race and sex, women of colour are navigating and exploring new ideological terrain in an attempt to reconfigure our ideas about race, sex and sexuality (see Fredrickson 2002; hooks 33-47). Works cited Baker, Laurence C. Differences in Earnings between Male and Female Physicians. New England Journal of Medicine. 334.15 (1996): 960-964. Carmichael Suzan L. and Solomon Iyasu.. Changes in the black-white infant mortality gap from 1983 to 1991 in the United States, American Journal of Preventive Medicine 15.3 (1998): 220-227. Fredrickson, G.M. Racism: A Short History. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2002. hooks, bell. Aint I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism. Boston: South End Press, 1981. Kogan, M D. Social causes of low birth weight. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 88.11 (1997): 611615. The Combahee River Collective Statement. Combahee River Collective, 1986. Wellman, D.T. Portraits of White Racism. Boston: Cambridge University Press, 1993.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Macbeth Essays (1130 words) - Characters In Macbeth, Free Essays

Macbeth Essays (1130 words) - Characters In Macbeth, Free Essays Macbeth There are many forms of imagery in the world today. They usually take on two main forms, those being visual and mental. Word means different thing to different people. The Websters Dictionary defines it as, in rhetoric, representations in writing or speaking; lively descriptions which impress the images of things on the mind; figures in discourse. This once again goes back to the idea of mental imagery and the different ways people interpret things. In William Shakespeares Macbeth. Imagery is connected to both character development as well as theme and are patterned throughout the play. From the beginning of the play we are introduced to image of darkness. It was called upon by Banquo, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. In his aside to Macbeth "But tis strange: And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray us In deepest consequence" (I, II, 131-135) Banquo shows that he is immediately aware that the witches are associated with darkness. He chooses not to act on the witches prophecies, but rather to be wary and reluctant. He is not ready to involve himself with the witches, as he sees them as a dark force. However Macbeth is on opportunist and the image of darkness reveals his deepest, darkest desires. This is shown in Macbeth's aside. "The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step On which I must fall down or else o'ver-leap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires" (I, IV, 55-58) It becomes apparent that, it bothered Macbeth a great deal to hear that Malcolm was named successor to King Duncan, he then calls on darkness to hide his evil thoughts. Lady Macbeth does the same, she conjures up the forces of darkness, to make sure the heavens don't see her having these thoughts. "Come, thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, N'or heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To cry, "Hold, hold!" (I, V, 53-57) By the end of Act I, we can see that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have sided with "Darkness". By listening to the prompting of the witches they have given in to them and side with the forces of evil. But, Banquo, is still cautious about the idea of even and darkness. He shows us that the witches ae only tell partial truths that look pretty at first, but, will hurt you in the end. This also brings to us to the theme of evil and how it does the same thing. It comes across as being very tempting but, will definitely bring you down in the end. Another strong image in the play is "blood". It is perhaps the most powerful image of Macbeth's character change. One such image is portrayed just before Macbeth visits the witches for the second time. He says to his wife, Lady Macbeth that "For mine own good All causes shall give away; I am in blood Stepp'd in so for, that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er:" (III, IV, 166-169) This says that he is no longer concerned with who is in his way as long as he gets to the top. He is being driven by evil once again. The blood image shows that once Macbeth sided with the forces of darkness, killing Duncan, he was overwhelmed and would never escape evil's ugly grasp. Thus changing his character forever. It also effects the them of the play. In Elizabethan times, to be named King you were appointed by God. So, to kill a King you are going against God, thus once again siding with evil. So when Macbeth murdered King Duncan it was almost like a "cardinal sin". So bad in fact than he would never be able to clean his hands of the blood. If he were to try to clean his hands there would be so much of it that it would turn the oceans red with the blood of the King (God). This point is made clear by Macbeth when he says. "Will all great Neptune's oceans wash this blood Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making

Friday, November 22, 2019

Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II

Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II Battle of Guadalcanal Conflict Date The Battle of Guadalcanal began on August 7, 1942, during World War II (1939-1945). Armies Commanders Allies Major General Alexander Vandergrift Major General Alexander Patchup to 60,000 men Japanese Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake General Hitoshi Imamura rising to 36,200 men Operation Watchtower In the months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Allied forces suffered a string of reverses as Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines were lost and the Japanese swept through the Pacific. Following the propaganda victory of the Doolittle Raid, the Allies succeeded in checking the advance of the Japanese at the Battle of the Coral Sea. The following month they won a decisive victory at the  Battle of Midway which saw four Japanese carriers sunk in exchange for USS Yorktown (CV-5). Capitalizing on this triumph, the Allies began to move to the offensive in the summer of 1942. Conceived by Admiral Ernest King, Commander-in-Chief, US Fleet, Operation Watchtower called for Allied troops to land in the Solomon Islands at Tulagi, Gavutu–Tanambogo, and Guadalcanal. Such an operation would protect the Allied lines of communication to Australia and allow for the capture of a Japanese airfield then under construction at Lunga Point, Guadalcanal. To oversee the operation, the South Pacific Area was created with Vice Admiral Robert Ghormley in command and reporting to Admiral Chester Nimitz at Pearl Harbor. The ground forces for the invasion would be under the leadership of Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift, with his 1st Marine Division forming the bulk of the 16,000 troops involved. In preparation for the operation, Vandegrifts men were shifted from the United States to New Zealand and forward bases were established or reinforced in the New Hebrides and New Caledonia. Assembling near Fiji on July 26, the Watchtower force consisted of 75 ships led by Vice Admiral Frank J. Fletcher with Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner overseeing the amphibious forces. Going Ashore Approaching the area in poor weather, the Allied fleet remained undetected by the Japanese. On August 7, the landings began with 3,000 Marines assaulting the seaplane bases at Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo. Centered on Lieutenant Colonel Merritt A. Edsons 1st Marine Raider Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, the Tulagi force was compelled to disembark approximately 100 yards from the beach due to submerged coral reefs.   Wading ashore against no resistance, the Marines began securing the island and engaged enemy forces led by Captain Shigetoshi Miyazaki. Though Japanese resistance was fierce on both Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo, the islands were secured on August 8 and 9 respectively. The situation on Guadalcanal was different as Vandegrift landed with 11,000 men against minimal opposition. Pushing forward the next day, they advanced to the Lunga River, secured the airfield, and drove off the Japanese construction troops that were in the area. The Japanese retreated west to the Matanikau River. In their haste to retreat, they left behind large quantities of food and construction equipment. At sea, Fletchers carrier aircraft incurred losses as they battled Japanese land-based aircraft from Rabaul. These attacks also resulted in the sinking of a transport, USS George F. Elliott, and a destroyer, USS Jarvis. Concerned about aircraft losses and his ships fuel supplies, he withdrew from the area on the evening of August 8. That evening, Allied naval forces suffered a severe defeat at the nearby Battle of Savo Island. Caught by surprise,  Rear Admiral Victor Crutchley screening force lost four heavy cruisers. Unaware that Fletcher was withdrawing, the Japanese commander, Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa, departed the area after the victory fearing air attack once the sun rose   His air cover gone, Turner withdrew on August 9 despite the fact that not all of the troops and supplies had been landed (Map). The Battle Begins Ashore, Vandegrifts men worked to form a loose perimeter and completed the airfield on August 18. Dubbed Henderson Field in memory of Marine aviator Lofton Henderson who had been killed at Midway, it began receiving aircraft two days later. Critical to the islands defense, the aircraft at Henderson became known as the Cactus Air Force (CAF) in reference to Guadalcanals code name. Short on supplies, the Marines initially possessed about two weeks worth of food when Turner departed. Their situation was further worsened by the onset of dysentery and a variety of tropical diseases. During this time, the Marines began patrolling against the Japanese in the Matanikau Valley with mixed results. In response to the Allied landings, Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake, commander of the 17th Army at Rabaul, began shifting troops to the island. The first of these, under Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki, landed at Taivu Point on August 19. Advancing west, they attacked the Marines early on August 21 and were repulsed with heavy losses at the Battle of the Tenaru. The Japanese directed additional reinforcements to the area which resulted in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Though the battle was a draw, it forced Rear Admiral Raizo Tanakas reinforcement convoy to turn back. As the CAF controlled the skies around the island during daylight hours, the Japanese were compelled to deliver supplies and troops to the island using destroyers. Holding Guadalcanal Fast enough to reach the island, unload, and escape before dawn, the destroyer supply line was dubbed the Tokyo Express. Though effective, this method precluded the delivery of heavy equipment and weapons. His troops suffering from tropical diseases and food shortages, Vandegrift was reinforced and re-supplied in late-August and early-September. Having built up sufficient strength, Major General Kiyotake Kawaguchi attacked the Allied position at Lunga Ridge, south of Henderson Field, on September 12. In two nights of brutal fighting, the Marines held, forcing the Japanese to retreat. On September 18, Vandegrift was further reinforced, though the carrier USS Wasp was sunk covering the convoy. An American thrust against the Matanikau was checked late in the month, but actions in early October inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese and delayed their next offensive against the Lunga perimeter. With the struggle raging, Ghormley was convinced to dispatch US Army troops to aid Vandegrift. This coincided with a large Express run scheduled for October 10/11. On that evening, the two forces collided and Rear Admiral Norman Scott won a victory at the Battle of Cape Esperance. Not to be deterred, the Japanese sent a large convoy towards the island on October 13. To provide cover, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto dispatched two battleships to bombard Henderson Field. Arriving after midnight on October 14, they succeeded in destroying 48 of CAFs 90 aircraft. Replacements were quickly flown to the island and CAF began attacks on the convoy that day but to no effect. Reaching Tassafaronga on the islands western shore, the convoy began unloading the next day. Returning, CAF aircraft were more successful, destroying three cargo ships. Despite their efforts, 4,500 Japanese troops landed. The Battle Grinds On Reinforced, Hyakutake had around 20,000 men on Guadalcanal. He believed Allied strength to be around 10,000 (it was actually 23,000) and moved forward with another offensive. Moving east, his men assaulted the Lunga Perimeter for three days between October 23-26. Dubbed the Battle of Henderson Field, his attacks were thrown back with massive losses numbering 2,200-3,000 killed against less than 100 Americans. As the fighting was concluding, American naval forces now led by Vice Admiral William Bull Halsey (Ghormley was relieved on October 18) engaged the Japanese at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Though Halsey lost the carrier USS Hornet, his men inflicted severe losses on the Japanese aircrews. The fight marked the last time that either sides carriers would clash in the campaign. Exploiting the victory at Henderson Field, Vandegrift began an offensive across the Matanikau. Though initially successful, it was halted when Japanese forces were discovered to the east near Koli Point. In a series of battles around Koli in early November, American forces defeated and drove off the Japanese. As this action was underway, two companies of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson landed at Aola Bay on November 4. The next day, Carlson was ordered to move overland back to Lunga (approx. 40 miles) and engage enemy forces along the way. During the Long Patrol, his men killed around 500 Japanese. At Matanikau, Tokyo Express runs aided Hyakutake in strengthening his position and turning back American attacks on November 10 and 18. Victory at Last As a stalemate ensued on land, the Japanese made efforts to build up strength for an offensive in late November. To aid in this, Yamamoto made available eleven transports for Tanaka to transport 7,000 men to the island. This convoy would be covered by a force including two battleships which would bombard Henderson Field and destroy the CAF. Aware that the Japanese were moving troops to the island, the Allies planned a similar move. On the night of November 12/13, the Allied covering force encountered the Japanese battleships in the opening actions of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Taking off on November 14, CAF and aircraft from USS Enterprise spotted and sunk seven of Tanakas transports. Though taking heavy losses the first night, American warships turned the tide on the night of November 14/15. Tanakas remaining four transports beached themselves at Tassafaronga before dawn, but were quickly destroyed by Allied aircraft. The failure to reinforce the island led to the abandonment of the November offensive. On November 26, Lieutenant General Hitoshi Imamura took command of the newly created Eighth Area Army at Rabaul which included Hyakutakes command. Though he initially began planning for attacks at Lunga, the Allied offensive against Buna on New Guinea led to a shift in priorities as it presented a greater threat to Rabaul. As result, offensive operations on Guadalcanal were suspended. Though the Japanese won a naval victory at Tassafaronga on November 30, the supply situation on the island was becoming desperate. On December 12, the Imperial Japanese Navy recommended that the island be abandoned. The army concurred and on December 31 the Emperor endorsed the decision. As the Japanese planned their withdraw, changes occurred on Guadalcanal with Vandegrift and the battle weary 1st Marine Division departing and Major General Alexander Patchs XIV Corps taking over. On December 18, Patch began an offensive against Mount Austen. This stalled on January 4, 1943 due to strong enemy defenses. The attack was renewed on January 10 with troops also striking ridges known as the Seahorse and the Galloping Horse. By January 23, all objectives had been secured. As this fight was concluding, the Japanese had begun their evacuation which was dubbed Operation Ke. Unsure of Japanese intentions, Halsey sent Patch reinforcements which led to the naval Battle of Rennell Island on January 29/30. Concerned about a Japanese offensive, Patch did not aggressively pursue the retreating enemy. By February 7, Operation Ke was complete with 10,652 Japanese soldiers having left the island. Realizing the enemy had departed, Patch declared the island secured on February 9. Aftermath During the campaign to take Guadalcanal, the Allied losses numbered around 7,100 men, 29 ships, and 615 aircraft. Japanese casualties were approximately 31,000 killed, 1,000 captured, 38 ships, and 683-880 aircraft. With the victory at Guadalcanal, the strategic initiative passed to the Allies for the remainder of the war. The island was subsequently developed into a major base for supporting future Allied offensives. Having exhausted themselves in the campaign for the island, the Japanese had weakened themselves elsewhere which contributed to the successful conclusion of Allied campaigns on New Guinea. The first sustained Allied campaign in the Pacific, it provided a psychological boost for the troops as well as led to the development of combat and logistical systems that would be used in the Allies march across the Pacific. With the island secured, operations continued on New Guinea and the Allies began their island hopping campaign towards Japan.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Talent Management for Ang Mo Kio- Thye Hua Kwan Hospital Dissertation

Talent Management for Ang Mo Kio- Thye Hua Kwan Hospital - Dissertation Example initions 2.3 Talent Management Frameworks 2.4 Talent Management Techniques  Vs  Replacement Planning and Succession Planning Techniques 2.5 Key Success Factors for Talent Management PART 2: Talent Management and Organizational Performance 2.6 Does the employee attitude towards Talent Management affect their performance? 2.7 Does the managers' attitude towards Talent Management affect their employees performance 2.8 Is there alignment between what employees perceive and what the managers practice? 2.9 Employee Motivation and Productivity and How to Enhance These 2.9.1 Employee Motivation and Factors that affect it 2.9.2 How to Enhance Employee Performance by Enhancing Motivation Chapter 3: Research Questions and Hypotheses Chapter 4: Research Methodology 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Choice of Methodology 4.3 Population and Sampling 4.4 Research Instruments 4.5 Procedure 4.6 Data Analysis 4.7 Ethical Considerations Chapter 5: Results 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Results 5.2.1 Impact of Perception of Talent Management Practices on Motivation and Satisfaction of the Employees 5.2.2 The Impact of Managers’ Perception of Talent Management Practices on Business Performance 5.2.3 Comparison of Employees and Managers’ Perceptions 5.2.4 The Impact of the difference in the managers’ and the employees’ perception of the talent management practices on the business performance Chapter 6: Discussion 6.1 Impact of Perception of Talent Management Practices on Motivation and Satisfaction of the Employees 6.2 The Impact of Managers’ Perception of Talent Management Practices on Business Performance 6.3 Comparison of Employees and Managers’ Perceptions 6.4 Managers Recognize Employees’ Strengths and Weaknesses 6.5 Challenges for the Organization Chapter 7: Conclusions 7.1 Summary of Findings... According to the research with the rapid advancement of business potential owing to the globalization and enhanced communication and Information technology, there is felt a need to develop human resources that are highly professional, skilled and apt to help any organization make a difference in the competitive market. The medical organizations, especially in the case of hospitals, need to enhance their competence while maintain their professional and ethical standards to serve the customers better. The growth in technological investment that is needed to remain viable for the hospitals has put additional cost pressures on them. Also, the highly mobile nature of medical professionals has required that the hospitals be prepared to develop job packages that are lucrative and attractive and that can keep the employees satisfied and motivated. The concept of talent management – or managing the entire talent pool in an organization from selection, to training and development and mo tivation – is readily applicable in the context of the health organizations. The premise for investing in talent management is that the organizational resources, capital or technological, are only one aspect for the organizational success. The main organizational resource is the human capital as the quality of people an organization employs largely dictates the quality of output and competitive advantage that it may enjoy. It therefore makes sense to focus on talent management in any organization and more specifically in the case of health organizations as much of the work involves human centered activities.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Management Information Systems (MIS) Article Critique Research Paper

Management Information Systems (MIS) Article Critique - Research Paper Example Popular internet companies are ready for stock market listing. This has created lot of activity in the stock exchange. There are three main forces which are driving this activity. First the advancement in technology is making it very easy to start online business. Second the investors who are backing this activity are young, who give online companies many options to choose from and the last factor is the involvement of global participants in general and Chinese firms in particular. The combined impact of these three factors is responsible for the phenomenal growth of internet based companies in last two to three years. There are also reliable and sound companies, who are interested in buying these online companies or their products. For some experts this trend in the market is dangerous as many companies are getting more value than normal. Investors are investing in untested products and impact of regulatory policy by China is overlooked. If Chinese government starts to put restricti on on internet companies then market could go down but like all bubbles it is time for investors to make money. The article is very well written and the writer is able to present facts and figures along with tables to present the main theme that internet based companies are booming very fast.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Information System Management Essay Example for Free

Information System Management Essay A new concept in today’s IT world is offshore sourcing in Information Systems which is a paradigm shift from the traditional Business Process Outsourcing. Although the latter has been facilitated by the lucrative IT infrastructure, it is important to focus and emphasis on what has brought about offshore Information System sourcing. This journal article has theoretically explored on factors which the authors considers are the key drivers that can influence a company to go offshore. Additionally, to practically drive the point home, the article has exclusively carried out and explained a case study on ComputerInc, an Australian IT services company. Consequently, some of the key-driving factors include becoming and remaining competitive, reducing operational costs, and increasing the market share. Nevertheless, key challenges include overall strenuous management, staff demoralization, and lowered quality of services. This article is relevant in that the roles of the management for instance that of Chief Information Officer is critical in creating viable decisions. Such include venturing into IS offshore sourcing so as to drive organizations technologically and reap benefits such as reduced operation costs (McNurlin, et al. 2009, pp. 10-13). In the article, ComputerInc is argued to have increased its global market share as a result of IS offshore outsourcing (Beverakis et al. 2009, p. 35). In this regard, McNurlin, et al. (2009, pp. 17-20) have classified roles of IT infrastructure into three: working inward, working outside, and working across. Benefits include global positioning, partnering, and increasing the clientele base if/when proper IS planning is done by the decision makers. The article explains how viable decisions made by ComputerInc’s management drove the company into offshore outsourcing, attain a global position, and command a competitive market share (McNurlin, et al. 2009, p. 18). This corresponds to the learning outcomes of this course and for that reason I would award the article a value of four out of five on a score-scale. The Journal of Global Information Management is an academic journal published by the Information Resources Management Association. The Editor-in-chief for this journal is called Felix B Tan of Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand. Journal of Global Information Management is published on quarterly basis every year. In each year, a single volume is released but in each quarter the released journal is assigned a separate issue number. The journal is both online and in print and it is accessible at a personal level and to institutions. However, to access the journal subscription is a must whereby printed journal goes is sold at $ 545 and $ 195 to an institution and individual respectively (JGIM 2010). In all the issues of the Journal of Global Information Management emphasizes on all the concepts related to management of worldwide information resources. The journal creates a forum in which professionals and researchers disseminate current and surfacing information in both theoretical and practical perspective in relation to information technology and information resource management at global level. Therefore its main objective is put main emphasis on organizational and managerial aspects of Information Technology resources management. It covers on a range of issues such as policies, failure, usage, success, applications, and strategies of IT in business enterprises both in developed and emerging economies (JGIM 2010). The Journal of Global Information Management has laid out procedures whereby professionals and researchers especially in the field of information system management share their knowledge in regard to emerging challenges, posed by IT developments. Through its case studies, the journal proposes means on how to integrate information technology techniques into current managerial strategies. Therefore, it covers on the learning outcomes of this course such as role of IS managers, importance of IS/IT in driving companies to the global center-stage (JGIM 2010). In this article, it is acknowledged that information system offshore outsourcing has over the years increased drastically. In the research study, a number of steps involved in making such decisions at the management level have been identified. It states that IT managers weighs on the benefits and challenges of offshore outsourcing, evaluates the all the logistics involved in the process, and determines the prevailing geography. The research is based on literature review of existing companies’ statistical reports as presented in annual releases. The article states that offshore outsourcing surpasses onshore outsourcing in terms of benefits and risks involved. USA, UK, France, and Germany are the major IS offshore outsourcers in countries such as India, and China. Reduction in operation costs has been identified as the key motivator whereas it also stresses that quality services, security, and provider location must be considered. The key factors identified by Reyes, Jose and Juan (2006, p. 234) that influence offshore outsourcing are market and economic globalization, savings on operational costs in terms of salaries paid to the staff, shortage of skilled manpower, the need to reduce IS projects’ development time-cycle, and the growth or access to internet by large number of people (McNurlin, et al. 2009, pp. 7 33-39). This article demonstrates and emphasizes on key steps that information system managers of any organization have to take while making decisions on whether to outsource some of their services offshore. In comparison, McNurlin, et al. 2009, p. 11) in their book acknowledges the same that CIO’s should design policies, analyze possible benefits and risks so as to make informed decisions. In regard to the learning outcomes of ECOM20001, the article is explicit on what chief information officers are expected to do, have presented statistical evidence on how companies expand due to outsourcing and the impact of globalization on company activities in terms of risks and benefits. Considering such coverage on E-enablement and globalization I would award the article a score of five.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Teaching Philosophy Essay -- Teachers Education School Essays

Teaching Philosophy As a future art educator, I have been encouraging myself in the past four years to explore and absorb as much about art and education as I possibly can. As my college years are drawing closer towards a conclusion, a new chapter of my life is waiting to be discovered. This is the time to gather what I have learned and synthesize my own set of philosophies on teaching. Under my teaching scope, I would want students to learn about meanings and issues in life through art in addition to the technical skills of art making. I would guide and expect my students to express their views and feelings through this creative process. Furthermore, I anticipate students will recognize that art functions in many facets, and that having the ability to criticize and be aware of the arts around them will enable them to appreciate art as an active and engaged participant in the learning process. Last but not least, I would like to share my enthusiasm for art and inspire my students to view art with a whol e new perspective. In order to achieve my goals, specific methods will be...

Monday, November 11, 2019

Nicol Ann David

Nicol David is presently one of Malaysia’s hottest sports properties. While most Malaysians will have to take a really good look before becoming a professional sports person, Nicol shows them how she did it, and why they should do it too.Nicol Ann David was born on 26 August 1983 in Penang. She is a daughter to Desmond David, an engineer and Ann Marie David, a teacher. Her first encounter with squash began at a tender age of 5, and at the age of 8 she started to take squash seriously with regular training and involved in competitive games. She received her primary education at SM Convent, Penang.Her squash career began in 1992 when she won silver in the Under-14 category of the Penang State Junior Championship. Her first national level victory was also in 1992 at the Milo-Dunlop Sport National Junior Interstate Championship, where she won silver in the Under-16 category. After that she always gets won the tournament that she participates.Nicol began dominating the squash scene by winning the Asian championship as well as becoming the youngest player to become the world’s woman junior champion. By the time she reached 16 where most people at that age was honeymooning before sitting down for SPM a year later, she was already making the world’s top 10 list and on her up. Nicol has an invincible track record in Asia after winning the Asian championship 5 times in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.In January 2006, at the age of only 23 years old, Nicol reached a new height when she took over the helm as the world’s number one woman squash player. Nicol is not only the first Malaysian to take over the crown but is also the first Asian woman to be ranked number one.Her success in squash did not prevent Nicol to record impressive and outstanding academic achievement. She scored 8As in the PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah) and 9As in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Before the exams, she would be seen juggling her time preparing for the exams as w ell as practicing and perfecting her skills in court.Nicol David has been conferred Darjah Setia Pahlawan Negeri which carries the title ‘Datuk’. The award will be given by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang, Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas tomorrow, in conjunction with his 70th birthday.Now a professional squash player, Nicol David is a definite role model for Malaysian and other youngsters around the globe. She trains under a former world number 2, Liz Irving in Amsterdam, Holland. Her desire to succeed has taken her to a territory where other Malaysians consider impossibility. She is also a living legend who proves that you can be exceptional in both sports and education fields.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Debate on Genetically Modified Food Essay

For millions of years, the world has evolved and developed, by selective breeding to adapt into the society, which it is today. Natural adaptations and changes have occurred in various species of plants and animals, which even modern scientists cannot explain. Our world has survived for†¦ well forever, without genetically enhanced produce, so why should it invade humanity now, just because ‘we can’? Many scientists, who are in favour of GM foods, claim that it is simply the next step on from selective breeding; however they seem to have overlooked one difference. Genetic modification of anything requires the introduction of ‘alien’ genes into a species, to modify it and this is certainly not a natural process. For example, GM Soya has been modified using genes that will make it resistant to certain herbicides, such as ’roundup’. Although this may seem like a good thing on the surface, what happens when the pollen from these GM foods is passed on to native species? Aspects like this seem to have been overlooked. It is also a worry, because genetic engineering can be very unpredictable and the damaging effects of GM foods irreversible; if left unconfined it could get out of control. It is possible to end up creating harmful characteristics – such as toxins – unawares. This doesn’t necessarily condemn GMOs but it proves the unpredictability of genetic manipulation. The establishment for GM foods is keen to cover up any findings, which may turn people against GM foods, (possibly due to the huge profits involved). One particular scientist, in a report from the ‘Rowett Research Institute’, had been independently researching the effects of GM potatoes on rats. What his studies found was that they had a detrimental effect on the immune system and the growth of the rats. However when the establishment found this out, this man was reduced from being a well-respected researcher to a ‘mad cap scientist’. Although it is agreed that genetically modifying grain to include beta-carotene (vitamin C) may aid hunger and poor eyesight problems in third world countries, there is a large-scale scandal going on among large biotech companies, who want to increase their already large profits. GM food production, gives larger firms a ‘loop hole’ in which they are able to abuse the power of modifying these crops to their own specification. Recently, there have been reports that these companies have developed ‘doomsday’ seeds, which they want to sell onto the world market – particularly the struggling third world. These seeds have been genetically modified, so that once they have grown, the seeds they produce will genetically destroy themselves. These seeds may be an excellent money-spinner for the firms who sell them, but surely it is morally and ethically wrong to sell such seeds to poor and starving countries? The companies also have the added leverage over other seed producers because they are able to genetically modify their plants to grow faster and thus their seeds are cheaper than others. These people in the third world will eventually be forced into a downward spiral of having to buy new crops every year, because they are unable to afford the more expensive ‘normal’ seeds. And what would happen if these genes happened to escape into the environment? GM â€Å"genes† may spread into wild populations with unpredictable and potentially harmful consequences; In this case, they may even cause crops to produce sterile seeds, which could have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. If we are to have confidence in GM foods, then larger businesses should be kept out of research. The way GM foods are being exploited by powerful corporations is a threat to democracy. These crops are unsustainable in light of longer-term plans and the great majority of the GM market is focussed more on profit rather than improving our diet. Insufficient testing has taken place to ensure their safety for public consumption. Research should be carried out independently, to assess whether such foods would be a benefit to our society and the effects it will have on the eco-system. Only then should they be allowed onto the market.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Leadership is central to the appeal of Fascism essays

Leadership is central to the appeal of Fascism essays Leadership is central to the appeal of Fascism During the 1920s and early 1930s Germany was unstable economically and politically. The government was in a state of dismay, the population was disheartened and scared and the great Wall Street stock market crash of 1923 saw the economy crumble before the counties eyes. These unfavourable factors combined to create a nation of unstable form, a country that was looking for a saviour. This came in the form of fascism, a type of government based on the principles in which the individual is dominated by an all powerful state under the control of one supreme leader. The hand to lead the people of Germany out of all the problems and deceptions of these terrible times was Adolf Hitler, a fascist dominator. The problems that the German government was having were a blessing to Hitler and gave him and the Nazi party the opportunity to employ their propaganda skills to capture this frustrated nation and win their hearts, but more importantly manipulate their minds and maintain power in Germany . Hypothesis: it was propaganda, which enabled the Nazis to gain and maintain power 1. The organised spreading of ideas and information, which is meant to make people think and or act in a certain way. It normally has little to do with the truth and can be very exaggerated. Propaganda played a huge role in enabling the Nazi party to gain and maintain power. One of the main reasons that propaganda was used so much in the nazi party campaign was because the national leaders, Hitler and Goebbles were so good at designing it. They were masters at propaganda and they carefully trained their local groups in propaganda skills and used every trick in the book to get their message home. Propaganda was also used because it wasnt straightforward. Propaganda enabled the Nazi party to create any image that they wanted for their party, and with their brief slogans and vague promises, propaganda sto...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Ancient Olmec Trade and Economy

Ancient Olmec Trade and Economy The Olmec culture thrived in the humid lowlands of Mexicos Gulf coast during the Early and Middle Formative periods of Mesoamerica, from about 1200–400 BCE. They were great artists and talented engineers who had a complex religion and worldview. Although much information about the Olmecs has been lost to time, archaeologists have succeeded in learning much about their culture from excavations in and around the Olmec homeland. Among the interesting things they have learned is the fact that the Olmec were diligent traders who had many contacts with contemporary Mesoamerican civilizations. Mesoamerican Trade Before the Olmec By 1200 BCE, the people of Mesoamerica- present-day Mexico and Central America- were developing a series of complex societies. Trade with neighboring clans and tribes was common, but these societies did not have long-distance trade routes, a merchant class, or a universally accepted form of currency, so they were limited to a down-the-line sort of trade network. Prized items, such as Guatemalan jadeite or a sharp obsidian knife, might well wind up far from where it was mined or created, but only after it had passed through the hands of several isolated cultures, traded from one to the next. The Dawn of the Olmec One of the accomplishments of Olmec culture was the use of trade to enrich their society. Around 1200 BCE, the great Olmec city of San Lorenzo (its original name is unknown) began creating long-distance trade networks with other parts of Mesoamerica. The Olmec were skilled artisans, whose pottery, stone tools, statues, and figurines proved popular for commerce. The Olmecs, in turn, were interested in many things that were not native to their part of the world. Their merchants traded for many things, including raw stone material such as basalt, obsidian, serpentine and jadeite, commodities such as salt, and animal products such as pelts, bright feathers, and seashells. When San Lorenzo declined after 900 BCE, it was replaced in importance by La Venta, whose merchants used many of the same trade routes followed by their forebears. Olmec Economy The Olmec needed basic goods, such as food and pottery, and luxury items such as jadeite and feathers for making ornaments for rulers or religious rituals. Most common Olmec â€Å"citizens† were involved in food production, tending fields of basic crops such as maize, beans, and squash, or fishing the rivers that flowed through the Olmec homelands. There is no clear evidence that the Olmecs traded for food, as no remains of foodstuffs not native to the region have been found at Olmec sites. The exceptions to this are salt and cacao, which were possibly obtained through trade. There appears to have been a brisk trade in luxury items such as obsidian, serpentine and animal skins, however. The Gulf Coast Olmec blossomed at a time when there were at least four other islands of expanding civilization in Mesoamerica: the Soconusco, the Basin of Mexico, the Copan Valley, and the Valley of Oaxaca. The Olmec trading practices, traced through the movement of goods produced or mined elsewhere, are key to understanding the Early and Middle Formative histories of Mesoamerica. Characteristics of the Olmec trading network include: baby-faced figurines (essentially, portable versions of the Olmec stone heads);distinctive white-rimmed blackware pottery and Calzadas Carved wares;abstract iconography, especially that of the Olmec dragon; andEl Chayal obsidian, a translucent to transparent banded black volcanic stone. Olmec Trading Partners The Mokaya civilization of the Soconusco region (Pacific coast Chiapas state in present-day Mexico) was nearly as advanced as the Olmec. The Mokaya had developed Mesoamericas first known chiefdoms and established the first permanent villages. The Mokaya and Olmec cultures were not too far apart geographically and were not separated by any insurmountable obstacles (such as an extremely high mountain range), so they made natural trade partners. The Mokaya adopted Olmec artistic styles in sculpture and pottery. Olmec ornaments were popular in Mokaya towns. By trading with their Mokaya partners, the Olmec had access to cacao, salt, feathers, crocodile skins, jaguar pelts and desirable stones from Guatemala such as jadeite and serpentine. Olmec commerce extended well into present-day Central America: there is evidence of local societies having contact with the Olmec in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. In Guatemala, the excavated village of El Mezak yielded many Olmec-style pieces, including jadeite axes, pottery with Olmec designs and motifs and figurines with the distinctive ferocious Olmec baby-face. There is even a piece of pottery with an Olmec were-jaguar design. In El Salvador, many Olmec-style knick-knacks have been found and at least one local site erected a man-made pyramid mound similar to Complex C of La Venta. In the Copan valley of Honduras, the first settlers of what would become the great Maya city-state of Copn showed signs of Olmec influence in their pottery. In the basin of Mexico, the Tlatilco culture began to develop about the same time as the Olmec, in the area occupied by Mexico City today. The Olmec and Tlatilco cultures evidently were in contact with one another, most likely through some sort of trade, and the Tlatilco culture adopted many aspects of Olmec art and culture. This may have even included some of the Olmec gods, as images of the Olmec Dragon and Banded-eye God appear on Tlatilco objects. The ancient city of Chalcatzingo, in present-day Morelos of central Mexico, had extensive contact with La Venta-era Olmecs. Located in a hilly region in the Amatzinac River valley, Chalcatzingo may have been considered a sacred place by the Olmec. From about 700–500 BCE, Chalcatzingo was a developing, influential culture with connections with other cultures from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The raised mounds and platforms show Olmec influence, but the most important connection is in the 30 or so carvings that are found on the cliffs that surround the city. These show a distinct Olmec influence in style and content. Importance of Olmec Trade The Olmec were the most advanced civilization of their time, developing an early writing system, advanced stonework and complicated religious concepts before other contemporary societies. For this reason, the Olmec had a great influence on other developing Mesoamerican cultures with which they came into contact. One of the reasons the Olmec were so important and influential- some archaeologists, but not all, consider the Olmec the mother culture of Mesoamerica- was the fact that they had extensive trade contact with other civilizations from the valley of Mexico well into Central America. The significance of the trade is that the Olmec cities of San Lorenzo and La Venta were the epicenter of the trade: in other words, goods such as Guatemalan and Mexican obsidian came into Olmec centers but were not traded directly to other growing centers. While the Olmec declined between 900–400 BCE, its former trading partners dropped the Olmec characteristics and grew more powerful on their own. Olmec contact with other groups, even if they did not all embrace the Olmec culture, gave many disparate and widespread civilizations a common cultural reference and a first taste of what complex societies might offer. Sources Cheetham, David. Cultural Imperatives in Clay: Early Olmec Carved Pottery from San Lorenzo and Cantà ³n Corralito. Ancient Mesoamerica 21.1 (2010): 165–86. Print.Coe, Michael D, and Rex Koontz. Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008Diehl, Richard A. The Olmecs: Americas First Civilization. London: Thames and Hudson, 2004.Rosenswig, Robert M. Olmec Globalization: A Mesoamerican Archipelago of Complexity. The Routledge Handbook of Archaeology and Globalization. Ed. Hodos, Tamar: Taylor Francis, 2016. 177–193. Print.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Globalization in Media Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Globalization in Media - Research Paper Example It is difficult to stop media globalization because it is taking place due to innovative communications in technology. Although globalization media plays significant roles in shaping culture and improving social standards of living, it has contributes to loss of cultural identity; thus contributing to a global village. The decentralized nature of communication media such as the use of Internet has improved the social, living standards of people in the contemporary society. The use of social media sites and as well as the e-mail sent through the Internet has made communication cheaper. The Internet is among the most widely communication media techniques used by many people including commercial industries in carrying out business activities. Moreover, the social networking sites has improved the social life standards of people in the society because social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and many others have enabled many people to communicate easily with friends or relatives across the globe. Many students and business companies utilize the Internet nowadays in carrying out research activities; hence, it facilitates effective learning and enabling companies to carry out marketing research effectively. Nezmah (224) argues that the increased global market media is through new digital technology that has made global markets effective and profitable. Many companies especially the international companies are now able to compete favorably with their competitors because of new digital technology. This has enabled many of the multinational companies to achieve competitive advantage in the market. The use of Internet, radio and television in advertising innovative products in the global market has enabled commercial companies to increase their sales; hence generating a lot of revenues. The international companies have formed new