Becton Dickson Companys SHRM

Becton Dickson Companys SHRM Introduction The success of a firm’s productivity depends on the organization of the human resource management. Reflectively, labour as a factor of production, determines the gross output, performance, and goal achievement at optimal resource use.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Becton Dickson Company’s SHRM specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Becton Dickson Company has been struggling with human resource management problems that range from competition, labour structure, and financial constraints. The current SHRM of the company shows limitation of available factors of production, especially on optimal labour use and employee motivation. Thus, analytical paper attempts to explicitly review the current issues facing the SHRM of Becton Dickson Company and its relevance. In addition, the treatise explores the restructuring model of SHRM that would address these challenges. Current Issues Facing Becto n Dickson Company Current budget of the Becton Dickson firm may not allow it to utilize all factors of production in the economy. Becton Dickson Company faces several limitations in its operations after the sudden restructuring. First, the uncertain working conditions greatly impacted on employees’ confidence and performance patterns. As employees’ incomes remain unstable, and relatively low, it was natural to witness an underperformance and low morale at work. The trading conditions continued to remain a challenge especially for this company. These adversely influenced the ability of Becton Dickson to achieve the forecasted sales and consequently, the overall budget was affected. Increase in prices of factors of production directly affects budgeted cost of production, and thus low income earned by employees. In addition, inability of the company to leverage its systems and processes hindered the growth of its business as it reduced ability of the company to attract th e right labour skills and attitude. Finally, the company faces operational risks in areas such as supply chain management, communication systems, and human resource management.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Given that the company has to operate within a predetermined budget, changes in the individual component of the budget affect the operations of the entire business. Becton Dickson is exposed to numerous threats. For instance, following the acquisition logistics and restructuring, the company has to remain afloat despite competition. Secondly, the human resource department is fairly responsive to sudden swings and also very sensitive to changes in income. Since the restructuring, the company has suffered heavily, as communication system for implementing these changes seemed to have broken down. Due to redundancy, lack of performance evaluation processes, e mployee testing, and healthy work culture, the company is currently facing uncertainty. These systems are critical in improving leadership skills, evaluation skills, promoting creativity, and rewarding outstanding achievement. The company is surrounded by several opportunities for growth of business. However, the human resource department is seriously underdeveloped despite the fact that labour determines total output, thus profitability. Significance of SHRM Profiling as a Policy and Practice at Becton Dickson SHRM profiling in Becton Dickson consist of training and development programs that are both on-the-job and off-the job. These should be built around the core business values and is firmly aligned with the business strategy – developing skills that will support future growth of the business. The results of the programme are meant for statistical t-testing of relevance of evaluation strategies adopted in reviewing employment terms and performance. Despite the fact that t his company has a fresh initiative for correcting the previous mistakes, it has not fully adopted an inclusive career development plan. Management ought to realize that there is no better way to achieve this rather than through the use of training and development. Further, Becton Dickson Company should evaluate effectiveness of training and development in realizing the goals and objectives of their set targets.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Becton Dickson Company’s SHRM specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The management of the company should use outcomes of trainings and development in decision making relating promotions and transfers within the organization. Besides, the company should undertake several career development programmes, such would be necessary for attracting and retaining human resource base. The company should consider providing a job compensation structure that supports the organizations as well as individuals’ growth and development perspectives that evaluate employees and produce succession pipe-lines for vital job positions in the organization. Since these aspects are incorporated in the SHRM profiling, it remains very relevant and should be fully adopted as a policy and practice by the company. SHRM profiling as a policy facilitates appraisals on performance of the human resource function of a company. Reflectively, such appraisals are important as they help employees to establish their performance in relation to the expectations from the business and expected outcomes as agreed during performance planning. Further, the appraisals reveal gaps that may be inherent when executing duties. At the end of appraisal procedure the line manager and the staff member formulate a plan for further development for the next period. In the personal development plan, the employees set objectives based on the feedback from their performance appraisal and it is mandatory fo r all staff members to have such a plan. The whole interactive appraisal process is beneficial as it aids employees in developing a focused vocation trail. Further, the process is realistic. The gaps noted during the review process are bridged by training and development. These trainings that are part of the SHRM for Becton Dickson will help in preparing the staff members for future managerial duties.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The performance review process will help management of the company to have a well-organized, effectual and motivated human resource base. Reconstructing the SHRM Profiling for Becton Dickson Company SHRM for Becton Dickson should be remodelled to be more inclusive in system evaluation and reporting of progress for each HR policy recommendation. The implementation should be done in three phases with the first phase actively involving an outsourced expert in the field of decision making. After a fortnight, the management should then design in-house programs as a continuation of the first stage within the second stage. In the last stage, the entire workforce is encouraged to internalize the concept initially introduced and deactivate fear and inferiority complex when addressing issues of interest to the organization and at personal level. Though this process should be continuous, the active part should not run for more than four months from commencement at a budget less than four perce nt of the company’s net revenue. Since magnitude of change is quantum as large changes involving culture, structure and strategy of the company is required. This form of change is necessary and very relevant in the case of Becton Dickson Company as the company attempts to restructure its human resource component. Besides, when adopted, leadership responsibility, performance efficiency, and continuous motivational policies will facilitate responsive management. This modification of the SHRM would directly impact on the feedback channel as employees will have motivational power to proactively participate in decision making process. As a result, the learning oriented process will facilitate optimal performance which is specific to the goals and desires of the company as the workforce would have the feeling of being appreciated and recognized for outstanding performance. Training and development forms part of organizational strategy mostly because human resource department is cha racterized by constant dynamics in management since labour market is constantly affected by market swings. Consequently, there is a need to merge organizational skills, knowledge and culture with the new challenges and demands. Therefore, there is constant need to use training and development largely because the department operates in a highly stratified environment. The outcomes of performance appraisal are not only influenced by job performance of the employee, there are other several other factors that may influence performance appraisal rating of the employees. For instance, performance initiative programmes, motivation programmes, and team building should be transformed into policies and integrated in the SHRM profiling practice for the company. Another challenge to HRM department is properly undertaking several career development programs concurrently. If it were properly integrated, such would be necessary for attracting and retaining human resource base. Therefore, the compa ny’s SHRM should undergo modification to factor in the aspects of motivation, performance, and results review. Reflectively, through employee evaluation, the process will reorganise the company towards efficiency. Fortunately, a comprehensive SHRM has room for modification to factor in this aspect and improve on reporting system as a policy profile for the Becton Dickson Company. Conclusively, irrespective of the consequences of change element in the SHRM profiling for Becton Dickson Company, the dynamic essence of change proponent would not facilitate any state of quagmire or conflict as the unnecessary pressure associated with change would be integrated in a more consultative, proactive, and structure system for managing the human resource department of the expansive Becton Dickson Company.

Hyphenating More + Adjective

Hyphenating More + Adjective Hyphenating More + Adjective Hyphenating More + Adjective By Maeve Maddox A reader questions the standard advice that the adverb more should not be linked to an adjective by a hyphen: I find that most style guides do not favor hyphenating phrases starting with more (e.g., more honest). I find the following phrase in the manuscript that I am currently editing: â€Å"more explicit predictions.† This could mean predictions that are more explicit or more predictions that are explicit. From the context, I believe the author means the former. For clarity, shouldnt this be hyphenated as more-explicit predictions? Most style guides do advise against linking more to an adjective with a hyphen, but most also recognize that sometimes a hyphen may be necessary for clarity. For example, The Chicago Manual of Style prefers â€Å"a spare hyphenation style.† The guide provides numerous examples, but recognizes that writers will encounter punctuation puzzles for which they can find no examples or analogies. In that case, CMOS gives this common sense advice: if no suitable example or analogy can be found either in this section [7.85] or in the dictionary, hyphenate only if doing so will aid readability. Adding a hyphen is a quick solution, but not the only one. Another option is to rewrite the sentence with a qualifying clause: There is a need for predictions that are more explicit. The reader who posed the question rejects the clause solution as â€Å"rather stilted.† It does require more words, but calling it stilted is a matter of opinion. I see it as a practical solution. Another way to avoid ambiguity with more is to use a different word. Here are some synonyms for more: additional further added extra increased new other supplementary These words may or may not be appropriate substitutes for more in a specific context. Sometimes the only way to avoid ambiguity is to take the time to rethink the sentence. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Computer Terms You Should KnowFlier vs. Flyer5 Keys to Better Sentence Flow

The California Sutter Health Approach Research Paper - 2

The California Sutter Health Approach - Research Paper Example According to the paper the United States of America healthcare system network has huge revenue collection within its patients. However, the payment system has laid down proper measures, targeting revenue collection procedures to curb problems that have affected the accounts department on the traditional ways they have been using. The main objective of this research is to identify accounting approach and practices California Sutter used in defining and solving its collection problems and giving concrete solution on the based prevailing issue. This study outlines that in the year 2006, the Sutter Health service provider committed itself in giving their staff patient financial services with an aim of improving their patient collections. It was at this point that the staff began to work towards the registration process with an aim of transferring all function within financial approach. The payment system has laid down proper measures, targeting revenue collection procedures to curb problems that have affected the accounts department on the traditional ways they have been using. This research however, it is going to analyze the reasons, meetings that were held, discussion laid down, steps and results that Sutter health engaged to provide quality services within the states of America. Sutter Health service provider is a non-profit organization found in Sacramento States, CA based on the hospital system and healthcare practices. In the line of duty, the firm faced a major problem since within the Sutter family that comprises 48 , 000 physicians, employees and volunteers, they were overwhelmed on providing services of more than 100 northern California cities and towns.  

Perceptual relativity in Danto and Gombrich relation with audience Essay

Perceptual relativity in Danto and Gombrich relation with audience with King Kong - Essay Example There are many innovations that were used in the production of King Kong. Many of these innovations were way ahead of their time and maybe that is the reason the film received so many negative reviews. Today’s reviews of the film are far much better because the audience is able to perceive and appreciate the artistic elements used. According to Danto’s End of Art, art does not exist anymore in the perpetual sense that it used to. The perpetual relativity argument used by Danto states that modern art follows the concept of visual knowledge that exists in the modern world. He says that the End of Art means the beginning of modern or pop art. This is to say that present art is more concerned with the concept of visual language or knowledge. The King Kong Film in 1933 and Duchamp’s readymade can somehow compare with this modern art concept. When they were released, both King Kong and Readymade received a lot of criticism from audiences. However, that is not the case today; perceptual ideas have changed over time changing the way people see the film King Kong. The concept of Perceptual relativity is dealt with in an in-depth manner in Gombrich’s Art and Illusion. Gombrich asked himself why artists normally turn a blind eye to aesthetic of sight, conceptual theory and other aspects of modern art. When Gombrich answered these questions, he showed that the perceptual side of art brings out the different points of view. He gives the example of light and darkness variation and how these variations relate with the artwork and audiences. The amount of light used in some form of art has the power to create a different feeling depending on how it is used. In the King Kong film, lighting has been used make some powerful shots which have an effect on how the audience perceives the film. Maybe the audience in 1933 was not affected by the lighting used in the film the same way today’s audience is affected. Perceptual concept shows that art inspires people

Latin America Essay Example for Free

Latin America Essay 1. Within Middle America, geographers recognize the contrast (cultural, economic, and historical) between the isthmus and the Caribbean islands. Describe the diagnostic characteristics of the Mainland and Rimland regions of Middle America. Middle America includes approximately 7,000 Caribbean islands with hot, humid, and tropical climates; and is an isthmus (land bridge) between the north and South America. The four larger islands are called the Greater Antilles and the smaller islands are the Lesser Antilles (Archipelago). Sometimes middle and South America is referred to as â€Å"Latin America. † The realm is physically and politically fragmented. It began with the lowland Mayans and the highland Aztecs until the cultures collided. The Aztecs developed irrigation systems and were great pioneers of agricultural sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beans, and tobacco. When the Spanish first arrived in Middle America they joined forces with the Amerindians and attacked the Aztecs. This attack affected Middle America badly. The Spanish brought diseases with them, such as measles, smallpox, mumps, and many more causing their population to decline drastically. They also experienced things like changes in religion and deforestation, as well as other significant long lasting effects. Middle America is culturally diverse. The â€Å"euro-Amerindian† mainland is composed of Amerindians, mestizos (Indian and European), and Europeans. The â€Å"euro-African Caribbean† Rimland is compiled with Hispanics, blacks, mulattos (African), British, Dutch, and French. Some geographers may argue that the environment of ‘Middle America is among the world’s most hazardous environments’ and natural hazards such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The characteristics for the mainland and Rimland are very specific. The mainland is highly isolated while the Rimland is highly accessible. The mainland climate is considered altitudinal zonation and the Rimland is tropical. The Rimland consists of islands, but mountains are found on the mainland. Mestizo is the race of the mainland and mulatto is of the Rimland. The landholding platform of the mainland is haciendas prevailed, whereas on the Rimland a plantation economy (an export crop for sugar cane and bananas). The hacienda provided year round jobs, domestic markets, diversified crops, and was self-sufficient. The plantation economy provided single cash crop, production for export, seasonal employment, and â€Å"banana† republics. These are all diagnostic characteristics of the Mainland and Rimland regions of Middle America. 2. What are the pros and cons of tourism in the Caribbean Islands? Tourism by definition is â€Å"the processes, activities and outcomes arising from the relationships and the interactions among tourists, tourism suppliers, host government, host communities and surrounding environments that are involved in the attracting and hosting of visitors. † The Caribbean is the most densely populated region of Middle America. Although agriculture was an important part of the region’s economic expansion, today tourism, industrialization, and banking are the major sources of development. An economic con of tourism in the Caribbean is that the islands are becoming more and more dependent of tourism. Most of their monies collected from tourism will eventually go to a foreign investor that involves tourism, such as a hotel owner, transportation companies, etc. , because the economy is based on exports, offshore banking, and manufacturing. Foreigners are large consumers of luxury goods on the Caribbean islands. Locals may find that as a con, because beaches and such are being destroyed to make room for tourist structures such as shopping centers and/or hotels. Therefore, causing a great divide in wages of a management worker compared to a minimum basic worker. Due to tourists consumption of seafood, water, electricity, and supplies this could cause a price increase for the locals and/or shortage of these things as well. On a social stand point, a con would be the criminal sector of tourism. Drugs, sex trafficking, and prostitution are all unregulated criminal acts that take place while touring. Locals may also feel â€Å"invaded† by the high amount of tourist that explore their communities, making them angry or resentful of the tourist. More cons of tourism include: free spending, no chances for local entrepreneurs, bad manners, rich mingling with the poor, and debase of local culture to tourist culture. A few pros to consider of tourism are, the more tourist structures they may build are the potential opportunities to create more service and management related jobs for the locals. This also allows them to earn foreign exchange. On a social stand point, Caribbean culture may be more appreciated and understood once a foreigner visits the islands. Typically foreigners like to explore and take excursions on the mainland once arriving on the islands, therefore this gives local citizens reason to keep their island and historical sites renovated and maintained, whereas they may have not, had they not had visitors tour those sites often. Cultural events/festivals are developed because a large number of foreigners participate. More pros of tourism include: creating more service jobs, promotion of urban development, becoming major dollar revenue, and it promotes handicraft business. Tourism in general is complex, and perhaps many would argue that tourism is a â€Å"good thing†, I would say that it is on the verge of being a â€Å"bad thing† for the Caribbean islands. In my opinion, for the locals, the cons heavily outweigh the pros on an economic and social level. 3. In the Amazonia, Brazil what is being forecast as a pending environmental and cultural disaster. How is this occurring and what would be the consequence? Brazil is on the rise to an economic and cultural decline and is no longer considered the ‘country of the future. ’ Brazil is the fifth largest country and Portuguese is the language spoken there. Its culture is very diverse and consists of Native Americans, Portuguese, and Africans. In 2010, Brazil had a 7. 5% country economy growth, but dropped drastically to only 2. 7% this past year. For the past ten years Brazil had seemed to be â€Å"on a roll† as an agricultural superpower when in the Atlantic Ocean, they discovered massive oil reserves. Brazil’s diplomacy became more aggressive, and they even paid off all debts to the International Monetary Fund. With their government changes and economic success they had helped millions of citizens come out of poverty. The saying â€Å"what goes up, must come down† has became true for the economy of Brazil. With the countries improvements, they are now facing ‘real world realities’ such as illegal immigration because of people coming into their country wanting jobs. Some critics argue that â€Å"Brazil is lucky to have China waiting in the wings, hungry for its commodities and natural resources. † In the Amazonia, Brazil had 6-9 million indigenous people before 1500; today they have less than 200,000 remaining. With environmental and cultural decline, come many consequences. Culturally, Brazil has the world’s largest Catholic population, but since the recent census, that is also in decline. Economically, the reduced flow of money into the country and the demanded exports of Brazil weakened which is very logical and doesn’t need much explanation. If their exports are no longer in demand, then the obvious consequence is a reduced inflow of consumer monies. This in my opinion would be the biggest hit for Brazil and the leading consequence of their â€Å"disaster. † I personally could not find many scholarly articles discussing Brazil’s decline economically or culturally. Surprisingly, I found more articles talking about the rise and growth of the two. It is also my opinion that in order to â€Å"fix† these problems, tourism is a key factor for Brazil right now. I know in lecture we discussed within the Amazon the importance of rubber, gold, oil, and deforestation to Brazil, and I am certain all of those things would be affected, but I couldn’t find many articles with facts to back that up. With that being said, I think many countries all have and/or will experience â€Å"waves† of decline. Most every country experiences these â€Å"disasters† it is what makes the world go round.

Paris 1937 - Belgian Pavilion :: Architecture History

Missing image Paris 1937 - Belgian Pavilion The International Exposition of 1937 marked a competitive showing of national pavilions. The large representation of foreign nations was quite remarkable given that the Exposition was held during the Great Depression. The Belgian Pavilion had pride of place among these national pavilions. Its chief architect was Henry Van de Velde (1863-1957). A major pioneer who at the very beginning of the twentieth century helped Belgium establish a leading role in the Art Nouveau movement, Van de Velde was intrigued by the theme of the fair, the connection between the arts and techniques of modern life. This photograph was published in a 1937 issue of L'Illustration, a French news weekly which catered to the conservative middle class. The Belgian Pavilion had a prominent location in the fairgrounds as the first structure situated Northeast of the Eiffel Tower along the bank of the Seine River, which French Prime Minister LÃ ©on Blum, and Leopold III, the King of Belgium, had agreed upon. Belgium's prestigious location can be attributed to its historical ties with France. In 1794, Belgium was conquered and annexed by France and that stayed under the French Empire of Napoleon until 1815, during which time French became one of the country's national languages. The architecture of the Belgian pavilion marked a change from its previous pavilions at the 1900 and 1925 fairs, which were patterned after historical monuments in Belgium. The former was an exact reproduction of the City Hall at Audenarde, while the latter related to the gigantic Palace of Justice in Brussels. While these earlier structures stood relatively tall and vertical, the 1937 pavilion was quite low and horizontal, as opposed to the towering Soviet and German pavilions directly across the Seine River. The Belgian Pavilion stood out from the other pavilions of the Exposition. The motto of the building was "originality in concept / perfect in execution" (Industries). Henry Van de Velde designed the exterior along with collaborating architects, Jean-Jules Eggerick (1884-1963) and Raphael Verwilghen (1888-1963). Van de Velde patterned the pavilion after the Industrial Art of Belgium. It was composed of terra cotta plaques that measured 80 by 60-cm. The pavilion used modern architecture with its simple geometrical forms and uniform surfaces. The horizontal lines of the pavilion are emphasized by its proximity to the ground. Gardens, designed by Louis Van der Swalmen, surround the exterior of the pavilion. The interior of the pavilion showed the refinement and comfort which Belgians enjoyed at home and in their personal life.

Long Beach City Mayor

Being a mayor of my city, Long Beach, CA, and having some money left after making planned budget expenses, I would primarily think about the opportunities to invest it into a project, which would bring some income into municipal budget in the future. Long Beach is a known tourist attraction, which every year welcomes thousands of tourists and has highly developed infrastructure for entertainment and leisure. That is why my idea can be the following. I would find a strong financial partner or partners (not more than 2-3) and offer them to build something like a recreation center. We would find some territory, preferably close to the seashore, construct a small 1-2 stored building and open a spa for offering such services as massage, various cosmetic procedures, fitness services, including facilities for physical training, like gym and swimming pool, and so on. It would be a cozy fitness center, which will definitely find its market in Long Beach due to such competitive powers as affordable prices, advantageous location, various high-quality services and stable reputation. There are several important reasons why I would choose such way of investing 1 million dollars from municipal budget. First of all, such a center would be a new place for our citizens and, especially, for numerous guests of our city to recreate, become fit and beautiful. Besides, it would have a great social significance for our community, because a lot of new workplaces would be opened for people of Long Beach. Also, as it was mentioned before, certain part of income from this enterprise will constantly flow into municipal budget, giving me (as a mayor) opportunity to spend more money for urgent needs of the city. Finally, it is also important that recreation center is a very prospective project, which can be transformed in the future into a large community center. Certainly, in that situation, as a potential investor, I will not be concentrated only on this very idea. I will remain absolutely opened for other interesting investment projects, and if someone offers me another profitable and secure business proposal, I would gladly support it and give the money for its implementation. The main criteria are to receive permanent income into city’s budget and to initiate a project with high social significance, which would contribute into positive reaction of local community on this idea and strengthen reputation of city’s authorities.

Ethics & Philosophy Essay

Free markets can be said to be the markets which have no government interference or regulation. The only regulations present are the ones which involve protecting property rights and maintaining the legal system. Free markets are markets in which the product prices are solely set through market forces, as opposed to interference by external forces. There is also free competition in free markets, and the law of supply and demand is used to fix prices of goods and services in such markets. There are various philosophers who support free markets while others are opposed to such markets. The paper will analyze the contributions of Adam smith, Karl Marx and Milton Friedman on the issue and will give a brief conclusion on the issues discussed. Karl Marx. Karl Marx was a German philosophers who is considered to be amongst the most controversial philosophers in history. He was against capitalism and free markets, which he viewed to be a means with which property owners or the rich use to maintain control over the peasants or poor. Karl Marx viewed the capitalist system as a system meant to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. He explained that initially, capitalism was meant to be a means with which people exchanged commodities which they did not have. However, after money was created, it evolved and became a means with which people could make profits as opposed to satisfying the demand for products. Over time, capitalism undermined the human development and well being, and products created could now dictate how interactions between human beings would be. Soon, the relations between society became material as everything was treated in terms of its monetary worth, as opposed to creative and artistic qualities possessed. Capitalism led to the alienation of workers since they were separated from owning the means which was used for production, and they became slaves to the people who owned those means. This led to the emergence of two economic groups; the property owners and the workers, and the latter were oppressed by the former. This is the reason which made him predict the collapse of capitalism and its replacement with socialism. Socialism is a system in which the government or authority controls production so that it may be mutually beneficial to all members of the society or state. Karl Marx was opposed to free markets since they tended to favor the rich and oppress the poor. Free markets are a feature of the capitalist system, which made Karl Marx oppose them. Weaknesses of this argument. Karl Marx is opposed to free markets due to the weaknesses which he views in capitalism. Karl Marx views capitalism to be a system where the rich oppress the poor. He therefore opposes all features of capitalist systems which he views to be a means which promote the exploitation of the poor . However, Karl Marx does not consider the model which combines both capitalism and socialism in order to take advantage of the positive attributes of the two models. Since socialism has its weaknesses, combining both models may be more beneficial to the economy. In this respect, moderate government interference in trade by the government is an option which Karl Marx should have pursued. Adam Smith. He is considered to be the father of the modern economics and he contributed a lot toward the modern capitalist system. Adam Smith was of the opinion that production was the key to economic growth and that this could only be achieved through economic liberalization. Adam Smith therefore supported unregulated markets since he saw them as a means of stimulating economic growth. He explained that free markets would enable individuals to develop a business without having government intervention, and that the people who consume the products developed would do so at prices which have been determined by demand and supply forces . Adam Smith added that free markets enabled the most competitive producers and consumers to survive, which was beneficial to the economy. He viewed free markets are independent problem solvers which did not require government interference, since market forces eventually address any surpluses or shortages which are inherent in the market. Adam Smith uses the ‘invisible hand’ theory to explain the way in which different parts of the economy are integrated. Smith explains that each individual is guided by an invisible hand in making their decisions which benefit the economy, without their knowledge. He explains that individuals carry out actions which are meant to benefit themselves, but they end up benefiting the society at large, which is not the initial aim of the individual. Smith gives an illustration of the creation of a wool coat. He says that the coat is developed after a series of processes which are undertaken by different people. The shepherd who owns the sheep, the spinner who develops the coats, and the shipper who transports them to the market all play a role in the creation of the finished product. He explains that this subconscious process by the different parties involved achieves higher levels of efficiencies than would be achieved had the process been planned by the players involved. It means that markets which are regulated by the government have lower efficiency levels compared to markets which are not regulated . This is the major reason why Adam Smith supports the free markets as opposed to regulated markets. Weaknesses of this argument. Adam smith is of the opinion that free markets enabled the most competitive producers and consumers to survive, which is beneficial to the economy. He gives many attributes of free markets, most of which are true. However, he does not discuss the weaknesses of free markets. Free markets suffer from certain weaknesses such as inhibiting the growth of small firms. Free markets may also experience monopolistic and oligopolistic tendencies which adversely affect the economy. The economy may also suffer certain effects attributed to unfair practices in trade. Other effects like inflation, market downturns and others require regulation by a central authority. Adam Smith does not discuss these situations, which makes his argument inconclusive. Milton Friedman. Friedman made major contributions to the economic crisis during the early 20th century. He viewed the 1920s as a period of sustainable and vital growth. Friedman believed that economic growth and freedom had a direct relationship. He used several principles and arguments to further his support from free markets. The political principle was used by Friedman to define the features of free markets. He explained that in free markets, individuals cannot coerce each other and that there is voluntary cooperation between the parties involved . He further explained that parties which are involved in transactions under such circumstances benefit in one way or another, otherwise they would not participate in these transactions. In free market transactions, there are no social responsibilities and values; there are only shared responsibilities and values. However, Friedman was also of the opinion that the government should intervene in the economy if there is threat to it. One of the instances when Friedman supported government interference was during the Great depression which occurred in 1929. The Great Depression changed the view that the United States economy was robust and that it should be totally free from government control, after the US Stock Exchange collapsed due to various factors. Friedman supports the market regulation and explains that if the Federal Government had intervened and applied the right policies, this depression would have been avoided. He explains that the Federal Government should have suspended payment for the withdrawals being requested by people. The policy which was used at the time, which involved printing more money to supplement the increased demand, is blamed for the Great Depression. This reveals a more soft approach to the initial stand that government intervention should not be allowed, and that the markets should be allowed to operate as free markets. However, it does not completely change the stance which had been taken by Friedman regarding free markets. Government interference is allowed only under special circumstances where lack of intervention would lead to severe effects to the economy. This was the case during the Great depression and is also currently the case in the event of the global financial crisis being experienced. Weaknesses of this argument. Friedman is categorical that there should be free markets if economies are to grow. He argues that the absence of social values and responsibilities and the presence of shared values are factors which facilitate economic growth. However, he appears to take a soft stand when discussing the Great Depression where he advocates for government interference, but using the right policies. This is a deviation from his stand that the government should not interfere with the business environment. It also reveals that free trade has weaknesses which he does not effectively address. Personal view. In my opinion, free markets do not lead to serious political, social, or environmental problems as explained by some philosophers. This is because free markets are the most effective and natural means in which prices should be set to ensure effectiveness. On the contrary, a wrong approach of interference by the government may lead to serious political, social, or environmental problems as was seen in the Great Depression. The current financial crisis which began in the United States can also be said to have been accelerated by the government failure to limit the borrowings by investors and excess lending by financial institutions using predatory lending practices. This is a similar problem which led to the great depressions, and the government interference is seen to have led to adverse effects rather than positive effects on the economy. However, in extreme cases of economic problems, the government should intervene. This should only be done to save the economy in cases where the market forces are clearly unable to rectify the situation. For instance, the current financial crisis facing the world requires the government’s intervention. This does not mean that the government supports the regulation of markets since in the absence of economic crises, the market forces would usually be used to set the product prices. My major reasons for supporting free markets is that regulated markets usually discourage investments, especially if the regulations are too strict. Investors prefer investing in countries where there is free trade since they can predict their future earnings or returns on investment, due to the absence of external factors in the business environment. Regulated markets may also adversely affect the economy especially if the policies which are applied are retrogressive. Summary and conclusion. It is evident that the three philosophers made major contributions to the modern world. Their theories are still in use several years after some of them passed away. However, it is important to note that their arguments relating to free trade are inconclusive since some of the facts which they used to support their arguments have changed. It is also important to note that none of them has a wrong view, it is only that they looked at free trade from different perspectives. The contributions which each of them has made to society should be appreciated since they all talked about various issues affecting the society, and not just free trade. It is important that other scholars improve on the theories which were advanced by Adam smith, Karl Marx and Milton Friedman. This will reflect the market environment as it is today, and the arguments developed can be used to improve the policies in the current business environment. Works cited. Amadae Samuel. Rationalizing capitalist democracy: the Cold War origins of rational choice liberalism.Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003, p255-261. Gagnier Regenia. The insatiability of human wants: economics and aesthetics in market society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000, p25-35. Machaj Mateusz. Friedman for government intervention: the case of the great depression. Mises Daily. Retrieved on March 18, 2009 from . Sunderlin, William D. Ideology, social theory, and the environment. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2002, p23-33.

Free Essays on The Life Of Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur will go down in history as a rapper who always lived up to his wild reputation. He rapped about gunfights, rough sex, gang rivalries and "Thug Life," and was arrested, jailed, shot and later killed over the same issues. Known as a gifted rapper and a brilliant lyricist, Tupac was often said to be the Marvin Gaye of hip-hop, complex and talented, but a "Trouble Man" to the core. He parlayed his music career into a successful film career and was one of the hardest working men in show business, putting out five albums, five films and numerous guest appearances in just under five years. Tupac lead a full life and accomplished a great deal before his murder in 1996. (Rolling Stone Magazine) Afeni Shakur, born Alice Faye Williams, gave birth to Lesane Parish Crooks while serving time in a Bronx, New York, prison on June 16, 1971. She would call her son Tupac Amaru Shakur, Tupac Amaru after an Incan-chief, meaning â€Å"shining serpent,† and Shakur, Arabic for â€Å"thankful to God.† She was a member of the Black Panther party and successfully defended herself and twenty other members of the Black Panthers against numerous felony and conspiracy charges while pregnant with her son. Tupac’s father was never known or spoke of, but he did have a step-father for a few years of his life. Mutulu Shakur was the only influential man in his life growing up, playing the role of his father and his spiritual advisor. He was soon taken away from Tupac when he was allegedly accused of bank robberies, conspiracies and armored truck heists. He would be sent to prison in 1986 and would have to serve 60 years. (Tupac Shakur :Thug Angel-The Life of an Outlaw) Tupac and his mother would first live in the Bronx, where Afeni would find work as a paralegal and instilled pride, a sense of justice, strength and a thirst for knowledge in her young son. She would go on to lose her job as a paralegal after people found out who she was and ho... Free Essays on The Life Of Tupac Shakur Free Essays on The Life Of Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur will go down in history as a rapper who always lived up to his wild reputation. He rapped about gunfights, rough sex, gang rivalries and "Thug Life," and was arrested, jailed, shot and later killed over the same issues. Known as a gifted rapper and a brilliant lyricist, Tupac was often said to be the Marvin Gaye of hip-hop, complex and talented, but a "Trouble Man" to the core. He parlayed his music career into a successful film career and was one of the hardest working men in show business, putting out five albums, five films and numerous guest appearances in just under five years. Tupac lead a full life and accomplished a great deal before his murder in 1996. (Rolling Stone Magazine) Afeni Shakur, born Alice Faye Williams, gave birth to Lesane Parish Crooks while serving time in a Bronx, New York, prison on June 16, 1971. She would call her son Tupac Amaru Shakur, Tupac Amaru after an Incan-chief, meaning â€Å"shining serpent,† and Shakur, Arabic for â€Å"thankful to God.† She was a member of the Black Panther party and successfully defended herself and twenty other members of the Black Panthers against numerous felony and conspiracy charges while pregnant with her son. Tupac’s father was never known or spoke of, but he did have a step-father for a few years of his life. Mutulu Shakur was the only influential man in his life growing up, playing the role of his father and his spiritual advisor. He was soon taken away from Tupac when he was allegedly accused of bank robberies, conspiracies and armored truck heists. He would be sent to prison in 1986 and would have to serve 60 years. (Tupac Shakur :Thug Angel-The Life of an Outlaw) Tupac and his mother would first live in the Bronx, where Afeni would find work as a paralegal and instilled pride, a sense of justice, strength and a thirst for knowledge in her young son. She would go on to lose her job as a paralegal after people found out who she was and ho...

Stephen King Shares His Writing Advice in This Guest Post

Stephen King Shares His Writing Advice in This Guest Post A Guest Blog from Stephen King- Yes, that Stephen King Okay, let’s get a few things straight right from the top: This is going to be a very long post, but I’m not going to apologize for it because: 1- I need to brag about how I know Mr. King; 2- I promise it’ll be content-rich; 3- You’re going to learn Voice merely by osmosis, beyond what he’s teaching overtly; and 4- You’ll be glad you invested the time. So grab your favorite beverage and settle in Though I work the inspirational side of the fiction writing fence and he the horror, we at one time happened to share the services of the same audio reader, the legendary Frank Muller, who remains, even post mortem, the unquestioned creme de la creme of that field. We first met by phone when Stephen called one day to discuss how we might aid Frank’s family after he suffered a motorcycle accident that would eventually take his life. Then Stephen and I met personally in 2004 when we visited Frank in rehab, where he lingered for several years. Stephen and I share a rabid love of baseball (he the Boston Red Sox, I the Chicago Cubs). I have been accused of trying to scare readers out of Hell. Stephen has been accused of trying to scare the hell out of readers. We read each other’s work and respect each other and still keep in touch via email. Writer’s Digest considered us strange enough bedfellows to feature us in a cover story. I will insert myself into Stephen’s blog only occasionally to adjust for the fact that the piece is nearly 30 years old, yet remains poignantly applicable. I expect it to stimulate spirited conversation, however be advised that my team and I will excise any off-topic comments. This is not the place to discuss Stephen’s use of naughty words, or his political, cultural, or religious views. Let’s stick to the subject of fiction writing. I asked if I could share with you sections of his iconic piece from the 1986 issue of The Writer magazine, wherein he promised to tell budding fiction writers everything they needed to know about writing successfully in ten minutes. Much of it has been floating around the Internet ever since, and you may have seen it. He kindly said, â€Å"Feel free to use as much of it as you’d like.† And so, with thanks for that generous offer, here is all of it with a few notes: Need help writing your novel?Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully- in Ten Minutes By Stephen King I.The First Introduction THAT’S RIGHT. I know it sounds like an ad for some sleazy writers’ school, but I really am going to tell you everything you need to pursue a successful and financially rewarding career writing fiction, and I really am going to do it in ten minutes, which is exactly how long it took me to learn. It will actually take you twenty minutes or so to read this essay, however, because I have to tell you a story, and then I have to write a second introduction. But these, I argue, should not count in the ten minutes. II. The Story, or, How Stephen King Learned to Write When I was a sophomore in high school, I did a sophomoric thing which got me in a pot of fairly hot water, as sophomoric didoes often do. I wrote and published a small satiric newspaper called The Village Vomit. In this little paper I lampooned a number of teachers at Lisbon (Maine) High School, where I was under instruction. These were not very gentle lampoons; they ranged from the scatological to the downright cruel. Eventually, a copy of this little newspaper found its way into the hands of a faculty member, and since I had been unwise enough to put my name on it (a fault, some critics argue, of which I have still not been entirely cured), I was brought into the office. The sophisticated satirist had by that time reverted to what he really was: a fourteen-year-old kid who was shaking in his boots and wondering if he was going to get a suspension- what we called â€Å"a three-day vacation† in those dim days of 1964. I wasn’t suspended. I was forced to make a number of apologies- they were warranted, but they still tasted like dog-dirt in my mouth- and spent a week in detention hall. And the guidance counselor arranged what he no doubt thought of as a more constructive channel for my talents. This was a job- contingent upon the editor’s approval- writing sports for the Lisbon Enterprise, a twelve-page weekly, the sort with which any small-town resident will be familiar. This editor was the man who taught me everything I know about writing in ten minutes. His name was John Gould- not the famed New England humorist or the novelist who wrote The Greenleaf Fires, but a relative of both, I believe. He told me he needed a sports writer and we could â€Å"try each other out† if I wanted. I told him I knew more about advanced algebra than I did sports. Gould nodded and said, â€Å"You’ll learn.† I said I would at least try to learn. Gould gave me a huge roll of yellow paper and promised me a wage of 1/2 ¢ per word. The first two pieces I wrote had to do with a high school basketball game in which a member of my school team broke the Lisbon High scoring record. One of these pieces was straight reportage. The second was a feature article. I brought them to Gould the day after the game, so he’d have them for the paper, which came out Fridays. He read the straight piece, made two minor corrections, and spiked it. Then he started in on the feature piece with a large black pen and taught me all I ever needed to know about my craft. I wish I still had the piece- it deserves to be framed, editorial corrections and all- but I can remember pretty well how it looked before and after he had finished with it. Here’s an example: [Note: King’s original copy showed Mr. Gould’s edit marks.] Last night, in the well-loved gymnasium of Lisbon High School, partisans and Jay Hills fans alike were stunned by an athletic performance unequaled in school history: Bob Ransom, known as â€Å"Bullet† Bob for both his size and accuracy, scored thirty-seven points. He did it with grace and speed and he did it with an odd courtesy as well, committing only two personal fouls in his knight-like quest for a record which has eluded Lisbon thinclads since 1953. [With Mr. Gould’s edits applied.] Last night, in the Lisbon High School gymnasium, partisans and Jay Hills fans alike were stunned by an athletic performance unequaled in school history: Bob Ransom scored thirty-seven points. He did it with grace and speed and he did it with an odd courtesy as well, committing only two personal fouls in his quest for a record which has eluded Lisbon’s basketball team since 1953. When Gould finished marking up my copy in the manner I have indicated above, he looked up and must have seen something on my face. I think he must have thought it was horror, but it was not: it was revelation. â€Å"I only took out the bad parts, you know,† he said. â€Å"Most of it’s pretty good.† â€Å"I know,† I said, meaning both things: yes, most of it was good, and yes, he had only taken out the bad parts. â€Å"I won’t do it again.† â€Å"If that’s true,† he said, â€Å"you’ll never have to work again. You can do this for a living.† Then he threw back his head and laughed. And he was right; I am doing this for a living, and as long as I can keep on, I don’t expect ever to have to work again. III. The Second Introduction All of what follows has been said before. If you are interested enough in writing to be a purchaser of this magazine, you will have either heard or read all (or almost all) of it before. Thousands of writing courses are taught across the United States each year; seminars are convened; guest lecturers talk, then answer questions, then drink as many gin and tonics as their expense-fees will allow, and it all boils down to what follows. I am going to tell you these things again because often people will only listen- really listen- to someone who makes a lot of money doing the thing he’s talking about. This is sad but true. And I told you the story above not to make myself sound like a character out of a Horatio Alger novel but to make a point: I saw, I listened, and I learned. Until that day in John Gould’s little office, I had been writing first drafts of stories which might run 2,500 words. The second drafts were apt to run 3,300 words. Following that day, my 2,500-word first drafts became 2,200-word second drafts. And two years after that, I sold the first one. So here it is, with all the bark stripped off. It’ll take ten minutes to read, and you can apply it right away- if you listen. IV. Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully 1. Be talented This, of course, is the killer. What is talent? I can hear someone shouting, and here we are, ready to get into a discussion right up there with â€Å"what is the meaning of life?† for weighty pronouncements and total uselessness. For the purposes of the beginning writer, talent may as well be defined as eventual success- publication and money. If you wrote something for which someone sent you a check, if you cashed the check and it didn’t bounce, and if you then paid the light bill with the money, I consider you talented. Now some of you are really hollering. Some of you are calling me one crass money-fixated creep. And some of you are calling me bad names. Are you calling Harold Robbins talented? someone in one of the Great English Departments of America is screeching. V.C. Andrews? Theodore Dreiser? Or what about you, you dyslexic moron? Nonsense. Worse than nonsense, off the subject. We’re not talking about good or bad here. I’m interested in telling you how to get your stuff published, not in critical judgments of who’s good or bad. As a rule the critical judgments come after the check’s been spent, anyway. I have my own opinions, but most times I keep them to myself. People who are published steadily and are paid for what they are writing may be either saints or trollops, but they are clearly reaching a great many someones who want what they have. Ergo, they are communicating. Ergo, they are talented. The biggest part of writing successfully is being talented, and in the context of marketing, the only bad writer is one who doesn’t get paid. If you’re not talented, you won’t succeed. And if you’re not succeeding, you should know when to quit. When is that? I don’t know. It’s different for each writer. Not after six rejection slips, certainly, nor after sixty. But after six hundred? Maybe. After six thousand? My friend, after six thousand pinks, it’s time you tried painting or computer programming. Further, almost every aspiring writer knows when he is getting warmer- you start getting little jotted notes on your rejection slips, or personal letters . . . maybe a commiserating phone call. It’s lonely out there in the cold, but there are encouraging voices- unless there is nothing in your words which warrants encouragement. I think you owe it to yourself to skip as much of the self-illusion as possible. If your eyes are open, you’ll know which way to go- or when to turn back. 2. Be neat Type. Double-space. Use a nice heavy white paper, never that erasable onion-skin stuff. If you’ve marked up your manuscript a lot, do another draft. [Of course, today Stephen would say to use a large, serif type and transmit only work with which you’re entirely happy, spell checked and properly formatted.] 3. Be self-critical If you haven’t marked up your manuscript a lot [or, today, carefully edited and rewritten it], you did a lazy job. Only God gets things right the first time. Don’t be a slob. 4. Remove every extraneous word You want to get up on a soapbox and preach? Fine. Get one and try your local park. You want to write for money? Get to the point. And if you remove all the excess garbage and discover you can’t find the point, tear up what you wrote and start all over again- or try something new. 5. Never look at a reference book while doing a first draft You want to write a story? Fine. Put away your dictionary, your encyclopedias, your World Almanac, and your thesaurus. Better yet, throw your thesaurus into the wastebasket. The only things creepier than a thesaurus are those little paperbacks college students too lazy to read the assigned novels buy around exam time. Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. There are no exceptions to this rule. You think you might have misspelled a word? O.K., so here is your choice: either look it up in the dictionary, thereby making sure you have it right- and breaking your train of thought and the writer’s trance in the bargain- or just spell it phonetically and correct it later. Why not? Did you think it was going to go somewhere? And if you need to know the largest city in Brazil and you find you don’t have it in your head, why not write in Miami, or Cleveland? You can check it- but later. When you sit down to write, write. Don’t do anything else except go to the bathroom, and only do that if it absolutely cannot be put off. 6. Know the markets Only a dimwit would send a story about giant vampire bats surrounding a high school to McCall’s. Only a dimwit would send a tender story about a mother and daughter making up their differences on Christmas Eve to Playboy- but people do it all the time. I’m not exaggerating; I have seen such stories in the slush piles of the actual magazines. If you write a good story, why send it out in an ignorant fashion? Would you send your kid out in a snowstorm dressed in Bermuda shorts and a tank top? If you like science fiction, read the magazines. If you want to write confession stories, read the magazines. And so on. It isn’t just a matter of knowing what’s right for the present story; you can begin to catch on, after awhile, to overall rhythms, editorial likes and dislikes, a magazine’s entire slant. Sometimes your reading can influence the next story, and create a sale. 7. Write to entertain Does this mean you can’t write â€Å"serious fiction†? It does not. Somewhere along the line pernicious critics have infested the American reading and writing public with the idea that entertaining fiction and serious ideas do not overlap. This would have surprised Charles Dickens, not to mention Jane Austen, John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, Bernard Malamud, and hundreds of others. But your serious ideas must always serve your story, not the other way around. I repeat: if you want to preach, get a soapbox. 8. Ask yourself frequently, â€Å"Am I having fun?† The answer needn’t always be yes. But if it’s always no, it’s time for a new project or a new career. 9. How to evaluate criticism Show your piece to a number of people- ten, let us say. Listen carefully to what they tell you. Smile and nod a lot. Then review what was said very carefully. If your critics are all telling you the same thing about some facet of your story- a plot twist that doesn’t work, a character who rings false, stilted narrative, or half a dozen other possibles- change that facet. It doesn’t matter if you really liked that twist of that character; if a lot of people are telling you something is wrong with your piece, it is. If seven or eight of them are hitting on that same thing, I’d still suggest changing it. But if everyone- or even most everyone- is criticizing something different, you can safely disregard what all of them say. 10. Observe all rules for proper submission Return postage, self-addressed envelope, all of that. [Obviously, this is different today, but the sentiment remains: follow editorial guidelines.] 11. An agent? Forget it. For now. Agents get 10% of monies earned by their clients. [Today 15% is standard.] 10% of nothing is nothing. Agents also have to pay the rent. Beginning writers do not contribute to that or any other necessity of life. Flog your stories around yourself. If you’ve done a novel, send around query letters to publishers, one by one, and follow up with sample chapters and/or the manuscript complete. And remember Stephen King’s First Rule of Writers and Agents, learned by bitter personal experience: You don’t need one until you’re making enough for someone to steal- and if you’re making that much, you’ll be able to take your pick of good agents. 12. If it’s bad, kill it When it comes to people, mercy killing is against the law. When it comes to fiction, it is the law. That’s everything you need to know. And if you listened, you can write everything and anything you want. Now I believe I will wish you a pleasant day and sign off. My ten minutes are up. Isn’t it interesting how much of this writing advice holds up after nearly 30 years? What is your favorite of Stephen’s tips? Need help writing your novel?Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide.

Deception by the Investigating Officer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Deception by the Investigating Officer - Essay Example The essay "Deception by the Investigating Officer" talks about the deception and analyzes its concept as applied by investigating officers, detection of deception, the ethical issues surrounding this deception as well as the reasons for and against the application of this form of deception. In the criminal justice system, legal officers perform various tasks to ensure that there is the maintenance of law and order and criminals receive the punishment that they deserve. In this regard, investigating officers, charged with the responsibility of investigating suspects through interrogation and other means, have a very critical role to play in revealing the truth. In their pursuit of disclosing the truth, the criminal justice allows these officers to apply deception in investigative, interrogative and testimonial processes in order to disclose the truth. However, there are serious ethical issues surrounding this aspect of deception. As a result, there is often a conflict between the ethical standards of the society and implementation of laws. The police-induced confessions have influential and moving consequences on the nature of cases and on the entire criminal justice system making them a strong prosecutorial weapon. Definitely, the interrogations by modern police are at times so powerful that they have drawn out coerced compliant and identify false confessions from innocent people. According to researchers, the basis of interrogation is the presumption of guilt making the process too persuasive.