The abuse at abu ghraib happened because of basic socio-biological Essay

The abuse at abu ghraib happened because of basic socio-biological drives because humans are naturally prone to treat people who are not considered of their own - Essay Example In the United States who is the self-proclaimed protector of human rights and a country which has a multicultural society, discrimination is still a huge problem within this society. In this country hate crimes are an epidemic and a real solution towards preventing them are currently not viable since the society is not ready to transform itself and truly accept people who are different from the status quo. In 2004 an unfortunate event occurred at Abu Ghraib in which Iraqi prisoners were abused by American soldiers and civilian subcontractors. This paper describes this event and proposes that the reason the abuses at Abu Ghraib occurred is because of the basic social-biological drives of humans which makes them naturally prone to treat people who are not considered of their kind inhumanely. On April 2004 the entire globe learned about serious violation of human rights and abuse that American soldiers committed against Iraqi prisoners stationed in a correctional facility in Iraq called Abu Ghraib. The acts committed by the Americans were truly inhumane and included things such as rape, physical abuse, taking naked pictures of prisoners in extremely revealing positions, urinating on them, and sodomization with batons among other despicable abuses. The story was revealed by the media when insiders in the prison revealed the photographic evidence of the horrific things happening at Abu Ghraib. The person claimed that the army was ready to cover up the event and was going to secretly deal with the matter. The scandal created hysteria throughout America especially within governmental officials. US government officials acknowledge that the event at this prison violated the Geneva Convention which prohibits torture and cruel treatment of war prisoners. The army reported that 2 7 people are accused of being associated with abuses at Abu Ghraid, including 23 soldiers from a military intelligence

Machiavelli the prince Essay Example for Free

Machiavelli the prince Essay Machiavelli emphasized the value the need of stability in the domain of the prince. Machiaveli argued that virtuous and stable state is the greatest moral good and the effort to protect one’s country regardless of what it will take. What is important is that, one is to do anything to save the country and to sustain his power. Furthermore, Machiavelli noted that the prince should not be disrespected. The prince should be feared and loved, but it is much better to fear that loved According to Machiavelli; rule is justified by force but not by law. He proposed some of the actions that may be done to perpetuate power. His idea generally is based on how one can take and controlled leadership in a particular country and use it maximum level. Some of his area of interest was on defense and military, reputation of the prince, generosity vs. parsimony, cruelty vs. mercy, avoiding contempt and hatred gaining honors, noble and staff, avoiding flattering, and how to get fortune. According to him the greater achievement of the prince is when the prince has acquired all the above factors. Conclusion Ethical behavior principal as it has been viewed in this paper is fundamental for the development of the potentialities of the person and the achievement of any particular company. The most important thing is the unified relation among the society members such that whatever they do will be guided by the virtues or values of good behavioral actions. Reference: Irwin, T. H. (1999) â€Å"Republic 2: Question justice,† in Plato 2: Ethics politics, Politics, Religious, the soul, ed. Grail Fine Oxford: Oxford University press, pp. 164. 185 American Psychological Association. (1953). The ethical standards of psychologists. Washington, DC: Author. Leal, L. (1998). T

Essay --

The movie, The Color Purple, may be verging on one of my favorite movies of all time. When I watch it my eyes are literally glued to the screen. It has made me cry and laugh and love and so many more emotions that I can’t even cry. I was literally so scared of scenes that I jumped off my seat and onto the floor. The movie starts out with a girl who gives birth to her second child. Her stepfather is the father of the child meaning he raped her not only once but twice. She is only fourteen during these years and she is only fourteen when she gets married to a man who remain nameless and he also rapes her and beats her. Throughout the story, you learn from Celie herself who says when talking to her good friend Shug Avery, â€Å"He beats me because I am not you.† (Celie, The Color Purple). He then takes her sister away from her and she does not get to have contact with her sister again for an incredibly long time. However, even though the story starts out so sad it does get better after the Ceile is and adult and she meets Sophia. Sophia is Harpo’s soon to be wife. Harpo is Mr. ‘s son. Harpo and Sophia love each other very much, but they end up drifting apart and then Shug Avery comes into Celie’s life and changes it very much. She teaches Ceile a ton of things and she is the woman who inspires Ceile to stand up for herself. There are three scenes in The Color Purple directed by Stephen Spielberg that are my absolute favorite. In the movie, The Color Purple, Ceile finally is told that she is something special from listening to a song. In this scene, Shug Avery is performing for a crowd at their local bar. After her first song ends, she then tells the crowd what her next song is about. It is dedicated to none other than Mis... ... Celie is enjoying the action and does not want to leave, but has to when Shug pulls her away because things are getting dangerous. Celie gets in one more sneak peek of all the action, but does not see much before she is dragged away again. I do not mean to pick the scenes that were happier than others as my favorites. I did enjoy all of the other deep meaning scenes as well, but it is more difficult to write through tears. Personally, I think a movie about women empowerment is inspiring beyond anything else. Especially a movie where its starts off so sad and the narrator talks with such despair and hopelessness and turns all that into success and happiness by the end. The Color Purple brings out so many emotions in everybody that when watching, you just cannot believe. There is never a boring point in this movie because all of it comes together at the end.

A Personal Integrated Theory of Counseling Essay

Abstract This personal model of counseling addresses the importance of developing a biblical theory of Christian Counseling, which also integrates psychology, theology and spirituality, without diminishing the relevance of each. The working model for counselors should provide practical techniques for the inclusion of believers and non-Christians, as they work towards a personal relationship with God. This paper will discuss the personality traits, external influences that build a personal integrative theory of scientific disciplines and theological truths. The works of relevant theorists and authors will be reviewed as comparable viewpoints on Christian Counseling and how integration can benefit individuals, couples and families. The paper will begin to create a personal guideline for the author’s counseling practices with clients from all backgrounds. It will conclude with personal thoughts to identify areas for growth and improvement. A Personal Integrated Approach to Counseling Introduction A comprehensive personal theory of counseling should integrate Psychology, Theology and Spirituality. One of the most important goals of counseling is develop a theoretic approach through the integration of Psychology, Theology and Spirituality. Individually, each discipline offer concepts that are unique and relevant, yet separately they lack the inferences of other viewpoints that may be overlooked. There is a basic understanding for counselors to focus the treatment on the client, as well as temporal systems that exist which have influence on the client. Therefore, the intent of integrating these theories will provide the counselor with a more comprehensive wisdom and faith to combine the key elements of each to implement into their counseling practices. A concern for counselors is the prioritization of theology over psychology. This can be difficult as well as thought provoking for and individual to undertake because of the historical debate between faith and science. An individual deeply rooted in their biblical worldview will argue that with faith, they require no further belief, while others with a secular based worldview requires the proof of statistics and data for their belief. (Entwistle, 2010, p. 9) Secular viewpoints are bound by the limitations of earthly living and its standards. The Christian viewpoint is directly related to the fact that their eternal destiny is ordained because they are a child of God. The counselor who will be successful at integration will find it necessary to increase their competence in all areas. (McMinn, 2011) states that the best at interdisciplinary integration are those that have an informal and formal preparation of both psychology and theology. While there can be preference in either theory, counselors are cautioned not to minimize the doctrines of Theology or misrepresent the clinical applications of Psychology. Personality Development of Personality Human personality is a set of characteristics and traits, as well as emotions and behaviors that make each person unique. An individual’s personality usually remains consistent throughout life. However, personality can be altered by an individual’s environment, temporal systems as well as traumatic events. For counselors it can be challenging when attempting to understand Human Personality without exploring the clients past. This can uncover many of the misbeliefs, hurt feelings originating in childhood that manifest into maladaptive behaviors in adulthood. (Backus & Chapian, 2000) The Christian worldview allows the understanding of all human functioning parts: The physical and the personal. The physical represents the body and the personal acknowledges the spirit or soul. A counselor’s focus is centered with both the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind where misbeliefs and attitudes are held. They must first look at the totality of a client through the u se of concentric circles. This theory allows the counselor the viewpoint of the various circles that create human personality. The innermost circle represents the self. It represents the core where the image of God, the Holy Spirit, and issues of sin reside. Also within the core is the heart where scripture shows the heart as vital function of providing life giving blood. The heart is that part of a human that chooses the basic direction they will follow in life. (Crabb, 1977) The outer layers consist of the soul of a human infused with the Holy Spirit. When we are born, we inhabit a soul that allows us to think, feel and choose. Your spirit is in union with God if he is the choice for the center of your life. Scripture notes that those who alternatively do not accept God into their life will become vulnerable to the influence of Sin and Satanic forces. Consequently, it is the choices that guide the soul and the resulting emotions, thoughts and behaviors that impact human interactions and relationships. As you move to the outer circles there is theory that is presented that exhibits the correlation of the body and the effects on human personality. The physical circle illustrates the connection with the body and physical health as humans relate to life challenges. Our bodies alert us to potential dangers in the form of pain and discomfort. When the body is in distress, messages sent to the brain are distorted. The outcomes of physical pain, will affect a person’s mood, energy and cognitive abilities. The physical circle illustrates the connection with the body and physical health as humans relate to life challenges. (Hart, 1999) Finally, there are two components of circles in this theory. The first is the temporal system. These are the external forces or the earth systems such as family, friends, religious affiliations, economic conditions and society that create positive and negative personality traits in humans. The author Crabb suggests that humans have two basic needs; sig nificance and security in order to function effectively. (Crabb, 1977) When we feel secure and significant we are then deemed to be worthwhile. However, the interactions of Hawkins temporal systems will jeopardize these assurance and the results are maladaptive behaviors that lead clients to therapy. The final outer circle is supernatural systems. (Hawkins, 2009) In this system, God, Angel, Satan and Demonic forces are introduced. Spiritual forces inhabit all humans, yet there is a battle between the dark forces of Satan, and the truth in God’s word. . Author Neil Anderson describes the forces at work on the formation of human personality. (Anderson, 2000) These evil forces disguise themselves and aggressively seek to intervene with deception of the Holy Spirit. Without a personal relationship with God, Satan has opportunity to manipulate thoughts and create misbeliefs which are the direct cause of emotional turmoil, and maladaptive behaviors. (Backus & Chapian, 2000) The supernatural outer circle aids in the quest for a realization that spiritua l disciplines can help begin the process for an internal change. Motivation One of the major premises of counseling is to develop an understanding why people do what they do. An individual’s actions are directly connected to their personality profile. Behind every action there is energy or a force that results in a specific behavior. Every human has motivations that are based often on self-centered needs. The basic needs are physical which encompasses the elements critical to life, the need for emotional relationships as well as the need for significance and security. Counselors are aware that Human Need will continue and this need moves people into false outside systems in order to reach the type of gratification they desire, rather than seek a relationship with God. That relationship indicates the temperament of the unbeliever as opposed to a believer. The unbeliever thinks of himself first, and evaluates life in terms of the world system and the behavior is motivated and designed to meet his or her own needs. While the believer will still experience misbeliefs in his conscious mind, however this individual makes a deliberate choice to evaluate his or her world based on a biblical framework. The biggest difference is the believer’s purpose is to live for Christ and exhibit behaviors that are Christ like and subsequently will receive them in return. (Crabb, 1977, p. 107) Human Development All Humans have a desire for autonomy in the world from a very early age. This search for self-governing freedom to establish their place in the world but is conflicted by the distortion of good and evil. The boundaries or acceptable behaviors guide the decision making process. These boundaries are for self-preservation. (Cloud & Townsend, 1999) Positive choices, allow the capacity to be loving and kind to others, use physical energy creatively, and live a purpose driven life. The alternative choice directs individuals on a path of sin and brokenness that prevents both growth and maturity. (McMinn, 2011) Without self-control individuals a counselor has the ability to guide this development process by helping them realize their position in the kingdom of God. Scripture emphasizes the purpose for an intimate relationship with God in that acknowledges a rebirth as a child of God, and confirms that life is no longer in the flesh but now life is in Christ. The intent of a counselor is to progress the client toward the development of an optimal balance of mental and spiritual health. Individual Differences Every human has a viewpoint of the world that is used as base of understanding of the world and their place in it. It is model of assumptions and evaluations that impacts personality traits and behaviors and forms a standard of living. (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2002, p. 59) Most people’s worldview are inherited rather than chosen and are shaped by cultural, religious and social influences. The presumptions can transcend into discriminatory beliefs to those who have opposing viewpoints. Counselors who are willing to address cultural difference in their client are mostly those that do not see them as impediments, but as an opportunity for growth. Individuals with an understanding & acceptance of themselves will achieve a greater sense of emotional and spiritual health. Health and Illness Health is more than a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. There are other components such psychological, and spiritual. The goal is achieve perfect health on all levels, however this can be challenging for clients to achieve and difficult for counselors to measure. A lifestyle that consists of a balanced diet, physical activities should result in good health; however, these alone are not sufficient. (McMinn, 2011) offers a triad approach that includes an accurate sense of self, healing relationships and an accurate sense of need. Those that are committed toward moving toward total health learn self-love and worth, to recognize needs as well as the importance of therapeutic relationships. There are biological, physical and social systems that all contribute to the symptoms of an illness. The pain and discomfort are presented in the physical body, while anxiety, sinful behavior and other temporal systems affect health. Conflicting messages delivered to the brain trigger and imbalance of worry and stress that are manifested in personality disorders. When people try to function in areas that affect untended and unhealed hurts, they will hurt others. (Wilson, 2001) Psychological and Spiritual Illness Sin is a pervasive element of human condition. In biblical terms, it dates back to Adam and Eve as committing the â€Å"original† sin. It is often misused by those who commit that they are ill; therefore they engage in sinful behavior. Through the use of attributional style, decipher if mental illness or the absence of spirituality are the sources of maladaptive behaviors. (McMinn, 2011) Consequently there must be a conscious choice to identify what sin represents in preventing an intimate relationship with God. Spiritual illness is living outside the will of God who desires peace and tranquility for those who accept him in their life. James 4:17 (King James) Integration and Multitasking McMinn (1996) stresses the need for counselors to evaluate a client’s problems from several viewpoints simultaneously. Through a multidimensional lens, there is the ability to explore theological, psychological perspectives. Developing the ability to multi-task, integrates the science of psychology, the truth in Theology and Spirituality, with the focus on theological truth as a foundation, without diminishing the significance of other perspectives. Effective multitasking acknowledges the forces that influence personality. Nine elements including the body, the human spirit, volition, sin and temporal systems illustrate how humans can obtain a healthy balance when there is a spiritual foundation. Interdisciplinary Integration requires competence that goes beyond the understanding of theology and psychology. Spirituality is not viewed as a study of credentials. It is the personal relationship with God that confronts weaknesses and dependence on God. The author also expresses tha t counselors must engage in the practice of personal devotion and exploring their own spiritual beliefs, through additional training and study Elements of Theory This theory of counseling incorporates integrative applications of disciplines and concepts with emphasis on the core of the human as the source where the spirit resides, cognitive behaviors are developed, and personality structures emerge. As a counselor develops a plan of treatment for a client, attention must be given to both parts of a human. The material or physical self and the immaterial or spirit self. Each part of the self represents areas for the counselor to learn and explore influences on the client’s emotions and dysfunctional behavior. My theory mirrors (Crabb, 1977) presents a unique theory of counseling which he refers to the concepts of Tossed Salad and Nothing Buttery approach to counseling. There is a balanced integration however the focus is on teaching the truth in God’s word from biblical perspective as the most important. I believe effective counseling combines the strengths of various disciplines, without diminishing or promoting one over the other. A comprehensive theory removing deeply rooted misbeliefs and replace with biblical truths. My theory leads clients into an intimate relationship with God and provides a guide to initiate the process of change. (Hawkins, 2009) Process and Techniques Four elements are introduced in the counseling relationships that work together in a successful counseling experience: the spirit, the counselor, the counselee and the bible. The counselor establishes trust, engages the client by attentive listening as they explore the client’s problems, and create a working process that toward goals for both counselor and client. The counselor teaches principles of integration identify patterns of healing, guides the client toward change. The client acknowledges their spiritual relationship with God, takes ownership for emotions and behaviors, and commits to change from within. True transformation begins with a renewal of the mind. (Adams, 1986) Expectations and Effectiveness of Theory The effectiveness of the theory is evaluated through the client progression towards a balanced h awareness of self, God, healthy relationships. (Crabb, 1977) theory suggests that success is measured in Spiritual and Psychological Maturity. The presentation of symptom relief, decreased maladaptive behaviors promote well-being. As counselors enter into experiences with our clients, we trust that God will bless their honesty and courage, as they display progression toward overall improvements in life functioning (Petrocelli, 2002) Worldview and Influence on Theory The basis for my theory is based on a worldview of personal experiences and reflection. It demonstrates a biblical foundation that incorporates the integration of psychology, spirituality and theology. The emphasis of theory reviews the systems surrounding the core self that affect personality, including temporal and supernatural systems. This theory allows a better understanding of the motivation behind a client’s choices. Approach to Integration My approach dispels the myth that Christianity is just a religious belief and psychology is just science of profession, it illustrates that combined integration counselor can understand that you can be a religious person, and still find solutions and order in the science of psychology that examines human behavior. Christianity does not inhibit scientific progress; in fact it is viewed as a major force to the further the exploration of the science. The Spoiled Egyptian Approach has a secular approach to psychology, the weeds out elements that oppose the truth in the scripture. (Crabb, 1977) Conclusion This theory is grounded in a well-balanced foundation. It addresses the theories of integration, Multitasking and Worldviews. The goal of a counselor is summarized into two parts; to lead my clients into an intimate relationship with God and guide the process of change. I believe the strong desire to help my clients begins within the heart of a counselor whose life inhabits the truth in the word of God, as a foundation for their personal theory of counseling. References Adams, J. E. (1986). How to Help People Change. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. Anderson, N. T. (2000). The Bondage Breaker; Overcoming Negative Thoughts, Irrational Feelings, and Habitual Sins. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. Backus, Dr., W., & Chapian, M. (2000). Telling Yourself the Truth. Bloomington, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers. Clinton, T., & Ohlschlager, G. (2002). Competent Christian Counseling: Foundations and practices of compassionate soul care. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Waterbrook Press. Cloud, Dr., H., & Townsend, Dr., J. (1999). Boundaries in Marriage. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. Crabb, Dr., L. (1977). Effective Biblical Counseling; A Model for Helping Caring Christians Become Capable Counselors. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. Entwistle, D. N. (2010). Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity (2nd ed.). Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. Hart, Dr., A. D. (1999). The Anxiety Cure. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc. Hawkins, R. (2009). Constructing a Theory of Counseling. McMinn, M. R. (2011). Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishing. Petrocelli, J. V. (2002). Processes & Stages of Change: Counseling with the Trans theoretical model of change [journal]. Journal of Counseling & Development, 23(4). Social, cognitive processes in behavioral health; Implications for Counseling. (1995). Counseling Psychologist, 2(4). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu Wilson, S. D. (2001). Hurt People, Hurt People; Hope and Healing for Yourself and Your Relationships. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Discovery House Publishers.

American History before the Revolution

The discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1492 led to the colonial expansion of the nations of Western Europe. These colonies were created to push trade forwards in the form of new imports, primarily raw materials as a base for trade and creations of new products. This topic will focus on the history of North America before the American Revolution in 1776. The first successful English colony was established by the London Virginia Company in 1607 and was known as Jamestown. It was primarily created for the purpose of looking for gold.It was not successful in its venture but eventually found money in growing tobacco which eventually bloomed into plantations with settlers coming in with servants and slaves to create their own. The colony depended on the trade of these crops and most of them were shipped straight back to Britain. The formation of this colony was followed by the settlement of the Pilgrims, a protestant sect based in England and the Netherlands in Massachuse tts. They were escaping religious persecution aboard the Mayflower and they drew themselves the Mayflower compact after landing which gave them power of self governance.This was followed by the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1629 by the Puritans. They wished to create a religious nation that would serve the true religion. The banishment of Roger Williams from the colony for preaching the separation of church and state led the creation of Rhode Island Colony. From an economic standpoint they were also self-sustaining. Their economy worked on every farmer sustaining himself and having to trade for any goods they could not provide for themselves. The three of these colonies formed the Cheapsake bay area.The middle colonies consisted of what are presently New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. These colonies were characterized by much diversity in their religious, economic, political and ethnic practices. Connecticut was also formed. The colonization of the l ower south started in Carolina in 1670 by the English Lords Proprietors. It was mainly set up as a trading colony especially in South Carolina. They eventually cultivated rice in 1690 through the aid of the African slaves they brought with them.The political differences between the settlers in this colony created much conflict and eventually war which lead to the Proprietors selling it back to the British Crown. A member of parliament known as James Oglethorpe established Georgia Colony in 1733 as a way to form a base against Florida which was occupied by Spain at the time. It was established with strict moral laws which forbade slavery and alcohol along with other forms of immortal acts. Once these laws were rescinded the country went from poverty to prosperity. It consisted of people from varied religious backgrounds.Great Britain eventually won East and West Florida from the Spaniards in 1763 and returned it in 1783 when they left. By 1700 most of the regions were divided in two halves. Their origins brought about the creation of two very different societies. The colonies of New England were much more individualistic as compared to the Southern colonies. The northern colonies touted freedom of religion and of the political process. They formed their society around an orthodox method in order to set an example for all other societies. In contrast the southerners were developed around the bases of economics.Their society was more geared towards mercantilism. The vast quantities of cheap land available to them allowed them to pursue this interest. In order to facilitate their economy they also formed a government which was based according to the Virginia Charter. The increasing demand for English goods grew rapidly in the 1700s and with the possession of the cotton industry in the south the colonies soon outpace England in terms of exports. This was mainly due to the fact that the colonies made use of slaves for labor purposes which brought them great prosperi ty.In the 1600 the English passed a series of laws known as the Navigation Acts which restricted the use of foreign shipping to trade between England and its colonies. This was mainly done to limit Dutch merchants from trading with its colonies and allowed England to be the main hub for all colonial products. These acts though bringing Britain great wealth caused great resentment in the colonies. This was so because the laws restricted the ability of the colonies to trade with anyone but the English, with these in effect it decreased their power to be independent of the Royal Court.Thus these Mercantilist policies were refused by the colonies as they saw it as a control over their economies and their government. In order to avoid heavy taxes and regulations the colonies resorted to smuggling their goods. The loss of much wealth led the British to enact the writ of assistance which enabled officers to freely search citizens and homes which were suspected of smuggling. The colonists f ound this to be a violation of their civil rights as citizens of the crown. One of the main ways that smugglers from the colonies operated was the selling tea to the American colonies.Originally the tea came from England through the East India Company, however when Benjamin Franklin suggested that the company bypass England and deal with the colonists directly, the smugglers lost their source of income. In rebellion they tossed 342 crates of tea into the Boston Harbor. This led to the Boston Port Act through which Britain closed down Boston harbor until the tea was paid for. The mercantilism system had a draconian effect on the colonies. Following the Seven years war in 1765 the British Parliament imposed a stamp tax on the American colonies requiring by law that all printed materials carry it.This was to pay for the military funds from the war of which the colonists were considered benefactors. This was also considered violations of their rights as colonial citizens to decide their own tax laws and led to many protests from New England to Georgia. Other British colonies also rebelled against the tax as they saw it as a threat to their economy and it was eventually repealed in 1766. This added further fuel to the colonist resentment and concerns of the British parliament. The last straw was that of the Boston Massacre where the deaths of five civilians in 1770 and sparked the fire which led to the American Revolution.In the end it was all of the reasons above along with the need of the colonies to establish their own government free from the religious, economic and governmental persecution of the English that led to the creation and subsequently fight for the freedom of the colonies and as we know in the end they succeeded. References Internet History Sourcebooks Project. (2007, June 4). Colonial North America. Retrieved May 24, 2009, from Internet Modern History Sourcebook : http://www. fordham. edu/halsall/mod/modsbook07. html

Free Essays on Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Shadow of True Love A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare is a play about romantic, true love. Although the play is a comedy, behind the sexual innuendos and theatrical jokes a tragic subplot runs throughout the play. The play destroys all the noble ideals of true love leaving only a shadow of irrational passion. Every virtue of the romantic true love of the Elizabethan time is decimated and ridiculed as the play progresses. Every relationship hacks away at the stability, the nobility, the gravity, and the power of love. Thus, the play whittles away the idea of a true love, an emotion so profound that nothing could overcome it, into nothing more than a frivolous midsummer night’s dream. The supposed true love of Demetrius, Lysander, Hermia, and Helena stand out as the most prominent example of the instability of love. The love of these four individuals seems to run their lives. Every action of these four characters seems to be spurred by nothing more than love. When Lysander and Hermia plan to meet in the woods Hermia’s first response to the idea is to â€Å"swear to thee, by Cupid’s strongest bow† (I.i.171). Helena betrays her Hermia’s plan to Demetrius solely to gain the attention and maybe even his love. The weight of love is heavy in the minds and actions of the four lovers. Thus when Puck and Oberon misguide the eyes of love so easily, love’s value seems to be diminished. Lysander's love is so easily turned that he goes from saying to Hermia â€Å"One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth† (II.ii.43) to â€Å"Hermia, sleep thou there: And never mayst thou come Lysander near† (II.ii.134-135) in the sam e scene. At the same time the love that Lysander and Hermia share is often considered â€Å"true love† (I.i.33) and yet it is turned so easily. Oberon even states this idea as he tells Puck â€Å"Some true-love turn’d and not a false turn’d true† (III.ii.90). Love even turns to disgust a... Free Essays on Midsummer Night’s Dream Free Essays on Midsummer Night’s Dream The Shadow of True Love A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare is a play about romantic, true love. Although the play is a comedy, behind the sexual innuendos and theatrical jokes a tragic subplot runs throughout the play. The play destroys all the noble ideals of true love leaving only a shadow of irrational passion. Every virtue of the romantic true love of the Elizabethan time is decimated and ridiculed as the play progresses. Every relationship hacks away at the stability, the nobility, the gravity, and the power of love. Thus, the play whittles away the idea of a true love, an emotion so profound that nothing could overcome it, into nothing more than a frivolous midsummer night’s dream. The supposed true love of Demetrius, Lysander, Hermia, and Helena stand out as the most prominent example of the instability of love. The love of these four individuals seems to run their lives. Every action of these four characters seems to be spurred by nothing more than love. When Lysander and Hermia plan to meet in the woods Hermia’s first response to the idea is to â€Å"swear to thee, by Cupid’s strongest bow† (I.i.171). Helena betrays her Hermia’s plan to Demetrius solely to gain the attention and maybe even his love. The weight of love is heavy in the minds and actions of the four lovers. Thus when Puck and Oberon misguide the eyes of love so easily, love’s value seems to be diminished. Lysander's love is so easily turned that he goes from saying to Hermia â€Å"One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth† (II.ii.43) to â€Å"Hermia, sleep thou there: And never mayst thou come Lysander near† (II.ii.134-135) in the sam e scene. At the same time the love that Lysander and Hermia share is often considered â€Å"true love† (I.i.33) and yet it is turned so easily. Oberon even states this idea as he tells Puck â€Å"Some true-love turn’d and not a false turn’d true† (III.ii.90). Love even turns to disgust a...

International Business and Globalization

International Business and Globalization Free Online Research Papers To begin this research paper, the world globalization comes to mind, where in recent times, we have witnessed individuals protesting, worldwide, what they believe is an unfair disparity of the new rewards that are being reaped via the Internet, and globalization. As an International Consultant, this author should like to assume a number of essential claims and necessities which are relevant to obligations toward developing countries, particularly to the CEO of one multinational company, which this author shall regard for purposes of this research paper as being reflective of multinational companies worldwide. To the greatest extent, the obligation at issue herein is humanistic in nature. The CEOs have certain obligations to the organizations they serve. Leadership and vision elastic management terms on which all of our daily lives depend are the most important of those obligations. And to face the challenges of the future, our definitions of leadership and vision must expand even further today and take their part among the critical skills of the CEO. It is the CEO who must take the first step in identifying the critical skills of an organization. The argument for CEO involvement is irrefutable. After all, the organizations they lead are defined by the quality of the people who comprise them. Since most CEOs fully recognize this fact, it seems prudent that they take the next step and build for the future on a more solid foundation of critical skills, from top to bottom, and in the nation’s schools. Your company, like any other, has a cluster of critical skills. It is up to every one of you to identify these skills and use them more effectively. It is one of the most important, yet most fundamental, management decisions you will make in the new millennium (albeit the aforementioned was extracted from an article published in the 1990s). To excel in the global environment, managers must master the following critical skills: Communications; analytical (being able to take a lot of information, sort out the relevant facts, develop findings, draw conclusions, and make recommendations); production; time management; and teamwork. (Jett, 1993, Pg. 22) While the author places great emphasis upon the people, in the view of this author, this view must be taken further. That is to say, that is the have-nots of the world must be more greatly embraced for the benefit of sharing in the new pie that the Internet/global business relations has prepared. It was reported in January 2001 that the ass istant clerk for Merits Briefing walked briskly down the white marble side corridor, away from the tourists and school groups to return to her mahogany desk in the windowless ground floor anteroom to the clerk’s offices in the U.S. Supreme Court building. That same weekend, Simon Billenness was preparing for â€Å"The Battle in Seattle†. The Free Burma Coalition, in which he was a key figure, was part of an unusual gathering of diverse groups planning to protest the negative effects of international trade and globalization during four days of meetings by the World Trade Organization (WTO) beginning on November 3. Joining with anarchists, environmentalists, union members and other activist organizations, these groups would seriously disrupt the Seattle meetings and do the same the following year to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington, D.C. and Prague, as well as the European Union Summit in Nice. The Seattle protests would become famous for the dichotomy embodied in images of environmentalists in sea turtle costumes and unionists exchanging chants of Turtles Love Teamsters ¡Ã‚ ¨ and  ¡Ã‚ §Teamsters Love Turtles ¡Ã‚ ¨, while masked anarchists vandalized Seattle stores. Billenness involvement with both the globalization concerns and the Massachusetts case went back many years. Several years ago, Billenness, an analyst for an asset management firm specializing in social responsible investment, attended a conference marking the end to the boycott of companies doing business in South Africa following the demise of apartheid. Billenness persuaded Massachusetts Representative Byron Rushing to adapt the Massachusetts anti-apartheid legislation to address Burma, literally substituting one country ¡Ã‚ ¦s name for the other in the new bill. The bill became law two years later, in 1996. It was the constitutionality of this bill that was at issue in the National Foreign Trade Council Case. At the same time, the Free Burma Coal ition and other organizations took to the streets demanding greater accountability from international institutions, such as the WTO and IMF, and the end of an  ¡Ã‚ §era of trade negotiations conducted by sheltered elites balancing competing commercial interests behind closed doors ¡Ã‚ ¨, the Supreme Court began wrestling with a similar problem of balancing governmental and popular interests. In trying to determine whether the Massachusetts ¡Ã‚ ¦ Burma Law was such an irritant to foreign relations that it impinged upon the federal government ¡Ã‚ ¦s foreign affairs powers or whether the state was simply exercising its rights to choose how to spend its citizens ¡Ã‚ ¦ tax revenues in the marketplace, the court, like the WTO and the IMF, grappled with a new balance between governmental interest and democracies a new federalism in a global era. As the Chair of the AFL-CIO International Affairs Committee declared in the wake of the Seattle protests,  ¡Ã‚ §Globalization has re ached a turning point. The future is a contested terrain of very public choices that will shape the world economy of the 21st Century. ¡Ã‚ ¨ (Fitzgerald, 2001, Pg. 11) In point of fact, this is a burning global issue. There actually exists many organizations worldwide who communicate regularly via the Internet. This is a kind of global subculture which is bound and determined to see that everyone shares in the pie, and repetitions as we have seen in other countries (keeping in mind that we are now talking about a global marketplace) including the United States, as well as an even greater litany of third world countries where the gap between the haves and have-nots is in fact a horrendous inequity of humanity, or what might be legitimately termed as  ¡Ã‚ ¥mans inhumanity to man ¡Ã‚ ¦. To a great extent, this author would rely upon the aforementioned information to convince this CEO that he had ethical responsibilities. In the United States along, particularly over the past year, corporate responsibility has been given a tremendous amount of attention. Herein lay an analogy to the global marketplace, only in this case, there are many billions of peoples ¡Ã‚ ¦ lives at stake. I would also want to try to convince this CEO why he should be more democratic in terms of his business dealings as one member of a global business community. I believe that it is increasingly good business to be able to label oneself as  ¡Ã‚ §globalized ¡Ã‚ ¨, a term that this author just coined but I do believe that some sort of logo can be established as a selling point and also for the good of humanity. There exists other problematic areas that could and should be addressed. Many of these are environmental in nature and affect everyone, such as global warming. The regulation of carbon dioxide emissions under the Kyoto Protocol will have severe consequences on U.S. business despite assurances by the Clinton Government, as was reported approximately six years ago (1998). The forced reduction of emissions would ravage not only the utilities but also other sectors, such as the aluminum and iron smelting, automobiles, paper and pulp, and oil refining industries. Worse, only the U.S. may suffer because other countries, particularly developing ones, such as China and Brazil may decide not to comply with the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol. They resist emissions trading and do not want their energy use curtailed to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. Despite these, it appears that the protocol will be enforced soon enough, with the next round of talks to take place in Buenos Aires. Finds and sanctions are expected to be established there. At this point, this author should like to interject that finds and sanctions could also be inclusive of a larger global program a ddressing the problems associated with globalization as this author has already delineated. Champions of the Kyoto Protocol say curbing carbon emissions will ensure a safer, more prosperous future for all. But if developing countries do not go along with it, Kyoto could put the bite on U.S. GDP.  ¡Ã‚ §We cannot understate the impact that the regulation of carbon dioxide emissions under the Kyoto Protocol will have on American business. Cutting emissions to meet Kyoto goals would devastate not only utilities, but also a whole host of other industries, including aluminum and iron smelting plants, paper and pulp manufacturers, oil refining and automobiles, ¡Ã‚ ¨ says Fred Palmer, CEO of Western Fuel Associates, a large cooperative of coal burning electric utilities. Direct energy costs are likely to soar by at least 50%. (Bailey, 1998, Pg. 8) The fact is that global warming is everyone ¡Ã‚ ¦s problem. While we are not experiencing horrific and immediate problems right now, the co ncern of a global warming rose early when computer climate models predicted that the Earth ¡Ã‚ ¦s temperature might rise between five and nine degrees over the next century. The long range impact for this is known by scientists, all to be completely damaging, yet, there are many unknowns, or factors for which scientists have not considered and for which this world is in no way prepared. I would try to convince this CEO that his children and his children ¡Ã‚ ¦s children will be the object of avoidance of ethical responsibility if  ¡Ã‚ §we ¡Ã‚ ¨ all (globally) do not take more of an interest with commensurate action. The problem, as I see it, and I would share with the CEO of the multinational corporation with whom I am speaking, is that many of the dangers we are aware of, as well as their solutions, are without teeth. We are part of a world community and to quote Senator Hillary Clinton,  ¡Ã‚ §It takes a village ¡Ã‚ ¨. It might seem like a daunting task to ensure that eight thousand individual sales representatives of decorative gifts and accessories for the home understand and abide by their company ¡Ã‚ ¦s ethical codes, according to Joey Carter, president and CEO of Home Interiors and Gift Inc., who explained that it is a matter of incorporating the DSA codes with his company ¡Ã‚ ¦s own code of ethics.  ¡Ã‚ §For purposes of recruiting, it is important that we take about our company ¡Ã‚ ¦s inventory buy back policy and explain our fair earnings claims, which describe realistically what someone should expect to earn for a given effort, ¡Ã‚ ¨ says Carter. This is one example of eth ics in business, however, the greater problem is indeed global, and by exercising ethics, this is in fact good business, as I would try to convince the CEO with whom I am speaking. DFA ¡Ã‚ ¦s President Neil Offen, in face-to-face meetings himself, spends a lot of time promoting code of ethics and their self-regulatory aspects to government and the private sector.  ¡Ã‚ §Right now the European Commission is looking at integrating ethical codes into law under a duty-to-trade-fairly initiative pending in Brussels, ¡Ã‚ ¨ he says. The World Federation of Direct Selling Associations, which globally represents the direct selling industry, conducts a world congress once every three years as well, with the association subsidizing travel expenses for code administrators to attend. (Schweitzer, 2003, Pg. 20) Many strong and relevant points have been made by commissions who have been acutely aware of this ever growing problem and global disparity. For example, the ILO Declaration of Fundam ental Principles and Rights at Work adopted in 1998 could not be clearer:  ¡Ã‚ §The effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, ¡Ã‚ ¨ (ILO, 1998, Paragraph 2). Are both so central to the ILO’s Social Justice Mandate and Decent Work Agenda that they are two of the four fundamental principles which members of the ILO have a  ¡Ã‚ §good faith obligation to respect, to promote, and to realize ¡Ã‚ ¨. On equal access to collective bargaining is a challenge to equality, and this is now a universal problem, not just something that America has known particularly in the early twenties, and technically right up to the present. This broad view of equality draws upon the deeply egalitarian convictions that characterize the quest for social justice throughout the world of work. It also focuses on the purpose of protection against discrimination, namely to affirm the equal worth and dignity of all human beings. It seeks in ensure that equality, whose fundamental nature is recognized within the ILO’s normative universe and beyond is also a reality in working peoples’ lives. A purposive approach is required given the mandate in the ILO Constitution and in its normative system to include all workers, thereby affirming their equal worth and dignity. Unequal access to collective bargaining represents the major challenge to equality, one that the declaration calls on the ILO and its constituency to address. (Sheppard, 2003, Pg. 13) The International Labor Review is concerned with (as its namesake indicates) the international community. As has been reiterated previously, the push is on for financial and social parity for all members of the world community. To this extent, the international business community has a responsibility which, increasingly, universal organizations, those that are situated around the world, as well as the United Nations are increasingly moving towards a code of equality which will mandate the kind of economic parity that is the antithesis of globalization as has been protested (and described earlier in this research paper). Ultimately, I would tell this CEO that it is good business to get on the ground floor of being one who is aware of globalization and global parity in this now new millennium. REFERENCES Bailey, Ronald, The High Cost of Kyoto Protocol on Carbon Dioxide Emissions ¡Ã‚ ¨, Chief Executive (U.S.), 1, June, 1998, P. 8. Fitzgerald, Peter L., Massachusetts, Burma, and The World Trade Organization: A Commentary on Blacklisting, Federalism, and Internet in the Global Trading Era ¡Ã‚ ¨, Cornell International Law Journal, 1, January, 2001, P. 11. Jett, Charles C., Critical Skills and the CEO, Chief Executive (U.S.), 1, April, 1993, P. 22. Schweitzer, Carole, Putting Teeth Into Ethical Practices: Good Behavior Starts At The Top, Association Management, 1, January, 2003, P. 20. Sheppard, Colleen, Collective Bargaining and Equality: Making Collections, International Labor Review, 22, December, 2003, P. 13. Research Papers on International Business and GlobalizationPETSTEL analysis of IndiaThe Project Managment Office SystemDefinition of Export QuotasEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaResearch Process Part OneBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

The History of Google and How It Was Invented

The History of Google and How It Was Invented Search engines, or internet portals, have been around since the early days of the internet. But it was Google,  a relative latecomer, that would go on to become the premier destination for finding just about anything on the World Wide Web. Definition of a Search Engine A search engine is a program that searches the internet and finds webpages for you based on the keywords that you submit. There are several parts to a search engine, such as: Search engine software, including boolean operators, search fields, and display formatSpider or crawler software that reads web pagesA databaseAlgorithms that rank results for relevancy Inspiration Behind the Name The very popular search engine called Google was invented by computer scientists  Larry Page and Sergey Brin.  The site was named after a googol- the name for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros- found in the book Mathematics and the Imagination by Edward Kasner and James Newman. To the sites founders, the name represents the immense amount of information that a search engine has to sift through. Backrub, PageRank, and Delivering Search Results In 1995, Page and Brin met at Stanford University while they were  graduate students in computer science. By January 1996, the pair began collaborating on writing a program for a search engine dubbed Backrub, named after its ability to do backlink analysis. The project resulted in a widely popular  research paper titled The Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine. The search engine was unique in that it used a technology they developed called  PageRank, which  determined a websites relevance by taking into account  the number of pages, along with the importance of the pages, that linked back to the original site. At the time, search engines ranked results based on how often a search term appeared on a webpage. Next, fueled by the rave reviews that Backrub received, Page and Brin began working on developing Google. It was very much a shoestring project at the time. Operating out of their dorm rooms, the pair built a server network using cheap, used, and borrowed personal computers. They even maxed their credit cards buying terabytes of disks at discount prices. They first tried to license their search engine technology but failed to find anyone that wanted their product at an early stage of development. Page and Brin then decided to keep Google in the meantime and seek more financing, improve the product, and take it to the public themselves when they had a polished product. Initial Funding The strategy worked, and after more development, the Google search engine eventually turned into  a hot commodity. Sun Microsystems co-founder  Andy Bechtolsheim was so impressed that after a quick demo of Google, he told the pair, Instead of us discussing all the details, why dont I just write you a check? Bechtolsheims check was for $100,000 and was made out to Google Inc., despite the fact that Google as a legal entity did not exist yet. That next step didnt take long, however. Page and Brin incorporated on September 4, 1998. The check also enabled them to raise $900,000 more for their initial round of funding. Other angel investors included Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos.   With sufficient funds, Google Inc. opened its first office in  Menlo Park, California.  Google.com, a beta (test status) search engine, was launched and answered 10,000 search queries every day.  On September 21, 1999, Google officially removed the beta from its title. Rise to Prominence   In 2001, Google filed for and received a patent for its PageRank technology that listed Larry Page as the inventor. By then, the company had relocated to a larger space in nearby Palo Alto. After the company finally went public, there were concerns that the one-time startups rapid growth would change the company culture, which was based on the company motto, Do No Evil. The pledge reflected a commitment by the founders and all employees to carry out their work with objectivity and without conflicts of interest and bias. To ensure the company stayed true to its core values, the position of chief culture officer was established. During the period of rapid growth, the company introduced a variety of products, including Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Voice, and a web browser called Chrome. It also acquired streaming video platform YouTube and Blogger.com. More recently, there have been forays into different sectors. Some examples are Nexus (smartphones), Android (mobile operating system), Pixel (mobile computer hardware), a smart speaker (Google Home), broadband (Google Fi), Chromebooks, (laptops), self-driving cars, and numerous other ventures.  Advertising revenue generated by search requests remains its biggest earnings driver, however. In 2015, Google underwent a restructuring of divisions and personnel under the conglomerate name Alphabet. Sergey Brin became president of the newly formed parent company, while Larry Page is the CEO. His position at Google was filled with the promotion of  Sundar Pichai. Collectively, Alphabet and its subsidiaries consistently rank among the top 10 most valuable companies in the world.  Its often also cited among the most influential and admired companies as well.

The American Navy in The War Of 1812 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The American Navy in The War Of 1812 - Essay Example In fact, the war of 1812 broke out because Britain, France, Naples, Spain, and the Netherlands were all engaged in capturing more and more American ships and the number of captured American ships over the thirty year period from the Revolutionary War to 1812 was nearly 1500. That means an average of more than 30 ships in a year. It seems that they were all trying to exploit the vulnerability of the first democratic nation in the world that was young in all stages of development. It was this situation that made America declare war against Britain despite its much smaller Navy as compared to that of Britain. At this juncture, it seems useful to look into the history of the most prominent figures of the 1812 war. One of them was Isaac Hull who was the commander of USS Constitution. Admittedly, USS Constitution was a well-built ship, and it increased the number of guns on board to 50 during the war under the guidance of Hull. As a result of its better hull strength, broadside weight, and better gun power, the USS Constitution under the command of Hull effectively withstood the British attack, and returned heavier firepower, thus resulting in considerable loss to the British Navy. In August 1812, the USS Constitution captured the British Guerriere’s with this superior firepower. Another such prominent figure was Master Commander Oliver Hazzard Perry who was sent to face the British in control of Lake Erie. The British had better guns and bigger and stronger ships as compared to the vessels in the US fleet.

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Woodrow Wilson & World War I - Essay Example Yes the US was ready by 1917 dues to the mobilization of the military to be increased by enlisting men from the age of 18 years, getting money from businessmen to finance the war and even getting naval support. The strength however was not as great as it was by the time the war was ending. Yes it was initially when America was preparing to go into war but with the sinking of the US boat, it soon became abandoned as people decided to assist in any way they could to prepare the army go into war simply for revenge against the Germans. People were hostile towards military service and hence did not adopt the idea of being enlisted or having their kin enlisted in the military service. This came when the administration wanted to increase the military as a preparedness method to enter into war and this hostility as the reason US started with fewer soldiers. The Americans did not agree with the call for peace after the war took away over 50, 000 of their military troop. The treaty of Versailles points were emphasizing something that the Americans were not ready to accept

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( Crappy Professor) Module 6 - Assignment Example b. Step 2: Examine the difficulties that are existing in the situation (Chapter 9 Power Point, 2015). In this step, the administrator has to classify the problem and two main mistakes to get the facts. c. Step 3: Come up with a criteria that gives a satisfactory outcome. In this step the administrator has to identify what is good, the musts and the wants, the conditions existing and the minimum aims to achieve (Chapter 9 Power Point, 2015). d. Step 4: Come up with an action plan or strategy. In this stage it is important for the administrator not to make an ineffective decisions. It is also important not to make decisions that others are likely to make. In my opinion, administrators must satisfice because when they optimize, the solution to the problem that they identify does not necessarily provide a feasible solution. Hence, the administrator has to satisfice and come up with the problem to satisfice. Yes, the garbage-can model is useful despite its name. Under this model, one knows that they have made the right decision when the solution matches with the problem at hand. Administrators also have the chance of scanning the problems and opportunities that help in their job (Chapter 9 Power Point, 2015). The only problem is that the model operates on the assumption that decisions are reliant on the chances that occur and not on choices the administrator makes. Values are a part of decision-making because they are the key to motivating a person. When a person is motivated and not stressed, it becomes easier to make the right decisions which people can use in attaching their meaning and importance to things (Hellriegel, 2008). I would use my values to negotiate or use persuasion before arriving into final decisions. I would use my positive personal values to determine the outcomes that I set for myself and the decisions I would make to achieve these outcomes. The other issue is whether the

Diversity in AT&T telecommunication company Essay

Diversity in AT&T telecommunication company - Essay Example The mission statement for AT & T is to link people with their globe, all over the place and do it better than any other company. The company is fulfilling the above vision by coming up with new solutions for businesses and consumers, and through driving modernism in the entertainment and communication industry. Reflecting on this perspective, this paper critically examines diversity in AT&T Telecommunication Company in the U.S from a broad point of view. Inclusively, the paper presents a SWOT analysis, recommendations, and appendices for the company. Diversity in AT&T Telecommunication Company in the U.S AT & T is a telecommunication company that has been in the telecom industry for several decades. Being part of the capital intensive business, AT & T’s domestic environment has been impressive in terms of stock and turnover. The victorious legal and regulatory outcome saw the ending of monopoly in American telephony in the year 1968. AT & T submitted various proposals includin g an application for low-cost educational television network (Campbell 28). This application was meant to show AT & T as the flexible company to public interests than any other firm in the industry. The FCC ruling on AT & T request took place on 14 August 1969 where AT & T was licensed to operate. It is imperative to state that the government regulation was not the reason as to why the company faced bankruptcy. Internal management was defective that saw the company faced with many financial scandals and the bankruptcy. The government regulation of 1968 was in favor of AT & T Communications and has been instrumental in shaping the domestic environment the company operates in for several years (Brooks 41). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established supportive laws, which saw AT & T use the opportunity to grow its market share and expand its customer base globally. With the intention of sustaining the growth, AT & T Corporation infused large capitals into its business. AT & T needed significant amounts of capital to finance its plans of increasing and maintaining its domestic market share (Borkowski 64). The company’s growth plan was a figure from $890 million in 1984 to $2.76 billion in 1987. To finance its forecasts, AT & T began by selling $481 million in common stock in 1984 the same way it had done in the past. The share price was $47 per share, and AT & T needed to capitalize on the high value at the time. From 1985 to 1989, AT & T sold convertible debentures. Another expectation of the company at the time was to achieve a market share of 20% by 1990. The company realized that to achieve this it required funding of between $890 million in 1984 to $2.76 billion by 1987. AT & T cash inflows at the time were insufficient to support its domestic environment plans. The company was to raise the finances through other means (Lawrence 15). This is where it opted to sell $481 million in equity in 1984, and afterward issued convertible debentures up until 1989 to match its expansion plans. Issuing those debentures allowed AT & T to convert them into stock giving AT & T a leverage to raise more debt. Reflecting on research, AT & T is experiencing a competitive global environment as new competitors are contending for market share in an investment concentrated business. With the increased

Politics of the knowledge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Politics of the knowledge - Essay Example Moreover, it crates diverse outlining mechanism of the societal, communicative coupled with chronological references. Constructivist makes this story to be radical, inventive and popular thus conforming to the modern approach of the societal science. Majority of the populace prefer truth-possessing evidence coupled with diverse comprehension. Traditions are methodological that share healthy skepticism of inductivism of knowledge and truth. Inductivism emphasizes on the significance of precise experimental element of the underlying story. Moreover, there is no substitute for an analyst’s knowledge with a data in historical learning of practical influence (Carr, 1987). Above argument is evident in the elaboration of the theory of the epistemic justification and understanding of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca. All aspects of the chapter aid in understanding despite the existence of competing ideas. Constructivism aids in inserting studies into a bigger social scientific projects. Chapter 8 gives distinct description of the diverse methods , which readers can comprehend the patterns of the

Diversity in AT&T telecommunication company Essay

Diversity in AT&T telecommunication company - Essay Example The mission statement for AT & T is to link people with their globe, all over the place and do it better than any other company. The company is fulfilling the above vision by coming up with new solutions for businesses and consumers, and through driving modernism in the entertainment and communication industry. Reflecting on this perspective, this paper critically examines diversity in AT&T Telecommunication Company in the U.S from a broad point of view. Inclusively, the paper presents a SWOT analysis, recommendations, and appendices for the company. Diversity in AT&T Telecommunication Company in the U.S AT & T is a telecommunication company that has been in the telecom industry for several decades. Being part of the capital intensive business, AT & T’s domestic environment has been impressive in terms of stock and turnover. The victorious legal and regulatory outcome saw the ending of monopoly in American telephony in the year 1968. AT & T submitted various proposals includin g an application for low-cost educational television network (Campbell 28). This application was meant to show AT & T as the flexible company to public interests than any other firm in the industry. The FCC ruling on AT & T request took place on 14 August 1969 where AT & T was licensed to operate. It is imperative to state that the government regulation was not the reason as to why the company faced bankruptcy. Internal management was defective that saw the company faced with many financial scandals and the bankruptcy. The government regulation of 1968 was in favor of AT & T Communications and has been instrumental in shaping the domestic environment the company operates in for several years (Brooks 41). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established supportive laws, which saw AT & T use the opportunity to grow its market share and expand its customer base globally. With the intention of sustaining the growth, AT & T Corporation infused large capitals into its business. AT & T needed significant amounts of capital to finance its plans of increasing and maintaining its domestic market share (Borkowski 64). The company’s growth plan was a figure from $890 million in 1984 to $2.76 billion in 1987. To finance its forecasts, AT & T began by selling $481 million in common stock in 1984 the same way it had done in the past. The share price was $47 per share, and AT & T needed to capitalize on the high value at the time. From 1985 to 1989, AT & T sold convertible debentures. Another expectation of the company at the time was to achieve a market share of 20% by 1990. The company realized that to achieve this it required funding of between $890 million in 1984 to $2.76 billion by 1987. AT & T cash inflows at the time were insufficient to support its domestic environment plans. The company was to raise the finances through other means (Lawrence 15). This is where it opted to sell $481 million in equity in 1984, and afterward issued convertible debentures up until 1989 to match its expansion plans. Issuing those debentures allowed AT & T to convert them into stock giving AT & T a leverage to raise more debt. Reflecting on research, AT & T is experiencing a competitive global environment as new competitors are contending for market share in an investment concentrated business. With the increased

The Malampaya Offshore Oil and Gas Field Assignment

The Malampaya Offshore Oil and Gas Field - Assignment Example The Philippine Government Department of Energy approved Shell Philippine Exploration (SPEX) to build a 500 kilometre undersea pipeline to transfer gas from the Malampaya-Camago fields to the main island of Luzon. Although the fields are in Chinese claimed waters, China did not object to the development (Pumphrey 237). Shell Philippine Exploration (SPEX) developed the Malampaya fields at an estimated cost of $4.5 billion U.S., â€Å"the largest single investment in the country† (Kreil 36) and the largest infrastructure project (McCallum 40). The Malampaya project is a joint venture of the Philippine government with the private firms Chevron Texaco and the Philippines Oil Company Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC)† (Oxford Business Group 72). Structural interpretation of the 3D seismic data indicated the most prominent structural feature to be a SW-NE oriented fault, forming a crest at the western margin of the carbonate system. This fault was sealed by the Pagasa shales. à ¢â‚¬Å"Minor normal faults affect the Latee Eocene and Early Oligocene deposits in the North-Eastern termination of the carbonate system forming a short and narrow horst structure† (Fournier, Borgomano and Montaggioni 198). ... ubsurface Data Used to Describe the Malampaya Field â€Å"The dataset used in this study consists of a 3-dimensional seismic survey acquired by Shell Philippines (SPEX) in 2002, and well data from 10 wells (MA-1 to MA-10)† (Fournier et al 2005, 192). Core sections are available in wells MA-2, MA-3, MA-4, MA-5, MA-7, and MA-9. The seismic interpretation used prestack time migrated data (PSTM), with zero-phase signal. The seismic polarity is defined as negative amplitude means a downward increase in acoustic impedance, a positive reflection coefficient. The work uses the depositional facies and diagenetic features identified by Fournier et al, 2004 from MA-5 and MA-7, those obtained from thin section analyses on MA-6, MA-8, MA-9, and MA-10, and the re-examination of the rock material studied by Grotsch and Mercadier (1703) from MA-1, MA-2, and MA-3. Carbon and oxygen isotope analyses on whole-rock samples were used to support diagenetic interpretations. Deposition of the Reservo ir Section and Geometry of the Platform The evidence from the investigations by Shell Philippine Exploration (SPEX, 2009) verified the existence of an immense power source. Situated 80 kilometers northwest of Palawan island and located about 3,000 metres below sea level, â€Å"the Malampaya field had recoverable reserves of about 2.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves and 85 million barrels of condensate† (Oxford Business Group 72). A thin oil rim of 65 metres is overlain by a thick gas column of up to 650 metres; these are contained in a high relief carbonate reef build-up complex of the Nido Limestone Formation. It was determined that â€Å"28.5 MMscf/ day of gas and 7,500 bbl/day of 30 degrees APL oil† (Department of Energy, 2010) were released every day. The Late Eocene to Early Miocene

Economic Theory Essay Example for Free

Economic Theory Essay Two of the primary tasks in the world of Economics are prediction and evaluation. This assignment illustrates, at a rudimentary level, how models, techniques and methods constructed or borrowed from Economic Theory or other Sciences respectively are used to help accomplish these tasks. To do so, we consider a standard theoretical model of consumer choices in an economy in which the only activity is the exchange of goods. Due to the above-mentioned we can say that the most powerful technique used to predict the consequences of policies or future trends is modeling. A model is an abstraction intended to convey the essence of some particular aspect of the real world. Most economic models assume the existence of adequate information, yet information is a costly and scarce resource. Good models predict well enough to increase our understanding of certain situations, even though they may not predict them perfectly and there may be related situations in which the same models do not predict as well as expected. Last but not least there are models that constructed without using any numerical data; these are based entirely on economic theory. We shall begin by looking at some of the ways in which forecasting techniques can help us to predict future trends. Most business and economic decisions rest upon forecasts of future conditions. Methods of forecasting may be roughly categorized as follows: * Opinion polling * Mechanical extrapolations * Barometric techniques * Statistical and econometric methods Finally, forecasting techniques vary widely in their accuracy and sophistication. The most accurate technique is to be preferred, subject to the availability of data, expertise and finance and to the nature of the  forecast required. OPINION POLLING The assumption here is that by asking people who are likely to be directly involved, such as consumers or the sales force, attitudes and opinions which affect economic decisions can be assessed and predicted in advance. Opinion polling is a subjective method of forecasting made up largely of a weighted or unweighted averaging of expectations and attitudes. This general idea of developing informed and deliberated polling opinion has had a relatively length history successful experimentation beginning roughly during the 1970s in the U.S.A. In statistics polling is about probability sampling. A good poll: locates people who fairly represent the population were interested in; asks them fair, comprehensible and useful questions; calculates results fairly, without reaching beyond the data; and  is reported so people can understand where it does and does not apply. The importance of opinion polling and the way it can be done is shown in the below Figure: Opinion polling is a very powerful technique used to predict future trends. Based upon probability sampling it can give people many answers upon many problems in the society. Depending on the size of the sample, the results are relatively accurate, scientific representation of the entire publics considered opinion on perplexing issues. Today there are a lot of companies which provide a wide variety of consultancy services and offer top quality research based solutions to their clients problems. They also provide full service market research process, from defining research objectives through analysis and presentation of data. To achieve their goals they use research methodologies, advanced statistical analysis and strategic relevant and decision reports. Their credibility and reputation is reflected in the fact that their publicly released findings are regularly quoted by the media (press, radio and television). Additionally, these companies are leading agencies in Socio-Political public opinion polls and Political Candidate Evaluation research. Another aspect of opinion polling is exit-poll. For example scientists use exit-poll method to predict who is going to win in elections. The exit-poll method is not 100% accurate, but the error between the real results and the ones from exit-poll is very-very small. Asking a small sample of population inside a society it can predict whether the conservative of socialist party is going to be elected. Finally, opinion polling is also used by companies to know which product of theirs is more consumed by people. Asking a small sample of people using questionnaires (more often) they can realize which product of theirs is more consumed by people, which product are less consumed and tries to find means of improvement for others. MECHANICAL EXTRAPOLATIONS This is probably the most frequently adopted method of forecasting. It involves the basic assumption that past patterns of economic behavior continues to the extent that past behavior can be used to predict the future. It has the attraction of also being relatively cheap in that the company is likely to posses most of the relevant historical information. Last but not least, the mechanical methods of forecasting rely on future conditions being an extent of past ones. Also, this method might consist of taking a time series of historical sales figures, and fitting a trend line to it by eye as shown in the figure below: This can then be used to read off sales predictions for the required future dates. To produce this line between the dependent and independent variables of data, as shown in the above figure, the ordinary least-squares (OLS) technique uses a mathematical formula to illustrate this line. However, the technique also produces a measure of the explanatory power of the relationship on the basis of the relationships observed in the original data. A mathematical formula for producing this line is: Where a and b in this equation have been estimated using regression analysis (a set of statistical techniques used to quantify the relationship between two or more variables). BAROMETRIC TECHNIQUES In addition with mechanical extrapolations, barometric techniques assume that present happenings can give an indication of future events. Also, this technique is based on the observation that there are lagged relationships between many economic time series. Moreover, to give an indication of future events, there are three types of indicators as far as economic activity. Leading indicators are those which tend to herald future changes in the course of business activity. Coincident indicators move in step with the cycle; examples of these might include aggregate levels of sales, employment and industrial production. Finally, there are lagging indicators, which trail behind the level of economic activity. Although it is possible to isolate various leading indicators the direction of movements in each does not presage movements in economic activity with complete accuracy. The reason is that the lead-time between their behavior and the ensuing change in economic activity is not likely to be constant. Nowadays, many companies who want to see which of their product is more consumed by people, they make a statistical figure in order to calculate this. Using barometric techniques they can find which product of theirs is more consumed by people, which is not going too well and try to give improvements for others. So, they can indicate from present happenings, how a product can be in the future. STATISTICAL AND ECONOMETRIC METHODS Science is given as truth ascertained by observation, experiment, and induction. The purpose of science known as statistics is to provide the means for measuring the amount of subjectivity that goes into the scientists conclusions and thus to separate science from opinion. Hence, statistical and econometric methods, similar to those used in time series regression can be used to analyze the economic relationships between variables. Many of the firms forecasting problems can be solved with a single equation econometric model. Laws of probability are applied to this model in order to determine what chances are for the various possible outcomes of the experiment. The first step in the construction of such a model is to specify the hypotheses, which purport to explain the relationships between the variables. Hypothesis testing is the process of inferring from a sample (a collection of some elements of a population) whether or not to accept a certain statement about the population. The statement itself is called the hypothesis. When the model is constructed it gives the businessman the opportunity of experimenting to test the predicted results of various strategies. There is a vast variety of companies offering a full-service market  research which means the capability to successfully undertake any research project from the conceptual stage through the design, data collection, tabulation, analysis, interpretation of findings, recommendations, and presentation. The projects they undertake span a broad array of industries, types of studies, experimental designs and analytical statistical techniques. They are skilled in the wide variety of quantitative and qualitative techniques, providing their clients with a seamless connection between all phases of the research program. Their full range of custom research for Consumer and Business to Business research includes the following: * Tracking studies * Product testing * Taste testing * Home-use tests * Advertising research * Strategic research * Product Positioning research * Concept tests * Customer satisfaction tests * Etc.

Case Studies: Corporate Social Responsibility across world

Case Studies: Corporate Social Responsibility across world Introduction Over the past decade, Malaysia has witnessed tremendous economic and social changes. Hence, the business world is becoming more complex and demanding. Corporate social responsibility has emerged as one of the major issues in the modern-day businesses. However, developing countries are slower in reacting to this issue as the studies in this area are still scarce. Even though there is some increase in research and studies in corporate social responsibility (Abu-Baker Naser, 2000; Belal, 2001; Imam, 2000; Tsang, 1998), the results of these studies are not satisfying due to the scarcity of studies in the developing countries. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming more important for national and international businesses. Large corporations discovered and recognized the benefits of providing CSR programs in various locations, these multinational companies are serving as global providers. Now, CSR activities are being performed around the world. Customers nowadays believe that modern businesses have the obligations to serve them better or in a more responsible manner instead of just focusing on maximizing profits for its organizations stakeholders or shareholders. However, only large firms apply this concept compared to those small or middle-sized enterprises due to the power which large firms have. We also refer CSR as corporate or business responsibility, corporate or business citizenship or community relations. The environment that business organizations operate in is filled with dynamism, complexity and uncertainty. Thus, managers must take into consideration the interests of stakeholders and public in performing their respective duties. According to Wartick and Cochran (1985), the concept corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a philosophical orientation. Jones (1996) described CSR as an ideology which has been enhanced and advanced during the past 50 years with the business and research. CSR refers to corporate performance that is normatively correct with respect to all constituents of the firm (Epstein, 1987). How do we clarified the actions that certain firms took are related to corporate social responsibility? According to Carroll (1991), social expectations can be translated into four different stages of corporate social responsibility, viz: economic, legal, ethical and philanthropy. The first stage is economic responsibility. This stage is where the public and society expect corporate organizations to generate profit and at the same time producing goods and services that meet the customers needs. A firms prime social responsibility must be economic involving the production of goods and services at a reasonable profit. Second stage is legal responsibility. Businesses are expected to run within the legal boundaries in order to achieve their goals. However, not all ethical behaviour are codified, businesses should act in the manner that serve the society while meeting economic objectives. Hence, this is categorized as ethical responsibility. Last but not least, the philanthropy responsibi lity. A corporate organization should actively involve in programs promoting human welfare and goodwill. One common difference between philanthropy and ethical responsibilities is that the former are not expected in moral sense. Community expect firms to contribute their resources to social activities. However, they do not hold those firms unethical if they do not practice these social activities. Hence, philanthropy is more to voluntary part of business in conducting social activities. According to Palazzi (2006), there are an increasing number of companies in Western Europe, Japan and North America discovered that by fully integrate the self-interest and needs of customers, employees, communities and their beloved planet, they can make good business. Therefore, corporate social responsibility includes 6 elements where management of each organization should implement in order to enhance growth and profitability. CSR is about how to manage these 6 responsibilities: customers, employees, business partners, environment, communities and investors (Palazzi et al., 2006). Providing goods and services in a fair price so that the customers will get to enjoy the added value of the products provided by the firm and at the same time the firm will earn profits. By adopting CSR, a firms image is strong and well recognised; it provides good welfare for its employees. Business partners such as suppliers, suppliers will only build long term relationship with firms that are well-re spected and trusted. Firm must never conduct any operations that will harm the environment such as toxic dispersion; it will only bring damage to the environment and also the society. Health, stability and prosperity of the communities are the success factors of any businesses nowadays; businesses must involve themselves in social activities such as charity or donations. Practicing CSR in daily operations no doubt maximize profit in long-run which will benefit the investors. In contrast of co-founder of Hewlett Packard Company in 1939, Dave Packard, he thinks many people assume, wrongly, that a company exists simply to make money. While this is an important result of a companys existence, we have to go deeper and find the real reasons for our being. As we investigate this, we inevitably come to the conclusion that a group of people get together and exist as an institution that we call a company so that they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately they make a contribution to society, a phrase which sounds trite but is fundamental. No doubt that people assume the purpose of a company is to generate profit, primary objective of a company is to continue its existence or to survive, followed by maintaining growth and development and then make a profit. Company is a structure of people where these people wish to achieve objectives that could not be achieved by the efforts of individuals on their own. CSR involves the responsibilities corporations have to the societies within which they are based and operate. CSR is about the organizations and businesses taking actions beyond their boundaries which will impact the environment and society even though doing so incur higher cost. Several concepts that are closely related to CSR: social and environmental auditing, stakeholder theory, business ethics, environmental sustainability, strategic philanthropy and corporate governance. Definition The issues of corporate social responsibility has been debated and argued since 1950s, latest analyses by Secchi (2007) and Lee (2008) reported that the definition has been changing in meaning and practice. In both corporate and academic world there is uncertainty as how to defined. According to Jackson and Hawker (2001), we have looked for a definition and basically there isnt one. However, this is not quite accurate because the truth is there is an abundance of definitions, which are, according to Van Marrewijk (2003), often biased toward specific interests and thus prevent the development and implementation of the concept. Five dimensions of CSR were identified through a content analysis of the definitions; these five dimensions are environmental dimension, social dimension, economic dimension, stakeholder dimension and voluntaries dimension. Jones (1980) defined CSR as the notion that corporations have an obligation to constituent groups in society other than stockholders and beyond that prescribed by law or union contract, indicating that a stake may go beyond mere ownership. Corporate social responsibility is defined as a principle stating that corporations should be accountable for the effects of any of their actions on their community and environment by Frederick (1992). CSR is defined as the degree of moral obligation that may be ascribed to corporations beyond simple obedience to the laws of the state by Kilcullen and Kooistra (1999). According to Foran (2001), CSR can be defined as the set of practices and behaviours that firms adopt towards their labour force, towards the environment in which their operations are embedded, towards authority and towards civil society. CSR is also defined as the integration of social and environmental concerns in business operations, including dealings with stakeholders (Lea, 2002) . According to Andersen (2003), he defined corporate social responsibility broadly to be about extending the immediate interest from oneself to include ones fellow citizens and the society one is living in and is a part of today, acting with respect for the future generation and nature. There are many available definitions of CSR and they are consistently linking to the five dimensions. From 1980s to 20th century, definitions of CSR must include the 5 dimensions, it is not a must to include all 5 but it is best to do so. Importance of CSR CSR has become increasingly important, now it is considered as a business strategy. Consumers prefer to purchase products or services from companies which they trust; suppliers want to form business partnerships with companies they can rely on; employees wish to work for companies they respect and being respected in return; and NGOs want to cooperate with companies seeking feasible solutions and innovations in areas of common interests. According to Carly Fiorina, Chairman and CEO of Hewlett Packard Company, winning companies of this century will be those who prove their actions that they can earn profit and increase social value at the same time. Shareowners, customers, partners and employees are going to vote with their feet in order to reward those companies that fuel social change through business. This has become the new reality of business, one that everyone should embrace and adopt. Arguments and debates about the importance of CSR, the main topic is why CSR became more import ant? Many factors and influences have led to increasing attention being devoted to the role of companies and CSR. These include: Sustainable development Paul Hawken has defined sustainability as an economic state where the demands placed upon the environment by people and commerce can be met without reducing the capacity of the environment to provide for future generations. Leave the world a little better than you found it, take no more than you need, try not to harm life or the environment, make amends if you do. According to Hohnen (2007), United Nations studies showed that humankind is using natural resources at an excessive rate, a rate where the used resources failed to be replaced in time. If this scenario continues, future generations will not have the resources they need for their development. According to Maurice Strong, Chairman of the Earth Council (1992), he said as we enter the next century, industry will be the most important engine for change in the drive for sustainable solutions to the worlds environmental problems. These issues alerted the world and required immediate actions. Organizations must play their parts in aiding the environmental problems. Corporate social responsibility is one of the solutions and organizations are advised to practice and implement social responsibility in their daily operations. Globalization Globalization is a complex process because it involves rapid social change that is occurring simultaneously across a number of dimensions in the world economy, in politics, in communications, in the physical environment and in culture and each other these transformations interact with the others (Tomlinson, 1999). Growing concerns on human resource management, environmental protection, health and safety due to the economic globalization, CSR can play a vital role in locating the impacts and effects that a business might have on labour, society and economy. CSR also provide certain steps that can assist the business to build and maintain the public welfare. Governance According to Hohnen (2007), governments and intergovernmental bodies such as the UN, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have developed several guidelines and declarations which companies can follow and apply in their future business conduct. Example, government in Penang restricted food sellers from using polystyrene for food packing every Monday. Finance Consumers and investors are more interested in supporting responsible business practices; they are seeking more information on how organizations going to react accordingly after defining risks and opportunities which related to social issues. What actions can the organization take so that it will best serve the society and meet the economic objectives? In the CSR context, a sound CSR approach can help build share and market value for an organization, lower the cost of capital and improve the responsiveness to markets (Hohnen, 2007) Protect the environment Some of the worlds largest companies have showed their commitment to CSR by showing initiatives at reducing their environmental footprint. These companies believe that financial and environmental performance can work together to drive company growth and social reputation. We green the earth slogan made by some multinational companies in Malaysia who own large golf courses within residential area is one of the CSR initiatives seems to protect the environment. According to Hohnen (2007), a CSR approach can improve corporate governance, transparency, accountability and ethical standards. Environment stewardship helps build and retain a companys value. In addition, undergraduates and postgraduates will expose to the importance of taking care of the environment through studying corporate social responsibility. Potential Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility Being socially responsible is increasingly important for modern organizations. This is due to the public becoming more demanding towards firms in terms of being socially responsible. Einer Elhauge, a professor of law at the Harvard Law School, as part of his contribution on the Environmental Protection and the Social Responsibility of Firms, quoted that Corporate managers have the operational discretion to sacrifice corporate profits in the interest of the public. Lower Operating Cost Companies must view this as an opportunity and see the benefit it can obtain from giving back to the communities and employees (McKee, 2005). Lower operating cost may be the most immediate and dependable benefit for a corporation committed to high ethical standards and social responsibility (Ashforth, 1989). On environmental issues, a company who is striving to minimize its emission of greenhouse gasses will be looking at ways of minimizing fuel consumption. Initial investment in more energy efficient vehicles and appliances may incurred very high cost, it will eventually lead to cost saving. If a company is using less energy, then its energy bills will be lower. If a company is minimizing water usage, then its water bills will be lower. The same is true for maximizing the use of recycled materials. Recycled materials are much lower priced compared to raw materials. Employees: Recruitment, Retention and Productivity According to Ivy (2005), the other benefits of adopting corporate social responsibility practices include attracting the most talented and loyal workers. Their employees are more committed to their work because they are proud to be part of that organization. Employees value a corporation that is able to improve the life of the community. A Socially Responsible Corporation considers a workers dignity and offers good health care and retirement plan. Therefore, these employees are not keen to take lifts when opportunity is at hand. Bloemer (1992) found out that the corporation benefits from a stable workforce and reduced training costs. Evidence for this view are clearly stated in the Kelly survey in Crains Detroit Business report found that corporations that behave in socially and environmentally responsible manners attract the top talent and ninety percent of those interviewed would prefer to work for organizations are ethically and socially responsible. Brand Image and Customer Loyalty McKee (2005) suggested that the most significant business benefit of corporate social responsibility is the positive effect it can have on brand image and customer loyalty. If a company is known to be responsible and ethical, and if it markets itself as such, then it will be well positioned in a competitive market. Consumers, weary of the tales of ruthless corporations doing everything in their power to maximize profits, are becoming more and more interested in supporting companies who are socially responsible. Many firms which have such practices include Body Shop that uses all natural, non chemical substances to make their products. They emphasis on no animal testing and many customers are proud to be using their products that support the humanity values that the company share. Differentiated Products According to Klein and Dawar (2004), differentiated product is one of the benefits that enable an organization in order to remain competitive in todays marketplace. Through product differentiation, organizations aim at achieving a competitive advantage by increasing the perceived value of their products relative to the perceived value of the products of their competitors. Particularly, for organizations that implement socially responsible policies, product differentiation can satisfy the unmet needs of consumers offering both financial and business benefits to the firm. Firms that offer environmentally friendly products experience higher sales growth than firms that sell conventional products (Ramasamy Ting, 2004). Besides, firms that offer unique value propositions to consumers differentiate their products in consumers minds and contribute to building customer loyalty based solely on ethical values. Therefore, in the context of corporate social responsibility, organizations develop new products aiming, not only to become more competitive, but also to make a greater impact on society through their ethical practices. A CSR Europe MORI study in 2000 showed that 70 percent of European consumers say that a companys commitment to corporate social responsibility is important when buying a product and one in five would be willing to pay more for products that are socially and environmentally responsible. On the other hand, one in six shoppers frequently boycott or buy products because of the manufacturers reputation. Improved Risk Management Improved and proper management is one of the benefits gained when a corporation embarked in corporate social activities. Modern organizations implement risk management strategies to decrease or even eliminate the risk posed on the organization by a variety of practices associated to several potential threats (Porter Kramer, 2002). Organizations that have made countless efforts over the years to build a good reputation and have spent a lot of money to maintain it through product development and customer loyalty strategies. However it could be ruined is seconds (Tencati, Perrini, Pogutz, 2004). Such incidents include scandals, environmental accidents, foreign labour transgressions and internal corruptions draw the attention of the media and may cause irreversible damage to a firms reputation. The only way to anticipate such events are to embed social responsibility into organizational culture that contributes to a stable reputation for a form and in order to offset such risks. This c ould save cost and time in repairing and building firms reputation using the usual ways. Access to capital Financial institutions such as banks and private loan companies are increasingly incorporating social and environmental criteria into their assessment of projects. When making decisions about where to place their money, investors are looking for indicators of effective CSR management. Maignan, Tomas and Hult (1999) argued that a business plan incorporating a good CSR approach is often seen as a must for good management. When a company engage in corporate social activities shows that they care about their planet and it give a good impression towards to the investors. Hence both private and public investors are more willing to invest in such ventures because it will gain support from many parties and corporate social responsibility based companies tend to last longer. Arguments underpinning CSR Today many persons are discussing the social responsibilities of business; there are various reasons both for and against businesss assumption of social responsibilities. People in the business world argue and debate about social responsibility, some supporting this concept and some do not see it that way. Arguments for corporate social responsibility Long-run self interest Long-run self interest is one of the arguments which favour corporate social responsibility, this ideology makes the society expects the businesses to accomplish and conduct various social goods and actions. According to Davis (2001), a business must conduct social practices if it expects to achieve objectives and earn profits in long-run. The firm that responds fastest to the needs of the society hence will have a better community in for the firm to run its business. Recruiting employees will be easier, the employees hired are better in quality. Besides that, absenteeism and turnover will decrease. As the social of one society improved, crime rate will definitely go down and money can be saved up as the properties are well protected. The dispute can lead to several directions, for example a better society provides a better environment for business. It is hard to believe that incurring higher cost for social activities will result in higher profit for the business. However, it is the normal outcome that business can perform better when it runs in a better environment. Recent surveys confirm that the correlation between social and financial performance is their positive or neutral (Margolis Walsh, 2003). Public Image A firms main objective is to attain and retain more customers, desirable employees and various benefits through enhancing its public image. According to Davis (2001), it is easy to extend this public-image concept through the accomplishment of a variety of social goods. Public holds social goals as top priority, firms which has intention of achieving a benevolent public image must reinforce and prioritize these social goals. CSR has become a vital tool in promoting and improving the public image of some worlds largest corporations (Christian, 2004). Let Business Try Many institutions tried and failed in handling social issues, why not give business a chance to do so. Many comments were made due to the failures of other institutions, people are turning to business. Comments like the following: Give business a try. Maybe they can come up with some new ideas. Let business have a role. They couldnt do any worse! These comments were made out of frustration and desperation instead of reasoning; many people are expecting that business institution will fail in handling the social issues. The truth is that there is no evidence showing that we perform badly in handling and solving the social problems using businesss capabilities (Davis, 2001). Business Has the Resources Business is believed to have valuable resources which can be used in handling social problems; hence society should put the resources into good use. Sadly, many people wrongly assumed that business has all the money where the society need to do is to tap the till of business and the social problems will just fades away. In most cases, there is a reasoned assumption that business has a pool of management talent, functional expertise and capital resources (Davis et al., 2001). With this pool, business definitely has the requirements to solve social problems in the society. In addition, business is well known for its innovative ability. In some social problems, innovation is needed badly for application. Problems can be Profits While the creativity of business can contribute to social problems, it can also be an advantage at times when apply conventional business theories to these social problems. Although this idea cannot be applied to all of the social problems, it is encouraged that business should involve in social areas more effectively. According to Davis (2001), many problems can be solved and settled profitably according to traditional business concepts. Prevention is better than Curing It is argued that business should resolve social problems once encountered. This supports the idea of saving resources and the managements time and also preventing the social problem from developing into a disastrous situation to the business. Furthermore, the progress of producing goods and services can be affected when business is busy dealing with serious social problems that have yet to be resolved. Argument against Social responsibility Profit Maximization The most prevailing argument against business assumption of social responsibility is the classical that it challenges the traditional mindset of the companies is to focus on profit maximization (Friedman, 1971). According to the industrys point of view, the companys desire is to think in the best interest of the shareholder and satisfy them by maximizing profit and find all means to increase profit. One common practice in most industries to maximize profit is to minimize cost. Friedman (1971) mentioned that in a free enterprising firm system, employees responsibility is do what their superiors command them to do as long they do what their are told, they would survive in the economy provided their actions are abiding to the laws and ethical customs of the society. The employees desire is accord with the shareholders interest that is to maximize profit. However imposing a new concept of corporate social responsibility, the company dilutes the aim of profit maximization and makes the sh areholders unhappy. This is due to the managers spending their money on something that has no direct impact on their cash flow. Besides that, Friedman argued that the concept of corporate social responsibility may overthrow the old doctrine of the economy to maximize profit. Cost of Social Involvement Friedman (1962) found out that imposing the culture of corporate social responsibility in a firm takes away a lot of the firms financial resources though the outcome may not be as rewarding as predicted. The company must make wise decision to allocate their resources in the right causes for it is scarce. Most companies commit small resource to corporate social activities due to social pressure and obligation. However, the public tend to forget the firms effort towards corporate social activities after a period of time. Therefore it is very tiring for a company to keep renewing their commitment towards social acts since the customers cannot remember the organizations contribution towards society even it was just last month ago. When the business is pushed into social obligations, many additional costs will drive out marginal firms in all the industries (Friedman et al., 1971). In the chemical industry, many chemical firms shut down because they are unable to meet the requirement of pu rchasing the new pollution equipment that is highly priced. Lack of Social Skills Traditional companies do not have the skills to handle the social matters regarding the publics concern towards the companys effort in corporate social goals. As mentioned Friedman (1971), it is insane for a firm to give social related duty to technicians or accountants. They are unfit for the job because they are not trained to work in such way. The firm may need to hire sophisticated people which are public relation officers to create an image for the company and handle all the social matters. This may require the organization to create a new department just to achieve these goals. Problems may arise since the firm needs to incur new costs to the company. Dilution of Businesss Primary Purpose Friedman (1962) suggested that a firms involvement in social goals might hinder businesss emphasis on economic productivity, divert the interest if its leaders, and weaken business in the market places, with the result of the firm achieving poorly in both economic and social aspects. The effect of social goals in corporations is confusing the societys perception in the economic role of the business. If a company is inadequate to achieve its social goals, the society would suffer socially and economically (Friedman et al., 1962). Weakened International Balance of Payment Argument against business assumption social responsibility requires the international balance of payments thought it is frequently ignored. In normal practices, social programs are counted in business costs. In order to recover these costs, the business would usually add the cost into the price of the product. If social activities dilute businesss capacity for high productivity, then this lower efficiency is likely to lead to higher product cost (Friedman et al., 1962). A company would lose its competitive advantage in the international market if they comply with the social obligation. In the international market especially regarding raw material, the price is an essential criterion to consider. When a product is priced higher than its competitor due to social obligation, the clients will choose cheaper choices and outcome is the company loses out a lot of customers. Lack of Accountability From economic point of view, entrepreneurs have no accountability towards the public. Friedman quoted that Accountability always go with responsibility. A firm which embarks into social activities must be responsible towards the people. Until the firm is ready to be establish a proper line of social accountability from business to public, the business is preferable just focus on maximizing profit and not engage in any social activities. Lack of Broad Support One final point is that social involvement may lack a broad range of support from all groups of the society. Although many people support the idea of corporate social responsibility, many parties opposes it (Henderson Hazel, 2001). Unlike China, there are a lot of countries that does not give full support to firms that has social goals. The lack of agreements is among the general public, in government, even among the businessmen themselves. Many reasons are mentioned in the above statements. Such hostile oppositions will create disastrous effects on the company if it fails its social mission. Case Summary Burgerville USA is a family owned fast-food restaurant, founded by George Propstra in Vancouver, Washington 1922. Burgerville applies this mentality made fresh from local ingredients, this concept still stand strong up till today. Burgerville had never used frozen patties, used only the freshest ingredients. Besides that, onions rings sold in Burgerville are made from onions grown in nearby Walla Walla. Burgerville has expanded up to 39 locations in the northwest United States, currently run by Propstras son in law, Tom Mears. The key element in the companys strategy remains unchanged which is the fresh, local concept. Company is using fresh, local products in order to offer higher quality food. This strategy moves Burgerville out from the fast-food industry into fast-casual dining sector, a niche in the restaurant industry. Mears decided that the company will not play the chea