Why Foreign Investors Need to Look at Political Risks in India Essay

Why Foreign Investors Need to Look at Political Risks in India - Essay Example Some of the emerging markets that have captured the attention of intellectuals around the world are China, India, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey. Among the above list, China and India are the markets with the greatest potential. These are the markets where companies enter for quick return on investments. â€Å"Even though emerging markets generally do not have the level of market efficiency and strict standards in accounting and securities regulation like advanced economies -- such as the United States, Europe and Japan -- they are most sought after by investors for the prospect of high returns, as they often experience faster economic growth as measured by GDP.† (Rediff Business, 2011) China’s economy is the fastest growing economy in the world at present. Similarly, India’s growth rate is expected to surpass even that of Japan. Studies by various organisations show that the emerging market economies are set to overtake all the G7 economies by 2020 . Such studies do have enough reasons to substantiate their views. This essay will deal with the strategic expansion of IKEA with its Greenfield operations in India. India had recently opened up its market for 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector. IKEA did not waste even a day after the decision, the company has started framing board room strategies for the Indian market. Company IKEA is undoubtedly the world’s largest furniture retailer. Though furniture is its flagship product, it is also one of the largest home furnishing retailers in the world. The Company which was established in 1943 is headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands. What make IKEA different from the competitors are its modern and unique furniture designs. Moreover, IKEA designs are also eco-friendly compared to the competitors. When it comes to managerial efficiency and vision, IKEA is a benchmark for any businesses. The company gives extreme focus to cost control and product development bec ause of which they are able conquer new markets without much effort. Cost control gives them an edge over the pricing. The continuous product development helps them to keep pace with the changing trends. IKEA has been on a continuous growth path ever since its inception. The story is no different in 2012 too. â€Å"Net profit at the privately-held Swedish firm, known the world over for low-price, self-assembly, flat-packed furniture, rose 10.3 percent to 2.97 billion euros ($3.8 billion) in the year to last August.† (Reuters, 2012) Russia, China and Poland were the countries that contributed more to the overall sales of the company. This huge increase in profit is despite of the hike in raw material prices. Even at a very high raw material cost the company did not pass it on to the customers. It continued supplying products at lower prices as it used to be. The company is planning for about 3 billion euros of investments worldwide in the coming years. IKEA has constituted its product portfolio in such a way that even during a slump in demand due to economic problems, there are products that are focussed on the cost conscious customers. Because of this, IKEA is able to maintain sales and market share even during a slump in the economy. IKEA is now focussed on its strategy for the emerging markets such as China, India and Russia. Investment Unlike many other companies, IKEA wants their business units to be under their sole ownership. They are not ready for partnering with a domestic player which is why they backed out from Indian market entry years before (India permitted only 51% FDI in retail then). They enter the market with a careful study and examination of the market from

Study of recruitment process outsourcing

Study of recruitment process outsourcing Is the process where an employer outsources or transfers all or part of its recruitment activities to expert services of a third party (generally professional consultants). The Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association defines RPO as follows: when a provider acts as a companys internal recruitment function for a portion or all of its jobs. RPO providers manage the entire recruitment/hiring process from job profiling through the  on-boarding  of the new hire, including staff, technology, method and reporting. RPO and other types of occasional recruitment support, contingency and executive search services differ majorly in the  Process. The service provider assumes ownership of the process in RPO, while in other types of staffing services the service provider is only a part of the process controlled by the organization buying their services. History of RPO Temporary, contingency and executive search firms have provided staffing services for many decades, but the concept of an employer outsourcing the management and ownership of part or whole of the recruitment process was first realized during the 1970s in the highly competitive high tech labour market of Silicon Valley. Being hard-pressed to find and hire technical specialists these companies had to pay large fees to specialized external recruiters for staffing their projects. In order to reduce the growing expenses of recruitment fees these companies began examining the various stages in the recruitment process that could be outsourced. The initial RPO programs typically consisted of purchasing lists of potential candidates from RPO vendors. Over the years, the concept of outsourcing was accepted by businesses more and more. RPO too gained favour among Human Resource management. RPO reduced overhead costs from their budgets and also helped improve the companys competitive advantage in the labour market. With labour markets becoming more and more competitive, RPO became more of an acceptable option. In the early 2000s more companies began considering the outsourcing of recruitment for major portions of their recruiting need. The fundamental changes in the World labour market have reinforced the use of RPO. The labour market today is highly dynamic: workers are changing employers more often than in the previous generations. De-regulation of labour markets has created a shift towards contract and part-time labour and shorter work tenures. These trends have increased the recruitment activity and encouraged the use of RPO. Even in slower economic times or higher unemployment, RPO is considered by companies to assist in an increasing need to screen through a larger pool of candidates Benefits Recruitment  is seen as a cost incurring process in an organization.  RPO  has helped the HR professionals of an organisation to concentrate on the strategic functions and processes of human resource management instead of wasting their efforts, time and money on the routine work. Outsourcing of the  recruitment process helps cut the recruitment costs to around 20 % and provides economies of scale to a large sized organization. Outsourcing  has become beneficial for both the corporate organisations that use outsourcing services as well as the consultancies that provide the service. Apart from increasing their revenues,  outsourcing Process  also provides business opportunities to the service providers, enhances the skill set of the service providers and exposure to different corporate experiences thereby increasing their expertise. Time/Speed: Hiring of a recruitment company to do the recruitment process for a new project saves precious time. The recruitment agency already has the database of prospects classified according to their skills, knowledge and experience. Once the requirements are provided by the organisation and the service provider provides the organisation with a list of candidates that would be ready to be interviewed. Money/Costs: In traditional recruitment process the HR professionals have to stop their current work and concentrate on the recruitment process. This is a problem for the small and middle sized companies, the big corporations have their own recruitment departments. By outsourcing the whole of the recruitment process these companies save costs incurred in the recruitment process. The HR professionals can focus on their current work without worrying about recruitment process. These days even the big companies are outsourcing their recruitment processes to reduce costs. Quality: It is considered that the recruitment needs of a company are better realised by the owner or someone working for it. But while recruiting new personnel for a specific job or project this can be very challenging. Specialised recruitment agencies have an extensive database of resumes and the networking to source the right type of candidate. Risks Though RPO has benefits, it has its own sets of limitations/risks. RPO will be successful in the context of a well-defined corporate and staffing strategy. A company must manage its RPO activities, providing initial direction and continued monitoring to get the desired results. Loose Definition of RPO: As RPO is a commercial concept rather than a specific definition, there is little regulation to RPO providers. As such, a recruitment agency can brand their services as RPO without actually structuring them in a way that will provide the most benefit to their clients. Cost: Though RPO engagement is considered as cost saving method, the  cost  of engaging an RPO provider can be more than the cost of the internal recruitment department, as an RPO provider is likely to have higher  business overheads. Effectiveness: If an RPO provider does not understand or seek to understand the recruitment solution that they will be providing, it will lead to an improperly implemented RPO. This would reduce the effectiveness of recruitment. Failure to Deliver: When finding candidates in industry sectors where there are staff shortages, RPO service providers may fail to provide the quality or volume of staff required by their clients. Pre-Existing Issues: If the companys existing recruitment processes are not effective or if the service provider lacks appropriate recruitment processes/procedures to work with the client the RPO solution may not work. In such a situation, it is better for the company to undergo a recruitment  optimisation programme. Engagement: Many RPO organisations perform their staffing functions and service  offsite  or  offshore. This disconnects the provider from the client companys growth and recruiting strategy. Though this effect can be mitigated by strong relationship management, some of the momentum and energy associated with the rapid up scaling of a workforce through recruitment may dissipate. Social Media/Networking in Recruitment Social media recruitment is the next big thing on the cards. A lot of companies have started using Web 2.0 application for recruitment purposes. Web 2.0 is the second generation Internet-based services which is different from the first generation static Web sites with little interaction. Popular Web 2.0 applications include the social media/networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, LinkedIn, MySpace), blogs, podcasts (Podcast Alley, iTunes), video sharing sites (YouTube, FlickR), mobile apps, etc. Today LinkedIn and Facebook has become a powerful tool in recruitment. LinkedIn is a social networking website meant specifically for networking amongst working professionals. Social media recruitment widens reach and helps segmentation, targeting and positioning of potential jobseekers. They also increase the accuracy of profile searches.  Instead of simply recruiting the person with the best-looking CV, social media can ensure that that person is also the best fit for the company. Companies like Accenture, Cognizant, Mindtree, HP-Mphasis and Wipro are planning to hire workers from social networking sites such as LinkedIn. Linkedln is becoming a hot spot  for Companies looking out to hire workers. Recruitment done through the social networking site Linkedln comes with references and are cost effective as they are free. Companies go through the relevant profiles, and can take a look at the recommendations provided by acquaintances of potential candidates before hiring workers. Mphasis used Facebook along with LinkedIn to recruit new workers by creating a page on Facebook. Benefits Recruitment through Social media/networking websites has its own benefits which are not available in other methods of recruitment. Higher accuracy: As social media/networking websites have no physical boundaries job candidates can be searched geographically and found with higher accuracy than before, narrowing the number of candidates and adding to recruiting effectiveness. Fast: As more and more people today use these websites, the available jobs can get filled quicker, lowering vacancy rates because of social medias high usage rate and immediate response time. This helps in a companys ability to attract talent versus competitors. Cost: Social media recruitment has a low cost with high ROI. In most of the cases it is almost free as most websites are free to register and use. Attracting fresh talent: A large number of social media users are college students, and they are fresh talent for entry level positions. Using social media an organization can easily attract this talent pool. Brand visibility: Using social media/networking for recruitment Increases the employers brand visibility online and establishes a leading-edge image for the brand. Risks Social media/networking offers benefits vis-a-vis other methods of recruitment, but it also has its own share of risks. Effectiveness yet to be proven: While social networks are undoubtedly here to stay, whether they become a more central part to the hiring process or not is yet to proved. The amount of recruitment done through this mode is still very low as it is in initial stages. Demographics of representation: Social media as the labour pool does not fully represent the demographics of the general public. There could be more race and age claims over the coming years due to sourcing through social networking sites. Discrimination: There could be discrimination in recruitment due to a persons country of origin, religious preference, disability, age or sexual orientation etc. Lack of clear recruitment standards and process: Recruitment through social media does not involve clear standards of recruitment. Hence any rejections based on softer criteria can lead to discrimination lawsuits being filed by the rejected candidates.

candy Essay -- essays research papers

Candy Thesis: I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Opening Statement B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thesis II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Skittles A. B. I would like to think of myself as a healthy eater. I try not to eat much meat during the week and I always eat a variety vegetables. Nevertheless, I have this weakness that renders all my attempts at healthy eating D.O.A. Of course I am talking about candy. Even thought it is almost completely made of sugar, I cannot get enough. Everyone has their favorite candy; some may like sour or sweet while others stick to the classics; chocolate or camel. The only problem is I like them all so narrowing it down is not easy. I think the best way would be to pick through my long list of favorites and come up with the top three. My all time favorite candy’s are, in no particular order, laffy taffy, skittles, and pralines. Some people simply despise fruity candies. Somehow I always seem to find myself not only buying, but also enjoying them. It seems the sky is the limit when it comes to the colors and flavors availably to choose from. Even through the seemingly endless type, I stay true to skittles in particular. I simply cannot get enough of those delicious little candies. They are about the same size as an m&m, but much more colorful. I would say my favorite flavor would have to be the red ones. The colors coordinate to the flavors. Red skittles are strawberry. The purple ...

Irish Prison System Essay

In 2012, the average cost of imprisonment per prisoner in Ireland was â‚ ¬65, 404. The current prison population is 4, 306. That’s an estimated 282, 000,000 of the tax payers money spent on prisons in Ireland per annum. Introduction This Irish prison system consists of 15 different institutions. This is made up of eleven traditional ‘closed’ prisons, two ‘open’ prisons, a training prison and a prison for young offenders. All of our prisons are termed medium-low security, apart from Portlaoise prison; a male only prison and our countries only high security prison. The purpose of a prison is to retain those legally committed of a crime as punishment or whilst they await trial. ‘The mission of the Irish prison service (as stated in their 2010 Annual Report) is to provide safe, secure and humane custody for people who are sent to prison. The Service is committed to managing custodial sentences in a way which encourages and supports prisoners in their endeavouring to live law abiding and purposeful lives as valued members of society.’ This essay will examine the capital which is currently spent on the Irish prison system and assess if the Irish prison system merits the money which it expends. Is â‚ ¬65,404 a reasonable amount to spend on the legal punishment of one individual, and are the systems in place effective in providing our prisoners with rehabilitation and social regeneration? Utilising these findings the discussion will attempt to offer alternative systems of punishment to imprisonment. Poor Conditions The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out an examination of Irish prison conditions in January- February 2010. The report described ‘degrading’ behaviour and ‘un-hygienic’ conditions. An examination of Portlaoise prison’s E-block discovered inadequate and unacceptable sanitary facilities. The cells were small (6m ²) and some of them were dilapidated with broken windows and dirty walls. None of the cells had in-cell sanitation and, at night, if a prisoner had to defecate he was likely thereafter to wrap up the faeces in a parcel and sometimes throw it out of the window. A typical day for a prisoner is made up of 16  ½ hours of ‘lock up’, those under severe confinement can endure 18 hours or more of being restricted to their cell. In extreme cases some prisoners may not even get to spend one hour a day outside of their cell. The CPT concluded that: ‘†¦ 23-hour lock-up should only be considered as a temporary respite, whereas in the Irish prison system it has developed into a general measure.’ The Prisoner’s Life Whilst research presents the inhumane conditions that exist in some of our prisons we also hear reports of recreationally facilities that some law abiding working class citizens do not even have access too. In 2009 journalist with the Evening Herald, Cormac Looney states that a sum of almost â‚ ¬200,000 was spent on sports equipment for prisoners in Ireland. He notes that Mountjoy Prison received â‚ ¬36,388 worth or sports, gym and recreational equipment, while inmates of the high-security Portlaoise prison which include former gang lord John Giligan received â‚ ¬28, 214 in sports equipment. Fiach Kelly of the Irish Independent informed us in 2010 that members of the Irish prison service had signed an additional â‚ ¬200,000 contract to upgrade our prisons for the subsequent three years. Kelly quotes Fine Gael’s then spokesman on public spending, Brian Hayes. â€Å"I fully accept the prisoners need proper gym facilities,† he said. â€Å"The question is why are they being kitted out again at this cost. I find it quite extraordinary the IPS (Irish Prisoners Service) signed off on this lavish expenditure item.† The IPS justified these expenses, claiming the equipment was of good value for the agreed price. An IPS spokesperson maintained that the provision of a gym would in the long run help prisoners to take control of other areas of their lives. Surely our prison systems main priority should be acting in accordance to their mission statement as stated in their three year strategic plan (2012-2015), adhering to the guidelines set for protecting basic human rights and meeting the prescribed health and safety standards. Our Mission: Providing safe and secure custody, dignity of care and rehabilitation to prisoners for safer communities. Our Vision: A safer community through excellence in a prison service built on respect for human dignity. A Case Study – Inside the Joy Little do Irishmen know the wretchedness of imprisonment. (John K. Casey, Fenian prisoner, Mountjoy Prison) Much ‘no-holds-barred’ writings exist on the inside stories of Mountjoy prison. They reveal what life is really like as an inmate; from desperation and depression, to bullying, beatings and the drugs network. The 2010 report by the CPT describes the ill-treatment of prisoners by staff members. An inmate of Mountjoy prison claims he was physically assaulted by a number of prison officers; A prisoner at Mountjoy Prison alleged that on 15 October 2009 he was physically assaulted in his cell by several prison officers, in the course of which he claimed he was thrown on the floor and repeatedly stamped and hit on the chest, arms and head. He also alleged that he was punched in the ribs while being escorted down the stairs to the basement of B Block 9. The photographic evidence of the injuries contained in the medical record is consistent with repeated injury to the chest wall; extensive bruising of the outer aspect of the left arm is not consistent with simply having been restrained. Former Governor of Mountjoy John Lonergan provides an insight into the prison. Even Lonergan maintains it was still a kip when he retired in June 2010. Paul Howards ‘tell-all’ account of a prisoner’s life in Mountjoy unveil stark revelations of the desperate conditions Irelands’ criminals endure. Prisoners are limited to one shower a week and one change of underwear per week. We learn of the littlest things that bring joy to the inmates such as a radio-show by Father Michael Cleary and the effects that using a privilege like the use of the library have on prisoners. Problems with Irish Prisons The Irish Prison System leaves a lot to be desired, outlined below are two of the major problems the system faces. * Overcrowding An over-reliance of the Irish criminal system on imprisonment as a form of punishment is just one explanation but forward in an attempt to explain the vast number (4,306) of criminals sentenced to imprisonment. The number of individuals sent to prison for not paying fines has increased by 10.5%, resulting in an estimated 18 non-fine payers occupying prison cells on any one day. Findings of the CPT report over-crowding in all the major prisons. The report questions the progress of Mountjoy’s Thornton Hall complex which the Irish authorities had originally optimistically stated would be complete and ready for occupancy in 2010, this date has now been pushed back to 2015. Besides building new cells and providing additional sleeping arrangements our only option is to reduce the number of individuals admitted to our prisons. Tackling the crime rate is another problem so for now we should look at providing petty criminals with punishment other than imprisonment. The Irish Prison Services Annual Reports for 2002 and 2003, noting the expense of keeping an individual in prison stress that ‘imprisonment must remain the sanction of last resort.’ * Staffing Issues In 2010 the Irish Examiner amongst other national publications alleged that Northern Ireland’s prisons had more staff than inmates. Particular reference was made to Maghaberry prison, a high security prison in Co. Antrim. Statistics presented showed that Northern Ireland’s 1,500 prisoner population was staffed by approximately 2,300 persons. A well-staffed prison is not sufficient if it can’t recognise its’ inmates basic human rights and provide facilities which satisfy these. â‚ ¬282,000,000 Worth of Expenses If overcrowding is common, and basic sanitary facilities are not being provided then why is the Irish Prison System expending an overwhelming amount of capital? While the figures are high expenditure has actually de-creased in recent years, this is not due to a fall in the number of prisoners but more to do with the issue of overcrowding which reduces the cost of bed space. Again we need to look at those responsible for the management of staffing and finance. It seems the Irish Prison System, like much of the State’s governing bodies need a lesson in financial management. What is the Alternative? There is no question that prisons are an integral part of any functioning society, but in order to provide basic facilities for criminals who require such punishment we need to look at the crimes that may not require punishment of that extent. We need to look at alternative means of punishment for the likes of non-fine payers and similar offenders. The Evening Herald tells us that just less than 200 individuals were punished with prison sentences for not paying court fines linked to TV licenses in 2011. The article shows that 25 people a day are now being sent to prison for failing to pay court fines. There were 1, 680 women sent to prison in 2011 and 1, 300 of those were due to their failure to pay court ordered fines. An obvious alternative punishment for non-fine payers and similar offenders is community service, no real threat to society as a whole and humiliation and inconvenience would be effective punishment for such crimes. Community service could be in their local area so as to increase the humiliation therefore deter individuals from re-offending and encourage others to pay such charges. Another suggestion is the introduction of manual labour into the prison system. The Irish Prison System outlined the need for exercise for prisoners, instead of spending capital on the provision of state-of-the-art fitness and training equipment serious offenders could be forced to participate in tasks such as the cleaning, up-keep and refurbishing of prisons. While a prisoner’s intrinsic rights and health must always be foremost in decision making a reduction in some more lavish recreational facilities may reduce the number of re-offenders when they have extremely negative experiences in prison. The number of prisoners committed to prison more than once in 2010 stood at 3,421. In More Streetwise: Stories from Irish Prisons editor and part-time prison teacher Neville Thompson suggests the provision of a back-up system for prisoners when they are released. He describes a touring theatre company which he hopes to set up; â€Å"What a Waste Productions.† The company would engage in writing, music, acting, set design and production. This idea could reduce the number of re-offenders. With too much time to think and very little space in which to do it prisoner’s very often resort to writing or poetry, involvement in something positive which helps them discuss and come to terms with their experiences in prison may discourage prisoners from returning to crime. Thompson envisages the production company eventually becoming self-supporting but justifies initial government financial input in these terms; It now costs â‚ ¬85,000 to keep a prisoner inside. God knows how many prisoners rob before they are caught again. However, we are looking to get â‚ ¬20,000 per prisoner for the projects we have in hand. At first instance, taking the projects we have in place it would cost us â‚ ¬200,000 to keep our project afloat for a year as opposed to â‚ ¬850,000 to keep them incarcerated. Conclusion While the idea that prisons’ are a complete waste of money is generally as result of ignorance the large amount of capital that the Irish Prison System expends is not justified when we look at the failure of Irish prisons to deliver basic facilities to inmates. We need to sentence those who need to be dealt with in such a way and look at an alternative means of punishment for those who don’t require such punishment. Much media coverage tells us of the lavish lifestyles which inmates such as Sean Quinn lead. This glamourises prison life and needs to be tackled in order to promote a less-appealing system and make the Irish prison system what it should be; a threat to discourage individuals from committing crimes. The suggestion that tackling media portrayal of life in prison would greatly reduce the number of offenders is highly idealistic but coupled with an effective program for criminals coming out of prison may at least reduce the number of re-offenders. References Books: * Carey, T. 2000. Mountjoy: The Story of a Prison. Cork: The Collins Press. * Howard, P.1996. The Joy. Dublin: The O’Brien Press. * Lonergan, J. 2010. The Governor. Dublin: Penguin Ireland. * O’Donnell, I. and O’Sullivan. E. 2001. Crime Control in Ireland: The politics of Intolerance. Cork: Cork University Press. * O’Mahony, P. 2000. Prison Policy in Ireland: Criminal Justice versus Social Justice. Cork: Cork University Press. * Thompson, N. 2007. More Streetwise: Stories from Irish Prisons. Mullingar: Killynon House Books Ltd. Government Publications: * Irish Prison Service 2012. Three Year Strategic Plan [Online] Available from: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/17473/1/ips_three_year_strategic_plan.pdf [Last Accessed 09 May 2013] * The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 2010. Report to the Government of Ireland on the visit to Ireland carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment [Online]. Available from: http://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/irl/2011-03-inf-eng.pdf [Accessed 09 May 2013]. * The Irish Prison Service 2010. Irish Prison Service Annual Report [Online] Available from:http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Irish_Prison_Service_2010_Annual_Report.pdf/Files/Irish_Prison_Service_2010_Annual_Report.pdf [Accessed 09 May 2013] Newspaper Articles: * Kelly, F. 2010. Prisons to spend â‚ ¬200,000 on ‘lavish’ equipment for gyms. The Irish Independent: Ireland [Online], 13 October. Available from: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/prisons-to-spend-200000-on-lavish-equipment-for-gyms-26689415.html [Accessed 09 May 2013]. * Lavery, M. 2013. 121 women are sent to jail for failing to pay TV licence fines. The Evening Herald: Ireland [Online], 15 December. Available from: http://www.herald.ie/news/121-women-are-sent-to-jail-for-failing-to-pay-tv-licence-fines-28963049.html [Accessed 09 May 2013]. * Looney, C. 2009. â‚ ¬200k for prison gyms as garda budget slashed. The Evening Herald: Ireland [Online], 05 March. Available from: http://www.herald.ie/news/200k-for-prison-gyms-as-garda-budget-slashed-27903752.html [Accessed 09 May 2013]. * O’Keefe, C. 2013. Prison bosses urge to kick football spend to touch. The Irish Examiner Ireland [Online], 10 January. Available from: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/pri son-bosses-urged-to-kick-football-spend-to-touch-219146.html [Accessed 09 May 2013]. * The Irish Examiner, 2010. North’s prisons ineffective ‘despite having more staff than prisoners’. 14 December. Available from: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/norths-prisons-ineffective-despite-having-more-staff-than-prisoners-485592.html [Accessed 09 May 2013]. Websites: * The Irish Penal Reform Trust 2013. Facts and figures [Online]. Available from: http://www.iprt.ie/ [Last Accessed 09 May 2013]. * The Irish Prison Service 2013. Prisons [Online] Available from: http://www.irishprisons.ie/index.php/joomlaorg [Last Accessed 09 May 2013]. Other: * Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice 2012. The Irish Prison System Vision, Values, Reality. Dublin: Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. * Matthews-Lynch, C. 2010. Are prisons a waste of money? [Online] BA, Dublin City University. Available: http://carlymatthews.me/writings/college/2nd-year/cm261-crime-the-media/ [Last Accessed 09 May 2013].

Discovery and Conquest of America was achieved through the heroic acts of great men, is this myth or reality?

Before I discuss my stand about this matter, let me first tackle myth. As the definition, Myth (mythos) is a sacred story concerning the origins of the world or how the world and the creatures in it came to have their present form. The active beings in myths are generally gods and heroes. Myths often are said to take place before recorded history begins. In saying that a myth is a sacred narrative, what is meant is that a myth is believed to be true by people who attach religious or spiritual significance to it. Use of the term by scholars does not imply that the narrative is either true or false.A Myth in popular use is something that is widely believed to be false. This usage, which is often pejorative, arose from labeling the religious myths and beliefs of other cultures as being incorrect, but it has spread to cover non-religious beliefs as well. Because of this usage, many people take offense when the religious narratives they believe to be true are called myths. This usage is f requently confused with fiction, legend, fairy tale, folklore, fable, and urban legend, each of which has a distinct meaning in academia.If we will discuss myth further, and if we will elaborate this into details, as stated, it takes place before recorded history begins. So most likely, there is no basis or proof that it really happened in the past. And it is much easier to make a certain claim or story because nobody have experienced or witnessed such event. And the creative mind of writers/people is indeed very useful. Writers or story makers can give some scenario, a make-believe story that eventually, readers or listeners will claim as a real thing that occurs or took place somewhere else in the world somewhere back in time.How many myths and stories like this have roamed around the globe? Some where even taught in most schools and universities. And we are all quite interested in hearing or listening to such stories, because our imagination is at work. Then we begin to wonder, t o share it to others and eventually, hold to it as the truth. Now, let’s define reality. In everyday usage, it means â€Å"the state of things as they actually exist. † Reality is something that really happened or is happening. Most of the important or significant happenings are documented so it will be preserved and nobody will and can question its existence and or occurrence.Most of it nowadays are being broadcast, televised, exposed and presented to the world using communication mediums. Now, let me have my stand. Heroic acts of great men cannot be claimed as myth. It is a reality. It is in the history. How would we ever named some of them and make a story about their battles and their respective lives and contributions in the entire country if we really don’t have any basis or something to claim as their â€Å"walks† during their time? Where did historians get their stories behind the past events?How writers of different ages, races derived their resp ective write-ups and claims if they don’t have any research or basis in writing such things? We cannot say that it was merely frictional or due to their abundant and wild imaginations, though we know that human beings are highly intellectual. And a lot of discoveries around the world are eminent to all races, that would enlighten and give people the hint or idea of what happened in the past or what people in the early years have or experienced before they vanished in the surface of earth.Heroic acts are not merely the act of giving someone’s life for the sake of something bigger. It is not always the act of doing something great, it is not always visible in the naked eyes. Sometimes or there are times that silence is indeed the act itself of heroism, of course it depends on the situation. And heroism is not measured on how small or big it is, so long that action was done with love and dedication for something worthwhile. Let’s have the Philippines as a clear exa mple for this matter. We all know that there was a lot of invasion in the above mentioned country.But there were those great man who stand out and fight to get the freedom of their beloved country. To name a few, there is Jose Rizal who used his brilliant mind in writing to awaken the heart of his fellow Filipinos to fight against Spaniards, Andres Bonifacio, Lapu-Lapu, GOMBURZA (Gomez, Burgos and Zamora) and a lot more. Their acts of heroism are of different forms and ways. But still, they made a difference. In America, there are as well great heroes. To name some, there is John Ordroneauxre who fought the British in 1812; Haym Salomon who was the financier of the revolutionary war; Col.Leon Dyer who served the country in the three wars; Major Leopold Blumenberg who was a hero of the civil war and a lot more, in different fields, of different ways of showing their heroic acts for the country with arms wide-open. Furthermore, let’s have the exploration of Christopher Columbus , if he and his men do not have any single heroic acts in their lives during their time, they will never discover land for territorial expansion. We all know that exploration took place not just for days but of years.And those men spent their lives for such thing even if they don’t know if they will be successful or not. And yes they made it. October 12, 1492 is indeed a time they will never forget, the date they discovered America. From there on and up to the present, we all know that a lot of men devoted their lives for the love of country. Ups and downs come and go but still, America stands still. Now going back to the main issue of the discovery and conquest of America that was achieved through the heroic acts of men as a reality and not as a myth, let’s have the existence of Thanksgiving.If there is no single heroic act in the past, if there is no reason to be thankful, so why is that so that America have this Thanksgiving which usually celebrated on the second to the last week of November? It is not merely for thanking the Almighty God for all His blessings and guidance for the whole year round but as well as for commemorating the whole heroic acts of all individuals who in one way or another make America a successful and abundant country in most aspect, in all aspect. Nowadays, what is America? In the world, America is the powerful and strong nation. Great leaders ruled America.Even having some unexpected issues and battles, America remains standing. Untouched and undivided. How come? Merely because, there is those men with open arms who are very much willing to give their lives for the country without asking or waiting for anything in return. There is still and always those man who are very much willing to give something, small or big, special or not that would make a difference. I guess that’s all that matters. And that heroic act will always be there, until the end of time. We can never question that. It is something that sometim es heart could only understand.As to scholars of our times that question the issue of heroic act of some great men, maybe they have their own point of view. Maybe they have unsatisfied curiosity, maybe some of their questions were not clearly answered. We cannot please everybody nor to persuade them to believe in something that they really don’t believe. Maybe they need some proof. Or maybe, they just wanted historians/writers to prove their respective work a reality and not just mere a story to tell or something that will catch the whole world’s attention. People are entitled to hold on to their own opinion. Let’s just respect each other’s point of view.

Conflict in the Outsider essays

Conflict in the Outsider essays Conflict in the Outsider A Man in Revolt The major source of conflict in the text, The Outsider written by Albert Camus, is ultimately Meursaults rebellion against the expectations of society. This conflict, caused be rebellion, controls the plot line of the text from the time of Meursaults mothers death and eventually leads him to his own death. Like Camus himself, Meursault was in love with the sun and the sea. His life was devoted to appreciating physical sensations. He is devoid of any emotion, so much so as to appear traumatised or child-like. Meursault can be portrayed as Camus metaphysical rebel, a man who says by his actions, I will go this far, but no further. In order to understand Meursaults rebellion one must first understand the nature of his personality as portrayed by Camus. The novel begins with the laconic assertion Mother died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I cant be sure. Meursaults lack of emotion of his mothers death eventually leads to his own. The conflict here is Meursaults refusal to fake sentimentality since he does not feel anything. His mothers death briefly interrupts the pleasant flow of Meursaults life; a life devoted to appreciating sensation. He loves the feel of a crisp towel in the washroom. He enjoys eating, drinking and smoking cigarettes. He loves to watch the sea and the sky. Swimming and making love to beautiful women like Marie are his favourite pastimes, so much so that an offer of a job promotion in Paris does not in the least appeal to him. He loves the feel of a crisp towel in the washroom. He enjoys eating, drinking, and smoking cigarettes. When something bores him or distresses him he simply goes to sl eep, as he does on the bus to his mother's funeral and even in jail. He is a detached observer of life. Symbolic of this quality is the Sunday he spends watching the ebb and flow of life in hi...

How to Calculate the Density of a Gas

How to Calculate the Density of a Gas If the  molecular mass  of a gas  is known, the ideal gas law can be manipulated to find the density of the gas. Its just a matter of plugging in the right variables and performing a few calculations. How to Calculate Gas Density What is the density of a gas with molar mass 100 g/mol at 0.5 atm and 27 degrees Celsius? Before you begin, keep in mind what youre looking for as an answer in terms of units. Density is defined as mass per unit volume, which can be expressed in terms of grams per liter or grams per milliliter. You may need to do unit conversions. Keep on the lookout for unit mismatches when you plug values into equations. First, start with the ideal gas law: PV nRT where P pressure,  V volume,  n number of moles of gas,  R gas constant 0.0821 L ·atm/mol ·K, and  T absolute temperature  (in Kelvin). Examine the units of R carefully. This is where many people get into trouble. Youll get an incorrect answer if you enter a temperature in Celsius or pressure in Pascals, etc. Always use atmosphere for pressure, liters for volume, and Kelvin for temperature. To find the density of the gas, you  need to know the mass of the gas and the volume. First, find the volume. Here is the ideal gas law equation rearranged to solve for V: V nRT/P After you have found the volume, you must find the mass. The number of moles is the place to start. The number of moles is the mass (m) of the gas divided by its molecular mass (MM): n m/MM Substitute this mass value into the volume equation in place of n: V mRT/MM ·P Density (Ï ) is mass per volume. Divide both sides by m: V/m RT/MM ·P Then invert the equation: m/V MM ·P/RTÏ  MM ·P/RT Now you have the ideal gas law rewritten in a form you can use with the information you were given. To find the density of the gas, just plug in the values of the known variables. Remember to use absolute temperature for T: 27 degrees Celsius   273 300 KelvinÏ  (100 g/mol)(0.5 atm)/(0.0821 L ·atm/mol ·K)(300 K) Ï  2.03 g/L The density of the gas is 2.03 g/L at 0.5 atm and 27 degrees Celsius. How to Decide If You Have a Real Gas The ideal gas law is written for ideal or perfect gases. You can use values for real gases so long as they act like ideal gases. To use the formula for a real gas, it must be at low pressure and low temperature. Increasing pressure or temperature raises the kinetic energy of the gas  and forces the molecules to interact. While the ideal gas law can still offer an approximation under these conditions, it becomes less accurate when molecules are close together and excited.

White Surname Meaning and Origin

White Surname Meaning and Origin The White last name has several different possible origins: White is usually a descriptive name or nickname given to a person with very light hair or complexion, from the Middle English whit, meaning white.The last name White may be also local, derived from the Isle of Wight, on the coast of Hampshire, England.In addition, some Whites originally were Wights, from the Anglo-Saxon wiht, meaning valiant. White is the 16th most common surname in England, the 20th most common last name in America, and the 10th most popular name in Australia. Surname Origin:Â  English, Scottish, Irish Alternate Surname Spellings:Â  WHYTE, WHIET, WIGHT, WHYTTE Fun Facts About the Last Name Albus is the Latin form of the White surname. Famous People With the Surname Governor John White - governor of the failed Roanoke ColonyReggie White - NFL football legend, Pro Football Hall of FameEdward Higgins White II - American astronaut; died 1967 in the Apollo 204 fire at Cape Kennedy, FloridaStanford White - American architect Genealogy Resources for the Surname White Surname DNA ProjectThe goal of the the White surname project is to distinguish between White ancestral lines worldwide. White Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the White surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own White query. There is also a separate forum for the WHYTE variation of the White surname. Source: Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, 2005. Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia. Avotaynu, 2004. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

The Walt Disney Company Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Walt Disney Company - Research Paper Example The company was later reincorporated in 1929 as Walt Disney Productions, Ltd, and it became a publicly-traded company in 1938. The company became a leading American animation industry before it was diversified into live-action film production, television, and travel. The Walt Disney Company is well known for its Walt Disney Pictures Group and presently it is one of the leading studios in Hollywood. The Walt Disney has formed a $7 billion agreement with Pixar Animation Studios where Steve Jobs is the Chief Executive Officer and 50.6% owner. On the strength of this deal, Jobs will become the largest shareholder at Disney and acquire a major position in its director board. This alliance ensures the collaborated business operation of both Pixar and Disney animation studios. Management experts opine that this acquisition would assist the Disney to continue its dominance in American animation industry. Presently, both the Disney and Pixar possess considerable managerial strengths which off er prosperous future for the integrated operations. This paper will evaluate the scope of the Disney-Pixar alliance by focusing more on different aspects of this acquisition strategy. Steve Jobs’ influence on Walt Disney Steve Jobs who is blessed with an innovative brain is the co-founder of Apple Inc; whereas, the Disney has already gained a good stature among its customers across the globe. The case study indicates that the Disney’s long run success can be mainly attributed to its value creation through diversification. The company’s three dimensional corporate strategies include horizontal and geographic expansion as well as vertical integration. When the Disney takes advantages of all available expansional opportunities or choices of businesses, Steve Jobs tries to develop new products in accordance with changing market interests. Hence, Disney’s repute and Jobs’ technical expertise together would assist the Walt Disney to achieve infinite heig hts in market. On the strength of Job’s long years’ experience in technological innovation, the Disney can minimize its research and development costs to a large extent. In addition, this strategic alliance would assist the Disney to reduce the intensity of market competition and the situation may add value to the company’s future vision and strategies. As Mungenast (2007) points out, the Pixar Animation Studios also possess a series of competitive strengths including CGI-animate feature films developed with PhotoRealistic RenderMan that generates high quality images (p.9). Therefore, the planned acquisition may assist the Disney to increase the number of its potential customer groups. It is known to everyone that Jobs’ relentless effort was the only factor that lifted Pixar and Apple sky-high. If he can bring his innovativeness to this new venture, he will uplift the staid company to a leading laboratory for media convergence. Management of Digital Age C orporation After his astounding success in Apple and Pixar, Steve Jobs sets a new bar for how to manage a Digital Age corporation. As music, movies, and photography go digital, customer interests have switched from complex product structures to elegant simple devices. From the case study, it is clear that Jobs in an obsessive perfectionist who demands total control over each and every aspect of product, from hardware and software to its applications. Jobs’ efficient leadership also contributes to the effective management of a

AnimeMethod and Meaning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

AnimeMethod and Meaning - Essay Example The substance of this prose will analyze the production and narrative of the anime in light of eminent feature Anime films and series. One of the greatest treasures in the world of Japanese anime is Studio Ghibli and their master creator, Hayao Miyazaki. His anime like spirited away, Nausicaa of the valley of the wind and Mononoke Hime are one of the great anime features that define almost every individual’s childhood. These anime consisted of fantastic animation, with vibrant color schemes and used computer graphics. Studio Ghibli even defied some of the norms set by their very own animation industry. The characters in Studio Ghibli anime had proportionate eyes as opposed to the extremely over-sized eyes in other mainstream anime and also the hair color of the characters was close to what was natural unless the character had a supernatural origin. The end result was that the animation style was smooth and had a very intense, life-like feel to it. One of the most recurring sub -genres in almost all of Miyazaki anime was the concept of steampunk. Steampunk is a cinematic concept that shows the use of steam-powered machines rather than the use of sophisticated technology. For Miyazaki, the use of Steampunk was meant to juxtapose east with west and man with nature, because steam power is generated using coal that is extracted from the earth. Moreover, it is a viable method of creating machinery but there are alternate power sources as well that the West had come up with and the anime tried to explore the aspect of Japan trying to catch up with their western counterparts. (Shaner 2011) All three of the aforementioned anime went on to gain critical acclaim, but it was not the production style that caught the audience’s but it was the amazing storyline that went with it. All three of these anime were metaphors for some important events and controversies that had grabbed the entire world. Mononoke Hime is about a girl Mononoke raised by wolves who fights to protect the forest, and another sub-plot involves Prince Ashitaka, who has been poisoned by possessed boar and then sets out to save the spirit of nature. The film was ranked high because of its deep message regarding environment preservation and has taken inspiration from many historical incidents. Most notably, the anime feature hits upon the use of Atomic bomb and other destructive weapons that not only destroy life but the world we live in as well. Moreover, the movie was also a metaphorical representation of the struggle by the Japanese government to have a more balanced approach for the environment and rapid modernization. The event gained media attention after the announcement regarding the construction of Narita Airport. There was a huge furor particularly from the agricultural sector and the farmer, who strongly opposed the construction project. (Selin & Kalland 2003, 178) Naturally, the biggest concern for the people and activists was the environment and even though, th e government had suppressed all sorts of rebellion from the farmers but the activists did try to sabotage the project all throughout the 70’s (Selin & kalland 2003, 178). Therefore, Princess Mononoke was a loose adaptation of the events that transpired during the 70’s and the forest creatures, and the titular character and Prince Ashitaka represented the farmers and activists

Engl week 3 forum Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Engl week 3 forum - Assignment Example As such they should do their best to deliver something that would appeal to the public. The writer should prepare just enough contents for his or her audience and not bore them with unimportant introductions or basics. The audience should also see that your article is useful and matters to them. Writing an article with a clear purpose makes it attractive to read. The audience targeted should feel that the article addresses a particular issue in their lives. The article should focus on specific topics and not be general or vague (Annemare, 127). If the issues of the audience and purpose are not addressed, several problems may arise. If the audience is not considered, age groups may be offended or even problems of gender sensitivity may arise. If the purpose of an article is not considered, the article will not be resourceful to the audience. Purpose gives an article meaning and resourcefulness (Annemare, 197). Once I read an article on fashion that did not seem to describe a difference between the dressing of teenagers and adults. I bet anyone who went through the article could not find good advice on dress code since it did not specify how different age groups should

Mathematical Expressions and Order of Operations Speech or Presentation

Mathematical Expressions and Order of Operations - Speech or Presentation Example What is the growth rate of its real GDP? Assume that population is 100 in year 1 and 102 in year 2. What is the growth rate of GDP per capita? 11. Key Question If the CPI was 110 last year and is 121 this year, what is this year’s rate of inflation? What is the â€Å"rule of 70†? How long would it take for the price level to double if inflation persisted at (a) 2, (b) 5, and (c) 10 percent per year? 2. Key Question Graph the accompanying demand data, and then use the midpoint formula for Ed to determine price elasticity of demand for each of the four possible $1 price changes. What can you conclude about the relationship between the slope of a curve and its elasticity? Explain in a nontechnical way why demand is elastic in the northwest segment of the demand curve and inelastic in the southeast segment. The price elasticity of demand is unity. Below the equilibrium point, which denoted a point of no profit no loss between the sales and demand, an increase in demand would cause a fall in price, thereby resulting in a producer surplus. As such, more goods are produced and the low price results in decreased profits. In the case of the region above the equilibrium point, an increase in price would require the production of less goods. Therefore, for a quantity of goods sold, the profit margin would be greater. Hence, the demand curve is considered to be elastic in this region. 7. Key Question A firm has fixed costs of $60 and variable costs as indicated in the table on the following page. Complete the table and check your calculations by referring to question 4 at the end of Chapter 23. b. Graph AFC, AVC, ATC, and MC. Explain the derivation and shape of each of these four curves and their relationships to one another. Specifically, explain in nontechnical terms why the MC curve intersects both the AVC and the ATC curves at their minimum

Violent Video Games Make Kids Violent Research Paper

Violent Video Games Make Kids Violent - Research Paper Example Majority of the studies agree, nevertheless, that violent video games can have significant impact on aggression among children (Bartholow et al; Carnagey et al.; Funk et al.; Polman et al.). Although not all children who play violent video games develop aggressive behaviors, several studies showed that violent video games can make kids violent, including those who do not have aggressive traits, because it decreases their capacity for empathy, it desensitizes them to violence, and it develops antisocial behaviors. Playing violent video games reduces children’s ability to show empathy to others, which can make them more aggressive toward other people. Violent video games commonly show lack of empathy for others, where players can attack authorities and other human beings with ease and without consideration for laws and other psychological effects of their actions. Funk et al. studied the effects of playing violent video games on participants’ responses to vignettes, or fictional stories that contain violence. The vignettes included empathy and aggression stories. Empathy refers to â€Å"self-conscious† emotions when making moral judgments (Funk et al. 417). It is about being able to feel for someone in a different situation and responding properly to that person because of empathy (Funk et al. 417). The study of Funk et al. included 35 students with ages ranging eight to twelve years old. They surveyed the video game playing habits of these children. Then, they were made t o play one or two violent video games, and then asked to respond to vignettes on empathy and aggression. To increase identification with the actors of the vignettes, they were made specific to the gender of the participants. For instance, if the participant was a girl, then the vignette has girl characters. Findings showed that playing violent video games in the long run had significant effects on aggression because it could decrease empathy levels (Funk et al. 429). Because of playing

Common Leadership Traits - National Football League Assignment - 1

Common Leadership Traits - National Football League - Assignment Example Likewise, the methods for developing leaders in this industry would be determined; as well as the strategies for the manner by which industry leaders balance competing values and priorities. Finally, a proposal to avoid managerial derailment and failure would be provided, as required. First and foremost, the leaders in the football industry were identified to be the managers of the team, as well as the coaches (Macguire, 2013; Crust & Lawrence, 2006). The leadership traits in the industry were emphasized to focus on two crucial facets: â€Å"hardiness and mental toughness (i.e. achievement oriented, persistence, self-confidence, stress tolerance etc.)† (Crust & Lawrence, 2006, p. 37). Likewise, other leadership traits that were deemed essential for a football manager is summed, to wit: â€Å"the ability to function effectively, not just in terms of remaining healthy, but also in terms of decision-making and remaining clear and logical in thought when experiencing adversity† (Crust & Lawrence, 2006, p. 38). Other traits that were noted by Macguire (2013) to be common in football, and other sports, for that matter, were passion, possession of people skills and effective communication skills (or the ability to give clear instructions). Likewise, there are also traits which were studied to be important to be manifested by leaders in the football discipline to ensure success in the endeavor, such as: â€Å"adaptability, self-confidence, and persistence; as well as skills such as intelligence, creativity and knowledge of the group† (Stogdill, 1974; cited in Crust & Lawrence, 2006, p. 41). Concurrently, for coaches, the common leadership traits that were observed and recommended to be present; and which allegedly influences the performance of players are as follows: closeness, commitment, and complementarity (Crust & Lawrence, 2006). From the interview conducted on football managers, most have asserted that leaders in this industry must be able to exercise their skills in discerning and managing their people.  Ã‚  

Violent Video Games Make Kids Violent Research Paper

Violent Video Games Make Kids Violent - Research Paper Example Majority of the studies agree, nevertheless, that violent video games can have significant impact on aggression among children (Bartholow et al; Carnagey et al.; Funk et al.; Polman et al.). Although not all children who play violent video games develop aggressive behaviors, several studies showed that violent video games can make kids violent, including those who do not have aggressive traits, because it decreases their capacity for empathy, it desensitizes them to violence, and it develops antisocial behaviors. Playing violent video games reduces children’s ability to show empathy to others, which can make them more aggressive toward other people. Violent video games commonly show lack of empathy for others, where players can attack authorities and other human beings with ease and without consideration for laws and other psychological effects of their actions. Funk et al. studied the effects of playing violent video games on participants’ responses to vignettes, or fictional stories that contain violence. The vignettes included empathy and aggression stories. Empathy refers to â€Å"self-conscious† emotions when making moral judgments (Funk et al. 417). It is about being able to feel for someone in a different situation and responding properly to that person because of empathy (Funk et al. 417). The study of Funk et al. included 35 students with ages ranging eight to twelve years old. They surveyed the video game playing habits of these children. Then, they were made t o play one or two violent video games, and then asked to respond to vignettes on empathy and aggression. To increase identification with the actors of the vignettes, they were made specific to the gender of the participants. For instance, if the participant was a girl, then the vignette has girl characters. Findings showed that playing violent video games in the long run had significant effects on aggression because it could decrease empathy levels (Funk et al. 429). Because of playing

Is democracy valuable If so, why If not, why not Essay - 1

Is democracy valuable If so, why If not, why not - Essay Example These two principles ensure that people of a given country are treated equally before the law as well as having equal entitlement to access the legislative (Gil 12). This essay will focus on answering the question of whether democracy is valuable or not while providing concise reasons to support the argument. However, the researcher will take a neutral position in this hot debate. Democracy has an extensive past with a classical example of early democracy being the Athens. People in this city would all meet in a market place to pass decisions. In the modern world, various types of democracy are based on different ideologies. They include liberal, guided, consociation, radical as well as socialist democracies (Gil 32). Liberal democracy is termed as the most relevant democracy in today’s world. It ensures that interests of the people are protected and well represented. In this form of democracy state acts as a referee with the political process checking and balancing to ensure that tyranny of the majority does not happen may it be from the presence of larger number of representatives or minorities who have excessive powers. Citizens participate in this type of democracy by means of electoral competition or contestation all people are treated equally (Gil 22). Democracy can be termed as the most superior form of governance even though the statement might be debatable depending on a number of factors such as place of origin, culture, and beliefs among others. First, democracy plays a major role in preventing any form of ruling by vicious and cruel autocrats or dictators. Secondly, countries with this type of governance tend to be more successful that those with non-democratic government. Thirdly, the modern representatives of democracy do not engage in wars or fights amongst themselves since each understands that his or her opponents have a right to disagree with their opinion. Fourthly and the most

The Importance Of Employee Voice

The Importance Of Employee Voice This paper studies the ascertainity of the importance of employee voice within Heritage Hotels, India. It explains why the author is undertaking the research and what the author wants to achieve from this research. It continues with the literature review that highlights the seven different topics that has been explained in detail. It then talks about the Methodology in which it shows the different research methods that have been chosen and why the selective research methods have been chosen for this particular research. The paper then analyses the findings and discusses the result in detail. In the conclusion, recommendations have been presented which look at what employers would want to see in the future regarding employee voice. Acknowledgements I express my gratitude to the University of Westminster for giving me the opportunity to work on the major project during the final year of MA in Human Resource Management. There are many who helped me during this project work and I want to thank them all. I would like to thank Tamarind and Angela Hetherington, my tutors for their invaluable guidance throughout my dissertation work and endeavor period, for providing me with the requisite motivation to complete my dissertation successfully. I specially appreciate the help and guidance of all those teachers who have directly or indirectly helped me making my project a success. I would like to thank my parents who have been by my side throughout the whole process and who have given me the motivation and courage to make my dissertation a success. I would also like to thank all the employees and the manager of Heritage Hotels for taking the time out from their busy schedule to complete my interviews. Thank You. Table of Contents Title Page 1 Abstract 2 Acknowledgements 3 Table of Contents 4 5 List of Figures 6 Introduction 7 Aim Objectives 8 Aim 8 Objectives 8 Literature Review 9 Defining employee voice 9 10 Purpose of employee voice 10 Types of employee voice 11 12 Benefits and success factors 12 Benefits for employees 12 Success Factors 13 Leadership 13 Training 13 Trust openness 13 Employee Involvement 13 Employee Voice and Organizational Performance 14 Figure 1: Employee Voice 14 15 Organizational Background 15 Introduction 15 16 The secret of a great escape 16 Heritage Hotels Mission 17 Methodology 18 Introduction 18 Research Philosophy 18 Positivism 18 Interpretivist 18 19 Methods of Research Used 19 20 Research Design 20 23 Figure 2: The Research Process 21 Respondents of the Study 23 Data Collection 23 24 Interviews 24 25 How was the research attempted and measured 25 26 Analysis and Discussion 27 Introduction 27 Interpretation of Results 27 Analysis 27 28 Question 8 28 Question 9 10 28 Question 11 12 29-30 Question 13 30 Question 14 30-31 Question 16, 17 18 31 Discussion of the Analysis 31-32 Why is voice so important? 32-33 Conclusion and Recommendations Conclusion 34 35 Recommendations 35 36 Reflective Statement 37 38 References 38 42 List of Figures Figure 1: Employee Voice Chart 14 15 Figure 2: The Research Process 21 Figure 3: The Response Table 28 1.0 Introduction This research topic studies to ascertain the importance of employee voice within Heritage Hotels. It specifically focuses on how important the employee voice is today. It investigates peoples perceptions on employee voice within the Hotel. Mahak Parwal, the author, feels that this study should be undertaken because as a current student and a future employee, she believes employee voice is and should be considered as highly important. With this study, the author also wants to find out the importance of employee voice, as well as know the employees perception towards it whether they think it should be there within the organization or not. There has been a sharp increase in the significance in employee voice between academics, practitioners, and policymakers in the recent years. Boxall and Purcell (2008) state that among employers, the breakdown of the mass production era and the resulting quest for high-performance work practices that deliver flexibility and quality has produced prevalent experimentation through schemes for sharing information and consulting with employees, involving employees in workplace decision-making and soliciting feedback. Simultaneously, the global decline within the union membership has willingly opened the doors for different voice mechanisms options, whilst also prompting renewed debates over the need for union voice and supportive public policies. There has been a growing interest in employee voice and interest in this topic has emerged over the last few years. Employee voice has been used to summarize several diverse approaches to employee relations, and numerous other terms have been interchangeably with employee voice. Employee voice is a critical element of organizational success. According to Lynch (2010), in times of uncertainty it is more important than ever that employers pay attention to a concept called employee voice. This is because it can work towards developing the workplace productivity during its impact on employee engagement, creativity, retention and effectiveness. A more recent meaning of voice that has captured researchers attention is a behavior that constructively challenges that status quo with the intention of improving it. Employee voice is a very extensive term among substantial width within the range of definitions that are been given by authors (for instance Poole, 1986; Strauss, 2006; Sashkin, 1976 ; Dietz et al., 2009). The aim of the paper is also to shed greater light on the meanings that organizational members derive from employee voice and what those different purposes may be. 1.1 Aims and Objectives The following aim and objectives will identify how the researcher will achieve the research study objectives and provide background on how the objectives will be met through the academic study. 1.2 Aim The aim of this study is to ascertain the importance of employee voice at the Heritage Hotels in India. 1.3 Objectives The following objectives need to be satisfied in order to reach this aim. These are: Define employee voice and its components. Determine the importance of employee voice. To investigate employees perception on employee voice. To critically recognize how Heritage Hotels promote employee voice in a hypercompetitive environment. 2.0 Literature Review 2.1 Defining employee voice As de ¬Ã‚ ned by Boxall and Purcell (2003): Employee voice is the term increasingly used to cover a whole variety of processes and structures which enable, and sometimes empower employees, directly and indirectly, to contribute to decision-making in the  ¬Ã‚ rm. Employee voice can be seen as the ability of employees to in ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡uence the actions of the employer (Millward et al, 1992). Employee voice is a two-way communication between its employer and employee CIPD (2012). According to CIPD (2012), it is the process of the employer communicating to the employee as well as receiving and listening to communication from the employee. To get a basic understanding of what employee voice, one must understand what participative management is. Stueart and Moran (2007) states participative management focuses on increasing lower level employee empowerment during team building along with direct participative methods in order to involve the employee with the decision making of the organ ization. This has become one of the leading styles of management. The important of empowerment may not be obvious, however it is pertinent. According to Stueart and Moran (2007), there is a positive correlation between employee empowerment and better customer service, staff creativity and innovation, and flexibility. Employees are able to participate in the decision making process of an organization through flattening the hierarchical, top-bottom structure by the means of groups or teams and with direct participation. The concept of employee voice looks more into the opportunities in order for the employees to be involved within decisions together, which can either be through trade unions or by other means. It appeals to both those seeking greater business efficiency and to those looking for employee rights (CIPD, 2012). Organizations have increasingly looked on ideas that directly engage employees, moving from representative participation in the last two decades. CIPD research, according to Marchington, Wilkinson and Ackers (2001), suggests organizations that look to promote voice are usually those who believe that employees want to contribute to the business and that for employees to have an effective voice, the significant element of the communication process is not what the employer puts out but what it gets back. Good managers distinguish that the knowledge required for the business to be competitive can only come out of employees heads. Voice is defined most typically in terms of two-way communications, an exchange of information between managers and employees or having a say about what goes on in an organization (CIPD, 2012). Some managers feel that voice is a way for employees to represent their views to managers, and the different views presented by employees can be taken into account which, in turn, can be positive for the company. On the other hand, other managers take the more limited view that voice is not so much of a dialogue o r a two-way exchange of thoughts as a method for the employees to be able to pass on their thoughts to managers in order to develop the companys organizational performance. Employee voice is the most important characteristic of employee participation. If employee participation strongly contributes to a greater customer service, then it straight away shows that employee voice is a significant feature in this equation. According to McCabe Lewin (1992, p. 112), whilst participative management programs can be assorted depending on the company, the general scope and the amount of intended participation, the fundamental hypothesis remains the same, which is that employees possess sufficient ability, skill, knowledge, and interest to participate in business decisions. For Dundon et al (2004:1149), employee voice is best understood as a complex and uneven set of meanings and purposes with a dialectic shaped by external regulation on one hand and internal management choice on the other. The re is a long tradition in employee relations literature of focusing on the level and effectiveness of employee involvement and participation in the workplace (Marchington, 2005). 2.2 Purpose of Employee Voice According to Michael Armstrong (2006), there are four specific purposes for employee voice. The first purpose is basically to articulate dissatisfaction for individuals with the management team or in the organization. The second purpose provides as an expression of collective organization to management. The third purpose lets the management contribute towards decision making in particular concerning quality, productivity and work organization. Last but not the least it expresses the mutuality relationship between the employee and the employer. In addition towards the specific purposes for employee voice, Gorden (1988b) proves a fifth purpose. He had conducted a study with 150 students and the study confirmed higher employee satisfaction with his or her career and employer when the organizational conditions are conductive to creating and receiving opportunities for employee voice. These rationale supports in defining voice and offers a background on which one can base all of the studi es and research. 2.3 Types of Employee Voice Since Employee Voice is vast within Human Resource there are many types of employee voice. According to McCabe and Lewin (1992), there are about four specific types that help engage the process for the grievance resolution. The first type of voice is the ombudsman; it is similar to a confidant that is proposed to considerately take note to the injustice and to offer any help to solve the issue. The ombudsman operates more like a channel of employee voice, relative than actual employee voice. McCabe and Lewin (1992) state for this to work, the ombudsman needs to be thoroughly familiar with the organization and also needs to promote particularly for the employee. The second type of employee voice, again defined by McCabe and Lewin, is the mediation. Yet again, mediation also acts as a channel for employee voice. In this situation, the mediator goes through an argument between the two parties and supports in reconciling and resolving the problem. He or she does not particularly make the resolving decision but persuades solutions for the employees to eventually decide from the provided options. The third type of employee voice is arbitration and it is distinguished by the fact that the arbitrator can make the final, binding decision. The arbitration is usually seen as the preceding step in a grievance process and needs to completely follow the standards, policies and procedures as written in the handbook for the employees. Last but not the least are, again discussed by the aforementioned authors, tribunals and peer reviews. As the same for arbitration which is the third type of employee voice, the ultimate decision is requisite and needs to be in capacity of the employee handbook. The advantage to the internal tribunals is that employees are preferred to be judged by their peers rather than an administrator or manager: The advantage to these internal tribunals is that employees generally prefer to be judged by a jury of their peers rather than an administrator or m anager (McCabe and Lewin, 1992). Other than the grievance procedure as mentioned above, there are two other types of voice: 1. Representative participation, and 2. Upward problem solving (Armstrong, 2006). Representative participation is characterized by collective representation. Representative participation involves a formal mechanism which allows for the employee representation to solve issues of mutual interest and work more like a partnership between employer and employee, tackling issues together in a cooperative manner. Examples of representative participation would include trade unions or other staff associates/association. Employee voice is heard through an organized channel. The second type of employee voice is the upward problem solving. In this type of employee voice it works towards more of a teambuilding perspective. It basically involves two-way communication between the manager and the staff. Thus communication is characterized by suggestion schemes rather than partner schemes where employees indepen dently suggest ideas or changes and then employer generally rewards them (Armstrong, 2006). It includes the application of attitude surveys for employees in order to seek their opinion/speak through questionnaires which can be beneficial for the organization. In this case employee voice is more on the basis of being communicative on a direct level from employee to employer. The main method of expressing voice is through questionnaires and forms instead of formal representation. 2.4 Benefits and success factors Within the high performance workplaces, skills and knowledge are developed and enhanced which leads to high value enterprises and increasingly knowledge based economy. Having a greater voice for employees leads to the following (CIPD, 2012): Employees skills and knowledge can be better used, leading to higher productivity. Employees feel more valued, so they are more likely to stay and to contribute more. The organization gains a positive reputation, making it easier to recruit good employees. Conflict is reduced and co-operation between employer and employee is based on interdependence. 2.4.1 Benefits for employees Employees benefit from the following (CIPD, 2012): Having more influence over their work Higher job satisfaction More opportunity to develop skills More job security at their employee is more successful as a result of voice initiatives. 2.4.2 Success factors The factors that ensure success are the following (CIPD, 2012): Leadership: without having active commitment from the top, initiatives will not succeed. Further down, managers also need to lead by example, while employee representatives should be effective leaders of those who they represent in the organization. Training: middle managers who have brought up a top-down tradition of communication might find it complicated to acclimatize to a more open way to doing things and might need to be trained in communication skills. Likewise, employee representatives may need training. Trust and openness: without being honest, the communication initiatives will not succeed, even when messages may not be palatable. The possible barriers of the success factors are reversed. The reasons for failure are cited as absence of leadership and lack of commitment from the middle managers in the organization. 2.5 Employee Involvement The objective of employee involvement is to engage employees to a greater extent in the administrative activities of the organization. This facilitates employees in empowering, and moreover informs them to understand the corporate activities and policies of the organization in a better way. It facilities the psychological relationship between the employee and employer, which provides, to an extent, an allowance in the decision making process. Employee involvement has two major benefits, which can only take place after empowering the employees and decentralizing the management; employers are relieved by some portion of its administrative responsibilities. Secondly, when employees are given the empowerment, their responsibilities for the organization lead to success and so does their commitment and accountabilities. It moreover helps in elevating overall employee morale and job satisfaction. Thus it enhances in employee performance. 2.6 Employee Voice and Organizational Performance Normally, having lack of proper communication leads to organizational conflicts. Employee voice facilitates in making the relationship between the employer-employee information flow. It has been argued that Employee Involvement and Employee Participation is essential for organizational performance and management employee interrelationship, which plays an equally important role in enhancing job satisfaction and hence in enhancing organizational productivity (Brown Heywood, 2002 p.103). Within the context of Employee Voice, psychological contracts can also be analyzed which may also be involved with employment. The interrelationships of management are largely supported by exchange of compensation and services. This regularly escorts the employees awareness to be obstinate with the growth strategies of the management. Employee participation in every organizational activity increases personal involvement. With an increase in involvement the employees naturally perform optimally thereby proving that employee voice is of immense importance in enhancing organizational performance and productivity (Kirkman, Lowe Young, 1999 p. 42). 2.7 Employee Voice Chart The following figure presents the meanings and purpose of employee voice articulated from journal called The International Journal of Human Resource Management (Dundon et al, 2004). Figure 1: Employee Voice Voice represents Purpose of Voice Possible mechanism or channels of voice Potential positive/negative outcomes Articulation of individual dissatisfaction To remedy a problem and/or prevent deterioration in relations Informal complaint to line manager; formal grievance procedure (Reinforced) loyalty to organization/employee exit, withdrawal of beneficial discretionary behavior or inform expressions of dissatisfaction Expression of collective organization To provide a countervailing source of power to management Recognition of trade union by employer; collective bargaining; industrial action Partnership between management and employees/non-or de-recognition of union; anti union management tactics Employee contribution to management decision-making To seek improvements in work organization, quality and productivity Employee involvement and participation (e.g. upward problem-solving initiatives; suggestion schemes; attitude surveys; self-managed teams) Employee commitment and identification with aims of organization; improved performance/disillusionment and apathy Mutuality and co-operative workplace relations To achieve long-term viability for the organization and greater people added-value Partnership agreements; joint consultative committees; works councils Significant employee influence in decision-making/management communication-service to employee contribution. Source: Dundon et al. (2004) The meanings and purpose of employee voice, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 15 (6): 1149-70. Reprinted by permission of the publisher Taylor Francis Group. 2.8 Organizational Background Heritage Hotels, India 2.8.1 Introduction Heritage Hotel is a joint venture between ITC Ltd. and Jodhana Heritage, signifying some of the best tradition of heritage hospitality and tourism in India. It presents over 37 selected heritage destinations, ranging from grand palaces to traditional bungalows (havelis) and magnificent forts: from adventure-filled jungle loges to tea garden homes and quiet nature resorts in different states of India, for instance Rajasthan, Jammu Kashmir, West Bengal, Karnataka, Punjab, Goa, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. A holiday with the Heritage Hotels is always special: timeless bazaars, elephant and camel safaris, local festivals, desert camps and a selection of various adventure and sport activities. Rich in history, these destinations are enriched by stories of heroic fighters and illustrious queens of royal courts and princes who enjoyed their pomp, pageantry, gracious, and splendid living in these places. On the journey of the relentless passage of time, many legends have been relegated to the pag es of history; others extolled in verse and sung by traditional bards and folk singers. Even today some of the legends live in palaces, forts and royal retreats. Their private homes indicate the visitor with elegant Heritage Hospitality from the hotel and offer a slice of history with one major difference. 2.8.2 The Secret of a Great Escape Heritage Hotel offers the secrets of a great escape. At every Heritage Hotel, customers will get the chance to experience the rich heritage and culture. Such cultures include a fort resort at the rim of a desert, or a county manor in the lap of a green valley. A jungle lodge in a wildlife forest reserve, or a palace or bungalow, resonant with the past. A picture-postcard cottage ensconced in mystic mountains or a splendid mansion on the spur of a hill. A spa in a heritage home, a houseboat on a sparkling lake, a colonial hill residence with tea gardens for a view, a mist-wrapped palace in fragrant plantations. Each hotel has a secret to share, a story to tell and so will you. Moreover, each Heritage hotel has the blueprint of a great holiday, all laid out for tourists. Each hotel provides the opportunity to go where you get away to all that is not ordinary. All that is exclusive, while being affordable and unusual, without being over the top. Heritage Hotels over 40 hotels are sited expediently at stunningly scenic locations and are easy accessible from major cities, making it the perfect holiday option. In particular, customers usually find atmospheric and boutique experience when it comes to selecting a hotel but Heritage Hotels are far removed from standardized sameness. Hospitality comes from the heart provided with a slice of heritage within modern amenities. 2.8.3 Heritage Hotels Mission The Heritage Mission is to assist and support the restoration of Heritage properties. They encourage owners of these properties to convert them into productive assets, and assist them, in providing technical expertise, sales, marketing, reservations and operational support, and services. Through other initiatives, they help in the preserving the environment while at the same time promoting their rich culture, cuisine and handicrafts. They endeavor to: Providing a unique, enriching and affordable experience to customers Generate local employment and well being Set standards in Heritage Hotels Tourism while promoting Heritage tourism They hope to succeed in their mission with customers whole-hearted support. Employee voice is an important issue in studying participative management. From the point of view of an organization, having a participative management program that incorporates several employee voice mechanisms would be in the companys best interest. By promoting employee voice within the workplace through a range of techniques, it will help an organization to fulfill the ethical and political need through revitalizing their bottom line by avoiding resignation rates and high exit. Employee voice takes various forms in terms of both individually and collectively, and verbally and non-verbally. Furthermore, the concept behind employee voice appears to be timeless, as many of the publications throughout the past forty years have agreed with each other (employee voice: theoretical frameworks and organizational methods). Employee voice plays a huge role in participative management because in order for employees to work in an organization being able to communicate, presenting ideas, and b uilding relationships is required and essential according to the author. This is how participative management links to employee voice. 3.0 Methodology 3.1 Introduction The way in which the research is carried out can be considered in terms of the philosophy of the research which it is pledged to, the strategy of the research employed and, moreover, the research instruments utilized (and perhaps developed) in the pursuit of a goal the research objectives with the search for the resolution of the aim which basically links to the research question. The research has been outlined for the research question and the research objectives in the introduction as well as in the literature review. The purpose of this chapter is to: Discuss the research philosophy and relate that to other philosophies; Develop the research strategy, together with the research methodologies adopted; Introduce the research instruments that has been developed and utilized in the search of the goals. 3.2 Research Philosophy A research philosophy is a conviction regarding the way in which the data about a phenomenon should be analyzed, used and gathered. The term epistemology what is known to be true as opposed to doxology includes different philosophies of the research approach. The rationale of science is the process of converting things known from doxology to epistemology. The two major research philosophies have been categorized in the Western tradition of science, explicitly positivist, which is sometimes called scientific and interpretivist which is known as an positivist (Galliers, 1991). 3.3 Positivism Positivists believe that reality is stable and can be observed and described from an objective point of view (Levin, 1988), i.e. without interfering with the phenomena of being studied. It should be argued that the phenomena should be isolated and that the observations should be repeatable. This frequently engages with the manipulation of reality with differences in only a single independent variable so as to recognize regularities in, and to form relationships between, some of the constituent elements of the social world. Predictions could possibly be made on the foundation of the previously explained and observed realities and their inter-relationships. Positivism has a long and rich historical tradition. It is also embedded in our society that knowledge claims not grounded in positivist thought are simply dismissed as scientific and therefore invalid (Hirschheim, 1985, p33). This view is indirectly supported by Alavi and Carlson (1992) who, in a review of the research articles, ha ve found that all of the empirical studies were positivist in its approach. Positivism has been a particularly successful association within natural and physical sciences. There has, however, been a debate on the concern of whether or not the positivist paradigm is entirely suitable for the social sciences (Hirschheim, 1985). Many authors are calling for a more pluralistic attitude towards the research methodologies an example being Bjorn-Andersen, 1985; Kuhn, 1970; Remenyi and Williams, 1996. 3.4 Interpretivist Interpretivists argue that only through the subjective interpretation of an intervention in reality can be fully understood. The study of phenomena in its natural environment is vital to the interpretivists philosophy, together with the acknowledgement that scientists cannot avoid affecting those phenomena that are being studied. There may be many interpretations of reality that can be admitted, but maintaining these interpretations are in themselves a part of the scientific knowledge they are pursuing. There is a tradition which has been followed by the interpretivisms, which is no less glorious than that of positivism and nor is it shorter. 3.5 Methods of Research Used For this study, the descriptive research method was utilized. In this method, it is possible that the study would be cheap and quick. It could also suggest an unanticipated hypotheses. Nonetheless, it would be very hard to rule out alternative explanations and especially infer causations. Thus, this study used the descriptive approach. This descriptive type of research utilizes observations in the study. The purpose of employing this method is to describe the nature of a situation, as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the cause/s of particular phenomena. The researcher opted to use this kind of research considering the desire of the researcher to obtain first hand data from the respondents so as to formulate rational and sound conclusions and recommendations for the stu

Stand By Me :: Drama

Stand By Me Stand by me was the first topic we studied this term we were put into groups of six to create a short play based on the 70s film stand by me based on Stephen King's Short story "The Body", "Stand By Me" tells the tale of Gordie Lachance, a writer who looks back on his preteen days when he and three close friends went on their own adventure to find the body of a kid their age who had gone missing and presumed dead. The stakes are upped when the bad kids in town are closely tailing - and it becomes a race to see who'll be able to recover the body first. We were given 30 minutes to gather an idea in our groups about a group of friends who want to go on an adventure. We all were hot seated in our groups as our characters. We created a still image of the characters before the adventure and our play was based on a series of 6 still images. We all put our ideas in and produced a 10minute production. In our productions we used a number of dramatic devices such as monologues, still images, dramatic irony and split scenes. Character Profiles Paul- Is 12 he lives at home with his mum and dad and 5 siblings. Paul is the loud member of the group who always wants to fight and show off he is really looking forward to the adventure. Scott- ====== Is 11 he lives at home with his mum and dad and 5 siblings one of which is Paul. Scott is quietest boy in the group Scott doesn’t want to go on the adventure he is very nervous but tries to act brave in front of the rest of the group. Lauren- ======= Is 11 she lives with her mum and dad and is an only child. Lauren is the girly girl of the group she likes to be centre of attention and wants everyone to like her. She is looking at the adventure more like a holiday and planning how many outfits she should take. Amy- ==== Is 13 and in foster care she is the Tomboy in the group she is very boisterous and always wants to be with the boys she doesn’t get on very well with Lauren. She is excited about going on the adventure. Jack- Is 12 he lives with his grandma and granddad he is the leader of the

Big City Dangers :: Environmental Pollution Essays

Big City Dangers Since the industrial revolution the world has witnessed the rapid expansion of its metropolises. For years humans have been flocking to these urban centers in search of jobs, commodities, entertainment and other phenomena that can commonly be found in cities. With this grand, not so new invention which most of us exploit, one must wonder what negative effects city living might have on our health. When populations of animals are clustered together certain dangers arise that threaten the well being of each organism. Notably in China, Japan, India and the United States which contain extensive cities humans battle the health risks that come along them. One such well-known city in the USA which has documented and studied the biological threats to its inhabitants is New York City. A press release from the Department of Health is not necessary to let New Yorkers know that their home is hazardous to their health. Walking along any street in Manhattan the average observer can smell car fumes in the air, see the filth in the gutters and occasionally witness a purse-snatching. The potential for catching communicable diseases or being injured in some way is severely heightened in concentrated populations like New York. Some of the alleged pollution problems are water contamination, excessive noise and the presence of smog. Several diseases have spread throughout the city in recent years including the flu, West Nile Virus and meningitis. Another biological contaminant that has been found in NYC recently is Anthrax. This substance being sent through the postal system and other crimes endanger the well being of the citizens of this famous city. Anything from a car accident to an intentional murder or shooting can cause an unnatural death. Additionally, freak occur rences like terrorist attacks can kill or infect populations of people like those in New York City. These factors increase the likelihood that residents of a city will contract a particular disease, suffer from an environmentally caused illness, die in an accident or be the victim of a violent crime. Dangers associated with cities threaten the most basic biological feature that urban, suburban and country humans possess, life. Air pollution is one of the most noticeable and common complaints of people in an urban setting. On a hot day one can see the contaminated cloud-like structures hanging over a bustling metropolis.