Case Study Report – Motorola

This case is about implementation of a new â€Å"shared vision† concept within The Analog Division of Motorola Company. In 1993 Analog division was a major manufacturer of analog products in the world and had its divisions in many different countries. In other words the division had strong global presence. In order to create more efficient global company, Alison and John have decided to develop new shared vision within The Analog Division where managers would be involved directly and indirectly in the decision making process. Before the new vision development, Analog Division and its managers was very limited in decision making. Because they had such a strong global presence their vision didn’t work. The problem was that they were not open to new global ideas or possible obstacles where managers around the world would make decisions together. Visioning process of Motorola’s Analog Division had number of cultural challenges. One of the challenges was the difference in the way different cultures perceived concept of â€Å"shared vision†. One of the key words in the vision statement was â€Å"family† and â€Å"union†. For instance, people in China take the word â€Å"family† literally and in their own setting this word is not appropriately applicable to vision statement. Another challenge was getting managers to think globally and get accustomed to the concept of shared vision. Many of the managers from different countries had their own cultural ways of doing things and to open ones ideas to others was hard to achieve. Alison and John had hard time communicating to managers that this idea is not imposed on them. The major barrier in the vision implementation was the language. Sometimes, the same words in one language have very different meaning in another. The following quote is good example of the language and communication style perception: â€Å"Good communication American style is to say what you mean precisely, in as straightforward a manner as possible. Be direct, get to the point, and say what the bottom line is. For other cultures, this style is rude, abrasive and self-centered†. (http://www. frugalmarketing. com/dtb/xcultcomm. html) Therefore, Alison and John were trying to be careful about this issue. They had vision statement written in five different languages. The important thing was that the vision statement was not just literally translated but rather adjusted to its own culture so people of that division have clear understanding of the vision. First cultural misstep that Alison and John made was their lack of research prior to the task. They have conducted research reg arding managers and the ways they communicate decisions overseas. They also gained insight of the success of each division but what they failed to consider some of the psychological cultural differences. They overlooked possibility of different reactions among the managers based on their background. For instance, some managers were afraid to lose their jobs where in fact that was not the case. We can see that from this quote† Every culture possesses a unique mixture of attitudes, values, and social expectations. I think that Seven Tasks process definitely added significant value to the final results. The way the tasks were broken down helped both, managers and Alison to have a better grasp of the vision statement process. It was easier to account for details and to adjust to reactions by going through steps. Phase four will definitely be challenging one. Working in a group is one thing but agreeing on the process could be challenging especially where different cultures are agreeing on one thing. Another additional challenge is taking the vision to the future and building upon it.

The Purpose of Architecture

The purpose of architecture is to create useful spaces that people want to be in. It’s not enough to make the space useful if people hate being in it. And it’s not enough to make people want to be in it if they can’t use it for its intended purpose. But being attractive without being useful is probably better than being useful without being attractive. If people like a space, they’ll find a way to make it work. If people don’t like a space, they’ll stay away, even if it   seems to meet all their practical needs.Architecture creates more than one kind of space. Interior spaces are the ones we usually think about. But architecture creates exterior spaces as well. A new building on a street makes it a different kind of street. Is it a street where people want to be, or is it a street they hurry through? The architect is as much responsible for the street his building sits on as he is for the space inside the building. If a new construction cre ates a long, blank wall that people instinctively avoid, the architect has effectively destroyed the street.Businesses on the other side of it will wither, and the street will exist only as a passage from one more desirable place to another. Style is less important than scale in creating spaces people like. Architecture on a human scale is inherently more friendly than architecture on a titanic scale. Monumental architecture needs smaller subdivisions to make itself relatable: the arches in a Roman basilica, or the stilts in a Mies van der Rohe office building.Great slabs of concrete or stone put us off instead of welcoming us; remembering the human scale is the thing that makes architecture work. These are all obvious ideas, but the enthusiasm of an all-encompassing theory of architecture can make an architect forget them. An architect needs to look at his plans and ask, â€Å"Will people want to be here? † Perhaps he should point to different spots on the blueprint at rando m: Will people want to be  here,  or  here,  or  here? If he can always answer yes to that question, he’s done his job well.

Denying human rights the immorality of abortion Essay

Abortion Imagine being ripped away from a chance at life, without even a choice. Abortion brings this awful thought to reality. Abortion disregards fetuses’ human rights to survive, for many different reasons. Abortion is a controversial topic that is debated by many across the United States. Abortion is wrong and should not be practiced in any circumstance, as it is taking away an innocent and helpless life. Abortion is immoral because of the late-term method and dejection of human rights and is a controversial topic conveyed in many different ways by the media. Late-term abortion is aborting a fetus at 20-24 weeks. â€Å"In 1992, Martin Haskell, MD† explained at a convention that â€Å"he â€Å"routinely† used to kill unborn children† (Wills 1).   He called this method of abortion â€Å"D&X†.   Partial-birth abortion is when the skull is crushed after exiting the uterus and the brain is vacuumed out. As violent as that sounds, many judges defend this method of abortion. An argument made is that it is just as gruesome as aborting in the second trimester, saying there is no moral difference between the two. Late-term abortions are â€Å"banned in 30 states†, and that should be enough to prove it is immoral to murder a fetus at childbirth (Wills 4). It was not the American public choice to permit these late abortions, but it is â€Å"the Supreme Court† and the unjust decision that there is â€Å"an arbitrary line between human life and (merely) â€Å"potential† life at the birth canal† (Wills 2). This court decision states that a â€Å"potential† life is not as important as an actual human life, and late-term abortion is permissible because the babies are not considered a human while inside the mother. If this were true, the baby would be a human life once exiting the birth canal. This states the decisions are unjust because the baby is no longer a â€Å"potential† life. Humans are born with basic human rights. Some might say a woman has the right to choose abortion, regardless of the reason.   A common argument pertaining to abortion is if the fetus has basic rights before actual childbirth. It is a choice for the mother to become sexually active in the first place, and a child should not have to pay for the mother’s mistake. In terms of rape cases, adoption allows the best option for both the mother and the baby. A philosopher, Judith Thomson, explains a â€Å"violinist† scenario to justify rape. She states that a woman wakes up strapped to a violinist, who is unconscious. The only way to detach herself is to kill him or wait 9 months and they will both live. Thomson is using the scenario to explain why abortion is permitted during rape cases. The fetus was not invited into the body, therefore was not wanted and can be aborted. She states the only type of immoral abortion is if you were planning on having a child when conceiving. Th is argument would not make sense, because the child would only be able to have rights if invited into the body, and the child cannot control the mother’s actions. A common reason for abortions is the burden a baby would have on a job or someone’s education. â€Å"While pregnancy is a temporary condition, abortion produces a permanent condition- the death of a child.† (Thompson 2).   Restraining from practicing abortions does not devalue the mother, but simply acknowledges a baby’s rights to be more important than pregnancy. A big influence on abortion is the media’s views on the procedure. Many celebrities, politicians, philosophers, and more have stated their views and reasons on why they support or disagree with abortion. A wide-known example of a supporter of late-term abortion is President Barack Obama. Obama has often stated his thoughts on abortion many times during campaigns. â€Å"President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign counterattacked, releasing a television advertisement in which a woman says that it is â€Å"a scary time to be a woman† because Mitt Romney has said he supports outlawing abortion.† (Singer 1). It is common for Republicans to be for the outlaw of abortion, and Democrats to support abortion. Hillary Clinton is for abortions, and even partial-birth abortions and that became a huge part of her campaign.   Whereas on the other side of things president-elect Donald Trump was very strongly against it. Many philosophers state their arguments and reaso ns for their view on abortion. Peter Singer is for abortion, stating if abortion is outlawed it will increase the unsafe abortions people would seek out. Despite the illegal abortions, outlawing abortion would help show society how wrong it is, hence why it is outlawed. Abortion is immoral because it is denying the rights to a human, regardless of it being unborn. A fetus is still of the human species, making it a human itself, even at contraception. A potential child should not have to face death because it is not responsible for the mother’s actions. Each view on abortion has many in-depth arguments, each providing viable points as to why or why not it should be allowed. Abortion should not be practiced early in the pregnancy, or at childbirth. It is the murder of an innocent and defenseless victim.

Please refer to the attachment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Please refer to the attachment - Essay Example The Convention on Cybercrime is an international treaty to encounter all the cybercrimes associated with computer and internet. It was strategized by Council of Europe on 23rd November 2001 which came into enforcement on 1st July 2004. This convention is also known as Budapest Convention. Canada, Japan and China also participated in the Convention. The Convention of Cybercrimes gave a platform to all the nations across the world to adopt various techniques and strategies to investigate and take serious measures against any group or an individual that poses cyber threat to any other group or an individual. The convention provoked the participating nations to adopt a uniform and common criminal policy in order to protect the society from any cybercrime or activities that may harm the reputation of an individual or a group. The Convention highlighted various emerging threats associated with the usage of computer and the internet which include copyright infringements, identity theft, financial frauds, child pornography, unlawful access to sensitive data and information, virus attacks on sensitive computers and database and misuse of devices. This is a good step taken by Council of Europe which ensures protection of individuals and the groups against all the ill-legal activities associated with cybercrimes. The treaty stresses all the countries to play an effective role in this regard. This step will enhance greater international harmony among the nations and they will work together against all such groups who pose threats to an individual or to a group when working online. The nations were in dire need to establish a uniform code of conduct and a uniform legal policy to encounter such issues. However, the treaty needs to elaborate more widely the actions to be taken against any culprit found associated with such criminal activities and how the nations will deal with such threats on a

Memoirs of a Geisha (the book) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Memoirs of a Geisha (the book) - Essay Example Despite the destruction during the war, the country is rebuilt into a modern country under Western influence after the defeat of the Japanese empire. During this period of transformation, Siyura is also transformed, although her own transformation lags behind the changes happening in Japanese society. Siyura watches the modernization of Japan unfold through the changing home front during the war, increasing Western cultural influence, and the presence of American soldiers in a globalized world. Following the Meiji Restoration, Japan had undergone a dramatic transformation from a feudal society to an industrialized nation. Unable to protect itself from the European colonial powers, Japan was forced to abandon its agrarian society and industrialize (Swale 2009, 6). Although a great deal of focus was placed on modernizing the military, the cities in Japan changed as well to support this effort. Trains and motor vehicles were introduced to Japan in order to improve travel and the transportation of goods. Siyura even had the chance to travel by airplane (Golden 1997, 392), although the experience was not common at the time for Japanese citizens until later. Factories were built to produce manufactured goods. Being born in a small fishing village, Siyuras first introduction to the coming modern world is through her arrival in Kyoto. Arriving in the Gion quarter of Kyoto, Siyura can "hardly see the other side for all the people, bicycles, cars, and trucks" (Golden 1997, 35). The large crowded cities epitomized the entrance into the modern age. It was necessary to concentrate the populace in the cities in order to provide a workforce for the factories (Wilkinson 1962, 679). In contrast, it was necessary for people to be dispersed under the old agriculturally-based economy. The whole experience of seeing a large city for the first time was both shocking and frightening to Siyura (Golden 1997, 35). Through the process of

Difinition of culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Difinition of culture - Essay Example Howard Becker defines culture as a people’s way of life in their social groupings (Ferguson 95). Such life includes aspects of defined thinking patterns, feelings, as well as an understanding that have acquired a common experience and past from generation to another. Culture, therefore, is a reflection of social patterns, emotions and practices that stem from social interactions within a society. Culture is very crucial for human beings as it give them an identity. It provides rules and regulations within which one has to operate to live in a society. Such rules also govern how people communicate, celebrate, behave or react to various stimuli in their society. Culture has a major impact on humans’ existence and thinking (Ferguson 97). It is important to develop a society, understand people and other cultures and thus bring harmony among civilizations. Culture is a central pillar of every society that without it, stability and progress become impossible. All the social-e conomic and political activities existing in a society must have a strong cultural backing. Consideration of spiritual and cultural values in a society is very important for the formation and development of creative capabilities and the relationship between individuals. Culture, therefore, serves to promote the humanization of social relationship for the future of human civilization.Culture provides knowledge that is essential for physical and peaceful coexistence between man and environment (Ferguson 99).

Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Religion - Essay Example Since I had no connections in the church, I was thankful that I could actually go to a church without being too obvious. Therefore, I dressed up with my usual clothes and went to Life Church in November 11, 18 and 25. I arrived at the church early and so I had time to look around. I guess since the church is not as big as other churches with hundreds or even thousands of attendees, one can easily spot a newcomer. The first time I went there, a young lady approached me and welcomed me with a handshake. She must have known I was new. She introduced herself as Grace Morgan and asked a bit of information about me. She was very friendly and accommodating I found myself actually enjoying her company. She invited me in and made me sit. When she learned that I was visiting the place for the first time, she asked me how I found out about the church. I then told her about the assignment and she nodded her head with understanding. She then asked me if I understood about my beliefs and other things she considered important such as my knowledge about God, Jesus, salvation and how I perceived church. I told her my beliefs are basically based from the Bible and she articulately conversed with me about assurance of salvation. I accepted what she was trying to tell me then sh e asked me if she could pray with me. I said yes and she prayed a short prayer for me, blessing me with the blessing of God. After which, Miss Morgan encouraged me to visit the church again even after I am finished with my assignment. She assured me that I will enjoy being and working with them. She also encouraged me to bring my friends with me during my next visits so that they will also discover the joy of getting involved in a church like Life Church. I said I was not promising anything but that I will try what I can do. When the service (on the Roman Catholic and Episcopalian churches, it is called mass) started, I actually was surprised to see that the attendees did not dress formally.

Tensile testing Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tensile testing - Lab Report Example Data from the test is either collected through a data acquisition system and subsequently plotted using appropriate software or plotted using an X-Y plotter. The data typically consists of the load applied to the specimen and the extension or the stress and strain (since the initial cross sectional area of the specimen and gauge length are constants both the load v extension and stress v strain graph have the same shape); a typical plot for a metallic material is shown in figure 2. Tensile specimens may have a variety of cross-sections, although rectangular or cylindrical ones tend to be more common, and may be in a machined or unmachined state. The geometry of a typical specimen is shown in Figure 3, where (note that the nomenclature may vary): The mechanical properties typically derived from a tensile test include the yield stress (or more commonly the offset proof stress), tensile strength (stress), elastic (or Young’s) modulus, percentage total extension at fracture and reduction in cross-sectional area. A more detailed explanation of the range of properties that may be determined from a test and the analysis involved may be found in BS EN ISO 6892-1:2009 and ASTM E8M. It is good practice to test to a standard such as these as they stipulate various parameters, such as the speed of testing (the rate at which the load is applied) and shape of the specimen, which may affect the results obtained, although some companies will have their own procedures that will ensure compatibility between tests within that company. Stress is usually indicated by the Greek letter ÏÆ' (sigma) or S and is the measure of the force per unit area. It has the units N.m-2 or Pa (Pascal) (megapascals, MPa, are more commonly used, these being 106 x N.m-2 (106 Pa) or N.mm-2, due to the magnitude of the values encountered). Strain is usually indicated by the Greek letter ÃŽ µ (epsilon) or e and is the amount a material

John Locke and property righs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

John Locke and property righs - Essay Example This position allowed Rawls to address two contemporary issues that are equally important but also tend oppose each other’s views: freedom and equality. The Rawlsian theory of justice is influenced by Hume’s philosophy with its critique of justice, that which prioritizes conventions and universal meaning (Forbes, 1985, 68). Hume talked about artificial justice and Rawls coined the so-called artificial device or the â€Å"original position†, which is used to determine justice. It also takes inspiration from Kantian principles, which emphasize moral nobility and the complexity and richness of human life and experience. The beauty of Rawls’ philosophy is its simplicity. The challenge of including the interests of the whole or the large number as well as those of the individual’s was addressed assuming a degree of ignorance in order to attain a desired fairness. It first rejects everything in order to get to the bottom of fairness, and justice is then d etermined. What this means is that similar crimes would have different resolutions because the conditions and parties in each crime are different. Also, there are crimes that in traditional justice could easily be punished because it fits a conventional mold. Let us suppose that a man is accused of racism because he calls someone a Negro, along with several derogatory remarks. Rawlsian philosophy does not jump into conclusion and, instead, tries to understand the situation according to several approaches and involves the reflection on several case-specific variables. The â€Å"original position† is the first of these and the second is what Rawls referred to as â€Å"reflective equilibrium†. In explaining the concept, Rawls (1999) stated that â€Å"justification is a matter of the mutual support of many considerations, of everything fitting together into one coherent view† (19). This approach to justice is radically different from the current system used in most societies. However, it depicts a framework that indicate a highly effective process because it determines and metes out justice within the context of the circumstances of the parties involved. This aspect covers the many different conceptions and interpretations of justice. For instance, retributive justice emphasizes the proportionality of the punishment to the crime committed so that it is not greater or lesser than the harm perpetuated. There is also the case of restorative justice, which follows a more benign framework, focusing on â€Å"healing† as the more preferable outcome for all stakeholders involved including the victim and the offender. Rawlsian philosophy breaks through the differences of these other theories by identifying the fundamental variable in determining justice and work its way from there. By focusing on fairness and the contexts behind actions, Rawls was able to develop a more inclusive model. While Rawlsian philosophy has earned accolades and recognit ion, it also has its share of criticisms. One of the most important is his focus on the individual. For example, if a system of justice will follow the â€Å"reflective equlibrium model† there are those who point out that it would involve several judgments and doctrines based on different backgrounds of those involved, resulting to an almost infinite number of equlibria (Maffettone, 2010, 139). The critics come from all philosophical inclinations. There are those coming from

An analysis of entrepreneurial theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

An analysis of entrepreneurial theory - Essay Example Many new entrepreneurial firms fail as a result of entrepreneurs not fully understanding problems associated with their business models. It is rather commonplace for entrepreneurs to jump blindly into a new business model without properly planning that includes construction of a concise and well-developed business plan. A successful entrepreneurial venture must be considerate of the entire value chain, including marketing, human resources, technology, logistics and production in order to have a viable business model that can productively support the desired vision. Failure of the entrepreneurial venture occurs regularly as entrepreneurial leaders do not effectively measure the business’ holistic capabilities and capacities needed to service a market which leads to a lack of competitiveness in the firm’s competitive market. In order to properly service the external market effectively and profitably, it is critical to understand what constitutes the dynamic of the post-re cession markets and then attempt new strategies to align the entrepreneurial enterprise with these conditions and dynamics. As one example, the post-recession consumer is now more concerned about the ethical values and behaviours of the organisation. A study conducted by Oh and Yoon, utilizing a sample of 343 different consumers, identified that when an organization illustrates that it maintains altruistic values and activities, consumers maintain a more positive perception of this business over that of businesses without a promoted ethical stance.

Letter to Water_District Essay Example for Free

Letter to Water_District Essay Dear Todd Green,  It has come to my attention that I have been experiencing unintentional water loss over the past three months. During the months of December, January, and February, my water bill has been higher than usual, resulting in three bills totaling $134.32 each. Before December, each of my bills from June through November had only been $54.32, $80 lower. Upon checking the pipes and water systems in my house, a plumber called attention to three faulty flapper valves in my toilets. These have been replaced and will hopefully rectify the unintentional water loss problem. It is my hope that you will recognize that the loss of water and rise of my water bill was accidental and not purposeful, readjusting the bills from December through February and reimbursing me the $240 total for these three months. The Water District unintentional water loss policy allows for refunds in special situations, and I believe that my circumstances meet the criteria. Sincerely,

How the cell phone has affected the classroom Essay Example for Free

How the cell phone has affected the classroom Essay Mobile technology is said to have been around for quite sometime. But in the past it used to be costly and came in the form of a car phone. â€Å"Cell phones connect friends and families. In a moment, across the country or oversees a parent can call his son to see whether he is doing all right† (Armbrustor-Sandoval, p. 64). Businessmen can make their business deals and get everything done when they are away from their offices. Students at school communicate frequently, and this is a case of concern to the administrators. The government has also come in and has considered whether to ban cell phones in schools or not. For sure this instant method of communication has its drawbacks. Cell phones are said to help in interpersonal relationships. According to some people, â€Å"text messages, a popular phone feature has affected the English language† (Silin, 1999, p. 20). â€Å"That is abbreviated messages. The use of vowels has also been affected† (Silin, 1999, p. 20). All the same the cell phones make a big difference in the way people communicate they have increased communication even in schools. The students have taken advantage of the prices of the current cell phones and have forced their parents to buy for them. They have tried to learn the use of these cell phones even as early as fourteen years. For sure parents cannot see anything wrong with buying their children phones and yet they are nowadays affordable by almost everybody. . There is nothing wrong with technology but it normally comes with its disadvantages. However, there are some students who acquire cell phones through peer pressure. When they see their schoolmates with cell phones they also tend to force their parents to buy for them. As such most students if not all have cell phones. They use them even in the classroom. (Silin, 1999, p. 50) The use of cell phones by students normally go undetected especially when the student in question put the cell phone in vibrator then when he gets a call, he pretends to be going for a cell of nature and yet his main aim is to receive the call. It shows that most students do not concentrate in class when the teacher is teaching. The idea has to a good extend made some teachers propose the idea of banning cell phones in schools. Is the idea of banning cell phones in schools a good idea? (Silin, 1999, p. 74) It should be a good idea. If before cell phones came in plenty teachers and students were able to survive without them. What will have changed if they are banned? Or if they should not be banned then the students should always turn them off when in the classrooms and use them where appropriate. But it is hard to abide by the rules. Some may turn them off but there is always that one student who does not care and will always leave his phone on. If cell phones are to be banned in schools let them be banned. Schools are places of education. They are not to be taken as pubs or nightclubs. (Foust, Soukup, 2006, p. 119) Since it has already been argued that the cell phones tend to affect the use of English language, then students will better not be allowed to use them. This message ought to be emphasized to parents not to allow their children to use cell phones. But it will be hard for parents to assume that their children do not use the cell phones, because these cell phones are everywhere (Luke, 2005, p. 86). However, there are some parents who cannot allow their children not to use cell phones. These are normally permissive parents. They will do anything to protect the freedom of their children, even if it means suing the government. So the idea of banning phones in schools is an idea, which should be handled with care. Flexibility is needed on the side of teachers. Also flexibility is needed on the side of the government. There are some parents, who can claim that their children are very responsible, and they know when to put on or put off the cell phone and so they should be allowed to use cell phones even in schools. As such to them the most important thing is for parents to take enough time and teach their children proper use of the cell phone since it ought to be the responsibility of parents to do so. Such parents can go to any length to ensure the freedom and rights of their children are protected. So it is better before the government thinks of banning cell phones in schools, it should first of all think of not allowing technology invent these cell phones (Fretcher, 2000, p. 69). The phones are already with us, and so we have no otherwise but to use them, anywhere, any place. If cell phones are then to be banned from schools, it can sound as if they would have better not have been invented at all. Because children are future users of these important gadgets, it is hard for all parents to agree with the school administration or with the government. Then unless the government thinks of a better way of doing about the presence of cell phones in schools then it will better forget the whole thing. (Foust, Soukup, 2006, p. 240) â€Å"Teenagers have learned to heavily rely on cell phones. † (Armbrustor-Sandoval, 2005, p. 71) But this case shows that in some cases they go to an extend of using them in exam cheating. This is really a serious issue, and it is why the government is contemplating banning cell phones in schools. The case has also extended to include campuses. Banning cell phones is a good idea but some exceptions should be allowed. Cell phones can be used in reporting emergencies. However, the issue of exam cheating is very serious indeed, and should therefore be treated with the seriousness it deserves. Let the government think seriously about it before it is too late. It should not be a matter of allowing students to use their brains when having cell phones, but it should be ensuring that students use their brains in the examinations and nothing else. The use of cell phones is said to â€Å"hinder face – to – face communication†. (Fretcher, 2000, p. 65). So the use of cell phones should in a way generally be discouraged even to other users. It is stupid to rely on cell phone to cheat in exams instead of using brains. It is also not good to destroy over good norms, which have brought us to this present moment. Technologies should do something about these cell phones. It means students should be discouraged to use them and also other general users should be discouraged to use them as well. There are many other cases, which show that teenagers are not the only people who abuse the use of cell phones. There are many cases, which concern adults who abuse the use of cell phones. It is then stupid for teachers and government to find a convenient way of just putting things in one category and try to solve them. It is better for people to be taught how to be accountable. The government has a responsibility of educating the public (Trackson, Lyons, 2004, p. 100). This issue in question should not be allowed to get out of hand. If the parents can not take control of their children then the government should try. Kids have rights to their possessions, and so is everyone else. Let the authorities concerned think hard about the cell phones. Let the issue at hand be handled without discrimination. Banning the cell phones completely is not a good idea. Banning them in schools only is not a good idea either. (Trackson, Lyons, 2004, p127). At the university everyone has a cell phone. Let the kids learn early enough how to use them. The government and the teachers should use common sense. But common sense is not common to everyone. So let the concerned authorities address this issue soberly. â€Å"Scientists should use technology properly and give us better cell phones. They should give us better gadgets which do not interfere with communication in any way. † (Luke, 2005, p. 217) They should give us gadgets which do not cause problems with the use of English language; cell phones which are as perfect as possible. Where there is a will here is a way. Something can still be done. Rules should be made in both schools and public places; rules which instruct how to use phones properly. As such the complaints about the use of cell phones will be minimized. There are people who can argue that some rules are meant to be broken. They can even go to an extend of pinpointing such rules which govern the use of phones in both schools and public places. As such any attempt to ban cell phones is not likely to materialize. What the authorities should do is to try their level best and get a better way. There are parents who take pride at buying their children anything they want. It is very hard to control such parents. They have real love for their children. They want their children to feel loved always. They can say and at the same time argue that it is only a few who have corrupted the use of cell phones and so the majority should not be sacrificed because of just the mistakes of the few people. One of the best ways of handling cell phones in schools is to situate cell phone jammar. This jammar should only be turned off during lunch hour. Jammers are already in use in some places in the United States. Let the government think better. It can always handle these cases (Silin, 1999, p. 348). Cell phones have now got a wide use. Everyone including students needs them; however the idea of using cell phones to cheat in exams is a very serious offense. Let students have their freedom but this freedom should be checked. It is important to have freedom but absolute freedom destroys absolutely. Let democracy prevail but the kind of democracy that is reasonable and useful. In a way when you consider whether students need cell phones while at school or not, the whole idea can sound absurd. Students go to school to learn not to use phones. They cheat with the phones, and so parents should not allow this. Let parents help teachers to fight this tendency, which is now already a habit. Cell phones should be banned in schools (Luke, 2005, p. 139). The government and teachers should act tough and try to make the issue of students using cell phones in schools a past tense. But has the cell phone really affected the classroom? Should the use of cell phones be banned in schools? Work Cited Armbrustor-Sandoval, R (2005):Is Another World possible? Is another classroom possible? Radical pedagogy. Activity and social change; social justice, vol. 32 Foust, R. C. , Soukup, C. (2006); Do I Exist? Transcendent subject and secrets in the sixth sense; Western Journal of communication, Vol. 70.

Strategies for Sustainable Rice Farming

Strategies for Sustainable Rice Farming LOW CARBON INITIATIVES: A RURAL APPRAISAL OF VARIOUS MITIGATIVE STRATEGIES USED BY RICE FARMERS AS A SCHEME FOR SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA SAVANNA. INTRODUCTION Most of the warming that has occurred since mid-20th century is due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, human activities including modern agriculture contribute to the production GHGs and on the overall, about 14% of GHG emissions comes from the agricultural sector (IPCC, 1996). Several naturally produced and human produced GHGs trap heat. CO2, CH4, and N2O are long-lived in the atmosphere and are the major contributors to positive increases in radiative forces (IPCC, 1996). Agricultural activities are significant producers of CH4 and N2O, of the three main gases that are influenced by land management and that are responsible for the potential greenhouse effect, CH4 has the 2nd greatest climate forcing potential of 27% CAST, (1992) arising from enteric fermentation of farm animals and rice cultivation. BACKGROUND In Nigeria, rice is one of the major cereals grown for food, the cultivable land to rice lies under five major ecologies namely: rain fed upland, rain fed lowland, irrigated rice, deep water and tidal mangrove swamp (Olayemi, 1997). Although Nigeria is the largest rice producer in West Africa and 85% of the total production comes from the north FAO (2012), rice production still seeks an increase in yield to meet the budding population and reduce importation. According to Bello (2004), Nigeria has the potential to produce enough rice for its needs and even export but this is not achieved now because the technology, management practices and the efficiency with which farmers use resources influence productivity. JUSTIFICATION Self-sufficiency in rice production is the goal of the Nigerian government, this has prompted the government to find ways of boosting local rice production (Bello, 2004). Rice paddies have been identified as major CH4 source induced by human activities and Nigerian paddies are not left out. This poses a challenge as researchers are faced daily with the challenges of how to mitigate or adapt to climate change, increase adoption of low carbon practices in all sectors and ways to implement their findings in local and global context of sustainable resource management. Consequently, estimating CH4 emissions from rice paddies and evaluating the low carbon practices used by farmers has become a pressing issue for assessing GHG impacts from agroecosystems and development of mitigation options at local scales for sustainable resource management. Objectives: Spatio-temporal mapping of lands cultivated to rice from 1983 to 2013 in the study area. To compare the CH4 emissions from upland and lowland rice fields. Assess the understanding of climate change and various low carbon practices among rice farmers for environmental protection. Understand the challenges associated with the adoption of low carbon options for rice cultivation. METHODOLOGY To achieve the stated objectives, the study will involve Geo-spatial analysis, field measurements and socioeconomic survey. The study area: The study will be carried out in the savannah belt of Nigeria, Bida zone in Niger state will be selected for the study because of its long history of rice cultivation and its proximity to National Cereal Research Institute, where technologies for cereal cultivation emanate and are disseminated. The zone consists of three Local Government Areas (Lavun, Bida and Gbako) and has a total land area of 6, 181 km2. Geo-spatial analysis Data: Cloud free-Ortho-rectified Landsat images of the area for the years 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2013 will be acquired from image vendors. Analysis: ArcGIS and IDIRSI geo-spatial tools will be used for the analysis of the Images. The images will be overlaid and an area of interest will be created from the overlay. Ground truthing will be done to aid supervised classification of the false and true composites of the area. The map of the dominant land use change of the area will be generated for each year. Accuracy assessment of the classification will be done, image differencing of the land cover maps will quantify the changes in land sizes cultivated to rice. Methane measurement: CH4 emission will be measured by using a portable methane gas meter (Gastech, Australia). Surface CH4 measurements from uplands and lowlands will be taken by inverting a 70mm diameter plastic funnel on the soil surface, the inlet tube of the CH4 meter will be connected to the funnel to read CH4 concentrations (Kartik and Nanjappa). Sampling procedure and Data collection A multistage sampling will be adopted for the study. First, two administrative wards will be randomly selected from each Local Government Area, for the second stage, two villages will be selected randomly from each selected ward and at the third stage, 20 rice farmers from each selected village will be randomly selected to give 80 farmers per Local Government Area and a total of 240 farmers from the zone. To allow for pre-testing and errors, 300 questionnaires will be printed. The sampling frame will focus on adult rice farmers who live in the communities and have been farming for over 25 years based on the assumption that these respondents will have adequate experiential knowledge about the subject matter. Primary data on the understanding of farmers about climate change, its effect on paddy farming, low carbon practices used and the challenges associated with the use of these practices will be collected by administering structured questionnaires to respondents in the study area. Statistical Analysis All data collected will be analyzed, using computer based Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) and STATA. A multiple linear regression will be used to link socioeconomic factors with factors that influence land use. REFERENCES CAST, 1992. Preparing U.S. Agriculture for Global Climate Change. Task Force Report No. 119. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, Ames, IA. Facts and Figures about Niger State, Assessed from http://www.nigerstate.gov.ng/epubl/Facts%20and%20Figures%20about%20Niger%20State1.pdf Kartik V. and Nanjappa A. Phytocapping: An Innovative Technique to Reduce Methane Emission from Landfills. Assessed from methaneflux paper (Environmental Research Journal).pdf Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 1996. Climate Change 1995. The Science of Climate Change. The Contribution of Working Group I to the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, New York. Impact of Trade on Domestic Rice Production and the challenge of Self-sufficiency in Nigeria Assessed from www.warda.cgiar.org//RicePolicy/Chuma.E/Chuma.E.Nigeria.Pres.ppt. Olayemi, J.K 1997. The Nigerian Rice Industry: Performance, Problems and Prospects. A research report prepared for Food and Agricuktural Organisation, FAO; December 1997. UNCCS (United Nations Climate Change Secretariat), Emissions Summary for Nigeria, http://unfccc.int/files/ghg_data/ghg_data_unfccc/ghg_profiles/application/pdf/nga_ghg_profile.pdf WEBSITES USED www.ricenigeria.com EXPECTED RESULTS AND THE RELEVANCE OF MY PROJECT TO CLIMATE CHANGE The distinctiveness of this study is that it seeks to incorporate the experiences of rural farmers in understanding the challenges associated with adopting Low carbon initiatives at local scales. This project aims at: Describing the local perception of climatic vagaries in their environment Characterizing the prevalent land use patterns in recent times. Characterizing the various local conservation practices used by rice farmers for resource conservation. Describing the effects and constraints of adopting resource protection practices. The study would reveal the changes in land cover as mediated by increase in productivity over the past thirty years in the study area and the associated methane emissions. This would be helpful in the design sustainable resource conservation measures for climate protection. As well, the study will reveal the awareness level of the respondents’ on some facts about climate change and variability, its toll on rice farming and various measures used to adapt to these changes. Since considerable attention has not been given to measuring results from adaptation and mitigation activities, results from this study hopes to be a working tool for the Nigerian government in the development of a simple Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) plan that is more readily useable by farmers through capacity building and technology development or transfer. This study will also provide insight into local resource conservation strategies that can be improved upon for sustainable resource management. The dataset will therefore become a working tool for the government, legislators, private sector, civil society and other stakeholders for appropriate understanding on the trends of greenhouse gas emission from paddies in Bida zone for necessary policy formulation on strategies to reduce the emissions in order to improve ecological system conservation and mitigate global warming. Please explain how you intend to communicate the project results during and after the sponsorship period and which target groups you particularly want to address. (2,000 characters max. The ultimate foci of this study is to raise public awareness on the amount of greenhouse gases released from paddies, it also intends to assess the low carbon strategies used by farmers and the challenges associated with using them. The major target groups are the locals and government officials. Although, the communities have limited expertise at some stages of the study, I intend to work in partnership with them for their ability to suggest strategies that would facilitate data collection and ensure that the data collected are representative of the community during the study. This will be done by clearly explaining the purpose of the study to the community head, since he has a very good knowledge of the community and can help ensure that all factors required for the study is provided. The proximity of the National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) will be of great assistance during the study and dissemination of results. They will be helpful in providing previous research results and some experimental techniques that will be invaluable in the design of the survey. Usually, conveying research results requires wisdom to avoid rejection. Before communicating the research results to the entire community, results will discussed with the study team from NCRI and the community representatives. Also, since the FADAMA intervention programmes that serve as an intermediary between the government and the communities are common around the study area, assistance will be sought from the FADAMA facilitators during the study and when communicating the research results to the government to enhance acceptance for policy formulation. Timeline of the project, including milestones TIME FRAME (MONTHS) ACTIVITY 1-2 Arrival in Germany, Intensive German language course 3 Reconnaissance survey, acquisition of project materials and pretesting of questionnaire 4-6 Questionnaire administration and analysis. 7-10 Image acquisition, geospatial analysis and ground truthing 11-12 Preliminary write-up and corrections 13-14 Presentations and submission This study is expected to cover a one calendar year period, although this proposed duration is subject to modifications from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Words of Wisdom in the Holy Bible :: essays research papers

C: RELY ON GODS RESOURCES His Sprit I cor 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? I cor 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. His Strength Isiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Phil 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength His Faithfulness Lam 3:22-23 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? His Peace Isiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you I Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. His Provision Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Phil 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus His Help In Temptation Psalm 119:9,11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Heb 2:18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. D: BE CHRISTS DESCIPLE Put Christ First Matt 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Separate From World I John 2:15-16 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Race and the American Criminal Justice System: The O.J. Simpson Case :: Sociology Racism Prejudice Essays

Race and the American Criminal Justice System: The O.J. Simpson Case Historically racism has pervaded the administration of justice in America and Canada. Racial biases against blacks are still apparent today through the many different arenas of the criminal justice system. Black Americans argue that they are treated unequally and more brutally than whites at all levels in the criminal justice system. As a result of this unequal treatment blacks are more likely to be arrested, charged, convicted and receive longer sentences then whites for the same crimes. Black Americans make up about 12% of the US population and they account for more then 30% of all arrests, 44% of all prisoners and 40% of prisoners on death row (Hunt, 1999:74). The racial problem exists in many forms within the criminal justice system and most of this racial disparity can be attributed to the practices of the prosecution and more particularly the police. The unequal treatment of blacks within the justice system becomes evident through various forms of police misconduct such as excessive use of force against blacks, harassment, planting and falsifying evidence and police perjury. Most of these issues were brought to question in the criminal court case against O. J. Simpson, who was arrested and charged with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald L. Goldman. The question of race was addressed in the high profile court case of O.J. Simpson when Simpson's lawyer, Johnnie Cochran took a Critical Race Theory position in defence of his client (Aylward, 1999:68). Cochran believed that racism was a central issue to the case and it was revealed primarily by detective Mark Fuhrman of the LAPD in a white supremacist form. Fuhrman was the detective who uncovered most of the evidence that connected Simpson to the murders. The defence's argument was that detective Fuhrman, motivated by his hatred of blacks, had planted the blood on O.J.'s bronco and the bloody glove at the Simpson's residence in order to incriminate him for the crime. In order to prove Fuhrman's racial hatred and willingness to fabricate evidence, Cochran wanted to introduce evidence of thirty incidents where detective Fuhrman used racial epithets ("nigger") and eighteen examples of his misconduct contained in audio tapes that Fuhrman had made (Aylward, 1999:69). The court did not allow this evidence to be admitted but did allow for the defence to put three witnesses on the stand to testify to the racist attitudes they had experienced from detective Fuhrman.

Free Essays - Animal Farm :: Animal Farm

The novel â€Å"Animal Farm† was written in 1945 by author George Orwell.   George Orwell was the pseudonym of Eric Arthur Blair, a British writer born in Motihari, India in 1903.   After serving in the Indian Imperial Police force, Orwell wrote â€Å"Down and Out in Paris and London,† an account of the conditions faced by the poor in France and England.   Next, in 1936, he fought in the Spanish Civil War, which was his source of inspiration for â€Å"Homage to Catalonia.†Ã‚   After his days in service, he devoted his efforts to speaking out against the domination of one man over another.   This is shown in books such as â€Å"Animal Farm† and â€Å"Nineteen Eighty-Four.†   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Animal Farm† takes place in England, on Manor Farm (later renamed Animal Farm) in Willingdon.   It incorporates all seasons of the year, as it takes place over the course of many years, tracing the lives of all the animals.   The point of view in the novel is third person, omniscient.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Animal Farm† is an allegory of the Russian Revolution and the course of communism in Russia and the USSR.   The many characters in the book symbolize either one person or a group of people.   The pigs represent the communist government and are the ones that become corrupt.   More specifically, Old Major is Karl Marx, the â€Å"father of communism,† Snowball is Vladimir Lenin and Napoleon is Joseph Stalin.   The dogs that Napoleon uses as his personal guards symbolize the KGB, the Soviet police force.   Most of the other characters like Boxer, Clover, the chickens, Benjamin and others represent the working class that is gradually taken advantage of more and more throughout the story. Mr. Jones represents the last Russian Czar, Nicholas II, who is overthrown in the Russian Revolution, his men represent the Red Army and Mollie represents the sympathizers of the old government in the USSR.   George Orwell sets up the novel by introducing the prize winning boar ‘Old Major’ and establishing him as the leader of the animals.   He then uses to describe the harsh conditions that the animals (or Russian labor class) were forced to endure on Manor farm and throughout England.   He then tells them how good life would be without humans, which was called in the book ‘animalism’   (represents communism).   Old Major finishes off by teaching the animals a song called â€Å"Beasts of England† which becomes their anthem and remains until outlawed by Napoleon later in the book.

Medical Malpractice

How do we quantify pain and suffering? This question should be answered satisfactorily before people could even attempt to debate whether or not to impose limits on recovery in medical malpractice cases. Undoubtedly, it is difficult to talk about limits on damage awards without a standardized costing system which would guide the proper authorities to come up with a fair determination of the damages done to victims of medical malpractice. Since there is no such system, the task of ascertaining the extent of damage inflicted on victims is usually left to the country’s judicial system which decides the issue on a case-to-case basis. This being the case, setting a maximum limit or a cap on the amount that could be awarded to victims would be very difficult to justify because such an act would be highly discriminatory. For instance, a cap of $200,000 would mean that claimants could not be awarded with more than said amount. The unfairness of this system would be immediately evident in a situation where two individuals suffer the loss of their upper limbs, the first victim losing one and the second suffering from the loss of both limbs. The court could award $140,000 to the first victim who loses one limb, for example, but the claim of the second victim would be limited to $200,000 despite losing both limbs. What it would amount to is that the other limb lost by the second victim would only be compensated with $60,000. In this example, the second victim is not compensated fairly for his/her loss. Setting a cap therefore discriminates against the victim who suffers more. (Hiatt, 2002) Another question worth asking is: Who stands to gain if we do limit recovery? If the first question tends to be highly contentious, this second question involves a cut-and-dried issue because the answer is rather obvious. Putting a cap on awards granted in connection with medical malpractice cases favors only the medical practitioners who commit the act to the utter detriment of the victims. In other words, setting such a cap would treat the victims unfairly and favor the perpetrators. This, too, is discrimination. Some quarters attempt to justify this act by saying that providing for a maximum limit to recovery is a way of stemming the spiraling cost of health care in the country. Opponents, however, argue that this is not only deceptive but unconstitutional as well. (Hiatt, 2002) Critics of a cap on damage awards argue that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment which provides â€Å"equal protection† to all Americans. As illustrated earlier, a cap denies â€Å"equal protection† to those victims who suffer more, because they could not claim compensation beyond what the statutory cap allows. This was cited in Jones v. State Board of Medicine where the court declared unconstitutional the 1975 Hospital-Medical Liability Act passed by Idaho because it failed to treat victims of malpractice equally. In other words under the Act, the claimants whose injuries were deemed below the cap received full compensation while those whose damages exceeded the limit were denied the opportunity to recover fully because they were not awarded full compensation. (Hiatt, 2002) Another objection voiced against putting a cap on damage awards is the fact that it violates the individual’s â€Å"right to trial by jury.† Under the law, evaluating the extent of damages is a function of a jury. In the presence of a cap, the role of the jury is limited only up to the extent of the cap – in effect, interfering with the constitutional duty of a jury. In Boyd v. Bulala, the opinion of the federal district court was that the cap of $750,000 on damage awards set by the state of Virginia â€Å"violated the right to trial by jury provided for by both federal and state constitutions.† (Hiatt, 2002) It is clear from the foregoing discussion that limiting the recovery in medical malpractice cases is very prejudicial to the interests of the victims. In the interest of fairness, every malpractice case should be deliberated on by a jury based on its own merits and the extent of damage award be assessed without the constraints of a cap. This will give every victim of medical malpractice cases the much-needed opportunity for a full recovery. Reference Hiatt, M.D. (2002). Caps on Damage Awards in Medical Malpractice Cases: Constitutional Challenges. Retrieved October 28, 2007 from http://jpands.org/hacienda/hiatt1.html      

Engineering Ethics Essay

â€Å"The need for safety is proportional to the danger of having an accident. Nothing is fool-proof, yet we must try to minimize risks. If the public is willing to run or to take such risks, who are engineers to refuse? † In my opinion, the above argument is very valid and it indeed reflects the position of engineering as a process. The reason why I support this argument is because first of all, the advancements the society has been able to make are due to the milestones that have been achieved by engineers. There will always be a demand for innovation so that life may become what the society wants it to be: smooth and efficient (Davis, 1998). To design the systems which are able to bring about these comforts, we as engineers must base our practice on the mathematical and physical principles that have been established through empirical research (Baura, 2006). Any measures to safeguard the safety in the use of systems and devices designed by engineers are constant and depend on certain constants; and these constants are in turn dependent on external factors. When this chain of determinants fails to hold up, then risks will arise. Nevertheless, it is our professional responsibility as engineers to bring innovation to the society. Due to unforeseen circumstances, engineering processes or the products of these processes may malfunction, causing danger to their users or other third parties. But through exhibiting an affinity for these processes and products, the society is virtually signing an agreement to face the associated risks as a matter of choice; and engineers cannot dissuade them (Davis, 1998). However, all engineers have a role of ensuring that the profession is approached with diligence so that the risks emanating from its processes are as low as can be possible (Davis, 1998). This is our obligation to the society, our conscience and our employers and the profession. That is what makes a holistic engineering practice. Relationship between risk and safety To understand the relationship between risk and safety it is important to first understand the meaning and implication of the two terms. Risk in the engineering context can be defined as the probability of an accident arising from an engineering project or a product of an engineering project (Baura, 2006). Safety on its part can be defined as the state of having a defined degree of certainty that adverse effects or accidents will not result from a process or the use of a specific device or system. With the above definitions in mind, it can be concluded that risk and safety are inversely proportional entities. Applied to engineering ethics, their implication is that we as engineers must strive, as a matter of being professionally competent, to minimize risks as much as can be possible so that safety can be increased (Baura, 2006). Risks have many dimensions in that they can occur in any stage of engineering, raging from design, implementation of the design and in the application of the product of the design (Davis, 1998). The same is translated to safety since the two are mutually interdependent, related by the rule of inverse proportionality: the higher the risks associated with a system or a process, the lesser the safety of the people interacting with it. Determining whether an engineer is responsible for an accident Under the unfortunate eventuality that an accident has occurred in an engineering project or in the use of a product or system designed through the engineering process, whether or not an engineer should be held responsible is a matter resolved by examining if he or she stuck by the pre-defined standards of professionalism and ethics (Baura, 2006). This is one of the main concerns of engineering ethics. It is a field in the study and practice of engineering that deals with the setting and unilateral enforcement of the standards that govern the practice of engineering as a profession. According to these standards, an engineer is supposed to exhibit diligence, morality and high levels of engagement to the process (Rabins, Pritchard & Harris, 2008). When these attributes are not followed to the letter, safety may be compromised. In case an accident happens and the engineer in charge of the event or system that caused the accident is found to have diverged from recommended standards of competence, then he or she should be held responsible for the accident (Baura, 2006). As discussed above, all engineering processes always involve some risks no matter how minimal. An accident may occur not because of negligence on the part of the engineer in charge but because of other factors outside his or her control (Davis, 1998). Determining if an engineer is responsible for an accident therefore is a matter of evaluating the circumstances that led to the accident. If there is sufficient proof of negligence, then the engineer should be blamed; but if all evidence shows that the engineer stuck to the recommended standards of professionalism and ethical responsibility, then he or she should not be blamed (Davis, 1998). It is just part of the risks involved in the job. Standards of due diligence Moral, ethical and professional standards of diligence applying to the practice of engineering are defined for each specific discipline by societies comprised of experienced engineers. These societies define an elaborate set of standards which an engineer needs to be familiar with and show competence in before he or she is licensed to practice. Among these is the National Institute of Engineering Ethics (NIEE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (AMSE). In different countries, national societies exist which liaise with the international societies for easier implementation of these standards of due diligence (Rabins, Pritchard & Harris, 2008). Regulating and enforcing Standards Professional engineers who have garnered sufficient experience in the profession have the moral and professional obligation of inducting graduating engineers to the practice. They, in collaboration with engineering societies and educational institutions should ensure that student engineers are taught engineering ethics as part of the regular curriculum. Upon graduating, engineering students should be made to undertake competence courses and examinations so that the required standards of ethical and professional are ingrained into their conscience before they can be licensed to operate as engineers (Davis, 1998). There should be levels so that an engineer graduates from one level to another depending on experience garnered; experience which should be evaluated in terms of his or her level of competence. Practicing licenses should be suspended for engineers who show incompetence in their practice. Competence, Personality and Morality Good (competent) engineers are those who apply the standards of diligence prescribed in the engineering code of ethics. A bad (incompetent) engineer is one who does not value the above standards (Rabins, Pritchard & Harris, 2008). The are parameters (or standards of due diligence) include being knowledgeable, having the skills or expertise necessary for a given task and having the ethical stand to be able to take responsibility for the process itself incase of any unforeseen eventuality (Baura, 2006). A good engineer wholeheartedly dedicates his service to his clients, employer and to the society. When all or any of these virtues are missing, then we have a bad engineer. No matter how skilled an engineer may be, he or she can be branded incompetent if he does not inject ethics into his or her practice. There is a relationship between being a good engineer and being a good person since all ethics have a common foundation. Morally competent people are more likely to be professionally competent (Baura, 2006). A person of good character in personal life transfers the virtues that define good character into his or her profession. Based on this analogy, good people are likely to make good engineers and vice versa. An individual’s moral competence can be established by evaluating his or her approach to issues requiring decisiveness and strength of character (Rabins, Pritchard & Harris, 2008). This is when morality and ethics come into play. Morally incompetent people tend to place the end before the means whereas morally competent people exhibit dexterity in balancing between their acts and the likely outcomes, putting into consideration the welfare of other people directly or indirectly affected by the issue at hand. Evaluation of an individual’s morality is extremely hard since morality is essentially an intrinsic characteristic (Rabins, Pritchard & Harris, 2008). Every human being develops a unique moral outlook based on the environment and the experiences that he or she had while growing up. Since these are unique to each individual, no one has the moral right to impose his or her moral values on another (Baura, 2006). Morality can never be universal, just like knowledge. However, moral evaluations are still very necessary since as human beings and as engineers, we must build a consensus tending to those competencies which can be agreed upon as binding so that we live and practice harmoniously, exhibiting collective social and professional responsibility. References Baura, G. (2006) Engineering Ethics: An Industrial Perspective. Burlington, MA: Academic Press. Davis, M. (1998). Thinking like an Engineer: Studies in the Ethics of a Profession. Oxford: Oxford University Press Rabins, M, Pritchard, M. S. & Harris, C. (2008) Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases. Belmont: CengageBrain.

Should Fred Hire Mimi Despite Her Online History?

In this case â€Å"We Googled You†, googling candidates before hiring often takes place in many companies. Sometimes people’s online histories revealed by googling affect hiring decisions of employers. Fred Westen, the CEO of Hathaway Jones, a luxury appeal retailer, is looking for a candidate who can lead flagship stores successfully in China. Fred met Mimi Brewster and thought that she fits the position because she had grown up in China and she speaks both Mandarin and a local dialect. Mimi graduated from Berkeley University as a cum laude, and majored in modern Chinese history. Hathaway Jones needs creative employees like Mimi who can renovate the image and product line of the company. Fred knows that the brand image of the company is getting old fast according to the firm’s market research. However, the Vice President of HR, Virginia Flanders googled Mimi and found her online information related to protest activities against China. She opposes hiring Mimi because Mimi might get the company into a trouble in the future. If Fred hires Mimi, the company will have a leader who is aggressively creative but potentially risky. On the other hand, if Fred does not hire her, the company can avoid the potential risk but miss a great candidate. Should Fred hire the candidate? From my perspective, Fred Western should talk to Mimi to explain her protest activities, and hire Mimi if the potential risk related the online history can be preventable. He should clarify her point of view about her past protest involvements and how those views have changed rather than making a judgment only from digital information. Online information can be easily falsified so it is important to clarify the situation. If her opinions toward China have changed in positive ways, potential risk can be removed by posting her current point of view on the online. Executives who take responsibility to hire employees should pay more attention to candidates’ potential job abilities than focusing too much on an individual’s online presence. Important hiring standards should focus on what they will do and how they can handle problems in the future rather than what they already did in the past. Fred’s instinct tells him that letting Mimi go to a competitor will be a catastrophe to Hathaway Jones because of her potentials. He cannot realize his ambitious plan to expand on China’s luxury goods market with only people who always play safe. John G. Palfrey’s article, †Should Fred Hire Mimi Despite Her Online History† (p. 42), says that there is no reason to fear bringing Mimi in based on the results of a Google search. Legal issue may arise only if Hathaway Jones discriminates against Mimi. Palfrey argues that if CEOs are looking only for people who are total saints, then maybe they are hiring only uninteresting people at the end of the day. I agree that hiring standards of Virginia have to be revised. Otherwise, companies may miss young great candidates. The young generation called â€Å"digital natives† share much more information on the Internet than the older generation called â€Å"digital immigrants†, who have not plunged themselves into digital environments. If CEOs only hire people who do not have online histories, the companies will suffer from a lack of leaders in the future. Coutu, D. (2007) We Googled You. Harvard Business Review, pp. 37-41. Palfrey, J. (2007). Should Fred Hire Mimi Despite Her Online History? Harvard Business Review, p. 42.

Human cloning and Immanuel Kant Essay

Over the last decade, the advent of cloning and advancements in human genetic research have presented society with a complicated moral quandary. Debate rages as to what constitutes legitimate paths of inquiry and where to draw the line as to research that strikes many people as morally wrong. The basic question is: â€Å"how does society determine what’s right? † While, of course, questions regarding human genetic research are new, this basic question is as hold as civilization and has been addressed over and over again by history’s great philosophers. One of the most notable philosophers of the modern era is Immanuel Kant, who was born in Prussia in 1724. Kant paid a great deal of attention to formulating a complex system of morality. The following examines Kantian morals and how they might be applied to questions of human genetic research. Kant’s moral theory is predicated on the idea of the â€Å"categorical imperative,† which Kant described in the following manner, â€Å"Act only on that maxim which you can at the same time will to be a universal law†(Honderich, 1995, p. 436). By the term â€Å"maxim,† Kant meant general rules or principles upon which rational individuals act, and that these principles reflect the end that an individual has in mind in choosing actions of a certain type in given circumstances (Honderich, 1995). Therefore, maxims are principles in the following form: â€Å"When in an S-type situation, act in an A-type manner in order to attain end- E† (Honderich, 1995, p. 436). For example, a person might resolve to pay a bill as soon as it is received in order to not incur any debt. Kant tested a maxim by performing a thought experiment in which the individual asks oneself whether or not one would will a certain maxim to become universal law. As this suggests, moral law, in the philosophy of Kant, is inherent in reason itself. It is a priori, before experience (Frost, 1962). In every circumstance, Kant believed that â€Å"categorical imperative† provides a sure criterion for how to evaluate right and wrong (Frost, 1962). Kant maintained that an action that the individual can easily will that everyone should follow and perform would necessarily have to be a good act (Frost, 1962). Morality for Kant not only involved law (categorical imperative) but also the ultimate end to which action is directed. As the formulation of the concept of categorical imperative suggests, the basic problem for Kant was to discern the meaning of â€Å"right and wrong, good and bad† (Frost, 1962, p. 94). Fundamental to Kant’s thinking was the principle formulated by Rousseau that the only fundamentally good thing in the universe is the â€Å"human will governed by respect for the moral law or the consciousness of duty† (Frost, 1962, p. 94). He considered a moral act to be one that is performed out of respect for moral law, rather than for selfish gain or sympathy for others (Frost, 1962). Therefore, unlike other moral systems, Kant did not see consequences as the criteria for determining the moral value of a specific action. Rather, Kant looked toward the intentions of the individual. If an individual acts from good intentions, out of respect for moral law, his actions, are by definition, â€Å"good. † Kant argued that individuals instinctively avoid behavior, which, if performed by everyone, would create anarchy. â€Å"We know, not by reasoning, but by vivid and immediate feelings, that we must avoid behavior which, if adopted by all men, would render social life impossible† (Durant, 1961, p. 209). As this brief summary of Kantian ethics suggests, if Kant were presented with the problem of the morality of genetic research, he would, first of all, be concerned about the motivations of the researchers, their intentions in conducting such research (Frost, 1962). In the furor that was quickly generated over the successfully cloning of a sheep, â€Å"Dolly,† the usefulness of cloning technology to current medical practice was pushed aside. Nevertheless, the applications are considerable. A great deal of technical information has been left out in the sensationalism that abounded in the media. For one thing, the media did not make it clear that â€Å"Dolly† was not an identical clone (Wilson,1997). Part of everyone’s genetic material comes from the mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the egg. In the case of Dolly, only the nuclear DNA was transferred (Wilson, 1997). This may have significant information to import to scientists concerning the aging process since aging is related to acquired mutations in mitochondrial DNA (Wilson, 1997, p. 913). Furthermore, as Dolly ages, it has been noted that she is aging prematurely, which provides another source of information for scientists, but also signals that this technology is far from perfected. Research conducted on nuclear transfer into human eggs has the possibility of providing an immense amount of information that may have clinical value, by providing a model for learning more about somatic cell differentiation (Wilson, 1997, p. 913). Eventually, in due course, scientists may learn how to influence cell differentiation and this could give rise to targeted cell types (Wilson, 1997). The ability to generate tissues from different cell types could have enormous implications for transplantation. Wilson (1997) anticipates this technology utilizing skin and blood cells, and possibly even neuronal tissue that could then be used in the treatment of â€Å"injury, transplants for leukemia, and for degenerative disease such as Parkinson’s disease† (p. 913). In another area of research, the successful cloning of human growth hormone (HGH) is important for several reasons. First of all, a child that has pituitary dwarfism requires twice-weekly injections until reaching age of 20. In the past, HGH was could only be obtained by removal of human pituitary tissue at autopsy. To treat one child with pituitary dwarfism using previous methods required obtaining over a thousand pituitaries (Emery and Malcolm, 1995, p. 165). Not only has it been difficult in the past to produce enough HGH to successfully provide treatment to all the children who needed it, but small amounts of contaminating virus caused some of the children treated to develop Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (Emery and Malcolm, 1995, p. 165). Cloning technology, which permits HGH to be produced artificially, has provided a readily available supply of HGH, which-in turn-has allowed the application of HGH in other treatments. For example, it has been discovered that HGH can be used to speed up the healing process for bone fractures (Emery and Malcolm, 1995). This is been particularly beneficial in treating the elderly (Emery and Malcolm, 1995). As this brief summary of scientific research being conducted into cloning and genetic research indicates, there are enormous benefits to be reaped from this new and controversial technology. Kant would undoubtedly approve of research that so obvious benefits humanity and society. What people seem to fear, and what would undoubtedly be wrong by any moral system, are nightmare scenarios propagated by the media and Hollywood. Images of clones being used simply as â€Å"spare parts† to extend the life of the rich, for example, has been dramatized in film. This sort of misuse of technology would constitute a threat to the social system and, therefore, would not pass Kant’s categorical imperative test. In other words, if everyone were cloned, it would significantly lower the way that human life is valued in our society. Also, the idea of human embryos being created and destroyed simply to further genetic research objectives is simply abhorrent on an instinctive level. Therefore, while it! can be seen that this technology needs to be carefully controlled and supervised in regards to moral issues, it should not be totally banned either, as it also has the power to benefit society to a great degree.

Banana Yoshimoto comparative essay

Banana Yoshimoto effectively portrays various common themes and motifs in both â€Å"Helix† and â€Å"Newlywed†, in revealing the subconscious state of mind of the respective protagonists. Although the storylines are quite different, we get the feeling that many themes and strategies such as isolation, incredible poetic effect, and the recurring use of a helper figure used to develop the characters, are relatively interchangeable. These literary patterns allow for the protagonists to both escape the shallowness that plagues them, and bring to light the deeper meaning behind their subconscious (now conscious) struggles, especially those relating to their true feelings for their personal companions. Isolation is a recurring theme that is a catalyst for the subconscious state causing the climactic epiphanies within the protagonists of both stories. This is comparably portrayed through the blatant representation of shallow urban relationships. In â€Å"Helix†, we witness this theme of shallowness through the personal thoughts of the protagonist at the beginning of the story. In a moment of reflection, the protagonist exclaims, I feel as if my heart will stop beating, because once I know that much about a woman, it can never work out between us. (Helix, 651) Alluding to his lover, this theme of shallowness is difficult to ignore as the narrator is transparently portraying his ability to write off a relationship on incredibly superficial grounds. In â€Å"Newlywed† however, Banana uses the same approach in order to portray this theme of isolation, yet goes to quite an extreme to illustrate her character’s subconscious thoughts. The transformation from bum to beauty is a symbolic element of the story, and is supposed to confuse both the narrator and the reader at first, but it soon becomes clear that there is a deeper philosophical meaning to this odd occurrence. This bizarre intervention, in what seemed to be quite an ordinary context, rapidly changes the pacing and evolution of the story itself. At first, the narrator is unsure of himself, which ultimately leads the reader to question the reliability of his story: â€Å"I tried convincing myself that this was nothing more than a drunken nightmare. That’s what it was, an ugly duckling dream, a transformation from bum to beauty.† (Newlywed, 5) The isolation that surrounds the protagonists of Newlywed and Helix both physically and emotionally is what ultimately leads to the epiphanies that expose the underlying feelings towards their companions. Whether it is an empty train cabin, or the deserted city of Tokyo, Yoshimoto definitely seeks to portray the feeling of seclusion in order to emphasize the revelations that expose the protagonists’ true emotions. Another common aspect in both â€Å"Helix† and â€Å"Newlywed† is Yoshimoto’s use of poetic language and literary symbolism in order to develop both her characters and the story with greater depth. Despite that fact that many of the descriptions that she gives on behalf of the narrator are purely physical, and extremely shallow, it is an important aspect of both stories, as it helps lead to the dramatic changes that occur within the protagonists. In â€Å"Newlywed† for example, when the beautiful woman on the train asks the narrator about his wife, the first description that he gives, is purely physical: â€Å"She’s short, and slender, and has long hair. And her eyes are real narrow, so she looks like she’s smiling, even when she’s angry.† (Newlywed, 6) These superficial descriptions may be attributed to the fact that the narrator was in a â€Å"drunken state†, yet clearly depict him as a man that is not madly in love with his wife. By contrast, the poetic imaging in â€Å"Helix† reveals a man that is clearly in love with his girlfriend. Even near the beginning of the story, when he is expressing his feelings of uncertainty toward his relationship, he still gives this poetic illustration of his girlfriend: â€Å"She was like an evening moon, her white light almost swallowed by the gradations of pale blue sky.† (Helix, 651) This beautiful poetic image of his girlfriend is surprising to the reader, as he had just explained that he was having difficulty overcoming her idiosyncrasies. This dramatization brings the reader to the realization that the protagonist’s stream of consciousness narration is very unpredictable, yet will ultimately lead to his ability to expose his true feelings as the story develops. The author clearly likes to represent this feeling of indecision with poetic illustration as it is used several times in both stories. In â€Å"Newlywed†, the narrator vividly describes his mixed feelings toward his wife, Atsuko, during the peak of his epiphany-like experience: â€Å"For me, the beautiful, all-encompassing web spun by this creature is at once so polluted, yet so pure that I feel compelled to grab on to it. I am terrified by it but find myself unable to hide from it. At some point I have been caught up in the magical power she has.† (Newlywed, 16) Banana doesn’t strictly limit her poetic language to the story’s character development; she also uses it to depict specific moods in order to contextualize certain situations that shake up the intensity of the story itself. Coincidentally, in both â€Å"Helix† and â€Å"Newlywed†, the feeling of isolation is commonly portrayed throughout both stories with the unique use of grandiose language. This allows the protagonists to avoid any outside distractions that would interfere with the personal situations that they have to deal with. Tokyo is described as being a ghost town at the beginning of â€Å"Helix†, for example. â€Å"There was not a soul on the dark streets, save the autumn wind. I encountered this emptiness at every moonlit corner I turned†. (Helix, 651) Clearly unusual in a city like Tokyo, Yoshimoto is almost desperately taking this context to the extreme in an attempt to add an element of absurdity to the situation, and maintain a clear line of focus on the protagonist and his continuous train of thought. In â€Å"Newlywed†, she uses the same strategic language to create a context of solitude in order isolate the protagonist: â€Å"I looked around to see if anyone else had witnessed this amazing transformation, but the passengers in the neighboring cars seemed miles away, in a totally different space, separated by a transparent wall, all looking just as tired as they had moments before, indifferent to my surprise.† (Newlywed, 4) The language that Yoshimoto uses is not only unique, but allows the reader to fully contextualize themselves within the story, and fully comprehend the conscious and unconscious struggles within each story’s protagonist. The use of helper figures is another way that the author both challenges and exposes the protagonists. The most evident helper figure from both stories is the seemingly god-like character that transformed from a homeless man to a beautiful woman in â€Å"Newlywed†. The interpretation of this symbolic figure is entirely left to the reader’s imagination, yet its crucial role in the storyline and to the protagonist’s character development is indisputable. This peculiar intervention is a clear example of how far Yoshimoto is willing to go to force her characters to express their thoughts. At first, it is difficult to process what the narrator is depicting; yet as the story develops, we quickly learn that this character has a specific purpose to act as catalyst to the protagonist’s epiphany-like reflection about his life, specifically in relation to marriage. After opening up to this woman about his life, he explains how he felt about what he had experienced on the train that night: â€Å"Deep inside, I felt timid, even scared, not about my own drunkenness or fear that my mind was playing tricks on me, but the more basic sensation of encountering something much larger than myself, and feeling immeasurably small and insignificant by comparison†. (Newlywed, 12) From this, the reader is able to see that this man is clearly having a life changing experience that is allowing him to re-evaluate the major aspects of his life, including his relationship. This helper figure to the protagonist allowed him to bring out the subconscious struggles that seemed to weigh on him throughout the story. On the other hand, â€Å"Helix† presents multiple helper figures, some seeming as random and arbitrary as that of â€Å"Newlywed† and similarly allows the protagonist to truthfully evaluate and ultimately expose how he feels about the woman that he loves. The first helper figure that seems to startle the narrator does not take the form of a person, but rather a situational mind-cleansing seminar that his girlfriend brings to the table. She explains, â€Å"I guess that’s the chance you take if you go to one of these sessions. You might even end up forgetting things that seemed really important to you, things you don’t want to forget†. (Helix, 652) This seminar quickly becomes a euphemism for breaking up in the mind of the narrator, and his response, â€Å"don’t go†, unconsciously shows his fear of losing her. This ultimately shifts the dynamic of the story as he had previously inferred his desire to break up with his girlfriend at the beginning of the story. Yoshimoto also inserts a random explosion near the end of â€Å"Helix† as the lovers discuss their love for each other. Much like most of the random events that present themselves in her stories, there is a deeper meaning below what we see at the surface. This strange intervention that causes people to â€Å"[poor] into the [empty] streets from every doorway† (Helix, 654) encapsulates the unpredictability that is portrayed throughout the story, and through the narrator’s stream of consciousness narration. This ultimately leads the story to end on a note of misunderstanding and confusion surrounding the protagonist’s comparison of love to the helix of a strand of DNA. The interventions are not only incorporated to reveal and expose the true feelings of each protagonist, but also change the dynamic of each story and help maintain a feeling of unpredictability toward the narratives themselves, as well as the unreliability of the protagonists.

Enrique's Journey Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Enrique's Journey Reflection - Essay Example ain character meets on his way forced me to realize, how precious is the family and what a price should some immigrants pay for to reunite with their families. Before reading this book I never thought that the government should somehow support the immigrants. I thought that the problems of immigrants are the problems of their own countries, ut nit the USA. I’ve heard the terrific statistics telling how many people crossed the USA boundary, but that people were only numbers for me. Earlier I never thought about the fact that those people who immigrate to the USA leave their families on the other side of the boundary. I thought of them as about people who just can’t find a job or don’t want to live in their own country and therefore come to the USA. While reading this book I got deep into the inner world of a boy, whose mother left him in Honduras and went far away to make his and her life better. The move allows her to send money back home to Enrique, due to that he can go to school. Mother promised Enrique that she will return quickly. But she had troubles in America. So due to this very book I saw how difficult it is to survive in the foreign country, where no one is really interested in your being here and someone even want you to leave. Also I saw the inside of the world of poverty, unemployment and hardships I never met in my life. I really reconsidered my opinion about immigrants after reading this book. Now I even think the government has to provide the immigrants children with a humanitarian care, shelter and legal assistance, especially for those children who have faced horrific violence in their native countries. Unfortunately not all he officials and parties are ready to help the immigrants. The book Enriques Journey helped me to open my eyes and see the other side of the both immigrant’s and my own worlds. They differ a lot. I have never been really far from my family, without staying in contact with them, without a smallest opportunity to see

EOC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EOC - Essay Example Moreover, the EOP also has to be risk based. Therefore, it should be inclusive of hazard-specific data based on the threats that were developed in the analysis of the hazard. An EOP comprises of three parts that is the useful extensions that talks about performance of a specific task. Secondly, the hazard specific annexes that offer extra response. Thirdly, we have the basic plan. Further, for compatibility reasons with levels of government and other jurisdictions, the basic plan therefore does not have a standard format. Moreover the basic plan should comprise of the following components: Introduction, Purpose statement, Situations and assumptions, Concept of operations, Organizing and assignment of responsibilities, Administrational and logistics, Plan development and maintenance, and lastly Authorities and references. The emergency operational plan of Holderness, New Hampshire contains all the components of the basic plan (Fagel, 2011). A well stated incident of communication system in plan enables a swift action during an emergency. Good communication is essential in handling any case of emergency within institutions. The new Hampshire EOP has laid emphasizes on communication hence making it possible to effectively handle emergency situations arising anytime. Secondly, it is important to have a clear flow of information while handling an emergency. Since this will reduce instances of confusion among members of staff. This is reflected in the new Hampshire EOP where it outlines communication between various stakeholders that include, private sector, non-governmental organizations and the government. Lastly, setting aside of the resources by the federal, state and local government specifically for emergencies will help in dealing with the situations whenever they arise. Therefore, the new Hampshire EOP has laid procedures down on how to utilize the already set aside resources by the federal, state and local

Gap analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gap analysis - Essay Example They always insist on relevant case studies and reality in the job market. Through their examples and case studies, I have been able to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses and plan adequately on how to improve my capabilities. They pose different challenges like giving me assignments to solve different situations. This also includes different research studies in order to come up with different conclusions and answers to challenges that most organizations and companies are experiencing in the global market. I also intend to participate in other activities that will prepare me for the preferred field. Firstly, I plan to attend career fairs that are occasionally organized by our department through the university. Further, all movements under my department also organize different career fairs depending on the needs of the students. They also organize exchange programs for students from different universities who normally come together and discuss different issues that are in line of their course and their expectations in the job market. Through these avenues, I will be able to acquire the relevant knowledge and skills that are required in the job market. These opportunities will provide an avenue for exposure to the reality of the job market. Additionally, it will provide an avenue to network and interact with other students from different institutions and share our thoughts altogether. In the profession fairs, I expect to meet leaders of diverse companies. In my situation, the school normally invites most of the renowned global companies like the Unilever and the Coca Cola companies. Mostly, I will be involved I these activities during my last two years in the university. This will be the best time since I will be partly done with most of my course work and ready to join the world. Through the different networking opportunities during the career fairs and exchange programs,

Case Study on Employee Relations Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

On Employee Relations - Case Study Example Having employed over 100 employees and with a possibility of future expansion, the business owner has decided that he would want to engage his employees more in the running of the company using the employee relations techniques. This is aimed at ensuring that employees perform at their most efficient optimal levels. This report is thus aimed at focusing on the various issues that ensure employee relations is handled well in solving conflicts once they arise and to avoid disputes from degenerating into serious matters in the future (Armstrong, 2006:167). These enterprises have employees of not more than 250 ,while small enterprise have less than fifty employees the medium sized enterprise have not more than 250 employees. The Small and medium Enterprises have played a very big role in the growth and stability of the economy as it consists of over 90% of all operating firms and they contribute to the creation of employment for over 65 million people. They have contributed to over 40% of the Gros Domestic product (GDP) in the United Kingdom and at the same time they have led to the growth of economies, increase in competition and innovation for the firms (Armstrong, 2006:167). Benefits employee relations Employee relations ensures that all stakeholders in the business are involved in the decision making process. This is because it entails involving all the parties together by building team work, cohesiveness and solving problems together. Employee relation is also important in reducing conflicts within the organization. All organizations have different people from different religion, age groups, and races and therefore differences are bound to arise and to be able to reduce these problems employee relations is important. The business owners are seeking for new ways that they can win the confidence and commitment of employees and also ensure that employees are satisfied with their jobs. They also seek to motivate the employees, reduce the rate of absenteeism, reduce the rate of labor turnover and eventually gain a competitive edge over their competitors. A more participatory management style would make the business achieve all these issues (Gennard and Judge, 2005:302). The issues for employee relations in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) The small and medium sized enterprises are faced with many issues such as lack of harmonization, tension between control and consent, loose structures of governance together with lack of professionalism in the human resources processes. Most of these firms do not have clear guidelines as to what is expected of employees. Thus we find that most employees will do what they think is right as there are no proper procedures to be followed (Murphy, 2002:10) . Constraints for SME The economic meltdown is a major concern for the SMEs today and the effects of this recession has led to the businesses adopting cost cutting strategies in areas of human resource training, practices and the development policies. The banks have also affected the operations of these businesses as they charge very high