Principles and Practices of Leadership Management - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2099 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? Principles and Practices of Leadership Management Abstract This paper will discuss the concept of leadership skills and the ways in which those unique skills define the exceptional leaders of today and also address to whom had portrayed the leadership style and qualities. Contemporary Leadership Skills: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Leadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earthà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Burns, 1978). The success or failure of an organization depends largely on the nature of their leadership style. An effective leader has the ability to guide and help his followers to achieve their personal best and companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s objectives. Leadership styles had changed over time. In order to effectively confront issues and obstacles in the ever changing and challenging market, leaders must possess a set of basic and unique set of skills. The leader of today is an idealized influence, an inspirational motivation, with intellec tual stimulation and individualized consideration (Walumbwa et al, 2005, p.2). Leaders have to possess the extensive knowledge of the industry, people and management skills and cognitive ability (Locke, 1999). Leadership looks simply like a style but ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the qualities and skills that makes a leader effective. An effective leader inspire their workers into higher levels of teamwork; they are continually working and studying to improve their leadership skills. A successful story of a leader from a local bakery empire shows the qualities and traits of an effective leader. A success story à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" BreadTalk In the contemporary age of Singapore, BreadTalk had flourished to be one of the top FB Empire locally. The success abaft this organization leads to its leader and founder, George Quek. Came from a humble background, George started his business in Taiwan selling Dragon Beard candy from a kiosk and expands the business and later starts a small food business selling South-east Asian cuisine in Taiwan. He returned to Singapore in 1993 and set up Food Junction with his partners. Commenced BreadTalk in July 2000 with a revolutionary take on the bread industry. Entering the market with its incipient concept of a boutique bakery, it shook up the bakery industry with its innovative and ingenious products. Currently the market leader in the incipient concept bakery, BreadTalk was listed in June 2003 on the Singapore Exchange, giving customers a stake in the popular bakery. His FB empire extends to a restaurant chain, Din Tai Fung and innovated with the first thematic food atrium, Food Republic (Tan, 2012. p.3). George Quek armed with a never-say-die attitude and a fearlessness to challenge the impossible. His determination assisted his business to take off in Taiwan after the 3rd attempt and his transformation of bakery into an art described his innovative abilities. Today, the designation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“BreadTalkà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  is well established giving it a sustainable competitive advantage over its rivals. BreadTalk has prosperously managed to engender innovation in along deemed sunset bakery industry and has written off doubts that sunset industries cannot be revitalised. BreadTalk has not only revitalised the bakery industry but withal the dietary victualing habits of Singaporeans. In order to stay competitive, George Quek uses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“innovative recreationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  in all its bread, aliment courts and restaurants, as he is vigilant that customers have different needs and ever transmuting tastes. George believed in taking care of people and working well together which also extends to between colleagues and business relationships. His notion reflects very vigorously on his leadership skills portrayed. George believes learning is essential for creativity; by developing and supporting his employees in giving trainings, it helps him when he embarked on his bakery business. George believ es strongly in teamwork. Hence, he encourages in developing and mentoring his people because there is no way a person can move to a successful level by himself. It is important for a leader to guide the team well and understand that everyone in the team is different. As a leader, he always stays flexible and supportive of the team. From here, people will decide whether they want to stay with you when thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a war. This can be seen clearly during the SARs outbreak where sales are low in all the outlets and BreadTalk had effectively control its operational cost. However, despite this difficult period of time, it had persisted in its beliefs for people centeredness by maintaining and grooming more talents within its company. These measures had allowed the company to stay stronger in the market when facing challenges in time to come (Soh, 2013. p.1). Being an inspirational motivation, George articulate an appealing vision of the future by announcing his goal of h aving more than 2000 bakeries by 2018, inspiring all to work together with him towards the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s objectives. With the expansion of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ramen Playà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ , George appointed his General Manager of Din Tai Fung to manage this restaurant brand, empowering him to bring à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ramen Playà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  to success. According to Lussier and Achua (2010), the transformation process involves changes. Leader needs to inspire the vision, lead the transition and implant the change. With the manpower crunch in recent years, leads to a decrease in availability of resources. George invested more than SGD 8 million on machines that can make dough and fold croissant rolls in its central kitchen in the new headquarters. Productivity has increased: while five people could make 100 frozen portions of dough in the past, two could make 300 now. He made his employees understood that policy wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t change, they need to adjust to it and with this change, George also reckons that with fewer staff, BreadTalk have more resources to improve employeesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ salary. The success of BreadTalk has highly been dependent on the hands of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Transformational Leadership of George Quek. Leaders should be effective in crisis or when face an ever changing market place where globalization, innovation and constant change are significant factors. Though told by naysayers that bakery industry is a sunset one, Georgeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s leadership style of transformation redefine the mundane experience of buying bread into a successful bakery empire. George possesses the key qualities of a leader à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a source of inspiration, determined, creative, being resilient and courageous in times of difficulties. As we read about George Quek, being a contemporary leader, one must possess certain qualities to become a skilful leader. Having the ability to care is an essential quality in a leader additional ly. If a person does not have the compassion or ability to care for others or in what they do then I believe it would be detrimental to an organization to have this person as a leader. A good leader must additionally be dependable. Being dependable would instil confidence in the others you lead about your abilities. If a leader sets the example of not being dependable, then the people the leader works with will have no faith that the organization is being run in the best way possible. Resoluteness is another key factor in leading others. It gives a person the ability to fight through obstacles and accomplish tasks that are best for the organization and its employees. Veracity is one characteristic I cerebrate is the most consequential. Veracity distinguishes between leader with good ethics and deplorable ethics. If a person is destitute of veracity, the direction of their leadership can blindly take an organization into a perilous cause and values. Adhesion is withal paramount in a leader because a person that has no adhesion can harm an organization more than it can avail. The leaderà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s agenda may be for their own benefit and not what is best for the organization. A non-loyal leader could literally trade secrets that could financially or publicly eradicate a company. Besides George Quek, many innovative leader, in describing their ingenious process, have accentuated its subjectivity and individualistic nature. Hence, innovation is definitely the key to stay competitive and withal the essence of successful entrepreneurship is to have the constant drives in identifying potential business opportunities in the market. Besides having the good qualities essential to being a leader, one must have a unique set of skills to manage an organization like BreadTalk. With globalization and changes in constant, an effective leader ought to be able to possess skills of coaching, leading by example, give positive recognition and empowerment in order to driv e the organization to success. As a leader of BreadTalk, I must teach, adapt and be supportive especially to the ground level employees; bakers which constitutes a large number of the organizationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s manpower. Teaching and coaching subordinates by setting the example is the way leaders achieve loyalty, and buy-in. Leaders are knowledgeable and experts in their respectful fields. They cannot provide a solid and productive coaching and guidance if they lack the proper levels of competence in the required field (Hughes, Ginnett, Curphy, 2009). It helps to create a stable working environment where subordinates are contented and provide high quality work. Leaders need to lead by example to inspire followers (Yukl, 1998). Being an inspirational motivator, it essentially avails followerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s achieve their set goals employed in the business setting. In the contemporary age, leaders need to discover the potential within his followers. Empowering allows on e to become a self- reliant achiever. Rather than being told of what to do, followers will take actions to resolve what needs to be done (Blanchard et al, 1999). Monetary incentives could also be used, so that the followers would have a goal to shoot for, and would get compensated for their time and effort they put in to reach the goals the organization wanted to achieve. In an organization where Theory X and Theory Y workers exist (Lussier and Achua, 2010), rewards can also be used as a basis of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"carrot and stickà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ on Theory X employees; rewarding them on what they had contributed. In managing Theory Y followers where employees are happy to work, are self-motivated and creative, and enjoy working with greater responsibility (Lussier and Achua, 2010); being a supportive and participative leader would be best adopted. I could consult with followers, consider their opinions and asking for their suggestions before making a decision. This helps in imp roving leader and follower relationship and inspire them to be innovative in resolving issues. As human relations is important to the organization, being a supportive leader shows concern for followers psychological well being. With the ever changing society and technological advancements, lower level employees might lack confidence to catch up with the change and being supportive is needed to assist them in the transition and adaption. The type of communication between the leader and follower is another important area of contrast between leadership styles. Communication is necessary between leader and follower because it establishes a relationship between the two. It is important to communicate with mid to junior level employees to build trust and gain commitment to the vision of the company. Communication is vital to unite and inspire employees, it is to motivate them toward the future. Walking around to communicate with employees, be it asking specific questions about work or listening to them is also a commitment in communication (Daft, 2008). In conclusion, the role of a leader has the responsibility to ensure the work is completed, goals are met and the mission is accomplished. In addition, they must apply critical leadership skills to be successful, such as demonstrating recognition, using effective communication, and illustrating honesty and loyalty. Employees desire to be recognized for contributions, motivating with rewards or engaging them in decision making give a positive impact on followers. The sincerity and timing of acknowledging positive behaviour are key factors that may encourage others to follow suit. Having a two-way communication, which shares, receives and understands communicated information is also vital in contemporary leaders. Each of the skills mentioned plays a significant role in leadership and must be learned, applied and enhanced to be effective. References: Blanchard, K., Carlos, J. Randolph, A. (1999) The 3 Keys to Empowerment. San Francisco: Berrett- Koehler Publishers, Inc. Burns, J. (1978) Leadership. New York: Harper Row, Publishers Daft, R. (2008) The Leadership Experience. 4th edn. USA: Thomson South-Western Hughes, R., Ginnett, R., Curphy, G. (2009) Leadership: Enhancing the lessons of experience. 6th edn. New York: McGraw-Hill Locke, E. (1999) The Essence of Leadership: The Four Keys to Leading Successfully. England: Lexington Books Lussier, R. Achua, C. (2010) Leadership: Theory, Application, Skill Development. 4th edn. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning Tan, B. (2012) Deft dough-maker. The Business Times. 24 Mar 2012, pp.1-4 Soh, A. (2013). BreadTalk staying fresh to maintain edge. The Business Times, 7 October, pp.1-2 Walumbwa, O., Lawler, J., Avolio, J., Wang, P. Shi, K. (2005) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Transformational leadership and work-related attitudes: The moderating effects of collective and self-efficacy across culturesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Journal of Leadership a nd Organizational Studies, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp.2-16. Yukl, G. (1998). Leadership in organizations. 4th edn. Eaglewood cliffs, NJ: Prentice hall Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Principles and Practices of Leadership Management" essay for you Create order

The Utilitarian Theory of Organ Donation Essay - 1805 Words

In this paper I will be using the normative theory of utilitarianism as the best defensible approach to increase organ donations. Utilitarianism is a theory that seeks to increase the greatest good for the greatest amount of people (Pense2007, 61). The utilitarian theory is the best approach because it maximizes adult organ donations (which are the greater good) so that the number of lives saved would increase along with the quality of life, and also saves money and time. A utilitarian would argue that organ donations save lives because when citizens continue to donate their organs, more lives are spared. Gregory Pence mentioned in his book titled â€Å"Classic Works in Medical Ethics† that three thousand Americans lose their lives while†¦show more content†¦A utilitarian would suggest to Kant that his decision to go through the organ donation process can be seen as a universal maxim because any rational individual would want to save lives or atleast prolong it. By prolonging life we are maximizing our greatest good. In order to maximize the greatest good a Utilitarian would not only consider live adult organ donors but also from the recently deceased. Taking organs from the recently deceased not only saves lives but it would save time and money for the doctors becoming transplantation. Organ donations not only save lives but also money and time. If organ donations became prevalent the organ recipient would no longer need dialysis. Sin ce there is no need for dialysis the cost to use the machine would lessen; this means that the cost of equipment would decrease, saving the hospital and insurance company’s money. More lives would be saved as well as benefit from those that no longer need an organ. In the book titled â€Å"Elements of Bioethics† adult organ transplants are only that have medical insurance. If organs are taken from recently deceased the cost for those that has no medical coverage was lessen. 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The process begins with someone needing an organ transplant, then being put on a waiting list. Once a patient is added to the national organ transplant waiting list, the individual may receive an organ fairly quickly or may wait many years. In general, the average time frame is three to five years at most centers. Waiting time is also depende nt upon certain factors such as a patientRead MoreCommercialization of organ transplants1774 Words   |  8 Pages Commercialization of Organ Transplants I. Introduction: The following report contains a summary of the arguments for and against the commercialization of transplants found in the research. Formulation on the position of which the debate of whether or not the sale of organs should be permitted is presented. There is the defense of moral judgment with a moral argument along with the identification of the moral principle that is appealing to the moral argument. 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Finance Financial Performance Measures and Value Creation

Question: Discuss about theFinance: Financial Performance Measures and Value Creation. Answer: Introduction: Evaluation of Green REIT Activities of Green REIT There are various Green REITs across the world. However, in this assignment the Green REIT Plc of Ireland has been selected for analyzing its activities, financing model, government rules and regulations and effect of environmental and social criteria on the firm. The Green REIT Plc is an Irish real estate investment trust that is enlisted on both the Irish and London Stock Exchange. Green REIT Plc is an organization that finances or owns income-producing real estate. This system of investment has been structured rightly after the system of mutual funds. As per the similar strategy of the mutual funds, the REITs give its investors various kinds of regular income streams, long-term capital appreciation and diversification[1]. The particular organization generally pays out all of its income that is taxable as dividends to the shareholders of the firm. In turn of this, the shareholders compensate the income taxes on these dividends. The Green REIT Plc allow every investor to invest in t he portfolios of the large scale properties in a similar way in which they invest in the other sectors by purchasing the stocks. In the similar manner, the shareholders get benefited in case of investing in Green REIT Plc by purchasing shares in various different companies. Thus, the Green REIT Plcs shareholders generally receive the share of the produced income by the investment in the real estate without buying or financing property in real[2]. Financing Model The financing model of the Green REIT Plc is of unique nature. It can be said that the financing model of the investment in the Green REIT Plc are similar to the investment strategy in the mutual fund. It has been found that the Green REIT plc is operated on the main stock exchanges. Most importantly, REITs are of two kinds Mortgage REITs and Equity REITs. The equity REITs help in generating returns by the process of collecting the rent by selling the properties which they purchase with the aim of long-run investment. In addition to this, investment in the mortgage securities and mortgages that are related to the commercial and residential properties are termed as mortgage REITs. Government Programs and Regulations Used to Complement its Financial Performance Green REIT plcs operations are composed of both domestic and international laws and governmental regulations that are related to land use, property, safety and health requirements, zoning, development and environmental compliance[3]. Metrics Used to Measure Environmental and Social Impact of Green REIT Plc The laws and regulations of the Green REIT plc regarding environmental and social impact are amended over time. The liabilities might result into significant removal, investigation or remediation costs despite of whether the firm Green REIT Plc caused the contamination or other hazards of environment. The environmental regulations and laws of the company Green REIT Plc. limit the development of and also impose liability for the interruption of the habitats or wetlands of the endangered or threatened species. The particular company has various impacts on the environment and social. It can be measured through survey, the benefit that is received by the public and the maintenance of the health of the public. In addition to this the viewpoint of the society also helps to measure the environmental and social impact of Green REIT Plc. Expected Impact of the Environmental and Social Criteria on Financial Performance For Green REIT plc, leasing properties those containing storage tanks for storage of toxic or hazardous substances to tenants those are associated with commercial and manufacturing activities will increase the risk of liabilities as per environmental laws and regulations[4]. However, if the firm Green REIT Plc is exposed to environmental liabilities then the environmental laws and regulations might have a negative impact on the financial performance of the firm along with business prospects. Information on Actual Financial Performance of the REIT Nowadays, the Green REIT plc is associated with most of the aspects that are related with the economy. These include hotels, hospitals, infrastructure, industrial amenities, apartments, offices, shopping malls, student housing, storage centers, nursing homes and timberlands. Thus, the actual financial performance of the Green REIT plc is continuously growing with the development and popularity of the REIT investment among the investors. References 'Green REIT PLC' (Green REIT PLC, 2016) https://www.greenreitplc.com/ accessed 23 June 2016 'IRIS Metrics | IRIS' (Iris.thegiin.org, 2016) https://iris.thegiin.org/metrics accessed 23 June 2016 Venanzi D,Financial Performance Measures And Value Creation(Springer 2012) 'What Is A REIT? | NAREIT' (REIT.com, 2016) https://www.reit.com/investing/reit-basics/what-reit accessed 23 June 2016

Path Planning and Obstacle Avoidance Algorithm †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Path Planning and Obstacle Avoidance Algorithm. Answer: Introduction Robot is a very essential in many manufacturing industries as it improves the work done by much human labour and also reduces the chances of errors because they are job specific and such errors are inevitable to human, the initial cost of setting up of a robot is high but it will reduce the cost of labour if it starts to work. Some of the distinctive characteristics of a robot include the following: Sensing: Ability to sense its environment by giving it sensors such as light sensor, touch sensor, sonar sensor and chemical sensor, Movement: Ability to move around its environment with a rolling wheel, walking or even propelling. Energy: Ability to power itself, it can be electrical, solar or battery powered. Intelligence: Ability to be smart, through programming, so as to know what it is supposed to do. The robot is a combination of the system containing a control system, sensors, and power supply all working together to perform a task(Bruno Siciliano, 2016, p. 174). The major aim of this proposal is to design an electronic and electrical circuit that is capable of driving and detecting the presence of an obstacle and then commanding a robot to avoid the obstacle management. The moving robot should be able to detect and avoid a potential obstacle on its way and then change the direction of motion accordingly so that its motion is not interfered with(Dilip Kumar Pratihar, 2010, p. 145). The mode of operation should be automatic without any human or manual involvement. The following are some of the components that are used in this design: Photodiodes: These are devices which allow current to flow in one particular direction. The types of diodes that are used in this design are the photodiodes. Motors: It is made to be driven by DC electrical power, the most common types of DC motor are the Brush DC Motor, Brushless DC motor and Coreless DC motor which use both communications internally or externally to create an oscillating AC from DC source(G.N. Roberts, 2006, p. 147). Motor Driver ICs: A driver is an electronic component used to control another electronic device; they are used to regulate the flow of current through a circuit, It performs as a current amplifier because it takes a low current signal and gives a high current signal which is used to drive the motor hence regulating the current in the circuit, the drivers will also regulate the rotation of the motor. When designing the circuit diagram, there is a need of two obstacle sensor since one module may result in unpredictable motor movement and may not assist in smooth diversion or turning of the robot towards a path that is free(Ghangrekar, 2009, p. 174). The diagram below shows a circuit diagram of a single module for the proposed design of an obstacle avoiding the robotic system. A pair of modules will be necessary to the left side and right side of the robotic vehicle. This system is designed to function without special motor driver ICs and without the microcontroller. This means that this system can function without any complex motor driver IC and without any kind of coding. The circuit uses DC motor irrespective of its power, hence an obstacle avoiding vehicle of high power can be made by the use of a similar circuit(Gregor Schner, 2015, p. 245). The IC 555 is designed to function as an IR transmitter and is set to produce a constant frequency of 38 kHz, while the circuit of transistor adjacent is designed as a stage of IR sensor or the stage of the receiver. If the right side module is the first to sense an obstacle in the track, the frequency of 38 kHz produced by 555 IC will be reflected towards the sensor of the adjacent circuit of the receiver. The receiver will trigger the associated transistors instantly such that the ultimate driver transistor is reserved from conducting. Then the motor that is being controlled by this transistor is meant to be situated on the left sideways of the robotic vehicle, which is on the opposite side of the module(Hajime Asama, 2013, p. 196). Likewise, the motor situated on the right side is definitely controlled by the left sideways of the module. Subsequently, when the right-hand side detector of obstacle module triggers, it halts the motor on the left-hand side while the motor on the right side is permitted to move in a normal way. This condition will lead to the robotic vehicle being compelled to take the diversion of the left-hand side which means that the left module begins receiving signals that are stronger and continue forcing the robot to continue stronger on the diversion ongoing until the obstacle is avoided completely(Honghai Liu, 2012, p. 179). The module will then halt receiving the signals of the obstacle and the robot starts moving forward ordinarily on its new pathway. While the other deviation is performed the left side of the module is compelled to become more secluded from the object so that it does not get the chance to hinder the procedure and permit smooth and clean vehicle diversion. Similar procedures are executed in case the left-hand side module senses the obstacle ahead of the module's right side. There is also the presence of stage of disabling circuit in the module that is connected to the right side and the left side modules(Ingemar J. Cox, 2012, p. 249). This stage is incorporated purposely to make sure that both the modules are not triggered at the same time. For example, when the right side module becomes the first to sense an object, it instantly disables the left side module and starts the deviation on the robot on the right. The motors are furnished with gear boxes so that the motion is maintained originally at the level controlled. The complete layout of the fight and left module and the other electrical connections management and components are as shown in the figure below: This is a design of the proposed obstacle avoiding robotic vehicle circuit without using a microcontroller hence the components are affordable as shown in the table below: Component Cost (Dollars) DC Motor Drivers 85 Battery (12V) 47 8 Photodiodes 183 Transistors 19 Connecting wires 0.5 Rubber wheels 0.8 2 IR sensor 140 555 IC 360 2 Motors 112 Total 617.3 Ways of improving the design This design can be improved by incorporating other types of sensors to that it does not only avoid obstacles but as temperature, light, and water. The sensitivity of the robot towards the obstacles can be improved by using powerful sensors that can detect obstacles from a far distance before the vehicle reaches the place(Jadran Lenar?i?, 2012, p. 274). Powerful ICs with higher frequency more than 38 kHz can be used for the faster sensitivity of the robotic vehicle. The components used in designing this obstacle robotic vehicle can be reused to prevent the pollution of the environment. The rubber wheels and connecting wires are environmentally friendly. Batteries cannot be disposed and so they affect the environment negatively. Motors, sensors, ICs, transistors, and diodes should be disposed of properly since they cannot decompose(Honghai Liu, 2012, p. 156). Conclusion The robot is a very essential in many manufacturing industries as it improves the work done by much human labour and also reduces the chances of errors because they are job specific and such errors are inevitable to human. The aim of this project proposal is to design an obstacle avoiding robot without the use of micro controller and coding. The design discussed above meets the all the requirements and is also cheap and simple to design. Bibliography Bruno Siciliano, O. K., 2016. Springer Handbook of Robotics. Michigan: Springer, 2016. Dilip Kumar Pratihar, L. C. J., 2010. Intelligent Autonomous Systems: Foundations and Applications. New York: Springer Science Business Media, 2010. G.N. Roberts, R. S., 2006. Advances in Unmanned Marine Vehicles. Michigan: IET, 2006. Ghangrekar, S. Y., 2009. A Path Planning and Obstacle Avoidance Algorithm for an Autonomous Robotic Vehicle. China: the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2009. Gregor Schner, J. S. D. F. T. R. G., 2015. Dynamic Thinking: A Primer on Dynamic Field Theory. California: Oxford University Press, 2015. Hajime Asama, T. F. T. A. I. E., 2013. Distributed Autonomous Robotic Systems 2. Spain: Springer Science Business Media, 2013. Honghai Liu, D. G. R. J. H. Y. L., 2012. Robot Intelligence: An Advanced Knowledge Processing Approach. London: Springer Science Business Media, 2010. Ingemar J. Cox, G. T. W., 2012. Autonomous Robot Vehicles. New York: Springer Science Business Media, 2012. Jadran Lenar?i?, V. P. C., 2012. Recent Advances in Robot Kinematics. Spain: Springer Science Business Media, 2012.

Independence House Application free essay sample

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one youve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (This is an application I wrote to a group home during my transition into foster care. At the time, it was seemingly my only hope. Since then I have encountered better avenues in my life. I have been placed with a very nice family and for the first time in a long time, I can say that feel secure in a place. I have made connections that are a close second to that which I had with my mother. This following application, although unpolished, was written in a very stressful couple of hours in my life. It was my only way out of a possibly very bad trajectory. I send this as my college essay because it contains an emotional core that even the most well-crafted prose could not contain. We will write a custom essay sample on Independence House Application or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I send this application as it was when I sent to Independence House because it is genuine. ) Independence House, to me, is a beacon of hope. With the passing of my mother and sole parent, I lost the most meaningful and important connection in my life. I, however, do not like to look at the negatives of any bad circumstance and instead like to keep an optimistic view. I like to think of my mother’s passing as not a setback but as an experience handed down to me so that I can be tested. In my stepping into the world, I have made lasting friendships and connections with good people who would have never crossed my path otherwise. Given all the bad that this calamity has brought, it has ingrained in me one thing, one piece of worldly wisdom that cannot be taught. I have realized that as humans, we need to rely on each other. To learn through not just experience but by using the experience of others to improve ourselves. I like to take this lesson and apply it to my stay in Independence House. I would like to learn from my future companions at the residence; I would like to learn how to be more resilient, to be stronger, and to achieve greater things. I want to learn their approach for going against the greatest odds of failure and beating them. I would like to impart my thoughts in a manner that can be constructive to them. I would like to impart the lessons that I learned in trying to improve my chances of becoming a respectable member of society. My need for stable and regimented housing is dire in that only under the protective umbrella of Independence House, will I meet not only my own expectations but also those, which weigh more heavily on me, those of the community at large. The community that now more vividly can consist of the residents of Independence House. Residence at Independence Hall will allow me to reach my goals because of the safety, security, and guidance I will be afforded under your care. I have over the past months had a shift in my beliefs and opinions due to the effects of my experiences. My priorities have shifted for the better, towards positive growth and improvement. (I would like to transfer the same sense of community that I felt the need to bring to Independence to my education and stay at Caldwell University.)

How to Convert Grams to Moles - Step by Step Instructions

How to Convert Grams to Moles - Step by Step Instructions Many chemical calculations require the number of moles of a material, but how do you measure a mole? One common way is to measure the mass in grams and convert to moles. Converting grams to moles is easy with these few steps. The Process Determine the molecular formula of the molecule.Use the periodic table to determine the atomic mass of each element in the molecule.Multiply each elements atomic mass by the number of atoms of that element in the molecule. This number is represented by the subscript next to the element symbol in the molecular formula.Add these values together for each different atom in the molecule. This will give you the molecular mass of the molecule. This is equal to the number of grams in one mole of the substance.Divide the number of grams of the substance by the molecular mass. The answer will be the number of moles of the compound. See an example of converting grams to moles.

Requlatory Processes and Administrative Law Essay

Requlatory Processes and Administrative Law - Essay Example You may identify current events/situations relevant to any particular aspect of ethical behavior in public management. "Actual [Social Security] benefits may vary depending on actual work history and income" (Social Security Income Calculator, 2010, p. 1). This is as it should be; obviously someone who worked all their lives is not going to receive the same amount of Social Security as someone who never worked a day in their life or never paid into the system. If one person had diabetes and another person had heart failure, but the doctor said, "Well, this person has diabetes so I'm going to prescribe diabetes medication for everyone," then obviously the person who had heart failure would not be properly treated. 3. Under the current administration, which theory provides the most insight in terms of effective policy implementation Why Based on these theories, how do we know policy implementation is occurring The theory that most effectively provides insight into effective policy implementation is policy which does not "lack theoretical underpinning" (Hargrove, 1981, p. 1). Obama's theoretical underpinning was change. This is what he so effectively managed to focus on during his campaign. It is no surprise that his determination is paying off with regard to effecting social change. 4. In your opinion, on which should a leadership evaluation focus, efficiency or effectiveness Why Leadership should always focus on effectiveness. Efficiency may be slow, but if whatever one does is effective, the means or efficiency needed to get to the effective end, effectively, ceases to matter as much. Therefore, one should focus on the results, not how the results came about. REFERENCES Hargrove, E.C. (1981). The search for implementation theory. Available: http://eric.ed.gov:80/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/2e/3e/0f.pdf. Social Security income calculator. (2010). Available:

Work of the Prophets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Work of the Prophets - Essay Example Rather God encourages Isaiah and Jeremiah to stress on different issues of the same truth with a view of different concerns of their times. Some foretold historical events have already come true, but the God’s truth spoken by two prophets stays timely nowadays. Timely character of two prophecies is mainly observed when reading about those sins of Judah and Israel Isaiah and Jeremiah point on. Thinking about analogies between modern times and â€Å"more than 2  500 years ago† Friedman (2011) fairly points that none of prophets speaks directly on economic markets, great unemployment or etc., but on false leaders, a general lack of justice, a lack of fair treatment and peace, and these issues are among modern Christian concerns. House (n.d.) admits that Isaiah firstly expresses concerns because nations are sinning against each other suffering from mutual oppressions. Isaiah claims that by sinning against each other humankind sins against God. Thus, nowadays, until there’re nations engaged in conflicts with other nations, or oppressing one another, it’s still sinning against God. Friedman (2011) points that Jeremiah’s preaching generally, is for â€Å"loving-kindness† however, about half of his prophecy’s dedicated to descriptions of sins of Israel and Judah nations. House (n.d.) refers it to Jeremiah’s â€Å"turbulent times† when neither common Judah nations, nor Israel rulers were listening to true words spoken by God through Jeremiah instead, listening to false words of false prophets. â€Å"People have gone away from the Lord† so much that Jeremiah himself was constantly threatened and hatred though his preaching was based on Ten Commandments (House, n.d.). Thus, Jeremiah’s mostly concerned with false idolatry. Worshiping â€Å"chiefs of Sodom† had already been a matter of concerns for Isaiah, and Friedman (2011) says sadly it has stayed so nowadays when Christians appreciate those powerful because of their wealth, and at the same time, there’re

Final Moral Dilemma Case Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final Moral Dilemma Case Analysis - Assignment Example The patient vocally rejects all prescriptions and treatments. Moreover, the patient is struggling physically and rejects blood withdrawals and intravenous access. The hospital’s psychiatric team affirmed that the patient was unable to make personal judgments. It was also realized that the patient lacked an authorized custodian to make decisions on his behalf. In this perspective, the government could not locate any relatives or family members. This instance was transferred to our institution’s moral panel. The morals panel with the assistance of legal support was capable of putting a non-RESUSITE order. Nursing care was inculcated to medicate the patient by not letting him realize that medical pills have been trampled and blended in his food. The medicines were recommended to relieve the pain and irritation; antipsychotics were prescribed as well (Ferrell, Coyle, & Teton Data Systems, 2010). Ethical Problem and Conflicting Obligations The aspect making this condition an ethical crisis is that the patient’s rejecting treatment is not valued. Moreover, he is getting palliative care without his knowledge. The patient constantly involves physical struggling if anybody touches or attempts to draw blood from his body for medical purposes (Locsin & Purnell, 2009). The patient could allow nurses to redress and bathe him as well as change his diaper. I nursed this patient a couple of instances and developed a feeling that he had full knowledge of what was transpiring around him. The Issues The primary issue is that the patient’s decision of not desiring some of the treatment methods should have been respected. It was absurd and illegal to medicate the patient without his knowledge. Important Facts The pertinent facts are that the patient should not suffer by indulging him in numerous medical methods that do not appeal to him. What emotions have an impact? As a health care giver, I felt culpable for not regarding his resolution. Moreover, trea ting and medicating him without his conscience made me feel guilty. Conversely, I was calmed down by the fact that his pain was relieved. Identify Key Participants/Stakeholders The prime partakers were primary care providers, patient and the legal/ethics department. Legitimate Decision Maker The hospital is accountable for the patient’s safety, hence the legitimate decision maker. Who Is Affected and How? The patient is the most affected since he gets sedative treatment without his agreement. The nurses are also affected since they are liable for the patient’s care. Level of Competence of the Most Affected Individual The level of competence of the patient is that he is mentally disable and has been declared to make right choices. Participants’ Obligations The task of every healthcare giver is to protect, treat and be the patient’s supporter. The hospital’s responsibility is to safeguard the patient’s lawful rights and their safety. The ethic s department accountability is to establish the best way out of this condition without instigating any injury to the patient. Determination of Moral Perspective Participants think in aspects of duties and tasks since the nurses believe in matters of protecting and advocating any patient. The hospital believes in matters of safeguarding all patients’ lawful rights. Exhibition of Moral Perspectives The hospital does not instigate or warrant any liabilities in this context whereas the nurses work to protect and devote for

How Is Slaughterhouse 5 Anti War English Literature Essay

How Is Slaughterhouse 5 Anti War English Literature Essay This essay explores and analyses how Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse 5 is an anti-war novel. There are various instances throughout the novel which demonstrate that the author was trying to condemn the notion of war. Vonnegut was inspired via his experiences during the war, the protagonist of the novel, Billy Pilgrim, expresses Vonneguts perspective regarding the horrors of war. The main indications in the novel which denoted anti-war were Vonneguts unique literature techniques, humanism and author positioning. Throughout this essay, I will examine how Vonnegut effectively deploys his techniques in the novel and convinces readers. The incorporation of science fiction with the Tralfamadorians by Vonnegut operates as a further method to express his feelings against warfare. It was described in the novel that the Tralfamadorians are capable of observing a fourth dimension. Due to this special ability, they hold a completely different mentality in comparison to humans. The Tralfamadorians say how only on earth is there talk of free will (Slaughterhouse 5 pg.133). This represents the view of Vonnegut that humans beliefs of free will are causing the war. Hence the Tralfamadorians belief of fatalism  aims to justify the irrationality of war by criticizing humans thoughtless decisions on initiating wars. (Cacicedo 2005) The Tralfamadorians also stated that there will always be war on earth since humans are designed that way.  This statement was intended by Vonnegut to dishonor war and label it in a negative way. In addition, the existence of the Tralfamadorians in this novel is another way Vonnegut thinks about th e war. The hallucinations Billy experiences after the war tells the readers how his life has changed, and also shows how he is trying to erase his horrific memory of the war by escaping his reality and embracing the Tralfamadorian world and their philosophy on life. Therefore Vonnegut is deploying authorial voice technique to expose his views on philosophy towards the readers, this was achieved by contrasting the concepts of philosophy between humans and Tralfamadorians. The fire bombing of Dresden in Germany was an extremely influential event for Vonnegut. As Vonnegut recalls the incident in Dresden, he relates the event in a way that allows the reader to engage in his personal perspective of the incident. He encounters the Dresden experience with condolence and sadness rather than aggression, pain and resentfulness. Billy observes the sadistic and cruelty of the world when city of Dresden gets bombed. He feels the awkward misery over the attack due to his situation of being ambushed by his allies and he experiences and sees the suffering of his enemies. In this way, Vonnegut draws attention of the reader to the underlying theme of a mans capacity of violence and cruelty. Billy also described aftermath of the attack by saying Once a beautiful city looking like the surface of the moon. Therefore by utilizing the voice of Billy, Vonnegut is trying to persuade the readers that any sort of massacre, even those of our enemies, should not to be considered with satisfaction or joy as we all are humans to be valued. Another reason how this book promotes anti-war can be noticed by the title, Childrens crusade. This title represents the soldiers in the warfare, as children thus implying that they are naÃÆ' ¯ve and innocent. Another reason why Vonnegut portrayed the soldiers as children is to emphasize the fact that the wars are fought by the children, who are incapable of comprehending the cause of the war. Therefore Vonnegut attempts to convey his message that these children soldiers are being exploited by sadistic leaders. Vonnegut has chosen the word children as children have no duty in war thus the war should not be occurring. This also leads the reader to be sympathetic of the soldiers; they are depicted without any independent thought and do not have the motivation to take other peoples lives. Vonnegut is also trying to cast a negative light upon the instigators of war with this title. Thus the overall message of Slaughterhouse 5 is that war is not heroic or glorious and that government p ropaganda tries to blind people from the ugly truth of warfare. It can then be seen with these elements that Vonnegut is endorsing a negative perspective towards war. The literary technique of irony is also employed to further uphold the anti-war theme by making light of a horrific scenes and misery from war. This use of black humor makes Vonneguts audience laugh inappropriately at instances of death and destruction which then leaves a significant impact upon the reader. Vonnegut does this to effectively convey his anti-war sentiment by manipulating his audience to feel guilty and ashamed. Another aim for this technique is to allow the readers to deeply reflect on the negative side of war. The main example of irony used in this novel by Vonnegut is would be the ending of the novel, when the bird says poo too weet! to Billy after there is a lengthy passage detailing a pile of rotting bodies. This signifies that the war is nonsensical and unnecessary just like what the bird has said to Billy. A further example of irony used in the novel is the highly unlikely instance where the trained infantry scouts are killed, however Billy and Ronald who are not trained, survive. Thus this is a technique creates a guilty conscience for the readers because war is inappropriate subject to be laughed at. This exploitation of the readers consciences towards the issue of war relates back to the anti-war sentiment that is evident throughout the novel. Lastly, a prayer in the novel which goes as follows G-d grant me The serenity to accept The things I cannot change, Courage To change the things I can, And wisdom always To tell the difference. (Slaughterhouse 5, pg. 137) This prayer by Vonnegut epitomizes his message and demand towards the readers. Vonnegut is trying to tell the readers that some parts of life are inevitable and must be acknowledged, but there are numerous aspects in life which must be changed. Vonnegut argues that we must utilize our beyond abilities in order to learn and change. Thus the destiny of future can be adjusted by our act. The novel Slaughterhouse 5 was produced by Vonnegut to expose his negative reflection towards war in order to persuade the readers. Another purpose of this novel is to prevent the occurrence of wars to come in the future. Vonnegut has achieved this by employing various methods in his writing, such as literature techniques, humanism and author positioning. The Vonneguts aim in creating this novel was to share his emotional experiences and to allow people to understand the grief he attained from war. This was accomplished by revealing the misery side of the war and proposing his philosophy. In conclusion, Vonneguts Slaughterhouse 5 can be perceived in numerous ways. It can be recognized as science fiction novel, semi-autobiographical novel and unquestionably as an anti war book. Vonnegut successfully conveys his thoughts and message to the readers by effectively deploying his techniques to convince the readers.

Benefits of Multi-Level Watershed Management :: Watershed Management Essays

Benefits of Multi-Level Watershed Management Non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) have played a significant role in establishing grassroots methods of environmental protection while incorporating citizen involvement. The most prevalent types of NGO’s in the United States are ones that rally public opinion and advocate legislative and/or social change. Among these are the various Public Interest Groups (PIRG’s), the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, and Greenpeace. Public education and involvement are seminal components to the success of these organizations. Hence, the application of NGO’s to other issues might prove successful in advocating and implementing change while bettering the community that they inhabit. Such is the case with the relatively newly established watershed management associations in New Jersey. These organizations employ grassroots tactics to increase community education and establish stronger environmental protection. Thus I assert that inter-munic ipal (and inter-state as we will see later) watershed management, through the use of non-governmental organization, has the ability to have a profound impact on how natural resources are managed and subsequently on how an area is developed. This is extremely valuable to a state like New Jersey, where uncoordinated development has led to a sprawling landscape causing fragmentation of natural features and severe depletion of water quality. Furthermore, in the large bureaucratic system of development that dominates New Jersey, this NGO method of watershed management is a qualitative and creative way to promote democracy, public education, and public participation. To examine how watershed management associations can improve environmental superintendence and consequently development patterns, one must first examine the existing landscape pattern on physical and political scales. New Jersey is composed of 566 municipalities, each functioning pseudo-independently from one another. These municipalities, â€Å"†¦each with home-rule authority to make decisions and policies concerning development without regard [of] their potential negative effects on neighboring towns, â€Å" (Shutkin 2000) create an atmosphere of competition and discordance. This unproductive circumstance is a product of human invention. For it is â€Å"multiple ownership or administration within watersheds [that] present some major challenges for watershed management policy and planning† (Satterlund and Adams 1992). Municipal boundaries do not account for broader natural boundaries. While it is true that a municipal boundary might coincide with a stre am or ridge, municipalities generally overlook broader, more important delineations like watersheds.

Nigeria Labour Congress Demand for the Review of the National Minimum Wage and General Wage Review

Today, Nigerians who are lucky to have jobs are finding it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to survive on their monthly pay. The major reason for this is that the pay of the Nigerian worker is not only one of the lowest in the world; it has also not improved as it should in the face of changes in market conditions. Workers in the public sector are particularly worse off.As huge revenues have continued to be acquired from the sweat of workers, the pay and conditions of workers have continued to deteriorate; workers have increasingly been excluded from the wealth created by their labour. In Nigeria, the difference in pay between managers and workers is not only one of the highest in the world: out of every N1 paid as wages, managers collect more than 80 kobo while workers receieve less than 20 kobo; the difference has been increasing over the years.At the same time, owners and managers of banks, top government officials and members of the political class have seen their pay a nd wealth swell ostronomically while workers have had to survive on starvation wages. Workers can no longer survive on what they earn; the situation is made worse by the fact that those who work also have to support family members who form part of the huge army of the unemployed. It has become crystal clear that there is an urgent need for an upward review of the national minimum wage and an upward general review of wages and salaries.History of wage reviews fought by workers This is not the first time that workers would be asking for a general upward review of wages and an increase in the National Minimum Wage. Between 1945 when workers staged the famous 45 days general strike for a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) and 2007, when the demand won by workers for a 25% general wage through the Ernest Shonekan Wage Consolidation Committee was arbitrarily cut down to 15% by Obasanjo, workers have struggled at 15 times to have wages improved and a national minimum wage legislated upon.But the struggles produced notable victories for workers and the NLC, it was usually the case that: the National Minimum Wage was always set below the minimum wage needed by workers to survive. Because of the inadequacy of the wage, some state governments elected on their own to pay more. Even then, there were also some 1 state governments that pay less than the stipulated national minimum wage. The result was that workers always could not cope. The wage reviews were largely unstructured; sometimes negotiated wages were changed by government through circulars; at other times, government effected unilateral wage increases.Agreements reached with government were sometimes distorted at implementation or not implemented at all by government. For example, the 2000 Wage Review Agreement provided for a further 25per cent wage increase for workers with effect from May 1, 2001, and 15 per cent wage increase with effect from May 1, 2002. This was not implemented. Following industrial dispute over this a 121/2 percent increase rather than the 35 per cent agreement in 2000, was signed in 2003. But in the end, only an increase of between 4 and 12 1/2 per cent was implemented by the Federal Government.Although the Shonekan Committee was set up against this background and recommended a 25% increase in salaries, Obasanjo unilaterally implemented a 15% increase in 2007. Government also failed to abide by the timeframes set out for subsequent negotiations with workers. Workers always had to fight to get government to agree to collective bargaining even when the procedure was agreed in previous negotiations. Today, workers find that they have to fight yet again to get government to agree to negotiate a new National Minimum Wage and a general upward review of wages.Rationale for Upward Wage Review today There are several reasons why there must be an upward review of workers wages today. The consequence of the abdication of the agreed approach to the implementation of the phased-wage increases has been that wages and salaries are today sharply depressed and incapable of meeting the basic needs of most workers. In the last one year, inflation has intensified with the cost of living index in the urban sector increasing by over 14 per cent. The disproportionate increase (20. 9 percent) in the cost of food means that the erosion in the real wages and salaries of workers is alarmingly severe.The process of monetizing and consolidating in-kind benefits which were hitherto not taxed has resulted in an escalation of the tax paid by workers. This has further depressed the real take home pay of workers. 2 All over the world, salary increase in the public sector is underlined by the principle of equity and the need to bridge social inequality in the face of widening economic and social gaps amongst citizens of a country. In Nigeria, while workers’ salaries increased by 15 percent between 2006 and 2007, those of political office holders increased by over 800 percent. The 2008 increase in the compensation of political office holders has further aggravated the disparity (Table 1). On average, their compensation package has been doubled. We need to reduce this disparity for greater equity, productivity and morale. TABLE 1: Salaries of Political Office Holders (Pre and Post Consolidation) S/N Categories 1 Special Assistant to the President; Chief Speech Writer to the President; Chief Press Secretary to the President Members, House of Representatives; Deputy Chief of Staff TTP; Senior Special Assistant, TTP. Ministers of State; Senators; Principal Officers of the House of Representatives; Special advisers TTP.Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives; Minister; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Chief of Staff TTP; National Security Adviser; Chief Economic Adviser; Inspector General of Police; Chairmen, Federal Civil Service Commission, Federal Character Commission, National Salaries, Incomes, & Wag es Commission, Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission. Deputy President of the Senate; Justices of the Supreme Court; President, Court of Appeal. Speaker of the House of Representatives. HASS (Basic) 626,700 865,200 CONSS* 4,392,012 13,102,402 3 4 1,015,700 13,374,240 1,194,600 15,094,426 5 6 7 1,403,700 15,240,500 1,649,400 16,348,926 Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ; 1,938,000 21,524,164 President of the Senate; Chief Justice of Nigeria . 8 President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed 2,506,000 24,954,405 Forces of Nigeria . *Source: National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Abuja 3 In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Nigeria ought to be paying one of the highest minimum wages, given its resources and level of development.The reality, however, is that the existing minimum wage in Nigeria is one of the lowest in Africa. Table 2 presents the data for Sub-Saharan Africa. The data in the table takes adequate account of the need to adjust the wages to differences in the cost of living or what is called the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Table 2: Minimum Annual Wage Levels in African Countries ($USD) Country Minimum Special Notes PPP PPP-Based Wage Factor Minimum Wage Angola 1511 1. 975 2984. 23 Botswana 3011 2. 106 6341. 17 DRC 468 2. 077 972. 04 Kenya 948 2. 534 2402. 3 Lesotho 1080 For Manufacturing 1. 847 1994. 76 Madagascar 336 3. 107 1043. 95 Malawi 407 3 1221. 00 Mozambique 1177 2. 129 2505. 83 Nigeria 550 2. 274 1250. 70 South Africa 2780 Farm Minimum 1. 651 4589. 78 Wage: $975 Swaziland 1369 1. 958 2680. 50 Tanzania 1680 2. 8 4704. 00 Zambia 1147 1. 81 2076. 07 Average 1266 2674. 33 The current national minimum wage of N7,500 is far below the minimum cost of providing basic needs for the worker and his / her immediate family. Our survey shows that today the minimum cost of providing for basic needs is N58,200 (Table 2).This estimate is based on threshold hardship levels in which 6 or 8 people may be forced to live in one or two rooms and endure a dietary and living style that is most rudimentary. Additionally, it should be noted that N18,000 is allegedly spent on the feeding of one prison inmate monthly, while the estimate here is merely N20,000 for the feeding of a family of 6 per month. 4 An examination of the cost of living since the enactment of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 shows clearly that the cost of living index has risen so much that the real value of the minimum wage set by the law has virtually been wiped out.Employing published data on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 2000 till July 2008, and taking into account developments in the overall economy and compensation adjustments since 2000, the minimum wage of workers in 2008 can be computed. This computation shows that in real terms, the minimum wage of workers would have to be adjusted upwards by a minimum factor of 4 in order to maintain the relative position of the least pai d worker in the national compensation structure established in 2000.Thus, the appropriate amount required in 2008 to maintain the real value of the National Minimum Wage set in 2000 would be (N11,213. 52 x 4=N44,856). Table 2: Estimated Monthly Cost of Meeting Basic Needs for a Representative Family * Item Accommodation Utilities a. Electricity b. Water c. Kerosene d. Communication Food Clothing Medical Education Cleaners, Soap and Detergents Entertainment, Recreation Communication Miscellaneous Total Cost (N) 6,000 1,000 500 4,000 2,000 20,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 1,300 and 1,000 1,500 N58,500Our Demands Based on the foregoing Congress demands: (i) A new National Minimum Wage of N52,200. This is the approximate average of the minimum wages when we take into consideration Minimum Annual Wage Levels in African Countries, the minimum cost of providing basic needs for the worker and his / her immediate family and the cost of living data. 5 (ii) that the Federal Government sets up a tripar tite committee as a matter of urgency to negotiate and agree on this, so that the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 can be amended to reflect the new amount.It is instructive to note that current negotiations on fixing a minimum wage for Ghana has recently reached preliminary agreement within the tripartite framework to adopt the basic needs approach in computing the minimum wage. (iii) an amendment to the Act to the effect that the National Minimum Wage law should apply to any establishment employing 20 or more workers, instead of the 50 workers currently stipulated by law. (iv) a general wage review; there is an urgent need to commence negotiations in both the public and private sectors so as to agree on new compensation packages. v) a wage review in the public sector based on the minimum wage computed above. Currently, the least salary in the Civil Service under the Consolidated Civil Service Salary Structure is N133,564 per annum or N11,130 per month. The new salary structure recom mended by the Congress is based on the least salary of N52,200 per month or N626,400 per annum, which is the proposed new national minimum wage. The new Consolidated Salary Structure would then be constructed so as to maintain the existing relativities in the salary structure.Sustainability and Affordability of NLC’s Demands Is the minimum wage proposed by the NLC reasonable, sustainable and affordable? Can the nation pay the new national minimum wage? The answer to both and related questions is an overwhelming YES! It is a resounding YES for the following reasons: (i) An increase in the purchasing power and effective demand of workers will increase the demand for goods and services and translate into growth for the economy. The morale, and therefore, productivity of workers will be greatly enhanced by the wage review. ii) Nigeria earns enough revenues, even with the downward slide in oil prices, to be able to pay. The problem in Nigeria is massive corruption by members of th e political and administrative elite and not lack of resources. To be sure, paying the new minimum wage will require that members of the political class cut their level of stealing of public funds. This will not be a bad thing; in fact, it will be good for the economy. (iii) If the economy can accommodate the huge sums spent on political office holders, it can accommodate a general upward review of wages and a national minimum wage as proposed.In any case, more resources should be devoted to the productive workers in any economy. Apart from political office holders, the profits declared in most areas of the private sector, continue to be massive. Even sectors which are contracting their operations continue to declare huge profits. Therefore, the public and private sectors of the economy are capable of paying higher wages. 6 Framework Proposed for the Negotiations The national minimum wage negotiations should be carried out within the tripartite framework, with workers, NECA and gove rnment represented.The emerging agreement from this negotiation should then be forwarded to the National Assembly as a Draft Amendment to the National Minimum Wage Act, 2000. At the conclusion of the minimum wage negotiation, the public service wage review negotiation should commence between labour and representatives of government, both Federal and States. Private sector negotiations should susequently take place within the existing sectoral framework of collective bargaining. On the general wages review, we wish to call on government to adopt the framework of collective bargaining, with representatives of all public sector employers, whetherFederal or State Governments, as employers, not as governments. Conclusion Congress makes these demands with great patriotism, sensitivity and responsibility. Congress holds that collective bargaining and negotiations with trade unions are sacrosanct and in consonance with the spirit of democracy. Congress calls on government to set up the nece ssary structures for the negotiations without further delay. To delay negotiations will further compound the living conditions of workers of Nigeria in the face of the alarming mass poverty already destroying their lives. February 2009 7

The Greenback Party essays

The Greenback Party essays The campaign had consisted mostly of persons with agrarian interests. They were people whose lives centered around their land and culture. In addition to this, they had a desire to maintain an increase the amount of paper money in circulation. This campaign was the beginning of the Greenback movement. The withdrawal by anti-federalists had opened the way for monetary changes by the Union government. Greenbacks first came into existence when the U.S. Department of Treasury was given the right, in 1862, to issue notes that were not changeable into specie (hard money like gold or silver) but were authorized as legal tender for most purposes. Although the Norths record on inflation stands up well in comparison with the experience of triumphant countries in later wars, the Greenbacks worth in gold fell to half the supposed value. Their use had in any case only been intended as a temporary measure and the government started reducing the number in circulation; however, this had coin cided with and reinforced a depression that led to the formation of the Greenback Party in 1875, which had campaigned for an increase in note circulation. Between 1862 and 1865, the U.S. Government had issued more than $450,000,000 in paper money that was not backed by gold (greenbacks - legal tender notes) to help finance the Union cause in the American Civil War. The idea that preserving a flexible supply of paper money served the interests of working people, while paper money backed by specie benefited only the rich. After the war, economic conservatives demanded that the government retire the greenbacks, but the farmers and others who wished to maintain high prices opposed that move. It was in 1868 that the Democrats gave partial support to the Greenback movement by endorsing a plan that called for the redemption of certain war bonds by the issuance of new greenbacks. The Greenback Party which by 1878 had 482 clubs, incl...

Research Paper on Skateboarding

Research Paper on Skateboarding Life is full of adventures and surprises. Being able to find out what you do best is very exciting. Many people work at jobs they hate, and some people live the life of their dreams. Considering that I don’t want to become a person doing something that they dislike for the rest of their lives, I have already found what I love to do and what I will do for the rest of my life. Skateboarding is very challenging, and I always like a challenge. Whether it’s learning a new trick or doing a trick over an obstacle, it’s all challenging. Trying to learn new tricks is hard, but in the end, it is never regretted. Landing new tricks was the most fun; however, it took lots of patience and work. After landing tricks, or just skating around, you start to make new friends. A lot of people notice you if you land a big trick, and then you start to get noticed. Even if you don’t skate big obstacles, you still make friends. Every time I go skate, I prepare myself for the new challenges, tricks, and friends to meet because skateboarding is a way of life. Skating alone is very hard; furthermore, making friends helps a lot. Making friends is a must, and it is very easy. Everybody is pretty much friends with everybody. Age doesn’t matter, because we all have one thing in common, which is skateboarding. No one has to be the same age to have fun with someone else doing the same thing. I have friends that are 7 years old to 30 years old, and neither one is more important than the other; however, sometimes the older skaters can drive you around to other skate spots, but that still does not make anybody more valuable than another. I can just film somebody else, help somebody else, or applause for someone when they land a trick, and a friend is made. Skateboarding brings a lot of people together. Just riding around on your skateboard is fun; however, learning to do some tricks is a lot more fun. That is exactly what I do everyday when I go skating. This makes skating so much more fun. Learning new tricks can be hard, but in the end, it’s very much worth it. When I first started skateboarding, I learned an ollie, which is the very first trick you learn because it is the most basic and is used to learn every other trick. From there, I would just watch skateboard videos and try to learn from the pros. Until I could do a trick, trying to figure out how they did it was the hard part, but when I finally found out how it was done I would become excited and try to land it for hours. Whenever I would land the trick, I’d become very proud of myself and practice the trick more. When you land a trick you have never done before, it forces you to want to learn more. After you learn a trick you can show it to friends and show off if you wanted to. It’s just so much fun to learn new tricks. New tricks can be made up or you can just learn tricks that have already been made. Skateboarding has an endless possibility of tricks to be made. There are just so many variations of one trick, or sometimes you can mix two or more tricks together and you just go crazy with it. When you learn new tricks, you can bring those tricks to new obstacles which make skateboarding even more fun. While learning new tricks, of course, there are harder ones and easy ones. That is what makes skateboarding challenging. Once you learn a trick, you usually will take it up a notch and try it down a bigger stair set, or try a bigger handrail. When you have friends around it helps to get you pumped up; however, sometimes you can get nervous if too many people are around because you don’t want to fall and embarrass yourself, but its all part of skateboarding. I love to try new tricks on new obstacles, because when you land it, feel like you are the best and you can learn anything. The challenge makes it harder; moreover, also makes it more worth it when you land it. If there was no challenge, then it would get boring For instance, once you learn a kickflip, you will be happy that you can land it on the flat ground. Later on, it will get boring, and also get very easy, so then you would try it down maybe a 4 stair. That makes it harder because you have to catch the trick in midai r and keep it underneath your feet. When you land, the impact is much greater; furthermore, you will need more balance when you land and you have to be ready to absorb the impact. Just picking myself up and trying to land the trick over and over makes you want to land it more and when you do, the feeling is indescribable. Anything is possible in skateboarding. I always keep these words in me, â€Å"Where there is a will, there is a way†; because it helps me realize that you can overcome any challenge that is blocking your way. Trying to become the best of your ability is the most fun, yet is also the hardest challenge there is. Just being able to keep making skateboarding harder and giving yourself a challenge once in a while is fun. Discovering skateboarding was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I started skateboarding, because I loved it, and that’s how you progress, loving what you’re doing. The days that I don’t skate I am preparing myself for the effort it takes to pick myself up and try a trick over and over again till I land it. I think when you land a trick, that is what keeps you going in skateboarding; likewise, makes you want to go pro, or make you want to go even further in skateboarding. It makes you go beyond your natural abilities and make friends along the way. Just being able to jump on your board, make new friends, do whatever you want to do, no one telling you what to do or when to do it, and knowing when you land a new trick, you conquered your board, your board didn’t conquer you.

Globalization and Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Globalization and Culture - Research Paper Example This essay aims to discuss the effects of globalization and culture in the modern world. For instance, there has been economic development because of various interactions between people of different cultures. The main objectives of the essay are to discover why the world has evolved in terms of globalization and cultures. On that note, globalization is the increasing association such as legal, scientific, economic and cultural connections between persons and countries around the world. On the other hand, culture involves the belief, art, morals, law, and customs ad among other capabilities attained by humanity. The limits of the essay include the inability to explain the direct link between globalization and culture. However, the methods of enquiry in compiling the essay include the use of secondary materials such books and internet sources. The background of this research goes back from the days of long distance trade routes that emerged to the modern days of planes and policies pro pelling economies to influence globalization. Globalization has been widely described as the interconnection between states and their cultures through trade, technology, sports and other forms. Due to globalization there have been several effects felt such as change in language, habits, dreams, dress code among others in the cultures of nations. For example, according to Jaenicke, the culture has an effect on dreams. However, the cultural attributes do not follow the accepted regular responses of certain cultures brought by globalization.

Research a hospitality facility development or refurbishment of your Paper

A hospitality facility development or refurbishment of your choice - Research Paper Example The banner â€Å"The Character of London† was successfully upheld through the hotel’s various refurbishment efforts to exude the luxury for the 21st Century. Hotel Savoy’s legacy of being the first luxury hotel in London was preserved with the renovations and series of changes they made to make the establishment more pleasing to the customer’s taste and according to environmental trends. Hotel Savoy History It all started with a piece of land given by King Henry II to Count Peter II of Savoy. There, Peter II built the Savoy Palace. The structure underwent several destructions especially that it was built at the time when Britain was at serious political strife. After few centennials, a theater in the same place was built by Richard D'Oyly. D'Oyly, a constant traveler, was inspired with the hotel he had seen in the United States, and this inspired him to transform the theater into London's first luxury hotel, the Hotel Savoy (Peck, 2010). Ever since Hotel S avoy became more than just the owner’s concept, it has been enjoying a celebrity-like status, just like their guests. Being the first hotel in London to offer electricity services and lift (then called as ‘ascending rooms’), the success became sensational that the most famous people in various fields never fail to drop in Hotel Savoy whenever they visit London. Notable figures who became frequent visitors of Hotel Savoy include Katherine Hepburn, Oscar Wilde, Coco Chanel, Bob Dylan, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, The Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor, and many more (Savoy, n.d.). A-list customers such as the above mentioned made the hotel legendary. Through the fast-paced changes, a good thing about the hotel’s management system is that it prioritizes customer satisfaction. In doing this, hotel staff and hoteliers were trained extensively to meet the discriminating customers. From bartenders to administrative staff, competence can be observed. Last 2007, the hotel was closed temporarily for an extensive overhaul and was reopened last year, complete with new features and more luxurious services (Anon., 2010). The Hotel’s Refurbishment After more than a centennial of luxury hotel service, Savoy’s owners decided to close it temporarily for refurbishment to take the hotel to a new level of elegance. In a report by Stinson (2007), owners of the hotel revealed that they plan to auction few of the items owned by the hotel such as the grand piano which Frank Sinatra once played when he was invited by the hotel some years ago, and the tiles of the ballroom which Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe and Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II danced on when they visited the place. The starting prices of auctioned items began with more than 200 pounds to as high as 1000 pounds or more. However, hoteliers assured that the hotel’s trademarks such as the figure of Kaspar the Cat and everything found in the American bar will not be sold to preserve the antique feel of the establishment (Stinson, 2007). Customers who are frequent in the hotel are not quite sure about the changes the management had decided because there might be a lot missing in the hotel and they might lose nostalgia of their previous visits; however, the hotel heads were assuring the customers that Savoy will still be recognizable. The Edwardian features and Art Deco style of the hotel would be maintained and developed. Financial analysts did not believe that the hotel’s timing in refurbishing the property is good, considering

The Challenges of Improving Educational Quality in Relation to One Essay

The Challenges of Improving Educational Quality in Relation to One Country of Your Choice - Essay Example As the essay stresses proper education is not only helpful in achieving success in life, but it is also supportive to overcome all the challenges in their life. Strong educational background of a country is recognised to be a proper indication towards the strong economic structure of that respective country, as it recognised to be one of the most important drivers of economic growth. It has been observed that the most of the developed countries are having a strong educational background, which ensures better development of the society as well as an economy. According to the discussion findings the countries of Latin America have been recognised to witness essential expansion in educational coverage from the past two decades. It has been observed that after a revolution in the educational sector, a large number of countries belonging to Latin American region are considered to be a significant determinant of economic development. Though the countries of Latin America are experiencing educational transformation, but the government of these countries lacks in providing proper educational facilities to the several children. Therefore, due to improper educational facilities as well as unstructured schooling system, most of the children are withdrawing their name from the public schools. The educational revolution in Latin America has been identified to have vital impact over the development of the society of that respective country.

History of Biological Warfare Essay Example for Free

History of Biological Warfare Essay Biological warfare, also called germ warfare is the use of bacteria, toxins, virus or harmful organism by the military as weapons of war against the enemy. This means that a small quantity of these microorganisms have the capability to kill millions of people if spread evenly and effectively. These biological weapons can also cause sickness to enemy soldiers and disrupt enemy’s logistics and supply lines. Although biological warfare as such has hitherto not taken place on a large scale, yet assuming and apprehending its probable occurrence, many nations have built their individual defensive strategies to be on the safe side. On the basis of this assumption and probability, much research for the purpose of defense against biological weapons has been conducted by the scientists, highly sensitive industries and the governments. But since carrying out germ-warfare against humanity or using harmful bacteria or organism against human beings was considered entirely inhumane, an international treaty banning biological weapons came into force in 1975. By virtue of this treaty, production, possession, and use of such weapons were completely prohibited. More than 150 nations signed this treaty. Deadly Forms of Warfare in History The origin of biological warfare is traced back in ancient times, when the Assyrians, in 6th century B. C poisoned enemy wells with poisonous herbs (eukaryotes or fungi) that cused the enemy lose sanity or consciousness. This was the starting point of biological warfare in human history. Thence onward this typical warfare was used by many in the past e. g. Solon of Athens poisoned the water supply of Phocaea with extremely poisonous herb Veratrum, during his city’s siege; the archers of Scythian, during 4th century B. C. poisoned the tips of arrows to cause infection into the wounds of enemy; the Spartans used sulfur during the Peloponnesian War in 400 B. C. In medieval times, soldiers used to throw dead bodies into the wells. During the Indian-French wars in1689 and 1763, blankets used by smallpox patients were given to Indians for carrying the disease to the latter. It was Germany, which, during World War I, used poisonous gas for the first time against Allied forces at Belgium and Ypres. The use of poisonous gas by Germany caused about 30 percent of casualties suffered by the US army. The use of poisonous gas proved so fatal and devastating in nature that many nations unanimously agreed to ban the use of gas and extremely harmful chemical substances in future wars. But again it was Iraq which breached the agreement and used chemical weapons against Iran in eight years long war (1980-1988). Iraq was also held responsible for using chemical weapons against the independence seeking Kurdish people. Relatively New Forms of Warfare Some of the new forms of warfare that have lately engaged nations in the design, technique and art of modern warfare include: 1. Chemical Warfare 2. Biological Warfare 3. Radiological Warfare 4. Mine Warfare 5. Guerrilla Warfare 6. Amphibious Warfare 7. Psychological warfare 8. Siege Warfare 9. Nuclear Warfare From the above forms of warfare, the chemical, radiological, and biological warfare are singled out as ones in which CBR weapons are used for mass killing; disabling millions of people instantly, transmitting fatal diseases into enemy rank and file; incapacitating the enemy physically, and destroying their food supplies. How do they Work? Chemical Warfare Chemical Warfare involves all those chemical substances which affect the nervous as well as the respiratory systems, besides affecting skin, eyes, and nose. The chemicals, which include gases, liquids, and powders, can be sprayed from airplanes, dropped as bombs, fired in the form of artillery shells, or spread over the area through land mines. But there are some colorless and odorless nerve agents which, if inhaled, can cause immediate death while some chemical agents can cause temporary blindness or confusion. The mustard gas also called ‘Blister Agent’ caused many casualties during World War I. But it is quite relieving to see the chemical agents not widely used in warfare since the end of World War I (1918). Radiological Warfare Radiological Warfare involves those substances that give off radiation, and which may damage the internal organs of a person and even cause death. Radiological warfare is extremely dangerous because the released radioactivity in the process renders the entire area unfit for human life. Mine Warfare Mine Warfare is the use of explosive devices called mines to kill enemy troops and destroy their ships, tanks, and other equipment. Some mines explode when a person steps on them or run over by a tank or jeep, while the naval mines are detonated by the passing of a ship. The two major kinds of mines are: 1. The Land Mines 2. The Naval Mines The main types of land mines are:1) antipersonnel mines, 2) antitank mines, 3) chemical mines, 4) controlled mines, and 5) nuclear mines. There chief four kinds of naval mines include: 1) acoustic mines, 2) contact mines, 3) magnetic mines, and 4) pressure mines Guerrilla warfare Guerrilla warfare is conducted by the fighter bands that employ the tactics of sudden raids, ambushes, and other attacks on small-scale. The term â€Å"Guerrilla† which means â€Å"Little War† in Spanish, was first used by the Portuguese and Spanish armies during the Peninsular War (1808-1814). Amphibious warfare Amphibious warfare is the mode of army operations by land air and sea forces with the objective of capturing a coastal area or a beach. Generally the amphibious operations are considered the most intricate form of modern warfare. During World War II (1939-1945), after Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor and destroyed US naval installations in the Pacific Ocean, a common objective of United States amphibious warfare was to seize islands in order to build their advance on. These air and naval bases were captured for their operations against Japan. Antidotes for Biological Weapons The antidote for biological agents is a complete kit which contains medicines and treatments for nerve gas. It also contains injectors to fight anthrax, and antibiotics and drugs to reduce the effects of radiation exposure. Normally the kits are kept locked in military vans by the army. It is worthwhile noting that according to the briefing documents prepared by the Army Medical Department for the senior medical command in Iraq Millions of dollars worth of such kits are incinerated in Iraq each year. Army spokesman, Foster, D. said that the services policy is to issue the [kits] to each unit prior to deployment, and ensure all unused [kits are] turned in prior to the units redeployment for destruction. Also the vice president for strategic security programs at the Federation of American Scientists, Ivan Oelrich, said that sending the Antidote-kits is a rational policy just in case some terrorist gets hold of 10 gallons of nerve as† (Bob, 2007) Gas Mask Among other protective coverings such as injections of antidotes, gas masks too are used as one of the defensive measures against chemical agents. Gas mask protects a person from breathing poisonous gases and vapors into the lungs. Only air is allowed to enter the mask through the filter pads, which purifies and filters the air. The charcoal which is padded within the cheeks of mask purifies the air by trapping harmful gases and particles. Particulate filters can remove particles of smoke, dust, and even some harmful biological agents. The purifying materials are in the cheeks of present-day masks, which are often part of an entire protective suit. In World War I (1914-1918), masks were used to protect troops against gas attacks. Gas was not used in World War II (1939-1945), but armies had masks in case gas warfare began. During the Persian Gulf War of 1991 and the Iraq War, which began in 2003, gas masks were issued to troops and civilians in areas where it was feared Iraq would attack. (Lussier and Frances M, 2007)

Setting in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Essay -- essays research pap

Ken Kesey’s â€Å"One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest† is a unique fiction novel about oppression and rebellion in an American 1950’s Mental Hospital. In this highly distinctive novel, setting definitely refers to the interior, the interiors of the Institution. It also refers to the period this novel this was set in, the 50’s, 60’s where McCarthyism was dominant. Furthermore, it has great symbolic value, representing issues such as the American struggle of freedom and conformity. This essay shall discuss the ‘setting’ & its significance towards Ken Kesey’s â€Å"One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest†. In the novel, setting is important towards the interiors, as the vast majority of the novel is set within the closed, confined space, the interior, of the mental institution. The Institution is there for â€Å"fixing up mistakes made in the neighbourhoods.† It is important as it is only in a confined space such as a mental institution, where Ken Kesey can achieve the dark, foggy atmosphere of conformity and oppression that the Big Nurse and the Combine exercises over all the patients of the Institution. The institution is a place under the strict control of Nurse Ratched, and it is only in the hospital where she can exercise her calculated control. The ‘interiors’ act as a microcosm of American society, as Dr Spivey says, the hospital is a â€Å"made-to-scale prototype of the big world. Through the Chief’s memories, we realise that the outside world is not much better, as we learn that Indian village...

Fairies :: essays research papers

FAIRIES ARE EVERYWHERE!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fairies are magical creatures, usually very much like human beings. But they can do many things that humans cannot do. Most fairies can make themselves invisible. Many can travel in an instant anywhere they want to go, even very great distances. Some can change their shapes; they might look like cats, or birds, or dogs, or any other animal. Some of them live for many hundreds of years; others (Like with Tinker Bell From Peter Pan) live forever. Many fairies like to play tricks on human beings; others like to help them. Fairies come in all sizes and shapes as well. They might be ugly, humpbacked little creatures, like the trolls or gnomes that the people tell about in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. Both trolls and gnomes are supposed to guard treasures. Trolls live in dark caves, and gnomes make their homes underground. Some fairies are handsome, for example, the pixies of Wales, or the goldenhaired white elves of the Scandinavian countries. Some fairies are giants, others are less than two feet tall. Some have special shapes. Example are mermaids and mermen, human above the waist but with the lower part of their bodies like fish. They live in an underwater world of splendor. Beautiful mermaids often lure sailors to their destruction, or cause shipwrecks. The Scandinavians believed in a river spirit that looked like a man above the water and like a horse below.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most fairies live in fairyland, where some strange things are ALWAYS happening. They live together ruled by a king and queen, whose names are Oberon and Titania. Some people think that the ruler of Fairyland is Queen Mab.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not all fairies live in fairyland, however. Some live alone as the guardians of certain places. The Lorelei of Germany is a beautiful woman with long golden hair. She stays on a special rock on the right bank of the Rhine River.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many kinds of fairies like to play tricks on human beings. Sometimes they tie knots in the manes of horses at night, and ride them till the horses are tired out. A horseshoe nailed to the stable door will keep these fairies away. If the maid is lazy and does not clean the house carefully, the fairies will pinch her while she sleeps. The pixies of Wales are especially troublesome to human beings. Some pixies lead travelers the wrong way. Others call to a lost person in the voice of his friend. When he follows the voices, he finds nobody there. The pixies like to hid things in houses, and to blow out candles so that the people of the