Monday, September 30, 2019

Le Corbusier, the modernist

Architecture as a medium started during the Egyptian era, then the Greek and Roman Period followed, after which the development seemed just to have died down. No further design was evident but only reinvention of the three distinct styles from Byzantines to gothic, renaissance to baroque, neo-classicism to art nouveau and art deco. All contributed to designs of sinuous curves and decorations creating an atmosphere of brilliant exuberance (â€Å"Neoclassic†).However at the start of the 20th century a new movement was born – the international style of modern architecture. This is a form of rebellion on the established architectural norms at the time and to basically express in style that is totally different from the past. Coupled with the development of concrete, steel and glass, it became the barometer by which succeeding styles evolved (â€Å"History†).The International Style of ArchitectureThe international style is characterized by three basic principles; the marked influence of volume rather than mass; balance rather than applied symmetry; and the total expulsion of ornaments to the composition of the structure both in the faà §ade and interior spaces. This movement is brought about by the advent of the industrial revolution. Thus, the international style is anchored towards machines, or that structural spaces are â€Å"machines where one can live in† (â€Å"International Style†).One of the pillars of the international movement was Le Corbusier, the Swedish Architect who eventually made a name for himself while in Paris. He was a tireless artisan, through pamphlets, manifestos, magazines, books and even exhibitions he was able to project the merits of the movement not only in Europe but the America’s as well.Part of his (Le Corbusier) design innovation is; the structure is raised on stilts to make it appear light and floating; free flowing plan, so dwellers will have the freedom to rearrange the spaces according to their needs; make the walls independent of the structure – thus curtain walls were developed; provide horizontal bands of windows to keep the light in; and most of all top the structure with a roof garden to bring the natural environment to the structure (Rybczynski).The resulting structure is a study of steel columns and beams, a skeleton devoid of any decorative ornament. It projects an architecture that is harsh and brutal in appearance, but with the application of ground to ceiling plate glass windows it tempered the faà §ade and promotes the functional side of the structure. The walls are no longer planned as load bearing but only as decorative panels devised mainly to protect dwellers from the elements. The elevator shafts are now exposed and part of the design retinue (â€Å"International†).The Villa SavoyeThe most important building that expressed the tenets of the international style is the Villa Savoye, near the suburbs in Paris. This building is memorable since it was designed by one of the movers of the style – Le Corbusier. The Villa Savoye captures the essence of the movement because of its abject simplicity and is considered by many as the climax of Le Corbusier’s work as it virtually expressed the style in its purist form (Sullivan).What make the Villa Savoye the true representative of the international style are the different components that truly define the spirit of the style. The faà §ade is endemic throughout, meaning the design does not distinguish the front, the sides or the rear of the building and it is of plain reinforced concrete that added to its effortless appeal.The Villa Savoye is obviously modular in design and follows the pattern on human proportion; the building seems to float because of the series of â€Å"pilotis† or stilts that raise it from the ground, though it may be a form modern classicism; it does not have any attachment to historical ornament but is actually an expression of a mo dern abstract sculptural composition; and the external faà §ade is pure white that suggests birth, purity, simplicity and health (â€Å"LeCorbusier†).The building has an open interior plan that defines the logic of large spaces; to go up or down between floors is best served by a corkscrew spiral staircase and a reliable ramp system; the windows provides a wealthy interplay of light, reminiscent of industrial architecture; of course the feature that Le Corbusier emphasized is the roof garden at the top of the structure – to promote oneness with the natural environment even when inside the building; and the ground floor has an integral garage (â€Å"LeCorbusier†).All the characteristics of the international style as expounded by Le Corbusier are all incorporated in the Villa Savoye. And owing to the importance of the Villa Savoye to the international style, it has become a relic and a pilgrimage site for students of architecture.ConclusionNever in the history of architecture have a style that truly evolved without the undue influence of the past. Two movements have expressed the sincerity to really deviate from this form of evolution – the modern movement of Frank Lloyd Wright (organic style) and the international style. Both styles have echoed desires for large uninterrupted open spaces and simplicity in design without the use of elaborate ornaments.The development of the skyscraper in the United States put into full use the international style of architecture. The buildings were now constructed according to the new manual on steel construction with reinforced concrete as the material of choice on the walls and foundations. The faà §ade fully utilize the versatility of plate glass as it clad the structure from the ground floor up to the penthouse.The glass curtain walls may have added to the aesthetic appeal of the building, but it also plagued insulation engineers, for it resulted in problems about heating and cooling, particular ly during the cold and warm months. Therefore new standards were set as it increases the energy requirement of buildings.But, even with some negative perceptions, nobody can question the effects of the international style in our modern society. It has revolutionized our ideas of a modern structure.Bibliographyâ€Å"History.† Art Deco Architecture. 15 December 2007. .â€Å"International Style, in Architecture.† The Columbia Encyclopedia sixth edition. 2007. Columbia University Press. 16 December 2007. .â€Å"International.† Realtor Magazine Online. 2001. National Association of Realtors. 16 December 2007. .â€Å"LeCorbusier – Villa Savoye.† Boston College – Fine Arts Department. 12 November 2007. The Trustees of Boston College. 17 December 2007. .â€Å"Neoclassic Art and Architecture.† Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia. 2001. Microsoft Corporation. 15 December 2007. .Rybczynski, Witold. â€Å"Le Corbusier.† Time. 8 June 1998. Time Inc. 17 December 2007. .Sullivan, Mary Ann. Bluffton University. 2006. 17 December 2007. .

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Change and Continutie

Between 500 CE and 1500CE changes and continuities in interregional commerce in the Eurasian World occurred. The Silk Road connected South Asia, Western Asia, and South Asia with Europe. The â€Å"road† was used for trading good such as silk, porcelain, and other luxuries. Not only was it used for trading material goods, but it was also used for trading religions, skills, and knowledge. It also passed along diseases. Some changes that occurred were that classical empires collapsing and new empires began to rise, and trade in the Indian Ocean became more regulated in 1500CE than before in 1400CE.A continuity that occurred was the Indian Ocean trade remained unregulated from 700CE through 1400CE. Due to the collapse of the classical empires in 500CE and the rise of the Byzantine, Abbasid, and Tang Empires in 700CE, trade declined then grew. When the classical empires collapsed, trade declined because due to the lack of government following the decline of the classical empires, p rotection could not be granted for trade and trade routes could not be repaired. Due to these reasons, trade and travel became dangerous.When the Byzantine, Abbasid, and Tang empires began to rise, trade grew again because Tang rulers set up military garrisons to protect the trade done through the Silk Road, the Byzantine empire’s central location on the Mediterranean Sea allowed trade to flourish, especially in the capital of Constantinople, and in the Abbasid empire Muslim merchants spread improved irrigation in the region, which led to increases in food production and population. Because of the three empires rising, trade was able to be successful again after the fall of the classical empires.During the years of 700CE through 1400CE a continuity of unregulated Indian Ocean trade continued in Eurasian trade. The Indian Ocean represented the world’s largest sea-based system of communication and exchange. The alternating wind currents that blew predictably eastward dur ing the summer months and westward during the winter months (monsoons) was what made the Indian Ocean commerce possible. Because the Indian trade route was so successful and many people depending on it, it continued to remain unregulated from 700CE through 1400CE.Another reason for it continuing to remain unregulated was because cities located strategically grew and it was a safe environment for markets, it welcomed all merchants, and charged reasonable fees. Although it remained unregulated from 700CE through 1400CE, that all changed by 1500CE. From the unregulated Indian Ocean trade in the 1400’s, trade became more controlled by the Chinese and the Europeans by the 1500’s. To gain control over the Indian Ocean trade Europeans captured the port cities, wrecked them, stole from them, and burned them to the ground, killing the residents of the cities.Because people from other countries traded as well and they brought their culture, religions, and other values and belief s that fascinated the people who lived along the Indian Ocean regions, a lot of people were affected. The Indian Ocean became controlled by the Chinese and the Europeans. In the same way as the Silk Road was used for trade and commerce and was successful the Indian Ocean was also used for trade and commerce. However, the silk route is widely interconnected trade route across Asian continent connecting East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean world, as well as North and Northeast Africa and Europe.In Indian Ocean routes majorly connecting Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. In conclusion, during the time period of 500CE through 1500CE Some changes that occurred were that classical empires collapsing and new empires began to rise, and trade in the Indian Ocean became more regulated in 1500CE than before in 1400CE. A continuity that occurred was the Indian Ocean trade remained unregulated from 700CE through 1400CE. Both the silk road and the Ind ian ocean were used for commerce and trade.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Strategic Management at Nokia Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Management at Nokia - Coursework Example Strategic thinking is defined as â€Å"an intent-driven approach to a strategy based on critical theory and supported by a complex cluster of cognitive capabilities that are distinct and different from strategic planning†. It can be clarified further as a cognitive process that is quite different from the strategic planning process and can stand independently as a formally created planning process. It depicts itself differently irrespective of being generated by an organization, team or an individual (Grundy and Brown, 2002). The main purpose of strategic thinking is problem-solving and leading a rigorous process of challenging, exploring and examining the underlying premises of the strategy and at the same time, generating new options for creating a sustainable, innovative and winning strategy. Strategic thinking is imaginative, inclusive and based on critical-reflective process. The positioning of future competitive advantage for the organization is the heart of every strate gy. In this regards, strategic thinking should reflect this essence. Strategic thinking is the process that helps in driving the strategy. Positioning the future competitive advantage signifies that competitive advantage of an organization erodes with time and strategic thinking is required in this respect for continuously strengthening and developing it. In an organization, the executives, the policymakers and senior line managers are seen to exhibit strategic thinking. A similar situation is also observed in the case of Nokia. The smartphone strategy implemented by the CEO of Nokia, Stephen Elop is a manifestation of strategic thinking. This strategy change was necessary for the organization since it was facing a decline in its market share caused by the fierce competition in the smartphone segment. Nokia experienced profound changes after initiating the smartphone strategy and has marked the end of an era. Moreover, the CEO of Nokia had correctly found that the present battle in the smartphone segment was not about the devices but the ecosystem. In this context, the CEO of Nokia had shown strategic thinking and had foreseen the future. Thus, the company ended up merging with Microsoft as both of them has positioned themselves to construct a competitive and viable mobile ecosystem.

Friday, September 27, 2019

The effects of poverty in the development of children's thinking Research Paper

The effects of poverty in the development of children's thinking related to mathematics - Research Paper Example Children from economically challenged families appear to have a more difficult time in learning mathematical skills than do children from families with secure finances. While the body of research that exists on the topic has tended to focus on ethnicity as a component to the achievement gaps that are appreciated where learning mathematics is involved, it is more clearly evident that economic disparities create achievement gaps where expectations are not being met. Economic power asserts a certain level or propriety where knowledge is concerned, but this can be used where context is shown to be essential in learning mathematical knowledge. Putting math into context with real life situations appears to increase the ability to effectively use mathematical knowledge. Socialization appears to be the key to how learning is accomplished and learning math is affected when earlier socialization towards learning intangible concepts has not been established. The effect of economics on the gaps in achievement as observed between low and high income families is more likely due to the differences in socialization towards learning rather than in a disparity in income. There is a belief based upon research that children from African American and Latin ethnic origins, as well as those from low socio-economic areas have lowered scores on standardized tests than to those from Caucasian ethnic origins and with a higher level of socio-economic advantages. According to Flores (2007), â€Å"Specifically, data show that African American, Latino, and low-income students are less likely to have access to experienced and qualified teachers, more likely to face low expectations, and less likely to receive equitable per student funding â€Å" (p. 29). ... In the study done by Flores (2007) who also focuses on socio-economic status, the statistics concerned with ethnicity is also considered. Flores (2007) presents data concerning standardized tests still shows a disparity in regard to ethnicity. In African American students, 91% have not met the mathematics proficiencies expected by the eighth grade. For Latino students that figure is 87%. Asian American students, on the other hand, show that 53% are not meeting mathematical expectations and Caucasian students are at 63%. The first notable information from these statistics is that over half of all students are not meeting mathematical achievement expectations by grade eight. The discussion, when focused on socio-economic backgrounds, shows that while 38% of children from financially secure homes meet expectations in mathematics on standardized tests, only 13% of children from economically insecure families meet those expectations (Flores, 2007). Economic disparities also lead to cultur al disparities with families having members with minds that have been trained academically have a much easier time in transferring that type of learning discipline onto their children. As poverty and academic achievement are related, families in lower socio-economic levels are less likely to have achieved higher education; therefore their children are not taught how to pursue education nor to have an admiration for economic achievement. One of the other misconceptions where research has focused on culture and ethnic issues where learning is concerned is that there has been an association with culture and ethnicity. According to work done by Nasir and Hand

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Ethics in Business Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics in Business Today - Essay Example Along with this, ethics also helps in reducing employee turnover thereby enhancing the range of efficiency, if maintained properly. Therefore, from the above points, it might be revealed that ethics acts as the catalyst that helps the business to enhance its dominance and supremacy in the market among other existing rival players. So, ethics is extremely essential for any business organization, operating in current scenario. Other than this, ethical policies and behaviors help an organization or business to attract more investors that might enhance the share prices to a significant extent among other rival players. Side by side ethics also helps in recruiting experienced and skilled employees within the organization that may prove effective in enhancing the total productivity of the organization. Thus, recruitment of talented staffs helps in development of varied types of inventive products and services for its customers thereby satisfying their changing needs and demands. This might help an organization in enhancing its brand value and loyalty within the minds of the target customers. As a result, its level of sustainability might get enhanced significantly. Consequently, ethics also helps in enhancing the inner morale of the employees so as to cope up with the inconveniences in turbulent situations. As a result of such type of inner confidence and willpower of the employees, the organization might become able to tackle the effects of the tough situations thereby retaining its previous image and values. However, this might be possible only if cooperation and team work might be maintained among all the members of the organization. Thus, it might be revealed that ethics is that type of inner psychology that might help an organization to develop a strong image and may also destroy its portfolio in the market among others (Plastin, 2013). Other than this, ethical decision making within an organization also helps in enhancing employee growth and their performance t owards the assigned duties and responsibilities. Due to which, the organization might become able to fulfill its target objectives and goals, which is extremely essential for any organization in this era. As a result, the organization might enhance its level of dominance within the market that may reduce the intensity of the new entrants to enter the segment. Along with this, the level of distinctiveness of the organization might also get enhanced thereby amplifying its output and profitability by a significant extent. As a result, the position and reputation of the organization might get improved in this aggressive market among other operating rivals. Hence, according to me ethics is important for any organization or a business for the following reasons presented below: Employee commitment Employee Growth Investor and stakeholders loyalty and commitment Improvement of the confidence power of the shareholders Improvement of the level of customer satisfaction Improvement in the relat ionship with the stakeholders Enhancement of the productivity of the organization Improvement of the level of performance Improvement of revenues and profit margin Improvement of reputation and image of the organizati

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Nintendo Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nintendo - Case Study Example With that approach, they were able to streamline promotion and advertising into a single and consistent message. On the other hand, Nintendo was emphasizing on selective specialization, whereby they targeted both children and hardcore gamers. This kind of approach created confusion among Nintendo’s customers, because the two segments of the market had different needs that called for different messages in the advertisements for each segment. Customer satisfaction was, therefore, not achieved, and Nintendo needed to address that issue in order to reclaim its market share. Analysis of Case Data The main cause of the issue was Nintendo’s failure to invest in new technology. Key customers in the video game industry are in two categories: nontraditional children or teenagers, and the 18-35 year old serious gamers. The industry’s profits and revenues are realized from the second group that spends huge amounts of money and time sharpening their skills. Furthermore, they are tech-junkies, an aspect that Sony and Microsoft noticed. They targeted the segment and created games with high-speed, powerful processors. From the number of Playstation units sold, it can be determined that Sony managed to reach the target group. 120 million Playstations were sold by Sony, compared to only 20 million GameCubes by Nintendo. Data on market share shows that Nintendo was steadily dropping. Alternative Solutions The circumstances facing Nintendo dictated two major alternatives: either fight the competition to get back its market share or shift focus to other markets and avoid direct competition. If they chose to fight, it would have meant putting emphasis on hardcore gamers like Sony and Microsoft, and then attempt to beat them in performance terms. With the high cost of essential components in the manufacture of high performance video games, Nintendo would be forced to sell at a loss. Furthermore, their children-friendly themes was disadvantaged against the new market of M-rated and violent games. The other option was to focus on a different market segment that was not being served by Sony’s PlayStation or Microsoft’s Xbox. Determining and Establish Key Decision Criteria Key decision criteria should be based on a firm’s advantage in a segment, competitive environment, profitability, growth rate and size (Rusetski 211). These should be supported by an understanding of demographic trends, the significance of market segmentation and the uncertainties that are associated with a change of market targets. Viewing the market differently, it is possible to identify several other specialized segments. Nintendo was able to identify the casual and hardcore gamers. From the two available alternatives, Nintendo can either; invest more and fight for the hardcore segment that seems to be setting the trend in video games, with the risk of ending up in more losses; or take yet another risk and focus on the casual segment and the sub-segments found within the category, which also risks a re-launch failure. However, the casual segment provides a wider market that includes families, seniors, women and children. Evaluation of the Alternatives While the pressure from the competition seems minimal in the casual segment, there is uncertainty in profitability, growth rate and size, even with Nintendo’s image being family-friendly. This is bec ause it cannot be known for sure whether the video game adoption process has reached a point of early and late majority buyers being ready to be members of the gaming society, yet they make upto 65 percent of the market. In the same way, the casual segment’s growth rate is not known. The greatest risk lies in the segment’

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Most current financial data and ratios for two firms in a single Research Paper

Most current financial data and ratios for two firms in a single industry, from the US - Research Paper Example Financial analysis between McDonalds and Yum Brands Incl. to determine their competitiveness since the figures in financial statements never lies. Analysis will be done on the cash flow, income statement and balance statement These ratios include current ratio, quick ratio and cash ratio. This ratio shows the extent at which the company is able to repay its short term liabilities using current liabilities. According to (Ross & Westerfield, 2000) a value of 1 or greater shows the firm is more liquid hence able to repay its short term obligations with ease. From the above analysis we can see that McDonalds has higher liquidity ratio than Yum Brands Incl. thus it has $ 1.59 to pay $ 1 debt while Yum Brands Incl. only has $0.75 to settle $1 thus having a deficit of $ 0.25. From the above analysis still McDonalds has higher quick ratio as compared to Yum Brands Incl. which has 0.39. This proofs that McDonalds is able to pay off its debt with ease as compared to Yum Brands Incl. This analysis measures the level of profit making a company is as compared to other competitors (Rowland, 1936). These ratios are one of those that attract investors to invest in a given firm. Some of the ratios are as follows; From the above analysis McDonalds is able to $ 0.22 for every $ 1 invested in the company as opposed to Yum Brands Incl. which only gains $ 0.18. This shows that McDonalds receives great return from usage of its assets. This ratio shows the proportion of the company’s equity financed by owner’s equity and debt. This ratio is supposed to be as low as possible because high level reflects the company is at a state of insolvency (Kieso & Weygandt, 2001). From the above analysis both firms its assets are financed more by debt by owner’s equity. For McDonalds its assets are financed 1.28 times than by owner’s equity as for Yum Brand Incl. it is terrible since it is asset is financed more than

Monday, September 23, 2019

China after World War II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

China after World War II - Essay Example World War II erased the distinction between civil and military resources and saw the complete activation of a nation's economic, industrial and scientific capabilities for the purposes of war effort; nearly two-thirds of those killed in the war were civilians. This period was the brunt period for the Chinese people. They agonized misery, separations, and dislocations. There had been fret about food, clothes and about myriad things. No matter the story begins but it has an elated ending. But until it comes, the Chinese had the potential to smile in the face of hardships and to carry on--a spirit that had fostered them through the affliction of the seven years of this war as it sustained them through the catastrophe of the past. The Chinese rose after each calamity, not only unbeaten but also stronger through the discipline of hardships, which, down the centuries, they. China was under the influence of civil war. Across the plains of Manchuria troops of Chiang Kai-shek's central govern ment were combating for supremacy against the military forces of the Chinese Stalinists. With the generous help of American imperialism, Chiang Kai-shek was succeeded in capturing the strategic town of Szepingkai. Next, the Stalinists were expelled from Changchun, the Manchurian capital. Chiang's forces were being deployed for the stabbing of Harbin, the last important Manchurian urban center in Stalinist hands. The Stalinists had endowed all these cities when they swept into Manchuria from North China in the wake of withdrawing Soviet troops. Despite the detriment of the predominant cities, Stalinists had corporeal dominant of Manchuria and retained at least three-quarters of this vast area with its 30 million population. Chiang's control scarcely extended beyond the railroad zones. This was the picture in Manchuria, north of the Great Wall. Meanwhile, fighting between Chiang's troops and Stalinist forces was also under way in the extra-mural province of Jehol, which the Stalinists took over by disarming Japanese forces at the time of Japan's surrender. There were half-a-dozen fighting fronts around; the great northern metropolis of Peeping and Tientsin. There had been battles in the neighboring seaboard province of Shantung. Sporadic skirmishing had been taking place in the central China domains of Kiangsu, Chekiang, Anhwei and Hupeh. This is an old struggle, which has been going on with different degrees of intensity for 18 years. The Stalinists had corroborated a double power in the inner region of China and had mobilized a great number of the peasantry to their flag. This amplification and broadening of the conflicts resulted into the imperialist war. In the early stages of the Sino-Japanese war the big coastal cities were lost to Japan after bombs and artillery fire had granulated their industries. This was a meticulous clout to the working class. At the end of 1937, after Shanghai had been withdrawn by Chinese troops, the number of factory workers in that city dropped by 90 per cent - from 300,000 to 30,000. The extent of economic restitution emerged under the Japanese occupation results into the drastic increase in the number of industrial workers and the number of industrial workers had risen to about 250,000. But from then on, as the China coast pointed to American encirclement, industry was short off the raw materials and foreign markets, power output was decreased, and the internal market dwindle hastily. The manpower of the industrial labor was again declined greatly. Shanghai was China's

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Public Law Human Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Public Law Human Rights - Essay Example (Legal Briefing) The Act has sufficient clauses to assist those enmeshed in legal complications with the fourth estate. Its provisions hold out the olive branch to hapless victims of snoopy, uncouth journalists, and those taken into custody for serious offences such as acts of terrorism. It is a step in the right direction for fairer trial and accurate justice. The courts are empowered to impose corrective, punitive or deterrent measures, although in the context of law relating to civil liberties in the United Kingdom, sometimes the sentences delivered by the honorable judges are found either too lenient with rogue elements or unduly harsh on law abiding plaintiffs. The media in UK has lobbied hard to dilute the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 in its original form, and continue to do so to this day. The reasons are obvious. The HRA is permanent hindrance to their right to free expression. This Act has come as breath of fresh air especially to celebrities and powerful individuals caught in the glare of an uncompromising media. (Privacy And The Press) The Human Rights Act 1998 came into force in the UK on 2nd October 2000. ... The Act makes public authorities in the UK more accountable in their dealing with citizens who can access any British court and seek redressal for infringement of rights enshrined in the Act. Evolving from the Council of Europe, a conglomerate of different European nations formed in 1949 as an aftermath to World War II, and the European Common market formed in 1957, this Act is the creation of the present day European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms to which UK is a signatory from among 41 European nations. (Protecting and promoting your rights) Reactions to this Act have been mixed in a continent accustomed to extreme emotions of ecstasies, turmoil, triumphs, blas and even stony nonchalance since the renaissance. Nevertheless, it has drawn the attention specifically two groups of the people in UK. One of them are those desperate for help from any quarter having exhausted all legal means for justice, and secondly, they are all those keen to get away from the piercing gaze the indicting Act, especially the media. The Act applies specifically to public authorities responsible for the general welfare of the populace. Never before in the history of the British administration was the common man more empowered to confidently take on the government for judicial lapses. It is important to bear in mind the two important factors of judicial interpretations or misinterpretations and recalcitrant occurrences such as terrorism in the present scenario which make issues for the Act more complex and difficult. Under the threat of terrorism, it is but natural for majority of the people to willingly sacrifice some civil liberties for safety and security. On the other hand, in the name of national

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Shawshank Redemption by Frank Darabont Essay Example for Free

Shawshank Redemption by Frank Darabont Essay * Read each question carefully to determine which one you will answer * When you have selected the question you will spend a few minutes breaking it apart to ensure that your response answers all aspects. If you are looking for Excellence you want to select a question that will allow you to demonstrate that you are able to connect your text to society.| To show that with friendship and hope one can break free from their oppression Example: Identify what you consider to be the director’s main purpose in producing a text you have studied AND explore, in depth, one or two main techniques used to achieve it. Camera shots and dialogue Think of your essay like an hour glass. You are going to start wide (general) with your thoughts get narrow (very specific) and then end wide (generally again). Step Two: Introduction (Same as Novel) With your introduction you want to capture your reader’s attention. You are going to begin your essay with a few general statements. Quote; historical background; comment on a relevant issue in your text; use a statistic to highlight another issue that relates to your essay’s topic| Then you will move into the specific details of your text: * You must include the title and DIRECTOR of the text * You must echo the key words of the question (use these words exactly as it indicates to the marker that you understand what the question is asking) * You must also include or make reference to visual and verbal techniques When you see the word HOW it means techniques! I.e. How does the director craft the text-Visual-lighting, costumes, props, camera shots, camera angles, cuts, jump cuts, dissolve edits, cross cuts, colour filters, *cinematography, post productionVerbal-dialogue, music, non diagetic, diagetic, voiceovers, sound effects| Example Introduction: Green-interesting start/connection Blue-identifies techniques Purple-key elements Yellow-echoes the question â€Å"Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.† (Thich Nhat Hanh) Hope can sometimes be a hard concept to understand for many who are in difficult situations.In The Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont, hope is an elusive idea for many of the prison’s inmates-except Andy Dufresne. Andy Dufresne is a character that helps to reveal Darabont’s main purpose in producing the film, that with friendship and hope people can break free from their oppression. The film uses camera shots and music to portray this main purpose. Notice how the writer has combined all of the different elements. Does this appear different to a Level 1 introduction? Step 3: Body Paragraphs Remember that now the ‘hour glass’ is beginning to become narrow. This is where you become specific with your information. You will need to: * Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the reader to your focus * You may then need to develop out these ideas (another sentence ) * Add a verbal technique (dialogue, voiceover, music, sound effects) that supports the topic * Add a visual technique (camera shots/angles, costume, symbolism, special effects, editing techniques etc.) that supports the topic * THINK ABOUT ADDING A THIRD OF EITHER VISUAL OR VERBAL * Explain how the visual and verbal features support the technique and topic * Try to connect the topic to modern day society-how is what you are watching still relevant? This is for excellence. Does not have to be in every paragraph. Green-society Blue-identifies techniques Purple-explanation Yellow-echoes the question Example Body Paragraph: Andy Dufrense was a character who never fit into the world of Shawshank Prison. Unlike other prisoners who claimed their innocence Andy was a wrongfully accused man a common occurrence for 8-12% of today’s inmates (Truth and Justice, 2011). Although Andy’s faith and hope does falter at times throughout the film it never dissolves. Music is a verbal feature used to help the audience understand the main purpose of the film that with friendship and hope one can break free from their oppression. Music was used to help show us Darabont’s idea of freedom and institutionalisation. Andy deliberately disobeys the warden and plays â€Å"The Marriage of Figaro† on the large speakers. He is severely punished for this and is sent into â€Å"the hole†. As the music is playing, all the prisoners stop what they are doing as they are awed by the beautiful voices of the Italian women. The long shots and extreme long shots reveal the prisoners as they all stop their activities and listen to the music. This gives the prisoners freedom as it brings back memories and takes them to a place outside of the prison. It gives them hope that someday they might be free of this prison. When Andy is sent to the hole as a result of disobedience, he says that he took the music down there with him. A close up of Andy being initially locked in reveals a smile on his face. He had the music in his head and it gave him hope. This hope helped him survive throughout the following years in the prison. You then need to repeat this process TWO MORE TIMES! You must remember that your body paragraphs is where you demonstrate your knowledge of the text. It is also the place where you analyse the features and key ideas and how they worked together. Step Four: Conclusion (SAME AS NOVEL) We are now at the end of the essay. This is a CRITICAL paragraph as this is the last element of the essay your marker will read. You want to put in just as much effort here as you did at the beginning. Introduction-catches the reader’s attentionConclusion-reminds them just how brilliant you are!| You will start your conclusion with the specific: * You must include the director and author of the text * You must echo the key words of the question (use these words exactly as it indicates to the marker that you understand what the question is asking) * You must also include or make reference to the visual and verbal techniques Your last sentence or sentences will be general. Remember we are now at the bottom of the hour glass. You want to end with a statement or idea that leaves the reader thinking. End with a connection to current society; end with a reflective observation about your text; a lesson learned| Green-society Purple-key elements Yellow-echoes the question Hope is an important element of survival in any environment. In Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption both camera shots and music have been used effectively to help develop the main purpose that with friendship and hope one can break free from their oppression. At the start of this film, Andy is shown to be a dis-passionate man who has lived in comfort. Throughout The Shawshank Redemption, his journey to express his emotions, build up his courage and withstand the ultimate battle between mind and authority helps him gain back the freedom took from him.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Effect Of Leadership On Employees

Effect Of Leadership On Employees This paper tries to research the impact of different variables of leadership on employee motivation. Leadership Style, Leaders Motivation, Leaders Gender and Leaders Skills were taken as the independent variable and Employee Motivation was taken as the dependent variable. Data was gathered through the use of questionnaires. The results showed that Leadership Style, Leaders Skill and Leaders Motivation had a significant impact on the Employees Motivation whereas Leadership Gender had no significant impact of the Employees Motivation. The research is concluded with a detailed analysis of the result with conclusion. This chapter introduces some of the important features of the topic. It will give an overview of the different variables involved in leadership and how they effect employee motivation. The broad topic of my research is Human Resource Management. Human Resource Management is a new emerging concern for the organizations in Pakistan. Locally we can see many firms without a proper Human Resource department. Lately the Human Resource practices which are conducted in Pakistan are mostly carried out in the manufacturing sector but recently we have experienced a trend of Human Resource being adopted in the services sector. This topic has managerial as well as academic value. An overview of leadership Leaders in an organization play the pivotal role of founding and promoting values and ethics in the work environment. The influence leaders will have on employees in any given organization is immense and it is this influence that is in fact also vital to its functioning. Their interaction with workers casts the modality of operations and depending on the leaders behaviorism and style promotes or decreases motivation in the work place. The study of leadership is an abstract one and that leaves many loose threads, it is situation specific and no blue prints for the perfect type are available. And yet the brunt of the goal oriented characteristic of motivation also lies with the leader and it is he/her who must take on the responsibility of molding his/her style to suit the employees motivation needs. This research looks in to the intricacy of the relationship between leadership and motivation and studies the linkages between the two. The purpose is to study the effects of factors like a leaders gender, style, behaviorism, quality, rewards, workers agreeability etc on subordinate motivation leading to conclusive results about the contingency of the two. Furthermore this paper attempts to address the underlying importance of linking and studying leadership and motivation for an organization and how it is vital for the functioning of the two roles of the subordinate and the leader. Background Information Leadership entails several tasks key of which are the basic ones of mobilizing resources, coherency and fluidity of purpose and values; and influencing processes. Tracing the origins of leadership would necessitate drawing upon the history of how mans earliest ancestors lived in communities. Secondly the study of the history of leadership requires a much broader definition of the term and a lesson in the anthropological progression of mankind. The evolutionary view of leadership stipulates the need for drawing contextual references for leadership as it is today. Organizational hierarchy exists in every species of living sort. Roles in it based on the simple principle of survival are assigned. Similarly in a man- eat- man world individuals are honed and prepared from an early age to take on survival or predatorily roles in an organization be it a pre- historical community of hunter gatherers; agrarian tribes; an industrial society or even a contemporary organization in this age of information. It is only through consciousness and learning that the old instinctual primordial roles have been cast and people from a diverse background have successfully (or not) attempted to take up the challenge of leadership. The study of leadership in organizations is thus a vastly rich field of research and study and commands much importance in the building of the hierarchy of any organization. Millions are spent each year in training managers to become effective leaders and leaders to be even more effective at what they do. Motivation became a focus of research because it is a vital component of factors affecting worker productivity, job satisfaction, etc. motivation in itself has been a key area of concern for social scientists for more than a century. What is the most efficient way to get work done was a problem slave drivers in ancient Egypt even dealt with. The contingency between the concepts of motivation and leadership have come to the fore with mans need for sustainable production and efficacy. Thus in preserving the workers motivation leaders have persevered themselves. 1.3 Academic and Managerial concerns pertaining to research The academic concern of my topic is that it is an untapped area with respect to Pakistan. Anyone who wished to further research on this topic can use this thesis. The managerial concern is that it is a key issue in the organizations of Pakistan. They need to find the best possible leader for them to motivate all the employees. It will help them improve efficiency and enhance productivity. Definitions of Variables and Keywords Leader: a person who rules or guides or inspires others. Motivation: Motivation is the activation or energization of goal-oriented behavior. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation) Autocratic Leader: This style states that the leader solves the problem or makes the decision using information available to him or her at that time. In some cases, the leader may consult with subordinates to obtain information, but at no time does subordinate input include decision making. The decision is passed on to subordinates for implementation. Â  (Ralph Nader, 2002) Democratic Leader: The leader shares the problem with subordinate and gets their input. Subordinate involvement is seen as either a collective or individual request for information which may or may not influence the decision. The leader reserves the right to make that decision. (Ralph Nader, 2002) Group Leader: The leader shares the problem with subordinates as a group, obtains their collective input and tries to reach consensus on the solution. The leader acts as a facilitator or chairman, trying not to influence input and accepting and solution that the group may suggest. (Ralph Nader, 2002) Emergent Leader: The leaders who earn leadership position through their expertise, skills, abilities to influence others, or personal acceptability by the group. ( Ralph Nader, 2002) Assigned Leader: The leaders who are given power to exercise influence through appointment. (Ralph Nader, 2002) Extrinsic: A reward, such as food, that is tangible and visible to others, and external (as opposed to an intrinsic reward). Intrinsic: Rewards that are associated with the job itself, such as the opportunity to perform meaningful work, complete cycles of work, see finished products, experience variety, and receive feedback on work results. Transactional Leader: Transactional leaders believe that people are motivated by reward or punishment. These leaders give clear instructions to followers about what their expectations are and when those expectations are fulfilled there are rewards in store for them and failure is severely punished. They allocate work to subordinates whether resources are there or absent. Transformational Leader: Transformational leadership is a leadership approach that is defined as leadership that creates valuable and positive change in the followers. 1.5 Study objectives: The purpose of this research is to shed light on an imperative aspect of organization management that has hitherto not been focused on in the context of firms and organizations in Pakistan. The effect of leadership on employee motivation has a directly proportional impact on the employees productivity, job satisfaction and consequently worker retention. The kind of leadership traits a companys management portrays will determine not only the working environment but even employee turnover rates. Effective leadership as a case in study has been much overlooked in the general practice of organizations in Pakistan. This research looks into how company leaders in Pakistan are mostly appointed not on the basis of qualification, aptitude or skill but rather through inheritance and nepotism. Nepotism in particular is an endemic practice in Pakistan which has pervaded every job sector, be it corporate or even bureaucratic. Assigning leaders based on favoritism and family connections instead of appointing them through set procedural means gives no guarantees that the heads leadership style will be conjunct to the requirements of the assigned sector. Just like a charismatic leader will be wasting his or her talents in a firm that requires minimal intervention by its management, an overbearing leader with a direct involvement in employees work can corrode their motivation merely with the way they direct them. Thus this paper seeks to underscore the importance of studying the correlation between leadership styles and worker motivation, especially in the setting of a country like Pakistan where leadership appointment is more erratic and seeped in nepotism. Leadership of any organization provides the driving force behind the productivity and working environment, all of which have direct bearings on worker behavior and motivation. If this psychology remains untapped and unstudied this has and will increasingly have dire repercussions for companies in Pakistan. Chapter 2 Literature Review This section covers the literature review that has been conducted after thorough analysis of several articled written by other scholars. The main purpose of including the literature review over here was to support the topic with proper referencing from work done by other researchers. This not only enhances the topic but also highlight a few more points related to the topic which have proved beneficial. Martin G Evans, tried to analyze the impact of leaders behavior on the motivation of his subordinates, in his article Leadership and Motivation: A Core Concept, 1970. Martin conducted a research based on the two theories on motivation. The first theory is the Maslows hierarchy of needs and the second is the Path-goal approach to motivation. Martin carried out his research on two organizations; a utility and a hospital. Questions were asked to study the importance of different goals to the employees. The questions also tried to collect information on the effect of high or low productive work on the motivation level of the subordinates. To test the Path-goal theory, questions were asked whether following each of the paths helped them attain their goals. The result supported the two theories. It showed that following high quality and high productive work led to the subordinates goals while low quality and low productive work led away from the subordinate goals. Job security was also see n as a very important factor to drive motivation confirming the hierarchy of needs model. In the end Martin highlights the managerial importance of the research and proposes that to have a strong motivation in the employees, the leader should create a strong relationship between the employees goals and the organizational goals. Arthur G. Jago claims in his research Leadership: Perspectives in Theory and Research, 1982 that despite years of systematic experiential research on the defining traits of leaders that distinguish them from non leaders, scientists of the soft science of behaviorism in organizations have yet to come up with conclusive data and results owing to the multifarious interpretations of the phenomena that does shed light on the role of a leader but leaves the topic of inter organizational relations and connections open to debate. The article discusses several theories and definitions that provide us with the premises used to build on tabulating a set of universal leadership traits and physical factors which is the first of four typologies drawn on the dominating assumptions of prior research in this field and Jago in some ways comments on their redundancy and limited approach owing to their limited set of assumptions. Jago discusses various and conflicting behaviorisms of leadership and the corresponding situations contingent on these traits and hence focus on a set of universally appropriate leadership traits and their reliance on situations to provide its second and third typology. The final typology looks at situationally contingent behavioral styles. Jago examines organizational prescriptions that follow from the typologies he had employed to argue the insufficiency of old methods used in the research of these traits and typologies and discusses and prescribes new and novel research methods in the study of leadership behaviorism. Kirkpatrick and Locke in their research Leadership: Do Traits Matter?, 1991 acknowledge the fact that different situations require different types of leadership, that the topic is so vast and complex that to determine the exact ingredients for the perfect leader would be fool-some. They acknowledge that a leader in a business organization will require a different mix of traits than say a military leader. They furthermore differentiate between skills and traits and back their claims with evidence from actual case studies. Six traits they identify that distinguish leaders from non-leaders are: drive, the desire to lead, honesty/integrity, self-confidence, cognitive ability, and knowledge of the business. Kirkpatrick and Locke then go on to discuss secondary characteristics that may not be easily backed with evidence nor be required in every situation but are nonetheless indicators of a good leader, these include Charisma, creativity/originality, and flexibility. The authors go on to as sert that apart from the core traits that provide the potential for good leadership, the following factors help them actualize their potential: skills, vision, and implementing the vision. Each factor is discussed in detail and how their effects are implicated at the level of the management and employees. The article finally talks about the grave responsibilities that come with the mantle of leadership and where the rare mix of traits and characteristics does come together to make an effective leader, the credit must be given to the individual. Where Kirkpatrick and Locke consider charisma as secondary and necessary but an insufficient trait for leaders, Shamir, House and Arthur, in The Motivational Effects of Charismatic Leadership: A Self-Concept Based Theory, 1993, on the other hand argue that charismatic leadership has profound effects on employee motivation and illustrate this claim with empirical evidence from several studies. After establishing the importance of charismatic leadership the authors point towards a problem in research on leadership and motivation, that is, absence of an account of the process that helps translate charismatic leadership onto its effects on employees. The authors use previous studies to list down a number of effects charismatic/ transformational leadership has on employees. These effects include elevating workers needs to a higher tier on Maslows hierarchy, achieve higher levels of morality, transcend their needs and goals to take the entire team into consideration, etc. By using a self c oncept based theory, Shamir, House and Arthur point at various processes that are set into motion in the context of a powerful and charismatic leadership. Leadership sets the tone for worker performance; by providing employees with a vision the leader makes them espouse his own values and higher goals. The authors point at factors like increasing the intrinsic valence of effort, increasing effort-accomplishment expectancies, instilling faith in a better future, etc to demonstrate the processes that come into play with the introduction of charismatic and transformational leadership in a work space. The authors identify classes of leadership behavior that set the certain processes into motion and discuss other external factors (organizational factors that provide a conducive environment for effective leadership and employee responsiveness). The authors thereby provide a theory that links transformational leadership and employee effects through employee self concepts. The nature of lea dership in question activates certain employee self concepts that hence affect motivational mechanisms. In Leadership and Motivation- The Effective Application of Expectancy Theory, 2001, Robert G. Isaac, Wilfred G. Zerb, Douglas C. Pitt, discuses Vrooms Expectancy Theory and its application in providing a practical tool in helping individuals in leadership roles. The authors trace a direct link between the underlying and explicit assumptions and variables in the expectancy theory and leadership concepts to draw the correlation of leader interactions with employees and motivational working environments. The authors then assert that motivational working environs aid employees in traditional job posts to achieve self actualization and transcend their roles to become leaders in themselves. The article discusses the complex relationships between employees and leaders within an organization and situation based antagonism that exists. It emphasizes distinctions between leaders and managers and stipulates the removal of these distinctions to help overcome the antagonism parameters in the rela tionship completely to increase motivation levels. The article examines several other relationships and linkages between behaviorisms and output in the context of motivation levels in an organization. Finally concluding that boss-worker distinctions should be eliminated and that everyone in an organization should strive to be a leader and influence should be a two way process and this, the authors propose can be achieved using the principles from the Expectancy Theory. Douglas F. Cellar, Stuart Sidle, Keith Goudy, Daniel OBrien in Effects of Leader Style, Leader Sex and Subordinate Personality on Leader Evaluations and Future Subordinate Motivation, 2001 examines the long standing evaluation of gender influences on motivation and employee response. The authors use the agreeability factor, a dichotomous leadership style variation (autocratic vs democratic) and gender differences to conduct a three way study with leadership evaluation, future interest and effort as dependant variables. The hypothesis was that agreeability affects inconsistent gender behavior and this by extension affects employee productivity and output. A self designed questionnaire was used. Subordinate behavior was analyzed with the expectation of leaders adhering to gender stereotypes and results of the study concluded that it was indeed the case. Where leaders deviated from stereotypical expectations disagreeable subordinates reacted and penalized the leaders for the deviation. Agreeable employees however did not. The purpose is basically to show the effect gender stereotypes have on the motivational levels of employees based on their behavioral profiles. According to different studies, transformational leadership has a significant positive impact on the employee satisfaction. Bass (1985) states that transformational leadership would result in followers performing beyond the expected levels of performance as a consequence of the leaders influence. Hatler and Bass (1988) state The dynamics of transformational leadership involve strong personal identification with the leader, joining in a shared vision of the future, or going beyond the self-interest exchange of rewards for compliance (Hatler and Bass, 1988, p.695). Nurdan Ozaralli tried to investigate the effect of transformational leadership in his research Effects of transformational leadership on empowerment and team effectiveness, 2002. The data for the research was collected from a sample of 152 people in different sectors in Turkey. Snowball technique was used for data collection and to measure transformational leadership, Bass and Avolios multifactor leadership questionnaire (ML Q) was used. The results showed that a transformational behavior of leaders has a positive relation with subordinate empowerment and with team effectiveness. Subordinates who worked under transformation leadership were more group oriented and had a higher level of performance. Creativity is higher when the subordinates work under a transformational leader as they are more empowered. In the end Nurdan suggests that there is a very significant effect of team empowerment on employee performance so the managers should identify the teams with low empowerment and should try to raise their level of empowerment. Nader in Leadership and Motivation, 2002 discusses two important determinants of individual performance in organizations: the type of leadership in that organization and personal motivation of employees in an organization. He draws on theories in general; data collected from empirical research on the subject to and the premises of people being the same as each other and yet being different to collate his findings and providing some general theories and analysis that determine behavior and leadership traits. Nader provides comprehensive definitions and analysis of the concept of motivation and discusses it in the context on theories like Maslows hierarchy of needs, McClellands theory of needs etc; ending his study of motivation by discussing motivational goals and categories these fall into. He then continues with a discussion of leadership theories, factors and leadership styles; and concludes with a list of leadership qualities that according to him help determine roles people can b e assigned to, based on their profiles. After the exposure of a few business scandals and the unveiling of irresponsible leaders, Nicola M. Pless in her research Understanding Responsible Leadership: Role Identity and Motivational Drivers, 2007 tries to find the prototypes of a responsible leader. The author does this by analyzing the biography of Anita Roddick; a responsible leader. The key learnings from the biography were that a responsible leader is driven by a values based vision of the future. Other findings include that a responsible leader make fundamental decisions with a long term effect on people, environment and future of the organization. A responsible leader should act as an active citizen. The leader should have ethics and desire to serve others. They should be close to the stakeholders and maintain good relations with them. A responsible leader is developed over time; they have values rooted in them that are reinforced and further developed by life experience. Another very important prerequisite to become a leader are ability and willingness to learn. Abass, Qaisar and Sara Yaqoob in Effect of Leadership Development On Employee Performance In Pakistan, 2009 carried out a research to prove whether or not leadership skills and traits have an effect on employee performance in Pakistan. Leadership theories have been an integral part of the field of business/management research since the proliferation of trait theories. Geert Hofstede in his article Motivation Leadership and Organization- Do American Theories Apply Abroad underscores the importance and reality of cultural conditioning and how it provides employees and leaders cultural lenses to view the world from. Abass and Yaqoob build on the theory of cultural conditioning to study how much of an impact leadership variables have on employee performance in the context of Pakistan. The factors of leadership they examine include: coaching, training and development, empowerment, participation and delegation. The purpose was to find a correlation between leadership development and worker performance, using an exploratory style research which would help determine what percentage of employee performance is directly influenced by the organization leader. Their findings show a staggering 50% positive correlation, with the remaining 50% being influenced by attitude, commitment, motivational factors, and trust in the organization, and other factors such as compensation, reward and bonuses etc. According to their finding for example training and development as part of leadership development had the greatest impact among all the variables of leadership. Thus this article delves into leadership research with fixed well defined leadership variables in the context of Pakistan. Chapter 3 Methodology Analytical Choices This section will cover the methodology for my research. It will deal with the methods used to analyze the research and the sample size considered for the research. The tools and techniques used to process the data will also be included in this section. Theoretical framework will also be included followed by the Hypothesis and expected findings. 3.1 Research type There have been numerous researches conducted on the effect of leadership on employee motivation but they are not applicable in Pakistan due to cultural differences. Therefore my research will be primary in nature and will be based on the data obtained through questionnaires. The research will also be applied in nature and will have managerial as well as scholarly applications. The sector that will be focused in the research will be the MNCs operating in Pakistan. 3.2 Population As my research is focused on the MNCs, my population will include all the Multinational Corporations operating in Pakistan. 3.3 Sample Size Due to budget and time constraints, the research will not be able to include the whole population. This research will focus on two MNCs; Packages and Tetrapack. These were chosen by using random probability sampling technique. Approximately 100 questionnaires will be floated in both the MNCs. There will be two questionnaires; one for the leaders of the MNC that will measure the independent variables like leadership style, leaders motivation, etc and the other questionnaire will be for the employees which will measure the independent variable that is the Employees Motivation. 3.4 Sample Time The time period considered in this research is from March 2011 to April 2011. 3.5 Hypothesis H0: Â  To test the hypothesis that leadership style has an insignificant effect on employee motivation. H1: To test the hypothesis that leadership style has a significant effect on employee motivation. H0:Â   To test the hypothesis that leader gender has an insignificant effect on employee motivation. H1: To test the hypothesis that leader gender has a significant effect on employee motivation. H0: To test the hypothesis that leader motivation has an insignificant effect on employee motivation. H1: To test the hypothesis that leaders motivation has a significant effect on employee motivation. H0: To test the hypothesis that leader skills have an insignificant effect on employee motivation. H1: To test the hypothesis that leader skills has a significant effect on employee motivation. 3.6 Theoretical Framework Leader Gender (Douglas F Cellar, 2001) Male -Female Leader Skills (Ralph Nader, 2002) Self Confidence -Charisma -Dominance -Administrative -Ability -Intelligence Leader Motivation (Ralph Nader, 2002) High motivation to lead -Moderate motivation to lead -Low motivation to lead Employee Motivation Leader Style (Douglas F Cellar, 2001) Directive -Democratic Theoretical framework shows the relationship of different independent variables with the dependent variable. In this case the major variables under discussion are Leader Gender, Leader Style, Leader Quality and Leader Behavior. All the independent variables considered in the theoretical framework are linked to motivation and have been studied on by different scholars. All of the variables have been identified in different articles for the literature review. Leader Style plays a vital role in the motivation of employees as does all the other variables that he been considered in the research. 3.7 Data analysis tools and techniques The data will be collected by floating questionnaires. The questionnaires used for this research have been used by previous scholars which ensure the authenticity of the questionnaires. Two questionnaires are designed for my research. The first questionnaire will be for the leaders of the organization and will measure the independent variables like Leadership Style, Leader Skills, Leader Motivation and Leader Gender. The other questionnaire will be for the employees of the organization and will be used to measure the dependent variable which is Employee Motivation. Data will be collected from 10 employees per leader and average will be taken to evaluate the overall motivation of the employees. The data collected through the questionnaires is then coded and standardized. To test the significance and relationship between the different variables, multi variable linear regression will be used. 3.5 Expected Nature of Findings It is expected that leadership does have an effect on employee motivation. Leadership Style, Leaders Motivation and Leaders Skills are expected to have a significant relationship with employee motivation whereas the effect of Leaders Gender on employee motivation is unknown. Chapter 4 Estimation, Analysis and Conclusion 4.1 Profile of Respondents The Questionnaire was filled by 10 leaders and 7 (70%) were male wheras 3 (30%) were female leaders.4 (40%) of the leaders were highly motivated, 2 (20%) were moderately motivated and 4 (40%) lacked motivation according to the questionnaire. Similarly 2 (20%) leaders had high leadership skills, 5 (50%) had moderate leadership skills and 3 (30%) were lacking leadership skills. 6 (60%) leaders had a democratic leadership style wheras 4 (40%) had autocratic leadership. The leaders age varied from 39 years to 48 years. The average age of the leaders was 42 years. The major reason for this is because mostly you get to a leading posirtion in an organization after your 40s when u r mature. All the leaders chosen has 10 plus years of experience in their desired field and were working in the same firm for atleast 2 years so that the employees motivation could reflect their leadership and not the leadership of the previous leader. The Questionnaire was filled by 100 employees. The age of the employees varied from 25 years to 32 years. The average age of the employees was 28 years.5 (50%) of the firms had highly motivated employees, 2 (20%) had moderately motivated employees and 3 (30%) had low motivated employees. Estimated results Multiple regression was used with employee motivation as the dependent variable and Leadership Style, Leaders Motivation, Leader Gender and Leaders skills as the independent variable. The estimated results are given in the Appendix A. Analysis of findings In the leadership style column, 1 was used to represent democratic style of leadership wheras 2 was used to represent autocratic style of leadership. In the Leader Gender column, 1 was used to represent male leaders wheras 2 was used to represent female leaders. In the Leaders Skills column, 1 was used to represent high skills, 2 was u

Thursday, September 19, 2019

In Liam OFlaherty´s The Sniper, all of these are brought to an acute r

In Liam O'Flaherty ´s The Sniper, all of these are brought to an acute reality in a single war-torn city. Strong cerebral convictions and opposing philosophies, due to which people want to destroy. The Sniper How does the author depict the turmoil and plight in a war-torn city in â€Å"The Sniper†? Anger, pain, death and remorse- all unpleasant, but all are faced and handled in every war. In Liam O'Flaherty's "The Sniper," all of these are brought to an acute reality in a single war-torn city. Strong cerebral convictions and opposing philosophies, due to which people want to destroy the seemingly â€Å"wrong† plague this world and are the main reason for plight. To aid in his creation of such emotional conflict, turmoil and plight, the author has portrayed the sniper as a very controversial character. This story is oriented around one character in the Civil War which he should not even be in as he is mentioned to be a â€Å"student† in the story. The story whose main theme is violence, attempts to chronicle the short span of fanaticism that inspires youth that leads to turmoil in the first place. In this chaotic situation however, fanaticism is what one may need in order to survive and this is exactly what the sniper is facing. This is shown when the sniper is said to be the â€Å"student with the face of an ascetic†. He has one task to perform- to kill the soldiers of the Free States. However, the most important line that catches the attention of the reader is â€Å"†¦the eyes of a man who is used to looking at death.† This is very ironic as he was earlier compared to a student who is like a symbol for innocence where now he is spoken of as a murderer. He is engrossed in fulfilling his duty and is now a student of violence.... ...s’ the life of a soldier. The gory sights in the city of Dublin, torn apart and paralysed with war and fear is depicted by people bleeding in the gutters till they die and rapid gunfire everywhere followed by a deafening silence. Killing is done in cold blood and even then, the sniper maintains calm until he kills his opponent sniper on the opposite rooftop. This calmness in goriness clearly justifies the turmoil and the plight that the author shows in this short story. The author uses the course and characters of the story to chart the course of the characters in every scene of violence everywhere. The emphasis given to the bloodshed, the war, the loss of life is more than what is given to the feelings, the people and the life and in this way Liam O’Flaherty has depicted turmoil and plight in the war-torn city in this short story titled â€Å"The Sniper†.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Importance of Fear in Shakespeares Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Importance of Fear in Macbeth Fear motivates many to act upon matters, be they right or wrong. In the play Macbeth it was fear that was the main motivating factor that influenced the outcome of the play. Macbeth was fearful of being caught and having to pay for the wrongs he had done – this led to the murders that followed after the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth's actions were also driven by fear of the witches' prophecies - he was afraid they would come true and tried to stop them from happening. Lady Macbeth, was also plagued by fear as evidenced by the constant washing of her hands, sleepwalking and other similar behavior. This entire play was inspired by fear and what it and do to a person. To begin, we'll address Macbeth's subsequent murders, following Duncan's. For Macbeth, he's just killed the King of Scotland and blamed it on his son. It worked and he became King, however he remembered the witches' prophecies. They claimed that Macbeth would be King, but it would be Banquo's children that would follow after him. This made Macbeth very angry, he risked everything to become King and after him none of his family will follow. As well Lady Macbeth is being comsumed by fear and guilt, she is slowing losing her sanity. This is a result of her not being able to handle what she has done to Duncan. As shown in this quote "Fie, my lord, fie! a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? [Act V, S I, L 32-35] Here Lady Macbeth is trying to wash out what she sees as being blood on her hands. As well she mentions hell an obvious fear of going there for what she has done. At the start Lady Macbeth was the one pushing on Macbeth to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth takes her life right before the battle against the english is about to begin. This taking of her own life demonstrates her fear and in the end what that fear can do to a person. Now we come to the witches prophecies, these are a main source of fear for Macbeth, after all where has he learned everything from. With each new vision,Macbeth falls deeper and deeper into an evil spiral.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Alternative Dispute Resolution Essay -- ADR Business Management Negoti

Alternative Dispute Resolution Consider carefully the facts of the case study and advise Eagle Aviation Ltd. and Aircraft Ltd. of the alternatives to litigation in the ordinary courts and the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative form of ADR. This submission will identify and define each form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) including each of the forms advantages and disadvantages. It will also compare and contrast each form of ADR and consider which form or forms would be beneficial to both Eagle Aviation Ltd and Aircraft Ltd Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR can be defined as â€Å"any method of resolving a legal problem without resorting to the legal process† (Darbyshire, 2001). ADR is now becoming more and more favorable particularly within the court system as an alternative to traditional forms of litigation (Practice Statement [1994] 1 ALL ER 34, Cresswell, J) (Practice Note [1996] 3 ALL ER 383 this is as litigation is a process that can be costly, time consuming and complicated, therefore ADR is an alternative which can be useful to all parties involved. The leading forms of ADR are; Arbitration, mediation, conciliation and negotiation. ADR is not legally binding with the exception of Arbitration, however in Mediation when a solution has been reached and agreed by each party once it has been written and signed by the parties involved it does then become a legally binding document. ADR will only be successful if both parties involved are in agreement with the outcome this of course can become increasingly difficult if the parties refuse to speak to each other, In these cases litigation may be the only viable solution, however ADR is ideal where it is important that each party maintains an unblemished relationship with the other party involved this is especially important within the business community. Arbitration is one of the oldest forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) it is governed by the 1996 Arbitration Act (AA) and is part of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). The Act states in Section One that the object of Arbitration is â€Å"to obtain the fair resolution of disputes by an impartial tribunal without necessary delay or expense† (Slapper and Kelly, 2003) Arbitration can only transpire if both parties involved agree to it, it is the only form of ADR t... ...ional decision without the situation getting out of hand. Each party will in turn be able to state what they feel is the nature of the dispute before negotiating a suitable outcome. Negotiation is slightly different to Conciliation and Mediation as the person negotiating acts on ‘your’ behalf and represents and looks after ‘your’ interests, a successful negotiator will be able to reach a conclusion where they are able to achieve most of their parties wishes but without causing the other party to feel they have lost and therefore detach themselves from the rest of the negotiation process and then choose to pursue a litigation option. Conciliation can be seen as a form of Mediation in fact some people say that the only difference between them is that Conciliators have more power than Mediators as they can â€Å"suggest grounds for compromise and the possible basis for a conclusive agreement† (Slapper and Kelly, 2001). Conciliation like Arbitration is part of ACAS and like Mediation tries to allow parties to decide an outcome between them that suits them both, however it does not always guarantee that a dispute will be settled and will not proceed to litigation anyway.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Effect of Globalization in the Management of Apple Inc Essay

Efficient planning is critical for any organization; leadership ought to establish an imaginative path for any organization. The management is tasked with ensuring that the plans are feasible at any given moment. In an environment that is closed, apart from the establishment of vision, this may be a relatively simple process since the variables that affect implementation are predictable and mostly fall into categories that are easy to identify (Tiffany, John, & Tommy, 2011). This process is complicated by globalization. Apple, Inc. is faced with this challenge when planning to meet the needs of its diverse customer base and environments. Apple, Inc. has to grapple with the challenge of organizing personnel from different regions who have different cultural backgrounds. In managing the personnel, the company has to attain a balance between the many competing and diverse factors (Ercan, 2012). For instance, there have been complaints about imbalance of salaries for personnel from different regions. In the management leadership role, motivating the personnel call for good leadership skills. The management of Apple, Inc. has had to adjust policies and actions in consideration of factors like physical ability, gender, and ethnicity. Globalization has brought about a workforce that adds the factors of culture and language to the dilemma (Ercan, 2012). Coming up with policies which consider all these factors necessitate a high level of sensitivity. Controlling of the competing factors in different regions has become a major concern for Apple, Inc. The company is finding it a challenge to control the different aspects of production to meet the clients’ needs in terms of producing high quality products (Tiffany, John, & Tommy, 2011). Control of the company’s resources to ensure sustained growth in different regions the company operates in is also a major concern.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Shallow Foundation

Shallow foundations Shallow foundations are those founded near to the finished ground surface; generally where the founding depth (Df) is less than the width of the footing and less than 3m. These are not strict rules, but merely guidelines: basically, if surface loading or other surface conditions will affect the bearing capacity of a foundation it is ‘shallow'. Shallow foundations (sometimes called ‘spread footings') include pads (‘isolated footings'), strip footings and rafts.Shallows foundations are used when surface soils are sufficiently strong and stiff to support the imposed loads; they are generally unsuitable in weak or highly compressible soils, such as poorly-compacted fill, peat, recent lacustrine and alluvial deposits, etc. Pad foundations Pad foundations are used to support an individual point load such as that due to a structural column. They may be circular, square or reactangular. They usually consist of a block or slab of uniform thickness, but th ey may be stepped or haunched if they are required to spread the load from a heavy column.Pad foundations are usually shallow, but deep pad foundations can also be used. Strip foundations Strip foundations are used to support a line of loads, either due to a load-bearing wall, or if a line of columns need supporting where column positions are so close that individual pad foundations would be inappropriate. The main area of strip foundation are buildings with heavy walls (brick, concrete, stone), and heavy floor slabs. Strip foundation is located on the perimeter exterior walls, and placed under the supporting inner walls of buildings or other areas with increased load.Also strip foundation is well-suited for homes, which is planned to create basement, garage or basement. Strip foundation is also suitable in the case of a possible slight deformation of the base. Typically, strip footing located below the level of soil freezing at 20 cm of sandy soil You can lay the strip foundation a nd higher levels of freezing, but not more than 60 cm from ground level. For deep-freezing and highly swelling soils usually strip foundation shall not apply. Process itself strip foundation construction is simple, on the other hand it requires a fairly high cost of materials and work on the construction of the foundation.There are criteria for the minimum thickness of the foundation, which can be used building a house. Thus, the minimum thickness of reinforced concrete strip foundation – 10 cm of concrete – 25 cm, rubble concrete foundation – 35 cm, well and laying of natural stone – 50 cm in the construction of strip foundation to be also take into account the permissible load on the soil under the foundation. For clay soils at a depth of 80 cm load should not exceed 2 kg/cm2. In addition to pouring the foundation concrete mixtures, often strip foundations erected using ready-made foundation blocks or bricks.This speeds up the process of building a foun dation. It should also be noted that during the construction of strip foundation is an opportunity to save money raising the foundation to the full depth only during the construction of heavy structures. There is still the most reliable option strip foundation remains solid foundation, more time-consuming and requires prior creating formwork and reinforcement training design to increase strength strip foundation. And in this case, the valves must be connected to each other by welding. Raft foundationsRaft foundations are used to spread the load from a structure over a large area, normally the entire area of the structure. They are used when column loads or other structural loads are close together and individual pad foundations would interact. A raft foundation normally consists of a concrete slab which extends over the entire loaded area. It may be stiffened by ribs or beams incorporated into the foundation. Raft foundations have the advantage of reducing differential settlements a s the concrete slab resists differential movements between loading positions.They are often needed on soft or loose soils with low bearing capacity as they can spread the loads over a larger area. Deep foundations * Piles Deep foundations are those founding too deeply below the finished ground surface for their base bearing capacity to be affected by surface conditions, this is usually at depths >3 m below finished ground level. They include piles, piers and caissons or compensated foundations using deep basements and also deep pad or strip foundations. Deep foundations can be used to transfer the loading to a deeper, more competent strata at depth if unsuitable soils are present near the surface.Piles are relatively long, slender members that transmit foundation loads through soil strata of low bearing capacity to deeper soil or rock strata having a high bearing capacity. They are used when for economic, constructional or soil condition considerations it is desirable to transmit lo ads to strata beyond the practical reach of shallow foundations. In addition to supporting structures, piles are also used to anchor structures against uplift forces and to assist structures in resisting lateral and overturning forces.Piers are foundations for carrying a heavy structural load which is constructed insitu in a deep excavation. Caissons are a form of deep foundation which are constructed above ground level, then sunk to the required level by excavating or dredging material from within the caisson. Compensated foundations are deep foundations in which the relief of stress due to excavation is approximately balanced by the applied stress due to the foundation. The net stress applied is therefore very small. A compensated foundation normally comprises a deep basement. Types of pilePiles are often used because adequate bearing capacity can not be found at shallow enough depths to support the structural loads. It is important to understand that piles get support from both e nd bearing and skin friction. The proportion of carrying capacity generated by either end bearing or skin friction depends on the soil conditions. Piles can be used to support various different types of structural loads. End bearing piles End bearing piles are those which terminate in hard, relatively impenetrable material such as rock or very dense sand and gravel.They derive most of their carrying capacity from the resistance of the stratum at the toe of the pile. Friction piles Friction piles obtain a greater part of their carrying capacity by skin friction or adhesion. This tends to occur when piles do not reach an impenetrable stratum but are driven for some distance into a penetrable soil. Their carrying capacity is derived partly from end bearing and partly from skin friction between the embedded surface of the soil and the surrounding soil.

Ashoka and the spread of buddhism

The reign of King Ashoka is one of the principal contributing factors in the spread of Buddhism from India to the rest of Asia and subsequent world.Although Buddhism was characteristically a missionary religion from its inception[1], it was the through the royal patronage and efforts of King Ashoka the Buddhism really crossed Indian frontiers.It is generally agreed that Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the fourth year after his coronation in 268 BC[2]. It was preceded by a period of violent wars and years of bloodshed that finally transformed Ashoka and illuminated him towards the ideals of peace and co-existence of Buddhism.Ashoka, at the time of his transformation, was ruling the largest Indian empire that was matched only by British Rule almost 2000 years later on[3]. The absolute control over this vast dominion by a Buddhist King was instrumental in the rapid growth of the religion.Ashoka took many steps in encouraging the spread of Buddhism, through direct patronage to sending mi ssions and ambassadors to other countries. He sent missions to courts and rulers of Near East and Macedonia and to countries of South East Asia[4] .Each mission was headed by an elder who went with five monks to preach the tenets and philosophy of Buddhism[5]. The commitment of the Emperor was evident by the fact that he ordered his own son Mahindra and daughter Sanghmitra to head separate Buddhist Missions in South-East Asia, especially modern day Sri Lanka.The prestige and command that Ashoka commanded played   a large part in successful acceptance of his missions and conversion of people to Buddhism[6].[1] Damien Keown, Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. 1996. 70 [2] Ananda W.P.Guruge: Emperor Asoka and Buddhism. http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/king_asoka.pdf. accessed 11.1.2006. [3] Damien Keown, Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. 1996. 70[4] Damien Keown, Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. 1996 . 70[5] Richard Gombrich: Asoka: The great Upasaka. http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/king_asoka.pdf. accessed   11.1.2006 [6] John C. Powers. Buddhism, An Introduction. http://www.anu.edu.au/asianstudies/buddhism/spread.html accessed. 11.1.2006.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Alaska Airlines 3

It was a critical time for Alaska Airlines, and they never encountered such a challenge and crisis in the company's existence. Flight 261 had crashed killing 88 people on board; while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was reporting that the potential cause of the crash was due to a lack of regular airplane maintenance. Most detrimental to the airline was the media published a letter from 64 Alaska Airlines mechanics. The letter disclosed insider information regarding a base maintenance manager’s inappropriate activities of contradicting federal aviation regulations, leading to dangerous operations.This letter also built more evidence that it was Alaska Airlines’ negligence that resulted in the tragedy. In addition to the maintenance crew, the pilots posted a message on the union’s website complaining about the â€Å"misconduct† of Alaska Airlines. It was apparent that pilots, a integral assets for an airline company, did not trust corporate m anagement. Alaska Airlines had been run for 70 years and had climbed in status during the 1990s, if the company could not promptly and appropriately handle this crisis, its reputation could be destroyed.It was time to test Alaska Airline’s capability of handling crisis management, management system and labor relations. Alaska Airline, a veteran in the industry, would have to deal with the public scrutiny as they sorted through the government investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. In the transportation industry, unions are common which made handling this crisis more difficult. The difficulty is due to every move or conversation the airlines make are out for the public to view and criticize. â€Å"Airing the dirty laundry† of Alaska Airlines was an extremely embarrassing situation .Management could not support the criticisms for fear of completely destroying their reputation. However, those criticizing the company were employees and knew firsthand what was happening. In the end, the company has to acknowledge the mismanagement of corporate management team. This spelled trouble for the airline. However, if everything was handled properly, there were still some possible solutions that would be helpful to the airline. If I were Mr. Hamel, I would communicate with the union panel members immediately.Although there were 64 mechanics participating in the complaint, the decisive power and attitude was in the announcement of the union. If the union sends a clear message to the public to criticize Alaska Airlines, it would lead to unpredictable damage to the future of the company. However, if the union spoke cautiously about the letter, it could help alleviate some of the negative press about the airline. Alaska Airlines should address the union so they understand that this was an individual case and not how the company runs its day to day operations.The airline would want the union to allow them to address the issue with the public and en sure safer operations in the future. If the union works with Alaska Airlines, they will secure a valuable opportunity to win back their reputation, investigate the issue and restructure its management. Hamel would try his hardest to persuade the union that this was a win-win solution for the union and Alaska Airlines. Second, Hamel needs to set up a joint investigate panel with the union leaders to investigate the complaints thoroughly.If the contents of the complaint were true, that manager should be held accountable. Holding managers accountable proves to the employees that the company does not tolerate unethical management practices. This should help the employees gain a little more trust into management, knowing that their voices are heard. Then, based on the issue, the investigation could be extended to a broader range to any areas concerning safety. Hamel again should address the union to get cooperation from them.The union needs to see that the airline is taking responsibilit y for their actions and that will regain some confidence from the union and employees. Considering the power of unions in any industry, it is risky for a company to address sensitive issues without union support. Lastly, Hamel should establish regular communication and develop a problem-solving system that keeps the union in touch with their labor style. It would be in the best interest of the Alaska Airlines to work with union from this point on so any conflicts that may arise are more likely to be worked out privately.In today's society all companies are trying to motivate employees to participate in corporate matters and contribute more opinions and ideas. Labor unions can be viewed positively when they help unite the employees and the corporation. The key is how to cooperate with the union and treat it as a resource to develop the business but not a hindrance to the company. By means of tackling this issue strategically, companies can dramatically unite and motivate their employ ees and finally create a long term win-win situation.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Collapse of CTV Building Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Collapse of CTV Building - Assignment Example The governments of several countries are motivating the organizations to follow proper business policies in order to improve countries’ business environment. This study will focus on the collapse of CTV building during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The study will try to find out several other reasons behind the collapse of this building. Collapse of CTV Building Introduction CTV Building was the headquarters of several leading organizations including Canterbury Television. This building was established in the Christchurch Central City (Kunstler, 2005). The CTV building became one of the significant symbols of 2011 Christchurch earthquake. 115 people lost their lives due to the collapse of CTV building during the earthquake. A series of construction, council, decision making, and engineering related errors over the last 20 years caused the catastrophic collapse of the CTV building. Prime Minister John Key ordered to set up the Royal Commission in order to investigate this i ncident. According to several reports it can be stated that the collapse of CTV building was the biggest life-taking incident. The Royal Commission stated that the CTV building’s engineering design was deficient in several ways. This building was not developed according to the appropriate standards. Therefore, Christchurch City Council did not make a right decision by issuing a building permit for CTV building. During the construction of the office block, it was found that the construction had been inadequately supervised by the appointed construction manager (Wilson, 2012). This study will identify the stakeholders and key role players associated with CTV Building and its consequences. Moreover, this study will critically analyze and evaluate the key management and several organizational factors associated with the critical incident. Analysis of the Case Study The government of New Zealand is trying to find legal reasons behind the collapse of this building. First of all, th e government has stated in the report of the Royal Commission that the construction plan was not created according to the standard level. The Royal Commission has concluded that serious deficiencies in its construction and design are the major reasons behind the accident (Figure 1). CTV building did not meet the standard construction criteria. Moreover, the designing engineer constructed the building out of his depth (Stursberg, 2012). Moreover, as for the council staff that inspected this building after the incident of the earthquake, none of them were the engineers. The Construction and Building Minister said that the report of the commissions would be handed over to the professional engineers’ institute. The government wanted to find out the level of corruption and crime associated with the collapse of CTV building (Xu, 2012). Alan Reay Consultants Ltd. were in charge of CTV building construction. The commission blamed the groups for establishing a noncompliant and inadequ ate design (Figure 2). Moreover, the council stated that city officials were also responsible for the incident as they had not sent notice to the owner of the building. According to the report, the building got a green sticker after the earthquake of 2010. Signalling authorities gave it thumbs up for the individuals to use in future. Identify the Roles of Key Role Players and Stakeholders The owner and principle engineer did not follow the legal aspects. The principle engineer

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Global social justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Global social justice - Essay Example When one comes to exactly defining what is meant by ‘social justice’ and deciding what means should be used to achieve the objective of greater social justice, however, it soon becomes apparent that there are many different perspectives on the subject and no clear consensus can be found. Even such self-evidently useful work such as emergency relief in disaster areas, and various kinds of humanitarian interventions in economically weaker areas by charity organisations, can be challenged on the grounds that these activities can have as many bad effects as good effects, and they very often it deal with short term crises and exacerbate longer term problems. This paper traces the history of social (in)justice as a concept and defines different approaches to it. There follows an exploration of the potential for applying some of these approaches and definitions in the context of contemporary globalisation. The role of charity is considered, examining the ways that charity inter ventions influence different societies economically, politically and socially. Finally the potential of charity as a strategy in addressing global social (in)justice is evaluated, concluding that charity can and does have a role to play in addressing social (in)justice but that there are a number of common pitfalls that must be avoided, notably imperialist tendencies inherited from the past. The history of social (in)justice as a concept. ... Following Miller’s line of argument it is important to note that the main point of this kind of justice, as opposed to criminal or retributive justice, is that it looks forward to what can and should be done in society, rather than looking back at what has been done and trying to make amends for conflicts, harms and problems that have arisen in the past. If social justice has a backward facing side to it, then it is only in so far as it looks at apparent social injustice and seeks ways of removing or lessening this in favour of social justice. When western civilisations began to adopt an industrialised and urban style of living, new kinds of problems began to beset society. Poverty, overcrowding and huge differences between the owners of lands and businesses and those who struggled to make a living in them made it very obvious that the people who were doing most of the work were not receiving most of the rewards. Because of the inherent power differential between people, there was a tendency for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. So it was that liberal businessmen began to set up housing, education, fair wages and other benefits for their workers. The idea was that providing basic commodities would free people up to take advantage of a wider range of opportunities in their lives. This paternalistic and utilitarian approach to social justice reigned throughout the Victorian period in Britain and great progress was made in setting down rules for the employment and remuneration of people. Thanks to this kind of intervention some of the worst and most exploitative of practices, including slavery and child labour were eventually abolished. In their place emerged compulsory