Existentialism A Very Short Introduction Essay - 980 Words

â€Å"Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen† (Brown). In the book Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction, Thomas Flynn writes about one of the leading philosophical movements in the twentieth century: existentialism. This theory emphasizes that each individual is entirely free, making them responsible and accountable for their actions or choices. With this idea, your choices are solely based on your own judgment, not anyone else’s. The book focuses on seven leading figures, Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Soren Kierkegaard, Simone de Beauvoir, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Camus who contributed to and greatly influenced the movement (Flynn). The seven individuals were popular philosophers who studied many topics, as well as contributed to and founded different theories with a great focus on existentia lism. The book discusses key themes of free will and personal responsibility as well. Free will is the ability to choose from among various alternatives and options. Throughout life, each individual has the ability to choose how they live their life because of their position as a self-determining agent, although making them responsible for the authenticity of their decisions. Authenticity can be defined as something that is original or genuine, not a copy of anything else. It resides in one of the themes ofShow MoreRelatedEssay Existentialism1050 Words   |  5 PagesExistentialism Existentialism refers to the philosophical movement or tendency of the nineteenth and twentyth centuries. Because of the diversity of positions associated with existentialism, a precise definition is impossible; however, it suggests one major theme: a stress on individual existence and, consequently, on subjectivity, individual freedom, and choice {3}. Existentialism also refers to a family of philosophies devoted to an interpretation of human existence in the world thatRead MoreEssay on The Outsider by Albert Camus 1536 Words   |  7 PagesCentury, but also one that provides a useful introduction to one of that century’s most compelling philosophical movements, Existentialism. The Outsider, first published in France as ‘L’Étranger in 1942, is commonly regarded as the greatest example of the Existentialist novel, outshining even Sartre’s La Nausà ©e. This in itself is an extraordinary feat, for, whilst Jean-Paul Sartre was generally regarded as the founding father of Twentieth Century Existentialism, and held an almost unassailable sway overRead MoreExistentialism : Existentialism And Existentialism1774 Words   |  8 Pages Journal 3 - Existentialism Existentialism is something that everybody thinks of sometimes in their life. Maybe they thought about it while on the toilet, or when they just achieved something they worked really hard at, or they thought about it while lying in bed at 3 am when they couldn’t sleep. Existentialism is based off of the questions â€Å"What is my purpose?† and â€Å"Why am I here?†. It basically answers these questions by saying that there is no meaning and that we can only assign meaning toRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s Life1811 Words   |  8 PagesExistentialism is a philosophy that is often analyzed through literature. Franz Kafka is a key example of the limitless nature of this theme as his many works are divisive in how they connect with existentialism. Kafka is a unique storyteller and his stories have captivated generations since their publications. His background is important in understanding his seeming detachment from his writing. Kafka’s life is descr ibed by Ritchie Robertson in â€Å"Biography of Franz Kafka† as â€Å"strikingly ordinary†Read MoreHills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway Essay1777 Words   |  8 PagesElephants†, was first published in August of 1927 but it was not until briefly after the lone publication of this esoteric short story that it received the notability it deserved; accompanied by many other encapsulating short stories, â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† in addition to the thirteen other short stories published by Hemingway in October of 1927 made up his second collection of short stories, â€Å"Men Without Women†. Nevertheless, William Shakespeare’s, â€Å"Hamlet†, was the longest play ever written by theRead MoreThe Philosophy of Suicide: Albert Camus vs. Arthur Schopenhauer2338 Words   |  10 PagesSuicide is, according to Sartre, â€Å"an opportunity to stake out our understanding of our essence as individuals in a godless world† (Sta nford, 2004). Fundamentally, existentialism argues all individuals are free and therefore responsible for their actions. Thus, it is up to the individual to create an ethos of personal ideology, which is the only way one is able to rise above the human condition of suffering, death and finality (Guigon, 2001). Suicide is seen as the individual’s act of giving in toRead MoreExistentialism vs Essentialism23287 Words   |  94 PagesEssentialism vs. Existentialism Essentialism: A belief that things have a set of characteristics that make them what they are, amp; that the task of science and philosophy is their discovery amp; expression; the doctrine that essence is prior to existence While, Existentialism:A philosophical theory or approach, that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free amp; responsible agent, determining their own development through acts of the will. Existentialism * isRead MoreEnglish Literature- an Episode in the Life of an Author5918 Words   |  24 Pagesirrational and illogical aspects of life through absurd characters, dialogues and situations. The plays of N.F. Simson, Harold Printer, Edward Albee fall within this category, but the form has been most popular in France because of its ties to existentialism and can be seen in the plays of Jean Genet, Eugene Ionesco and Samuel Bucket. In Bucket’s waiting for ‘Godot’ two tramps waits interminably and in great uncertainty for someone who never arrives, who may have specify this meeting place and whoRead More Jean-Paul Sartre: On the Other Side of Despair3090 Words   |  13 Pagescommented (Marowski and Matuz 371). As a philosopher, dramatist, novelist, essayist, biographer, short story writer, journalist, editor, scriptwriter, and autobiographer, his impact is simply undeniable. Between his expansive body of literary work and the philosophical ideas expressed within his words, Jean-Paul Sartre was one of the leading minds of recent times and perhaps the father of existentialism as we know it. Jean-Paul Sartre was born in Paris on June 21, 1905. Due to his father’s earlyRead MoreExistential Humanistic Paradigm Of Personality1845 Words   |  8 Pages Article Summaries Paper Alyssa Edwards Lindenwood University-Belleville Introduction I am most interested in the existential-humanistic paradigm of personality in this stage of my counseling education. An Introduction to Theories of Personality (Olson Hergenhahn, 2011) labeled part seven as the existential-humanistic paradigm, joining the two together, so I decided to join them in my paper as well. I chose two articles with focus in existential therapy and one which focused on humanistic

Father-Child Relationships in Hamlet and Fences - 1223 Words

Father-Child Relationships in Hamlet and Fences In both William Shakespeares Hamlet and August Wilsons Fences, the emphasis placed on parent-child relationship is vital, as family plays an important role in developing a characters values as well as his or her upbringing does. While Ophelia, Laertes, and Hamlet show loyalty to their fathers unconditionally, Cory, even though looks up Troy as a figure, eventually exhibits disrespect to him. The relationship that Ophelia shares with her father, Polonius, is rather dogmatic to say the least. Throughout Hamlet, Polonius demonstrates almost absolute control over Ophelia as if she were a tool with the sole purpose of serving Polonius. As a result of a weakness of mind caused by a lack of†¦show more content†¦We see responsibility, obedience, and devotion in father-child relationships in Hamlet. But Troy-Cory relationship in Fences is not the case. Whether the cause is generational gap or Troys selfishness or Corys noncompliance, T roy never completely gains the love from his own son even after his death. Their relationship never blooms. Initially, Cory may innocently display his admiration to Troy because of his athletic ability and because of a simple reason: a love from a normal son to his father. Through Roses word, we know that Cory tries to do as best as he can to earn one compliment from his father, Everything that boy do...he do for you. He wants you to say Good job, son. Thats all.(I.iii). Unfortunately, theres always a conflict in that relation. Cory asks his father, How come you aint never liked me? and Troy answers, Liked you? Who the hell say I got to like you?.../ You eat everyday.../ Got a roof over your head.../ Got clothes on your back.../ What you think that is?.../ Its my job./ Its my responsibility!(I. iii). This conversation between Cory and Troy clarifies everything. Troy doesnt like his son. Troy takes care of his family including Cory because of his duty. Troy thinks he owe Cory. Of cou rse, there must be some love from Troy to Cory, from a father to his son, but the bitter experiences Troy has in the past soon fence himself in to be a selfish,Show MoreRelatedRoles Of Women In Hamlet982 Words   |  4 Pageswomen in plays such as â€Å"Fences† by August Wilson and â€Å"Hamlet† by Shakespeare. In these plays, the women are the underlying factors for the actions of many other characters. The women in both these plays may seem similar due to the stereotypical roles they seem to be in, but they couldn’t be more different. In Hamlet, Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother) and Ophelia (Hamlet’s lover) affected a lot of Hamlet’s actions, while seemingly being represented as minor. Whereas in the play Fences, Rose is a figure whoRead MoreA Heros Journey3224 Words   |  13 PagesA Hero’s Journey: Hamlet and Simba What images come to mind as you reflect on your childhood? Playgrounds, blackboards, and soccer balls may be among the warmest of memories. Yet for many mermaids swim their thoughts, princesses get swept of their feet, and lions roar to their loyal place in the animal kingdom. There is no doubt that today’s entertainment has most of its touch using classical influences. Walt Disney has produced animated films that have captured the heart and imagination of audiencesRead MoreTreasure Island By Robert Louis Stevenson2104 Words   |  9 PagesAuthor: Robert Louis Stevenson Setting: (Where) Near Bristol, England and â€Å"Treasure Island† (When) During the 18th Century Protagonist(s): Jim Hawkins Antagonist(s): Long John Silver and his crew Describe the relationship between the Protagonist and Antagonist: Jim and Long John Silver are practical enemies as they try to retrieve the treasure on the island and claim it as theirs. Billy Bones, when he was alive, told Jim to be on the lookout for a one-legged pirateRead More Art, Literature And Society From 1955-1970 Essay examples5829 Words   |  24 Pagespunks are evidence that behind the white picket fence of suburbia lay an America that wanted more out of life than the sugar coated portrayals of domesticity and patriotism it received from pop culture. The unfortunate side of authenticity often lead to the conclusion that autonomy was an impossible dream and that just mere existence required an individual to compromise his integrity. The post-war generation developed an interesting love-hate relationship with the mass culture of it’s time. Some, likeRead MoreRomanticism and Modernism as Strange Bedfellows: A Fresh Look at Jack Kerouacs On the Road12240 Words   |  49 Pagestyping up his â€Å"road† notes from a series of notebooks that documented his travels across the United States and Mexico. These notes were compiled and fictionalized into a bildungsroman tale of two young men who were searching the back roads, tiny hamlets and big cities of post-World War II America. This became the critically acclaimed novel, On the Road. At the center are two young men, Sal Paradise (Kerouac), a college student, and an unpublished writer from New Jersey, and Dean Moriarty (NealRead MoreScience and Technology13908 Words   |  56 Pageswhich I introduced blood groups and blood typing, a female student asked, If my blood group is Rh negative and my fiance is Rh positive, what steps can I take to avoid problems during child birth? She was referring to rhesus-sensitization, in which a mother can develop an immune reaction when bearing a child whose rhesus blood group differs from her own. In a Western high school setting answering this question would have been easy, but in this case I did not know how best to respond. In a resource-poorRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesPreface xvii Introduction 1 PART I 1 2 3 PERSONAL SKILLS 44 Developing Self-Awareness 45 Managing Personal Stress 105 Solving Problems Analytically and Creatively 167 PART II 4 5 6 7 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS 232 233 Building Relationships by Communicating Supportively Gaining Power and Influence 279 Motivating Others 323 Managing Conflict 373 PART III GROUP SKILLS 438 8 Empowering and Delegating 439 9 Building Effective Teams and Teamwork 489 10 Leading Positive Change

Antitrust Cartel and Federal Trade Commission Free Essays

The purpose of this paper is to discuss antitrust law with regard to federal regulations. In the form of a case study, this paper will examine the legal obstacles faced by the merger proposal between US Airways Group Inc. and American Airlines’ parent corporation AMR. We will write a custom essay sample on Antitrust: Cartel and Federal Trade Commission or any similar topic only for you Order Now The focus of the paper is to examine the legal hurdles posed by antitrust laws used to block the merger and then briefly explore possible ethical issues associated with allowing US Airways Group Inc. and AMR to merge. Antitrust Laws There are three core federal antitrust laws in effect today in our US legal system. They are the Sherman Act, The Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act (â€Å"Antitrust†, n. d. ). The Sherman Antitrust Act (Sherman Act, July 2, 1890, ch. 647, 26 Stat. 209, 15 U. S. C.  § 1–7) is an antitrust law primarily aimed at prohibiting the formulation of monopolies by making them a felony offense. As the Sherman Act evolved the US Supreme Court decided that monopolies in and of themselves are not bad and do not automatically violate the Sherman Act. Instead, it is the particular actions taken to obtain or maintain monopolistic positioning that is illegal (â€Å"Sherman†, 2008). The Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U. S. C.  § 45: US Code – Section 45: Unfair methods of competition unlawful; prevention by Commission) has a primary duty of prohibiting actions within commerce that are deemed unfair to competition (â€Å"15 U. S. C.  § 45†, n. d. ). The Clayton Act (15 U. S. C. A.  § 12 et seq. [1914]) is an addition to the antitrust laws primarily used today to prohibit certain types of business practices making them illegal when their usage severely restricts competition and/or creates a monopoly. The practices specifically addressed in the Act are price discrimination, making it illegal to sale the same product to different people in the same market at different prices; tying and exclusive dealing contracts, making it illegal to forbid a shopper from shopping with competitors; corporate mergers, the acquisition of competing head to head companies by one company; and interlocking directorates, the members of which are common members on the boards of directors of competing companies (â€Å"Clayton act†, 2008). The Enforcers The federal antitrust laws are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. They both open up and conduct antitrust investigations. In situations involving the airline industry the Department of Justice has jurisdiction in matters pertaining to antitrust laws. There are other regulatory agencies that also must give approval before certain mergers can take place. In these instances The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice provide support to the agencies. Individual states may also work in conjunction with the two federal agencies to enforce its state’s antitrust laws. Additionally, the states can file antitrust lawsuits on behalf of its citizens or the state. This is usually done through the state’s attorney general office. Individuals and businesses can also initiate antitrust complaints and file suits to have the antitrust laws enforced (â€Å"The federal government†, n. d. ). Mergers Section 7 of the Clayton Act addresses the antitrust laws concerning mergers. Mergers are not inherently bad or illegal. So long as the merger doesn’t cause a significant increase in prices, a serious reduction in quality of goods and services, and doesn’t deter innovation. Mergers become a problem when they significantly lessen competition or lead to a monopoly. When head to head competitors propose a merger it will usually sets off antitrust alarm bells that most likely will lead to an investigation by one of the federal agencies (â€Å"Mergers†, n. d. ). External Obstacles In 2005, US Airways and AMR publically proposed a merger that was met with a great deal of resistance. The government has the responsibility to regulate mergers to ensure the merger doesn’t violate antitrust laws. This merger had to be reviewed by several agencies such as the U.S. Justice Department, the U. S. Department of Transportation, the Air Transportation Stabilization Board, the Security and exchange commission, and U. S. Bankruptcy Courts. This was a very high profile merger proposal and it was met with a great deal of opposition (Cobb, et al. , 2006). The airline eventually won Department of Justice approval but had to agree to give up some airport slots to clear antitrust concerns. Both airlines agreed to the terms in order to keep the merger proposal alive (Majcher Russell, 2013). Because of a Philadelphia to London route the proposed merger also had to gain some clearance by the European Commission. The airlines once again agreed to give up the route to alleviate any international anti-competitive effects (Knibb, 2013). Ethical Concerns The Department of Justice and six state attorneys-general together filed a suit against the merger arguing that the merger would lead to an increase in airfare, in fees, and also limit choices also the merger agreement will cost workers jobs as American Airline was forced to relinquish hub status at several airports. This merger really benefits the two airlines but leave hundreds of workers out of jobs and taxpayer subsidized airport infrastructure customizations will lose return on investments (â€Å"The airline mergers†, 2013). Higher airfares as a result of the merger would put the merger in violation of antitrust not only would it be illegal but it can also be considered unethical. Conclusion There are laws in place to protect consumers and businesses from anticompetitive behavior. They are called antitrust laws (â€Å"antitrust laws†, n. d. ). When US Airways and AMR announced their intention to merge into one company the merger deal was scrutinized by the Department of Justice and regulatory agencies to see if the merger violated any antitrust laws (Cobb, et al. , 2006). The two airlines were forced to agree to certain concessions in order to gain the approval of the federal government, regulatory agencies and courts (Majcher Russell, 2013). This paper doesn’t show any evidence that the merger was unethical however, many interested parties attempted to block the merger on the grounds that the merger would give the company an unfair advantage over rivals and passengers. How to cite Antitrust: Cartel and Federal Trade Commission, Papers

Is Competition Necessary in Leisure Activities free essay sample

Competition is the act of two or more people, or groups of people facing off against each other in order to attain a greater goal. It is used for many things from building team spirit, to enticing the best out of your employees. Through competition, people grow and improve themselves. Healthy competition makes people work harder and helps build self confidence. If on the winning side of a competition, people glow in the realization that their hard work has gotten them this far. On the other hand, those that finish later may learn new strategies for dealing with ideas and through healthy self criticism, learn ways to better themselves and their situation to the point of excelling. It is for these reasons that competition is important. Without a reason to compete, a society remains stagnate and devoid of progression. Matters, used a pumpkin carving contest at her sons school as an example of why competition is important. At the end of the contest, the judges gave every child a ribbon instead of announcing one winner. Silvert states that, it is as if we grown-ups believe that kids are too fragile to handle defeat (Silvert p. 12). While it is true that children may be upset at the idea of not coming in first, it is important to note that through each competition that they endure they are learning something new about themselves and the environment around them. While games and contests illustrate the importance of drive and determination, they also teach our children how to lose, (Silvert p. 12). Everyone enjoys positive feedback and affirmation as often as possible, but as life is fluid so are our experiences within it, and with that sometimes comes failure. As losing is as much a part of life as winning, it is important to teach the skills of sportsmanship and failing with grace early on. In Chiacos article, A Look at the Commercialization of Sport, it is said that, Games helped children develop the skills that they would need in adult life while grown-ups probably competed for status, entertainment, and social bonding, (Chiacos). This shows that while young, competition plays a vital role in the socialization of youth while preparing them for the challenges of being an adult. Signs of competition are everywhere in the natural world, as well as the artificial world that we as humans have created for ourselves. Initially competition was natures way of weeding out those unfit for continuation, but as we as a species evolved, competitions purpose became less dire and more symbolic. Humans have most likely competed in athletics since the inception of our species, (Chiacos). We have found pleasure in the conception of games that pit our abilities against other people. Through them, we learn about ourselves and each other. The techniques that we attain from others enable us to forge ahead in ways not possible without the insight of another. Because of this fact, competition has become an integral part of almost every part of human life. An example of the immersion and pay off of competition in society is college. Competition in school dictates a certain degree of success for the attending students and this in turn makes for better recruits for the job market. Students with higher grades often times have an easier time attaining their goals. There are companies that maintain a minimum GPA of 3. 0 requirement for graduating students to be considered for an interview. This ensures that those being considered have worked hard to be at the level of success that they are at. This is good for the company as well as for the prospective employee because both have/ and will benefit from the hard work of the student. A more personal example of this occurred while I was searching for a post graduate job in my major of Accountancy. Initially, I had a 3. 0 and through networking through classmates and peers of school organizations that I was a part of, I was able to score an interview with a prospective employer. To interview with this firm, the required GPA was a 3. 0 and because of my ties with others, I felt confident in my ability to acquire a job from them. However, having been my first interview ever, it didnt go as well as I had hoped and so I was unable to get the job. The following year, I re-applied but because my GPA dropped I was not even considered for an interview. My lack of competition and feelings of security through networking caused my grades to drop, barring me from my main goal. A lack of a grading structure or some other type of competition in school can cause a lackluster attitude towards studying. They are less likely to try their best because they feel that there is nothing to lose. An example of this is a credit/ no-credit class in which those enrolled, due to a lack of a grade and thus a less tangible consequence, do not try as hard. This is not to say that every tudent enrolled feels this way, but with a passing grade of a C being enough to get full credit, it is easy to see how this assumption can be made. The main goal of the grade trumps the idea of the knowledge gained. I have now come to realize that my greatest competitor is myself and I now strive harder than ever to work hard in the short term in order to reap better benefits in the future. In conclusion, healthy competition is necessary in almost all human activities rang ing from school and work to leisure time activities. It enables the growth of the people involved through interpersonal interactions as well as self assessments. Adequate pressure to succeed is the key in order to navigate through the society we have made for ourselves. We must be wary of hyper-competition and those who push to hard and too fast. Competition should always be looked at for what it is and not for what it is not. We must remember that while the overall desired effect is to win. people should not forget what lessons of win and lose that they have learned while enduring their struggle. Assimilating these lessons into their daily lives will enable them to forge ahead and better themselves and possibly the world in the future.

Analysis of Rush Limbaugh free essay sample

Since the time of the womans suffrage movement, many articles and essays have reached newspapers and magazines across the country. Several of these essays were written to inform people, but others were created to strictly entertain the audience. Rush Lumbagos essay, The Latest from the Feminist Front, is an essay created to entertain and voice only his pollen. The elements of writing used to create a credible and valid argument can be taken out of context. Rush Lumbago sees style, form, and claims to make his argument but is not effective in making his argument valid. The form represented In Lumbagos essay Is an adversarial, single perspective argument. The Latest from the Feminist C]Front' argues what the Idea of fearfulness is in a vague form by never truly stating the definition Just Lumbagos opinion. He addresses his thoughts on what feminism has caused in this country concerning reforms In attitudes towards sexual harassment, general advances toward women, and the actual power that women possess. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Rush Limbaugh or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He argues each point respectively from is personal standpoint instead of using facts and the opposing position to make his argument stronger. Lumbago also uses style to present his point of view. Lumbago uses an extremist style of writing to present elements of his argument. The extremist style Is similar to the Pathos proof because both appeal to an audiences emotions. Lumbago uses this to appeal to his male audience by stating that men will become fearful about making any advances (238). This statement appeals to the emotion of fear in men, and the state of power that women have acquired over the years.The appeal to his audiences emotions leads to the types of claims that Lumbago makes throughout his essay. Lumbago makes several claims throughout the entirety of his essay. In his claims, Lumbago claims that men will be fearful, women have more power than they realize, and that society trivialize real sexual harassment and real rape (238). With his claims, Lumbago questions the way society has given power to women. Based on his claims, he feels that feminists are creating a society that men cannot approach women without the possibility of harassment charges being made.

Tracks essays

Tracks essays I dont think Ive ever been so disappointed in a book written by a famous author before. I had high expectations because I had found out that Louise Erdrich was the artist of the year in 2001. I really couldnt believe the fact that I had no connection with these bizarre series of events or any of the characters. When I first started to read the book, I couldnt help but feel that this book had a prequel because of the vagueness in detail about some of the characters. It seemed like it to me that the author used some of the character in the book in another book, for example we know Eli Kashpaw is described shy gentle man. That where I lost my interest in the book. I felt that it lacked details for some of the characters and too much detail for the others. I not only that, but I didnt just start counting pages, I started counting paragraphs, then sentences, and then words. If I didnt have to read this book, I think I would have never picked it out from a library or a bookstore. I guess now that Ive given my initial review of the book, Id like to explain my self. First of all, I went into reading this book expecting something with a deep Native American history. Perhaps this is one of the reasons as to why I was so disappointed with its content. Going into this book, I was excited that I was going to learn about a culture that I havent been exposed to. Unfortunately, this book was not the book that I was expecting. The book had two narrators and they would switch off with every other chapter. The first narrator was this older gentleman named Nanapush who had lived a long time and experienced a lot, but may have been slightly senile. Although he was the only person who was genuine Native American whom experienced a lot at the time this book took place, but he was a bit out of place himself. I admit that he was the only one that I could relate to and follow easily, and...

International Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

International Human Resource Management - Essay Example Competent and highly skilled workers are necessary. Above all, the corporation must be sensitive to the culture of peoples where it is operating as well as the culture of people they are serving. This is an essay that will explicate international human resource management (IHRM) from the theoretical vantage of culture to determine strategic performance management and its competitive advantage amid contextual changes. The researcher will also explicate culture within the context of diversity in relation to IHRM amid challenges in international business operations, citing Marrriot International Inc., as an example. But before going further, it’s necessary to first define some relevant terminologies that is thematically used in this study. International refers to a scope of affairs that is involving two or more countries. Human resource management, on the other hand, refers to a system relating to hiring or employing, training, designating, performance managing and appraising emp loyees’ performance (Jackson, Lafasto, Schultz, and Kelly, 1992). Culture also refers to beliefs, values and customs that are integral and are influential in their decision-makings, style of leadership and on how relations are managed (Pettigrew, 1979). Internal and external conditions are maybe influential to person’s emotional and psychological make up but its culture that molded persons’ perceptions, behaviors, organizational management, working relations and evening systems of operations (Pettigrew, 1979). Like external and internal environments, culture is undergoing continual change. HR policies and procedures therefore must be adjusted to cope with this change. Human Resource Management and Diversity Armstrong (2006) explained that human resource relate to management’s system where workers perform tasks to contribute to the achievement of corporation’s goals by employing persons, enhancing their skills, maximizing their capacities in exchang e for just compensation for services rendered. Managers value performance and evaluate worker’s performance based on corporate standards as part of career development and employ coaching or feedback mechanism for the improvement of performance (Schneier and Beatty, 1979). HRM is essential in corporation's growth and in retaining competitive advantage thus, the need to capitalize superior human resource management. Consequentially, the increasing demand require High Performance Work Practices by ensuring that workers are hired through criteria of procedures; with compensation and incentives based on performance standards. It also encourage or mandate labor forces participation in production and decision-making as well as provide them skills to enhance their knowledge, abilities to improve their motivation (Delaney and Huselid, 1996). Thus, companies must have standard to manage worker’s performance to contribute quality results for the organization (Lingle and Schiemann , 1996: 56-61; de Waal and Coevert, 2007: 317-416) that measures efficiency and effectiveness of workers. It also involved managing organization, administering of personnel, management to manpower. The system fundamentally consider that HR works to meet needs and goals but also

Organizational Theory Design and Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Organizational Theory Design and Change - Essay Example Each stage has its own crisis that must be resolved to move on to the next stage. Growth through creativity may result in crisis of leadership because of lack of skills in the entrepreneurs. This crisis results in difficult recruiting of top-level managers and strategy makers. Growth through direction face crisis of autonomy in which the creative employees lose control over the development of new product and professional managers take the control and the decision making is centralized. Growth through delegation faces crisis of control occurring due to power struggles between top-level and lower-level managers. Growth through coordination faces crisis of red tape during which organizations become extremely bureaucratic. Growth through collaboration may result in the organization becoming organic which can be difficult for the managers. Works Cited Jones, G. Organizational Theory Design and Change. NJ: Prentice Hall, 2009.

Business strategy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Business strategy - Assignment Example I strongly believe that Robin Hood and the Merrymen need a completely new plan. Considering the wake of the tremendous changes in the way of operation of the Sheriff’s men, who have adopted new ways of operating characterized by adequate money, apposite organization and efficient coordination of activities. To be at bar with the Sherriff’s men, the Merrymen have to abandon the old ways and forge new ways of performing their activities. This is immensely attributed by the fact that, there a continuous increase of the band men and this has caused depletion of the scarce resources such as food. The band has to move to an expanded place and work towards ways of having an organized band. The new methods of operation should ensure that, all the men are known and their roles defined. For instance, the band men can be grouped into a group of 20 men with their leader. Such strategies will enable their commander, Robin Hood to know all his men by name. This is a fundamental move because it will make it easy to identify the spies who might move into the band without being recognized. Think about your SWOT analysis, and answer the next 4 questions. Think about how each of the 4 opportunities would help (or not help) to solve Robin Hood’s problems. A plan that does not solve our problems or achieve our goals is useless. Also a plan that we cannot execute is also useless. This is a good idea because; a large space will enable the large number of men who have joined the group to be identified. In addition, in a larger space, it is easy for the band men to mark their territory and any oncoming enemy. Moreover, the larger space will offer humble time for proper organization and execution of the band’s activities. A fixed transit tax is a sensible thing because it will save time for negotiating. This is uniform rate for every merchant involved in transportation. This implies that

Leading And Managing A Change In Clinical Practice Nursing Essay

Leading And Managing A Change In Clinical Practice Nursing Essay I had seen many patients complains of complex wounds that need long time to cure. Complex wounds are considered as a real challenge to the health care providers especially when it is accompanied with factors that can play role in impaired and complicate wound healing such as Surgery, infection, the presence of diabetes, Trauma, Radiation, Autoimmune diseases and arteriosclerosis. As stated by Ferreira. M, 2006: The most commonly seen complex wounds that require special care and attention are Wounds in the lower extremity of diabetic patients, Pressure ulcers, Chronic venous ulcers, Wounds following extensive necrotic processes caused by infections and Chronic wounds related to vasculitis and immunosuppressive therapy that have not healed using simple care. There is no specialized and responsible team who can determine the best type of management for the patients with complex wounds. The health care provider in the hospital is providing the same care and management to the patients who complaining of simple or complex wounds. They need to know that There are striking differences between simple wounds, for example surgical wounds or skin scratches, and those chronic wounds that do not heal primarily and demand specialized care, mostly in hospitals (Ferreira. M, 2006) .This will harm the patient (physically and emotionally), decrease the quality of care that provides to the patients, delay wound healing and increase the period of hospitalization. The care provided for patients with wounds can be described in one single word which its DRESSING. While the treatment of the complex wound is much complicated. Determining that the majority of these complex wounds should be considered surgical cases and not just cases for dressings as stated by Ferreira. M. 2006. The treatment of complex wounds should be by using surgical procedures instead of the clinical measures. In addition to debridements, skin grafting, and flap coverage. Health care providers (doctors, nurses, etc) need to increase their awareness about the important of the presence of wound management team in each hospital to decide the best type of management, decrease the complexity of the treatment and choose the best surgical approaches that will increase the quality of life to the patient. Step 2 A complicated wound needs more than just a bandage to recover and heal. It needs special attention; compassion of a wound care team who are specializes in non-healing and slow to heal wounds. As stated by Tjandra. J, 2001Wound healing is the replacement of destroyed tissue by living tissue, and is fundamental to survival. My vision is to form a team of professionals who work together to assess patients wound and provide input regarding their treatment. This team consists of physicians, physical therapists, dietitians and nurses wound therapy nurses and nurses specialized in complex wounds. These specialized wound nurses may visit patients in their home in order to provide an effective plan to heal their wounds. They have to work on providing appropriate wound care to the patients that will help the complex wound to heal faster. As well as they should know that Wound healing may be impaired by general factors such as malnutrition, corticosteroids, diabetes mellitus and anaemia, which affect the patient as a whole. And local factors such as infection, ischaemia and hematoma which affect the site of the wound (Tjandra. J, 2001). In addition to cleansing, control bacterial growth and prevent infection. This team will also provides education to patients and their families to help prevent any future complications, increase there awareness regard complex wounds and their demands to heal, encourage them to collaborate with the team and participate in the treatment. This change will enhance the quality of care patients received; improve the quality of life, decrease the period of hospitalization and promote the process of healing. It is important that all practitioners are aware of the pathophysiology and aetiology of pressure ulcers and mechanisms to prevent pressure ulcer development (Ousey, K, 2005) because Patients with complex wounds need to spend long period in the hospital so they will be at high risk of develop bed sore. Team members should coordinate program to prevent pressure ulcer that will protect the patient from getting this series skin problem. This change will build up a very strong team who are able to put the patient on the right way of cure and make them able to treat the complex wounds in time less than the expected. It is a real chance for all the health care provider specially nurses toward increasing their knowledge and improving there skills. Wound care team consider as a good step towards improving the health care services in the hospital. Step 3 4 Leadership is a very important concept in nursing professional that helps to develop the skills of nurses and the other health care professionals. I will be able to achieve my vision by using one of the most important models in leaderships and management. It is John Adairs Leadership model. Adair has developed what he calls a functional approach to leadership based on three overlapping circles of needs which are achieving the task, managing the team or group and managing individuals (Cipd 2010). By adopting this model of leadership, my responsibilities as a leader to achieve the task are as follows: sharing my vision, goals, and objectives with the team members. Then, create an action plan to achieve the task, considering timescales and strategies. It is important to share my action plan with the members and ask them for feedback or suggestions. After that I will distribute responsibilities by agreement and delegation, monitor and maintain overall performance against plan and report the progress toward the team aim continuously. Finally review, reassess, adjust plan, methods as necessary. In addition to that I will encourage and motivate the members to be involved in making decisions and giving suggestions, to make the task a success and meet our goals. The leader should try to resolve any groups conflicts and look for ways to develop a cooperative team working. However, to develop each nurse and improve her skills, we will recognize the team member as individuals, and get to know their strengths and needs, we have to help them and encourage them to challenge the complex cases of wounds. It is very important to give awards and recognitions to the individuals hard efforts and work. Therefore, to achieve my vision and reveal the benefits of this change I will apply Lewins three- stage model of change. It is a holistic model that helps people to think about the change and gradually adopt it as pointed out by martin (2003). Lewin proposed 3 stages for any changes to occur, including: the unfreezing stage is when people start to believe that there is a need for change, the moving stage, when it is possible to make changes, and the refreezing stage is when the change is strengthened and becomes the new normal state (martin 2003). In the unfreezing stage team members must realize that they will be able to treat any type of complex wounds and promote wound healing if they work on improve their knowledge and skills. They will see the importance of act as one collaborative group to enhance the quality of care and promote wound healing. As stated by Reinelt (2010) Evidence-based practice (EBP) is commonly used to inform practice decisions in the fields of medicine, nursing, social work, child welfare, and criminal justice. So it is important to provide the team with some evidence based research that will guide decision-making about what treatments and protocols to use with individual patients, and offenders to ensure the highest possible accountability for producing good results. Reinelt (2010). In addition to that, I will invite nurses and doctors from other countries that are already implemented this idea in their hospitals and ask them to give presentation to our health care providers about their experience and discuses how this change can improve the quality of care and increase the benefits to the patients. Throughout this stage, I will be expecting initial resistance to the change by some people but I will listen carefully to their opinions and issues, I will try to convince them of the important and the benefits of implementing this change. I will also encourage them to give suggestions that would help in achieving my vision. In the moving stage, we will see the possibility of forming complex wound team in the hospital and improve members skills and knowledge. In this stage I will arrange for different teaching sessions and workshops that will help in increase members knowing, improve their therapeutic and communication skills, and enhance their confidence. One of the most important nursing leadership qualities is supporting your team, If the members of the team wish to develop new skills, or apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical environment, it is important that the leader provide a supportive environment for them to try out these skills. This will provide them with the true method of learning, and develop their skills in a competent manner (Lalwani, P. 2010). In addition, there will be a team supervisor who will distribute and organize the work between the members and promote team collaboration. In the refreezing stage, the change is carried out and implemented, the team is working together to treat and promote healing of any difficult wounds. Leader should keep in mind that not every member can deal with stress and other such aspects of the profession very well. So, as a leader, I will need to support them, and understand and help them in a way that proves useful for them (Lalwani, P. 2010). The Leader is responsible of solving problems, encourage and motivate the members and introduce feedbacks, as stated by Lalwani, P. 2010, Feedback can, and should also be positive, as this will further encourage your team members to perform better and keep introducing innovative yet efficient ways of becoming independent. Therefore, there will be monitoring committee to observe team achievements, evaluate their understanding, knowledge and skills and recognize the benefits of this change for patients, families, and the healthcare providers. The findings will determine if we will carry o n this change, stop it or create another action plan to overcome the difficulties and improve the outcomes. Step5 As stated by Lalwani, P. 2010, my goal is ensure the betterment of the organization I am work for, by improving the quality of patient care, which I can do with the application of various creative leadership qualities and management strategies, and the different leadership styles in nursing. My action plan included many steps and events which will aid to achieve my vision and create wound management team consist of physicians and nurses specialize in the complex wounds. This will help to achieve my goals such as enhance the quality of care patients received, improve patients quality of life, and promote healing of the difficult wounds. In addition to improve health care providers knowledge and skills regarding the difficult wounds and the most important thing is create nurses specialize in wound therapy and make them able to treat any complicated wounds. So I think my action plan is fit well with my previous explanation and rational for change. Conclusion By the end of this assignment I discover that there are at least 8 qualities that successful leaders have: Responsibility, Integrity, Decision takers, Deal with facts, Vision and inspiration, Optimism, Resilient, and Excellence (Brodie, D. 2008). The Successful leaders are not just working to put themselves in good senior position but to use their skills, knowledge and all the leadership qualities for the growth of the organization that they are working for, provide high quality of care to the patients that will lead to patient satisfaction and play role in the progress of their health and well being. I can understand now that the leaders are those who are willing to follow. They must be perfect in whatever they do, because by doing their best; they will discover that only the best is expected from their team members. http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1807-59322006000600014script=sci_arttext Tjandra, J. Clunie, G. Thomas, R (2001). Text Book of Surgery/ Wound Healing and Wound Management. USA, Canada, Australia. 2nd ed., Pp 20, 23, 24, 25. Ousey. K, (2005) Pressure Area Care, UK.1st ed., Pp 13 http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/maneco/leadership/leadshipovw.htm?IsSrchRes=1 Martin, V. 2003 Leading change in health and social care, 1st ed., Routledge: London and New York, Pp. 104-06. http://leadershiplearning.org/blog/claire-reinelt/2010-06-29/use-evidence-based-practice-field-leadership-development http://www.buzzle.com/articles/nursing-leadership-qualities.html (Lalwani, P. 2010) http://ezinearticles.com/?The-8-Qualities-of-Successful-Leadersid=760414

Computer Direct-Sellers :: Internet Technology Essays

Computer Direct-Sellers Computers and computer sales have evolved rapidly over the past few decades. Purchasing computers no longer has to involve an intermediate sales person. You can order your computer direct from the manufacturer through the Internet. Although there are many computer direct sellers, I am analyzing three of their web sites, Dell, IBM and Gateway. I chose these based on their similarities. They are all large manufacturers that use Intel processors and they allow the buyer to select the exact specifications of the computer they wish to purchase. The first thing I would like to compare is the overall appearance of the web pages. It is important because this is how customers receive their first impression. All three web sites are attractive and have good use of color and pictures. The home pages contain many links but not enough to be overwhelming. The sites do not contain any outside ads or annoying pop ups to distract viewers. All three companies sell computers for home, small and large business, industry, government and education. Although they do sell to all different types of purchasers, each appears to be targeting a different audience. Gateway’s site has a large picture that would likely appeal to the common person. The web site’s home page alternates the use of three different pictures. One picture is of a person holding a notebook computer and refers to the notebook as a friend. Another picture shows a man sitting on the floor working on the notebook. The pictures on Gateway’s web site all contain notebooks and are showing the use of computers beyond the normal business setting. The last picture is of a man outside and refers to the office as a state of mind. Dell appeals to those looking for personal computers but focuses more on the business world. Their home page contains two pictures at a time; one with people and one of a product. These pictures change consistently when you return to the web site, most are pictures are of business or professional setting. For example, one picture portrays Dell as a way to expand a strategic partnership. IBM’s main target is industry. It provides services the other two web sites do not offer. This web site is focused more on these services rather than their products.

Bidding For Hertz: Leveraged Buyout Essay

TO ACCESS THIS DOCUMENT This is a protected document. The first two pages are available for everyone to see, but only faculty members who have verified faculty status with Darden Business Publishing are able to view this entire inspection copy. Username: Submit VERIFIED FACULTY If you have verified faculty status with Darden Business Publishing, simply enter the same username that you use on the Darden Business Publishing Web site, and then click â€Å"Submit.† Please note that this is an inspection copy and is not for classroom use. Faculty Register UNVERIFIED FACULTY If you are teaching faculty and do not yet have verified faculty access with Darden Business Publishing, please click on the â€Å"Faculty Register† link and submit your information requesting verified faculty access. Buy Case Now OTHER USERS If you would like to read the full document, click on â€Å"Buy Case Now† to be redirected to the Darden Business Publishing Web site where you can purchase this and other Darden cases. If you have any questions or need technical help, please contact Darden Business Publishing at 1-800-246-3367 or email sales@dardenbusinesspublishing.com Document Id 0000-1402-9024-00009159 The protectedpdf technology is  © Copyright 2006 Vitrium Systems Inc. All Rights Reserved. Patents Pending. UVA-F-1560 Rev. April 17, 2009 BIDDING FOR HERTZ: LEVERAGED BUYOUT Overview In late summer 2005, Greg Ledford, managing director and head of automotive and transportation buyouts at the Carlyle Group, found himself examining his BlackBerry atop the Great Wall of China. Though he had planned to be sightseeing with his daughter, his immediate focus was to finalize the terms of the second-largest leveraged buyout in history. The target in question was Hertz, a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company, which was up for sale. Ledford needed to decide the price he and his co-investors would offer for Hertz as well as assess the potential returns and risks of the deal. Already months of work, many dollars of due diligence, and arrangement of tentative financing had gone into the bid. Complicating matters, he knew he faced tough competition from a rival buyout group, no doubt engaged in a similar process. The race to win Hertz had been set in motion several months earlier, when William Clay Ford Jr., the chairman and CEO of Ford, announced plans to explore â€Å"strategic alternatives† for Hertz in April 2005. That announcement was followed in June 2005 by the filing of an S-1 registration statement setting up a â€Å"dual track process† that would result in a Hertz IPO should other sale prospects fail. Ledford, who spoke to senior Ford managers on a regular basis, had gleaned that there was interest on Ford’s part for an outright sale of Hertz. He believed a private sale that was competitive with an IPO would be viewed favorably by Ford due to its greater upfront cash proceeds and certainty of execution. When no strategic buyer surfaced, Carlyle, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), and Merrill Lynch Global Private  Equity (collectively â€Å"Bidding Group†) joined forces to bid on Hertz. It faced competition from another buyout consortium that included Texa s Pacific Group, Blackstone, Thomas H. Lee Partners LP, and Bain Capital LLC. This case was prepared by Susan Chaplinsky, Professor of Business Administration, Darden Graduate School of Business, and Felicia Marston, Professor, McIntire School of Commerce. It was written as a basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. Copyright  © 2008 by the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, VA. All rights reserved. To order copies, send an e-mail to sales@dardenbusinesspublishing.com. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the Darden School Foundation. Rev. 4/09. UVA-F-1560 Hertz Ownership History Hertz’s ownership history was characterized by a series of sales, public offerings, and leveraged buyouts (Exhibit 1).1 The company was first established in 1918 by 22-year-old Walter L. Jacobs as a car rental operation with a modest inventory of 12 Model T Fords that Jacobs personally had repaired and repainted. The venture was immediately successful, leading Jacobs to expand and generate annual revenues of approximately of $1 million within five years. At the $1 million mark, in 1923, Jacobs sold his company to John Hertz, president of Yellow Cab and Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company, who gave his name to the company, creating â€Å"Hertz Drive-Ur-Self System† and a brand name that had endured ever since. John Hertz sold his investment three years later to General Motors (GM). In 1953, GM in turn sold the Hertz properties to the Omnibus Corporation, which simplified the company’s name to â€Å"The Hertz Corporation† in connection with a public stock offering on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In late 1987,  together with Hertz management, Ford Motor Company participated in a management buyout of the company. Hertz later became an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of Ford in 1994. Less than three years later, Ford issued a minority stake of shares through a public offering on the NYSE on April 25, 1997. In early 2001, Ford reacquired the outstanding shares of Hertz and the company again became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company. Hertz Financial History and Business Segments The large investor interest in Hertz over time was due in part to the company’s proven financial ability. In fact, the company had produced a pretax profit each year since 1967. During the period 1985 to 2005, revenues had grown at a compound annual growth rate of 7.6% with positive year-over-year growth in 18 of those 20 years. Over the past same period, Hertz had emerged as a truly global enterprise; it had car rental operations in 145 countries, and more than 30% of its total revenues were from outside of the United States. Hertz was among the most globally recognized brands and had been listed in BusinessWeek’s â€Å"100 Most Valuable Global Brands† (limited to public companies) in 2005 and every year since it was eligible for inclusion. Hertz currently operated in two business segments: car rental (â€Å"Hertz Rent A Car† or â€Å"RAC†) and equipment rental (â€Å"Hertz Equipment Rental Company† or â€Å"HERC†). In 2005, it was estimated that RAC would comprise 81% of company revenues and HERC 19%. RAC was supported by a network of franchises that together with company-owned facilities operated in more than 7,600 airport and local locations throughout the world. The company led its competition in the airport car rental market in Europe with operations at 69 major airports. Hertz owned and leased cars from more than 30 manufacturers, most of which it had long-term leasing.

transfers of technology from the developing wolrd essays

transfers of technology from the developing wolrd essays In an era where human progress is soaring at a dizzying rate, society must adapt its technology to solve current world issues. In a world where the Internet, cell phones and notebook computers are becoming a necessity for everyday living, we often forget about those who still suffer attempting to meet their basic needs, including clean water, food and health care. It is time for the developed world to use their technology to help those who can not help themselves. By using these technologies there will be advances in medical services, a new economy based on the Internet, emerging information technologies and new methods for the farming and industrial sectors. More importantly, these technologies will provide the education and knowledge for these people to become prosperous nations that can fend for themselves and provide for their people. Transfers of technology from the developed world to the developing world will improve the standard of living, increase efficiency in production and become a base for economic growth, without this transfer these countries will fall further into poverty and economic ruin, with little hope for survival. For most people of the developed world, the developing world is not something they concern themselves with; they do not see it everyday and therefore it does not exist. This could not be farther from the truth. The developing world is in need of help but the developed world constantly turns a blind eye. Our current love affair with technology may provide the answer for underdeveloped nations problems. The standard of living is so low in these countries that our everyday conveniences are a struggle for the entire population to obtain. If the developed nations could meet these base needs, these countries may be able to overcome their current problems. The first issue that must be dealt with is the unsatisfactory health care and medical technology. If the developed world could send excess medical suppli...

the shephard essays

the shephard essays Throughout time there has been at least one constant that I am aware of. That constant is art. One particular piece of art stands out and catches the eye. That piece of art is The Shepherdess and Her Flock constructed and perfected by Jean Francois Millet. When one makes a certain judgment on a piece of art, one must be precise and certain about that judgment. When observing Millets piece I will take in to consideration three things to make my judgment: use of color, theme, and meaning. The Shepherdess and Her Flock catches the eye very quickly. The painting consists of a shepherdess tending to her sheep in some remote hills perhaps and most likely in Western Europe. The shepherdess herself is standing just a few paces ahead of her flock while they are all grouped together tightly apparently feeding. She is holding a staff while studying the ground. The look on her face makes her seem like she is disturbed for some unknown reason. The shepherdess is wearing many articles of clothing. Her first layer is blue and reaches down to her ankles. The next layer appears to be some kind of shawl. The shawl is cream colored and only reaches just past her waist. The final piece of clothing is red and only covers her head. The grass beneath the shepherdess, which covers the entire land, has bald spots and contains dandy lions giving it great character. This is the grass on which the flock is feeding on. Watching over the sheep is a shepherd dog stand just to the rig ht of the flock. The dog stands very proudly and has a great pride in his job. The sky in this work is covered entirely with clouds. The only bare spot in the sky is at the very top of the painting where the clouds begin to split. Millets work appears to be set early in the morning. Looking beyond the flock as far as the painting will allow, one can see some hills and trees and perhaps a small village or town. This p ...

Economics from a Historical Perspective Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

Economics from a Historical Perspective - Essay Example The powerful class of people acquired the ownership of some people from the lower sections of the society, who would perform duties as directed by their masters. These people were called slaves. However, medieval Europe developed a somewhat similar culture of interdependency between two classes of people which was known as â€Å"serfdom†. The medieval serfs were actually the dependant peasants. Serfdom first developed in France, where slavery had not been practices significantly. The European countryside during the Middle Ages were the seat of large houses called â€Å"manors† which were different from the Roman â€Å"villas† of the earlier times. These manors were built according to a typical design and were usually accompanied by large expanses of land meant for farming activities. The manors were the home of the medieval lords, who possessed considerable power and authority and were next to only the king in terms of their position. These lords used to engage p easants to carry out farming in the manor lands belonging to the lords themselves. These poor peasants usually had no land of their own and earned their living by working on the lands of their masters. In return for their services, they were allowed to live in the outhouses of the manors. They were also provided adequate protection by the lords and their armies in case of an unforeseen attack by the barbaric tribes which was common during the medieval times. However, serfdom was quite different from slavery. Here, the lords and serfs were bounded by an informal contract outlining their mutual authorities, obligations and financial relation (Phillips, 57). This marked an improvement in the conditions of the working class where they had been completely subservient to their masters during the prevalence of slavery. The population of Europe (including modern Russia) was estimated to be around 42 million in 1000 grew to about 73 million by 1300, which is recorded as the highest populatio n during the medieval times. During these three centuries, the number of European people increased by 31 million compared to an increase of only 15 million recorded during the three centuries prior to 1000. There were several reasons for this significant growth in population. During the period 1000-1300, medieval Europe was characterized by the cultivation of new lands which increased the overall food supply. The agricultural sector flourished and buoyed by the positivity in the economy, the population started increasing. The human settlement began to expand to new territories, especially to the fertile valleys of the rivers Elba and Oder. The European people moved eastwards to acquire new lands and build their livelihoods over there. They build up their new settlements in mainly three directions: to the south towards the Hungarian plain following the natural course of river Danube, to the central lowlands of â€Å"Thuringia, Saxony and Silesia† and towards the north borderin g the coast of the Baltic sea which finally led to the formation of new cities such as Rostock and Konigsberg. The boundaries of the major existing cities were expanded to include more people within the cities while in the countryside, new castles were constructed and new villages were formed by the increasing population. In addition to this, there was lesser migration of the European people to other countries like Scandinavia in the north, Russia to the east etc. All these factors explained the significant increase

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Philosophy - Essay Example Also the character’s downfall raises pity and fear and eventually a tragedy provides catharsis or release of these emotions. Aristotle composes ‘Poetics’ about 50 years after Sophocles’ death in 345 BC. His admiration for Sophocles’ â€Å"Oedipus the King† is well-known. Since he considers the play as a perfect tragedy, it is not a surprise that his definition of a tragedy fits the play most perfectly. But the underlying flaw to which Aristotle makes himself vulnerable to is to establish his entire premise for a tragedy on a single example of his choice and then to proceed further inductively to define tragedy depending on this single example. Aristotle’s induction is somewhat as following: ‘Sophocles’ â€Å"Oedipus the King† is a perfect tragedy and it has some essential features. Therefore all perfect tragedies should incorporate these particular features that this play has’. But Aristotle is apparently obli vious to the risk that such induction poses. If Aristotle faces with another example of tragedy, having different features, that seem to appeal him as tragic, most likely he would change some of the requirements of his supposed tragedy to make it more embracing. Though some of Aristotle-induced features of a tragedy are Sophocles’ play-specific, most of them are universal. They are essentially the universal dynamics of a tragedy. For example, if Aristotle would have been allowed to watch the plays like â€Å"Hamlet† or â€Å"Death of a Salesman†, most likely Aristotle would expunge the doctrine of the downfall of a person of noble status or high rank. Aristotle considers drama as an essential medium of tragedy. According to him, a tragedy must not be a narrative. That is, it will not tell anything, rather it will show. For him, tragedy deals with an elevated or philosophical theme through dramatizing what may happen. It is different from history, since it can dr amatize the law of probability or what is possible according to the law of probability or necessity† (Aristotle 13). But history cannot deal the law of probability, since it deals with particulars. Why history cannot be dramatized lies in the fact that the cause-effect relationship between any two events is a subject to interpretation. Therefore, it does not allow an author to arrange the events in a cause-and-effect chain. But in a tragedy, the author is endowed with the freedom to manipulate the events in a universal cause-and-effect chain that create the possibility of an event as an effect of any preceding event. The tragic hero who undergoes these cause-and-effect chains of events are supposed to arouse both pity and fear, since the audience can envisage themselves in the same chains, but with different events. Since Aristotle is mostly concerned with the dramatization of the events and actions according to the laws of probability, plot occupies the central place among th e features of a tragedy. For Aristotle, plot is not the story itself, rather the â€Å"arrangement of the incidents† in a story. Indeed the incidents in a story should be arranged

Should the EU focus on acting as a civilian, normative or military Essay

Should the EU focus on acting as a civilian, normative or military power - Essay Example Before answering the question whether the EU should focus on being a civilian, normative, or military power, it is important to establish how these different forms of power have historically manifested in the EU's policies and activities. Conceptualising the terms 'civilian', 'normative', and 'military' is important in any analysis where these terms are used to describe the activities of EU's. Maull's (1990) view of a civilian power includes the employment of "solidarity with other societies, and a sense of responsibility for the future of the world - and particularly the global environment". (p.106) It is important to note that Maull's analysis of the exercise of civilian power is quite restrictive as it relates to the state or the exercise of national civilian power. Thus using a 'statist' perspective of the exercise of civilian power in the context of a supranational EU, would have its possible limitations. Vital lessons can, however, be drawn from his analysis and can be transpos ed into the EU's experience. Manner's (2002) conception of the EU as a civilian power is interpreted primarily in economic terms. Simply put, civilian power can be said to be the exercise of non-military power and would include "economic, diplomatic and cultural policy instruments." (Smith, n.d. p.1) Smith's conception of civilian power would thus exclude any use of the military, even if the military were used in situations of peace-keeping, whether armed or unarmed. To Smith (n.d.) even though the military can be used in unarmed peace-keeping situations, they have also been trained to kill and thus such an activity cannot be said to be civilian. Smith (n.d.) further identifies four core elements in the exercise of civilian power - "means; ends; use of persuasion; and civilian control over foreign (and defence) policymaking". (p.2) Consequently, in employing civilian policies, the means and the ends of those policies must be non-military, with persuasion (and not coercion) being the main instruments of achieving policy objectives. Based on the above conception of civilian power, Smith (n.d.) has argued in relation to the EU that: " clinging to the notion of civilian power EU not only stretches the term 'civilian' past its breaking point, but also tends to induce excessively rosy-eyed views of the EU as an international actor. 'Civilian' often means 'good', and deploying the 'civilian power EU' argument can close down critical analysis of actual EU foreign policy activities". (p.1) With regards to concepts of normative power, Manners (2002) views the EU's normative power as its capacity to mould or influence notions of what constitutes 'normal' in politics at the international arena. This exercise of normative power is very evident in the EU's relationship with Africa. The Council of the European Union has for instance stated that "Europe has a strong interest in a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Africa. Our strategy is intended to help Africa achieve this. "Â  

Riordan Manufacturing Essay Example for Free

Riordan Manufacturing Essay Riordan Manufacturing is a global plastics manufacturer employing 550 people with projected annual earnings of $46 million (University of Phoenix, 2011). The company is wholly owned by Riordan Industries, a Fortune 1000 enterprise with revenues in excess of $1 billion (University of Phoenix, 2011). Hugh McCauley, the COO of Riordan Manufacturing, has requested the integration of Riordan Manufacturing’s existing variety of Human Resource (HR) tools into a single integrated application (University of Phoenix, 2011). This paper will discuss in detail three phases of development for the new integrated HR application: information-gathering, architecture and process design, and implementation. The development of a new system to assist with administrative operations can be a mind-numbing process, but with the right tools victory is inevitable. Within the preliminary stages of developing Riordan Manufacturing’s new HR system, the leading phase is information-gathering. According to Dictionary. om (2013), the information-gathering phase is the act of collecting information. In certainly no particular order, one of the many key sources of information-gathering is the stakeholders. When developing a new integrated HR system, the best start to information-gathering is with the requestor. Hugh McCauley, the COO of the company, and he has requested a new HR system with purpose and objectives in mind. A stakeholder can also be classified as the Human Resource Department or the company itself. Gathering requirements can also be obtained by reviewing Riordan Manufacturing’s corporate goals, and per ‘our future’ via Riordan Manufacturing’s intranet webpage, the focus is in achieving and maintaining reasonable profitability to assure that the financial and human capital is available for sustained growth. Reviewing existing systems is the most influential source of data to gather requirements, because the project itself calls for the integration of a variety of HR tools into a single integrated application (University of Phoenix, 2011). There are numerous techniques that can be used for gathering requirements. Some of these techniques help engage the participants in a meaningful discussion which gets their thoughts flowing and paints a better picture for what the stakeholder is looking for (Requirements Authority, 2013). In certainly no particular order, one of the many information-gathering techniques is workshops. Requirement gathering workshops can help promote individual perspectives to be shared that will support business requirements. Workshops can also help participates understand the scope of the project, which can potentially promote commitment towards the project. As stated previously, reviewing the previous Human Resources (HR) systems is the single best source for information-gathering requirements. In addition to the previous HR systems, reading supportive physical documents can be used as a source for information-gathering. By reviewing physical documents, gray area data can be brought to the surface to help with the development of the new HR system. The arrangement of interviews can significantly encourage the development team to extrapolate a true understanding of the goals of project. Hugh McCauley, the COO of Riordan Manufacturing, is the requestor of this project; therefore, Mr. McCauley is the best candidate for an interview. In the scope of being cost-effective, the project should apply a prototype system that HR associates test to observe its success or failure. A prototype system can also help the development identify hiccups to be rectified before the launch of the new integrated HR system. Within the same frame of a prototype, the development team should conduct observations to perceive a real-life vision for the new system. The observation information-gathering process in the project will provide the development team a true understanding of the responsibilities of the HR team. Applying the right information gathering techniques can be the determining factor in the project’s success or failure. The purposed methodology for this project is the Agile development methodology because Agile’s backward scalability. The development of the integrated HR system will call for many sample systems; therefore, the method of development will need to promote the ability to make changes mid-process. While Agile provides flexibility to make changes as per customer requirements, it is more inclined towards better client satisfaction. Lastly, Agile provides that flexibility to error check; which promotes more bug free and less erroneous projects. In order to avoid incomplete, inconsistent, or incorrect requirements, it is imperative to identify the key factors that help ensure the information required for the project is gathered successfully. In certainly no particular order, management’s commitment to the project is paramount because of the awareness for organization’s goals. Management’s goals for the project can direct the developers to gathering required information successfully. Management can also act as an information checkpoint to validate the validity of gathered information that is required for the success of project. Interaction between users and the HR system personnel can provide quality feedback for the success of the application. This information is required because the development team must ensure the application is user-friendly, so, end-users can navigate successfully. As stated previously, there must be goal congruence among developers, users, and management. The importance of congruent goals will safeguard the time spent in developing the integrated HR system. Often times, developers are required to re-design systems because the project goals are not defined by all involved parties. Developers must understand the personnel’s understanding of the application. The developers understanding of the application is defined as how well the information systems personnel understand the purpose, the tasks, and the outputs of the work processes that the application is to support (TechRepublic, 2013). This key factor greatly increases the ability of the team to correctly and quickly specify the requirements. The last key factor that helps ensure successful information gathering is planning. The planning factor is defined as the amount of preparation performed for the developer’s requirements-gathering process and included the identification of specific tasks and the person responsible for performing them (TechRepublic, 2013). Studies have shown that a work plan and schedule for completion are necessary for project success (TechRepublic, 2013). According to Project Scope (2013), the Project Scope pertains to the work necessary to deliver a product. † (What defines a project scope? ). Requirements and deliverables define the project scope, and it is critical that the stakeholder is in agreement with the information discussed in the proposed plan (Project Scope, 2013). If the project plan is the heartbeat of a solid project management methodology, the scope statement is the breath. The scope statement details the vision of the project. It describes the goals, the deliverables, and documents what a successful conclusion to the project looks like. According to Dennis, Wixom, and Roth (2012), the areas of project feasibility that are examined in the analysis phase of the SCLC involve in the following three steps: (1) understand the existing situation (the as-is system), (2) identify improvements, (3) define requirements for the new system (the to-be system) (The analysis phase). In order for developers to create the best system, the developers need to understand the existing situation. Experience shows that it is useful to study the current situation whenever possible. The insights gained from reviewing the existing system can be quite valuable to the project team (Dennis, Wixom, Roth, The analysis phase, 2012). The second step, identify improvements, helps outline the needed modifications the will be introduced in the new system. Lastly, the final step is to define requirements for the new system. The system requirements are derived from people within the business. Occasionally, surface requirements can be obtained by a consultant, who can also sort or order them and research the ramifications of the requirements. However, consultants do not understand the business like the people that work for the business. Therefore, the requirements originating from management and end-users can help the developer establish concrete requirements for the new system.

Evaluating The Hci Developments Over Recent Years Computer Science Essay

Evaluating The Hci Developments Over Recent Years Computer Science Essay In the following assignment I will be talking about how interfaces have improved along the years in products and computer systems, with relation to GUI (Graphical User Interfaces) and the contrast of using non graphical interfaces. For the Distinction criteria, I will explain on the improvement of using interfaces within gaming and how this has been improved with the world of motionless gaming such as Kinect. For the final Distinction criteria I will compare my interfaces with real life interfaces and talk about how they relate and how they contrast. I will conclude the assignment with my main points and any potential summaries I have. The GUI: History of the GUI: In the computing and technical world, the graphical user interface has sharpened the way we as humans have designed and improved technology over the recent years and decades. Interfaces allow the end user to look at a graphical representation on their actions which cannot be shown in real life. For example, surfing the internet and viewing landscapes that are on the other side of the world would not be possible in a real life visual perspective. The GUI (Graphical User Interface) was implemented into the Apple Lisa computer in January 1983. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak purchased the GUI technology from a corporation called Xerox at their research centre called PARC (Palo Alto Research Centre) and used the technology in the Apple Lisa computer which since then started the revolution of interfaces within technology devices. 1 The Apple Lisa Computer Before a Graphical User Interface was implemented, a fellow competitor called Microsoft developed a CLI (Command Line Interface) that resembled the name MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) on IBM Computers in 1981. IBM (International Business Machines) is a large international company which supply computer hardware and software. They used MS-DOS on their computer systems to provide an interface that required the knowledge of commands and complex wording. This limited the market to a small amount, only professors and students was able to operate it with prior knowledge. But with the release of Apple Lisa, this broadened the audience to allow less technical people to operate a computer. 2 Image displaying the MS-DOS which was used on IBMs computers Advancements With the ongoing progress of developing interfaces and applying them to a variety of screens such as LCD and LED monitors, this has allowed technical manufacturer to explore the interface and include ways of familiarising the user with HCI (Human Computer Interaction) elements. Elements such as proximity, the ability to group similar icons together to make the human think the buttons are related. Another important element of HCI is continuity. Continuity is used in most operating systems to keep the familiar colour schemes and desktops without a drastic change. This will allow users to become familiar to the interface without the need to learn to use it again. Some more advances of interfaces over the years is the technology of 3D imagery and gaming. Games such as RTS (Real Time Strategy) Starcraft II can be played with the aid of Nvidias 3D GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) series. This allows 2D content to be rendered with 3D physics and displayed using glasses. 3 With the technology of 3D arriving in the current technological world, interface design has changed in a way that humans perceive the experience. Such so that other projects have included the 3D technology such as theme park rides, 3D computer systems, computing gaming and television. This has revolutionised the way we, as humans interact with everyday devices. A large proportion of society uses technology in their everyday lives, from checking their email, surfing the internet, checking their bank balance at an ATM machine etc. Technology has been integrated into culture so deeply, that as a society we all cannot communicate and work efficiently without it. Mobile Devices and Development: In modern technological news, mobile platforms and gaming has developed on a large scale over the current years. The idea of playing simple games on a wireless mobile device anywhere started a revolution for the gaming industry, the development of computer games and interface design. In my opinion, the first major mobile platform for gaming was Snakes. Introduced to arcades in the mid 1970s. Its sequel Snakes II was eventually introduced on the Nokia 3310 in the year 2000. This successful handset was hinting game developers to in cooperate different interface design into a smaller handset device, rather than an arcade or gaming console. 4 The above image is an example of many different interfaces that Snake has been developed into. Since the thought of how to place simple gaming projects into smaller handsets and mobile phones, arguable the Smartphone and touch screen devices provided a firm platform for developers and many game companies to work with. An example of this would be the iPhone handset. The iPhone handset (iPhone 2 Generation) was implemented by Apple on January 9th 2007 and announced to the public. It was one of the most successful Smartphones and PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) integrated together. Users had the ability to surf the internet, download application to run on their handsets, make calls, take pictures and send them to another handset or computer etc. The icons were smaller, controls and commands were made for touch and point, interface design that was new to the market. 5 Current iOS interface during writing the assignment The main differences from any phone during that time, was the complexity and power of the iPhone applications and development area. Apple provided the App store to sort all applications into a centralised place for users to download and interact with. The applications correspond of utilities and maps to gaming and various map searching apps. Over the constant development of iPhone handsets it was labelled as one of the major device for mobile gaming, a label which changed the way gaming and interfaces were developed. Now devices have the ability to run high end graphics and with the iPhone 4 device, retina display was introduced (960ÃÆ'-640) and has the smallest pixels ever to be introduced on a Smartphone device. With mobile development and gaming changing the way we use interfaces, the ability to scrap the interface from touch and use our current movement was recently introduced by Microsoft, this was known as Kinect. Project Natal (Kinect) was created by Microsoft recently in late 2010 as a motion controller for gaming.  [6]  You are the controller. No gadgets, no gizmos, just you! The quote basically means that the controller is the user, and no touch or physical contact will be needed. The technology of recording motions and gestures is proving successful; with regards to future gaming it will shape the future of interfaces. 7 Mention Holograms potentai future. Comparision of Intefaces

Serious Errors within Rene Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy :: Philosophy Religion Essays

Serious Errors within Rene Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy One of Rene Descartes’ major culminations in Meditations on First Philosophy is â€Å"I must finally conclude that this proposition, I am, I exist, is necessarily true whenever it is put forward by me or conceived in my mind† (Descartes:17). This statement can be explicated by examining Descartes’ Cartesian method of doubt and his subsequent discovery of basic truths. Even though I do believe that Descartes concludes with a statement that is accurate: cogito ergo sum, there are areas of his proof that are susceptible to defamation. These objections discover serious error with Descartes’ method used in determining the aforementioned conclusion. In the first meditation, Descartes makes a conscious decision to search for â€Å"in each of them [his opinions] at least some reason for doubt†(12). Descartes rejects anything and everything that can be doubted and quests for something that is undeniably certain. The foundation of his doubt is that his opinions are largely established by his senses, yet â€Å"from time to time I [Descartes] have found that the senses deceive, and it is prudent never to trust completely those who have deceived us even once†(12). First, Descartes establishes that error is possible, employing the example of the straight stick that appears bent when partially submerged in water, as mentioned in the Sixth Replies (64-65). Secondly, he proves that at any given time he could be deceived, such is the case with realistic dreams. Further, Descartes is able to doubt absolutely everything since it cannot be ruled out that â€Å"some malicious demon †¦ has employed all his energies in or der to deceive me† (15). The malicious demon not only causes Descartes to doubt God, but also sends him â€Å"unexpectedly into a deep whirlpool which tumbles me around so that I can neither stand on the bottom or swim on the top†(16). Descartes has reached the point where he must begin to rebuild by searching for certainty. In the second meditation, Descartes is searching for an Archimedian point on which to seed a pearl of certainty. By doubting everything in his first meditation, Descartes consequently doubts his own existence. It is here that a certainty is unearthed: â€Å"If I convinced myself of something then I certainly existed†(17). However, Descartes â€Å"does not deduce existence from thought by means of syllogism, but recognizes it as something self-evident by a simple intuition of the mind,† or in other words, by natural light (Second Replies:68).

Domestic Violence: Beyond Patriarchy

Domestic Violence: Beyond Patriarchy In the Beginning The Battered Women's movement of the 1970's enlightened society about a much secreted, and what at the time, was considered a family matter, that of violence against women by their male intimate partners. Many lives have been saved as a direct result of society's public awareness of this much-hidden scourge on our families. Federal and state laws prohibiting Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) have been enacted, and funding has been put in place for battered women's shelter programs. These changes have made a significant difference in the lives of battered women and children over the last few decades. The feminist theoretical perspective of IPVIPV has been depicted throughout our society as well as how victim services, and batterers intervention programs (BIP) are modeled. â€Å"Our culture has historically exhibited certain patriarchal values observable in religion and social custom. Working against the backdrop of this history, feminism quite naturally saw an antidote in ending social oppression of women. Wife assault, kept largely out of the public view and tolerated by prevailing attitudes, was regarded by feminists as an evil symptom of patriarchy. † (Dutton, page 17, 2006) Feminist theory defines IPV as a social problem with a single type of victim i. e. heterosexual women and one root cause, that of male privilege and patriarchy, which supports male domination, power, and control and the oppression of women. The need for services for IPVBIP's for female perpetrators is obscured and trivialized by this â€Å"one size fits all† view. Dutton describes feminist theory on IPV as being a â€Å"‘paradigm:†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ [A paradigm is] a set of guiding assumptions or worldview, commonly shared within a group and serving to ward off recognition of data that are dissonant with the paradigm's central tenets. This theory views all social relations through the prism of gender relations and holds that men hold power over women in patriarchal societies and that all domestic violence is either male physical abuse to maintain that power or female defensive violence used as a self protection. (p. 2, 2005) developed through the anti-rape and battered women's movements. This perspective has been the guiding light for how the social problem of against men by women and The violence against women by men paradigm is so entrenched that if anyone pursues any other theories or presents any data that is contrary to that perspective it is automatically considered anti-domestic violence movement. (Dutton, p. 44, 2005) Lucal (1995) found that attempts to discuss the idea of battered husbands started an emotionally charged and fiercely contested debate among researchers which has been the classic debate filled with claims and counterclaims. Much of the debate has been centered around whether or not there are very many battered husbands. Most of the debate has been about whether or not battered husbands are a social problem worthy of support. (pp. 95-96) Revealing Statistics Dr. Murray Straus, co-founder and co-director of the University of New Hampshire's Family Violence Research Laboratory, has studied IPV and child abuse for over thirty years. In study after study he has found that both men and women are capable of being victims and committing IPV. For instance: (I? E(Busing data from the National Family Violence Survey of 1975, Straus (l980) found that 11. 6 (2. 6 million nationwide) of husbands reported having been the victim of severe violence by their wives. Severe vio1ence was defined as behaviors, such as kicking, punching, beating, or using a knife or gun, that have a high probability of causing physical injury. (as cited in Hines Malley-Morrison, p. 77, 2001) Presenting data that defies feminist logic has caused Dr. Straus and his colleague's substantial risk. As a result of the depth of the objections to our finding on assaults by wives, some of us became the object of bitter scholarly and person attacks. These attack included obstruction of my public presentations by booing, shouting, and picketing. In elections for office in scientific societies I was labeled as antifeminist despite being a pioneer feminist researcher on wife beating (Straus, 1973, 1996 as cited in Straus, pp. 225-226, 1992). Suzanne K. Steinmetz, a co investigator in the first National Family Violence Survey, was the victim of more severe attacks. There was a letter-writing campaign opposing her promotion. There were phone calls threatening her and her family, and a bomb threat at a conference where she spoke. (pp. 225-226) Studies such as the National Violence Against Women Survey tend to filter out male reports of victimization because of the â€Å"‘set†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ of the survey (criminal victimization of women) (Dutton, p. 4, in press). However, the National Violence Against Women Survey in 2000(a) reports that more than 834,000 men are raped or physically assaulted by an intimate partner each year in the United States. This translates into about(I? E(B32 assaults per 1,000 men. (Tjaden & Thoennes, p. 11) Since the respondents in this study were told they were being interviewed about â€Å"personal safety† issues it's quite possible that this number is an underestimate as many of the men may not have perceived the violence that their wives or girlfriends were perpetrating against them as a threat to their safety. (Hines & Malley-Morrison, p. 77, 2001) The Establishment of Services for Male Victims Spreading the word as news of the availability of DAHMW's helpline became more known, calls from men and those concerned about a male relative or friend whom they thought were in an abusive situation started coming in from around the country. A website was created with information on male victimization and other resources and tri-fold brochures specifically addressing IPV against men were designed, printed and distributed through mailings and placements on community bulletin boards. Consequently, two years after its inception, DAHMWDAHMWIPV. as highlighted in the National Crime Prevention Council's book, â€Å"50 Strategies to Prevent Violence Domestic Crimes. † (2002) as, â€Å"[one of] 50 promising programs [that offer] new and alternative methods to aid under-served victims of violent domestic crime including teens in dating relationships, elderly victims of late-life abuse, child witnesses to violence, battered immigrants, male victims, and survivors in the gay and lesbia n community. † In 2003 Verizon began to publish the crisis line in a number of their phone books. Incoming calls to helpline have grown exponentially from fourteen a month in 2001, to over three hundred calls a month in 2006. The vast majority of the calls continue to be from or about a male victim (and children) of female Information gathered from male callers to the helpline suggests that some violent women use highly physically disabling tactics on their victims. â€Å"According to qualitative accounts, several physical attacks [are] reported to have occurred to the groin area, as in the following examples: â€Å"‘G reports that his estranged wife frequently targeted his testicles in her attacks, which included head butting and choking. Police were called to his home six times, one call resulted in the wife's arrest. â€Å"‘ â€Å"‘I was writhing, crying in the corner, I couldn't get up for two hours she kicked me in the groin at least 12 times. â€Å"‘ â€Å"‘She held a knife to my balls and threatened to cut them off. â€Å"‘ (Hines etal, p. 66, 2007) The stigma attached to being a man abused by a woman is profound. Many men report that they were taught never to hit a girl, be strong, do not cry and do not tell your personal business to anyone from their parents and caregivers. There is also a cultural belief that men should be able to defend themselves. However, if a man does defend himself against his abusive female partner and the police are called, the man is the one that will be arrested. When Dwayne Bobbit had his penis cut off by his wife in 1993, it was a big joke for late night comedy. Lorena Bobbitt was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. The reaction would have been entirely different had the genders been reversed. (Dutton, p. 148, 2006) Law Enforcement and the Court's Response The concerned family members and the victims themselves to the DAHMW helpline have recounted reports of the lack of concern for male victims: Misconceptions and Realities Feminists' theorists assert that women's violence against men is less likely than men's violence against women to result in serious physical or psychological harm. (Dutton & Nichols, p. 697, 2005) They use this claim to dismiss women's violence against men and male victims. Women, in general, may not be as big or strong as men are, however, what women lack in size and strength they make up for with the use of weapons. Research conducted at an emergency clinic study in Ohio (Vasquez & Falcone, 1997, as cited in Dutton & Nichols, 2005 ) revealed that 72). The authors reported that burns obtained in intimate violence were as frequent for male victims as female victims. As this study demonstrates, community samples, unless they require subjects to self-report as crime victims, show a different and more equivalent pattern of violence by gender than that alleged by the(I? E(Bfeminist perspective(I? E(B. Regardless of the variations in the studies, two conclusions seem reasonable: (1) women are injured more than men, and (2) men are injured too, and are not immune to being seriously injured. Simply because the injury rates are lower, men should not be denied protection. (Dutton & Nichols pp. 97-678, 2005) The feminist perspective of IPV being predominantly patriarchal in nature also excludes much of the victims in LGBT community. The LGBT community has had to set up their own domestic violence shelter programs that primarily or exclusively protect, educate and serve LGBT individuals who are victims of IPV. (e. g. see the www. gmdvp. org, w ww. lagaycenter. org/FamilyViolence etc ) According to Helfrich & Simpson (2006) lesbians have a difficult time accessing services through the traditional battered women's shelter programs due to the lack of policies to screen lesbian survivors and identify batterers. Lesbian batterers may use deception to access services through the same agency as the survivor and there are little to no stopgap measures taken to deal with those situations. (p. 344) Beyond Patriarchy, Alternative Theories on IPV Dutton (2006) asserts that the best predictor of intimate partner violence is not gender but personality disorder (p. 153). Since the beginning of the battered women's movement, researchers who have studied maritally violent men have often treated batterers as a homogeneous group. They have measured violent husbands by comparing them to nonviolent ones. However, more recently they have found that violent husbands vary along a number of important dimensions, including severity of violence, anger, depression and alcohol abuse. (Holtzworth-Munroe & Stuart, p. 476, 1994) More recently, researchers have begun to investigate what attachment styles and personality disorders have to do with IPV. The focus for this paper regarding typologies of batterers is on the dysphoric/borderline subtype and so a full description of each subtype of batterer is beyond this review. For more information of the various subtypes please review, Holtzworth-Munroe & Stuart, 1994; Holtzworth-Munroe et al. 1997; Holtzworth-Munroe et al. , 2000; Waltz et al. , 2000; Babcock et al. , 2003; Carney & Buttell, 2004) Researchers have found that batterers are more likely a heterogeneous than a homogeneous group and within that heterogeneous grouping various subtypes of batterers exist. Seminal research done by Holtzworth-Munroe and Stuart (1994) studied violent men and ascertained various typologies of male batterers. Holtzworth-Munroe and Stuart categorized three major subtypes and they labeled them, family only, dysphoric/borderline, and generally violent/antisocial. (Holtworth-Munroe & Stuart, p. 76-482, 1994) Holtzworth-Munroe and Stuart described dysphoric/borderline batterers as those who engage in moderate to severe wife abuse as well as psychological and sexual abuse. Their violence is primarily towards the family; however, they suggested that some extra familial violence and criminal behavior may be evident. Additionally, they found that these men are the most dysphoric, psychologically distressed, and emotionally volatile and that they have evidence of borderline and schizoidal personally characteristics. The may also have problems with alcohol and drug abuse. (ibid. According to Dutton (2006), â€Å"Across several studies, implemented by independent researchers, the prevalence of personality disorder in wife assaulters has been found t o be extremely high. These men are not mere products of male sex role conditioning or â€Å"‘male privilege†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ [as the feminist theory of IPV suggests]; they possess characteristics that differentiate them from the majority of men who are not repeat abusers. † (p. 185) In addition to research on subtypes of batterers, there is also evidence to suggest that early attachment has bearing on what type of person may have the propensity towards perpetrating IPV. Buttell et al (2005) states that the presence of batterer subtypes is widely accepted in the field and that findings from [their] study seem to suggest that issues of attachment and dependency may be related to the development of an abusive personality for one type of batterer. They state that if true, efforts to improve intervention may need to focus on distinguishing batterer subtypes and developing intervention strategies relevant to the need for each subtype. (p. 216) Attachment styles may be the key to unlock many doors for both female and male perpetrators of IPV. Dutton in his book, The Abusive Personality, reiterates Bowlby's findings on attachment styles: In his landmark series of books entitled Attachment and Loss, Bowlby developed the notion that human attachment was of ultimate importance for human emotional development. In his view, it had sociobiological significance. His views encompassed the possibility of individual differences that came to be called â€Å"‘attachment styles'† referr[ing] to entire constellations of thoughts and feelings about intimacy. Reactions to the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of early attempts at attachment set up life-long attachment styles described as secure, fearful, or dismissing. The dismissing people tend to be wary of and stay out of relationships. The secure ones are comfortable with closeness. The fearful ones are stuck in the middle, exhibiting ambivalence toward intimacy and to those with whom they are emotionally connected. (as cited in Dutton, p. 116, 1998) Dutton (1998) further postulates that this push-pull reaction of the fearful attachment styled person resembles the ebb and flow of what he has coined the â€Å"cyclical personality. Dutton reports that in his notes on phrases used by female victims to describe their male batterers (who were clients of Dutton's) there was a recurring theme. They would express that their partners would act like â€Å"Jekyll and Hyde† and appear to be two different people at times. They also said things like, â€Å"He's like living with an emotional roller-coaster,† and describe their mates as moody, irritable, jealous and changeable. (p. 53) This cycling was first recognized by Lenore Walker in her book, The Battered Women, as the â€Å"‘battering cycle. â€Å"‘ (as cited in Dutton, ibid. As Dutton set out to gain some understanding of a cyclical or phasic personality he came across a book by John G. Gunderdson entitled, Borderline Personality Disorder: Dutton's research regarding attachment, borderline and the batterer's cyclical personality has been focused on male on female IPV, however, in his recent book, Rethinking DV, he discusses female perpetrators: Recent research has begun to explore the role of [fearful attachment, borderline traits, and chronic trauma symptoms, which generates what Dutton calls the abusive personality] among female perpetrators of partner abuse. Follingstad, Bradley, Helff, and Laughlin (2002) generated a model for predicting dating violence in a sample of 412 college students. (as cited in Dutton, p. 201, 2006) They found that anxious attachment resulting from early life experiences led to the development of an â€Å"‘angry temperament,†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ which in turn related to attempts to control and use abuse against an intimate partner. The model predicted abusiveness for both genders (ibid. ) Other researchers have also hypothesized about subtypes of abusive males and females. For instance, Buttell et al (2005), states that researchers are beginning to explore the role of attachment theory and develop hypotheses on abusive behaviors relevant to different subtypes of abuser in order to improve intervention efforts for batterers. (p. 211) Gormley (2005) concluded that, â€Å"Insecure adult attachment orientations affect half the adult population, helping to explain the prevalence of men's and women's IPV. Women with insecure adult attachment orientations may be as much at risk as similar men of psychologically and physically abusing romantic partners, oing damage to relationships they may be socialize to value highly(I? E(B. † (p. 793) Female Batterers Scant research has been done on female batterers; however, due to the changes in mandatory arrest policies more women are being arrested than ever before. The debate about whether or not women perpetrate IPV has changed noticeably of late due in part to the fact that women are increasingly being arreste d, prosecuted, and sentenced to intervention programs for domestic violence offenses. Women's arrest for IPV is a direct result of legislation that has mandated the arrest of perpetrators in cases where police become involved when a domestic dispute has occurred. Warrantless arrest legislation gives police the power to arrest the abuser and press charges themselves when called to a domestic dispute. The victim no longer needs to press charges against the perpetrator. The arrest of women was certainly an unintended consequence of this legislation and has had a dramatic impact on the national debate regarding female initiated IPV. Carney & Buttell, p. 249, 2004) Feminist theory of IPV has created a dilemma regarding intervention services for female batterers. At present, the most prevalent legislated BIP's the system has set up are for dealing with batterers comes from the feminist model of IPV. Female batterers who are convicted of domestic assault and court ordered to attend a BIP have little choice but than to attend the feminist model of BIP's when court ordered to do so. (Carney and Buttell, p. 50, 2004) In addition, research on these [Duluth Model] BIP's indicate that few men who complete treatment benefit from it to the extent that they demonstrate positive changes in their behaviors. Of course, if men are not benefiting from a program that is specifically designed for patriarchal batterers then certainly abusive women will benefit even less. (ibid. ) According to Babcock & Siard (2003) some of the women arrested could have been acting in self-defense and were therefore falsely arrested but others with extensive violent histories may in fact be primary aggressors. p. 153) Men who are arrested are not given the same latitude. Babcock et al. (2003) mentions that in a study of women arrested for IPV, Hamberger and Potente (1994) found women who could clearly be identified as primary aggressors of IPV, yet in the treatment setting they were generally treated the same as those women who used self defense. (as cited in Babcock & Siard, p. 154). B abcock et al. (2003) proposed two categories of female batterers, those that were partner-only and those that were generally violent. The partner-only category covered women who may be more likely to use violence in self-defense and the generally violent women (of more interest for this paper) were women who used violence in any manner of situations including against their romantic partners. (pp. 153-154) Many studies on male batterer's include reports from their female victims; however, the researchers in this study did not ask the male victims for reports of their partner's violence. Iit is interesting to note that violent women were asked to report on their male partner's violence against them. (p. 57) They further note that power and control seems to be an issue for some abusive women and they suggest that women's power and control issues, traumatic histories, and psychological distress should be explored and indicate that clinicians may want to assess for psychopathology (i. e. post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, etc. ) (ibid. ) Recent studies have found that women's and men's viol ence share similar correlates (Giordano, Millhollin, Cernkovich, Pugh, & Rudolph, 1999; Magdol, Moffittt, Caspi, & Silva, 1998; Moffitt, Robins, & Caspi, 2001 as cited in Babcock et al, p. 53, 2003) therefore, they may also share similar motivations and circumstances. Female Batterers from Victims Reports Hines et al's (2007) research provides some insight into female batterers from their male victims. â€Å"Female abusers likely have a history of childhood trauma, may be suffering from a mental illness, and are likely to use alcohol and/or drugs. Further, these women have a high rate of threatening either suicide and/or homicide. † (p. 9) As previously stated, women have been asked to report on their male batterers and although this is not the ideal way to obtain information on batterers, feminist researchers have been gathering information in this way from battered women in shelters for years. (e. g. Walker, 2000 as cited in Hines et al, p. 69, 2007) Conclusion Men are vict ims of female perpetrated IPV and need services such as shelter, legal aid, support and counseling much the same as their female counterparts. Additionally, men's reports of victimization should not be called into question but treated with the same respect as women's reports. Protocols should be put in place within the domestic violence shelters programs, for law enforcement and the courts that will screen out potential female and male batterers so that victims are not judged by their gender. There is a dearth of research of female batterers and what has been presented from the feminist theory suggests that violent females use violence in self-defense. As we move away from the feminist theory of IPV researchers are discovering that childhood trauma, insecure attachment styles, mental illness, and/or alcohol and substance abuse play a role in IPV for both genders. Not all male batterers fit into the feminist theory of IPV, there are subtypes of batterers and attachment style plays a role in who perpetrates IPV. The subtype that is the focus of this paper is that of the borderline, cyclical batterer. Female batterers also show symptoms of having subtypes evidenced by reports from male callers to the DAHMW. Studies are beginning to assess psychological factors that predict female intimate partner violence. What is emerging is evidence of personality disorder, attachment style, and constricted affect that has also been seen in male abusers. Female abusers share much of the same traits as male abusers especially antisocial and borderline personalities. (Dutton, p. 203, 2006) As Babcock et al. (2003) explain, â€Å"[the] feminist perspective should be holistic, examining both the positive and negative sides of women's behavior. Bringing attention to some women being in the role of perpetrators, not solely as the victims of intimate partner abuse, involves viewing women as they are, not as we would wish them to be. † (p. 160) References About The Author