Friday, January 24, 2020

Flowers and Fairytale :: Free Descriptive Observation Essay

Flowers and Fairytale By the school, there is a little garden with a water fountain and several little trees around it. Each tree is grounded in a two-foot high cement block. The tree is covered with leaves, and the leaves have scattered flowers around them. The fountain contains several little water shooters, shooting out forms of water, which resembles the flower as a dancing fairy. The flowers start at the bottom of the tree. The ring of flowers surround the tree. They are made up of many bright colors of red, pink, violet, blue and white. From a distance there appears to be a swarm of them. The flowers’ petals are soft and sweet smelling. They don’t suffocate my senses, though. The flowers are like a weak perfume. They are gentle and subtle. When I touched one of the flowers in my hand, it was as soft as silk. I realized that they were so fragile, because they sliced apart very easily. The flowers are held captive by the army of leaves. The green leaves are mixed in with the flowers. The shades of the green leaves range from light yellowish green to dark bluish green. Most of them are shaped like tiny bananas and others are wider, like pears or apples. The crashing water near by drowns out the scent of the leaves’ chlorophyll. Some of the leaves are almost as smooth as the flowers, but some are rough, similar to a rug. The leaves are grouped together like many little trees. The trees and leaves cover the soil and the bottom part of the tree—like a drooping green gown. The tree is very much like a queen, wearing its dress of leaves. I would not reach out and touch it—because it would be rude. At the shoulders of the tree—the branches fork off into three directions. The thick branches hold up more green leaves—the delicate kind—shaping the head of the tree like a mushroom. The tree resembles a green Queen Amadalia—young and bright. When I looked up at her, you see the sunlight reflect off her hair—the leaves—creating a peaceful glow. It blurs everything, however, and I had to stop looking. The wind does blow the leaves, but it is so lightly that you can barely tell. The fountain near by spurts out water in this direction. I look over there and see groups of dancing water in the wide square pool. Flowers and Fairytale :: Free Descriptive Observation Essay Flowers and Fairytale By the school, there is a little garden with a water fountain and several little trees around it. Each tree is grounded in a two-foot high cement block. The tree is covered with leaves, and the leaves have scattered flowers around them. The fountain contains several little water shooters, shooting out forms of water, which resembles the flower as a dancing fairy. The flowers start at the bottom of the tree. The ring of flowers surround the tree. They are made up of many bright colors of red, pink, violet, blue and white. From a distance there appears to be a swarm of them. The flowers’ petals are soft and sweet smelling. They don’t suffocate my senses, though. The flowers are like a weak perfume. They are gentle and subtle. When I touched one of the flowers in my hand, it was as soft as silk. I realized that they were so fragile, because they sliced apart very easily. The flowers are held captive by the army of leaves. The green leaves are mixed in with the flowers. The shades of the green leaves range from light yellowish green to dark bluish green. Most of them are shaped like tiny bananas and others are wider, like pears or apples. The crashing water near by drowns out the scent of the leaves’ chlorophyll. Some of the leaves are almost as smooth as the flowers, but some are rough, similar to a rug. The leaves are grouped together like many little trees. The trees and leaves cover the soil and the bottom part of the tree—like a drooping green gown. The tree is very much like a queen, wearing its dress of leaves. I would not reach out and touch it—because it would be rude. At the shoulders of the tree—the branches fork off into three directions. The thick branches hold up more green leaves—the delicate kind—shaping the head of the tree like a mushroom. The tree resembles a green Queen Amadalia—young and bright. When I looked up at her, you see the sunlight reflect off her hair—the leaves—creating a peaceful glow. It blurs everything, however, and I had to stop looking. The wind does blow the leaves, but it is so lightly that you can barely tell. The fountain near by spurts out water in this direction. I look over there and see groups of dancing water in the wide square pool.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Management, Personal and Study Skills

In this section of my assessment for the Study Skills assignment, I will be producing a report, which will outline the contribution that I made within my group in our presentation on ‘Northern Ireland'. The presentation was conducted by a small group from the Business and Management Studies class in Lancaster. The group consisted of five individuals, namely Chris Gallagher, Peter Stephenson, David Long, Arif Patel and myself. The purpose of the presentation was to inform the audience of the main aims and objectives of the assignment, and educate the audience of the main findings of the written report and country analysis. Furthermore, the group believed that it would be beneficial to enlighten the audience of the conclusions and recommendations that we had made which related to the findings. Within the group, I contributed a great deal in the planning and writing up of the assignment. Our group communicated amongst itself both efficiently and effectively. Although we gathered on only the one occasion outside academic hours, this was extremely constructive as we were able to discuss and arrange the nine distinct sections of the presentation. The reason we were unable to meet up more often is due to the fact that I did not have any contact numbers for the people in my group. This is because I was initially intending to work with a group from the Business and Management Studies class in Carlisle, which is where I have been studying the module. However, due to certain circumstances this was altered. Despite such impediments, the presentation was successfully completed before the deadline date to the anticipated standard. In order to bring the presentation together, we firstly completed the written section of the assessment, in which we again as a group were required to conduct a country analysis of Northern Ireland, which would cover all the aspects mentioned subsequently in this report. Accordingly, we condensed the information contained in our assignments, and utilised the most important points in order to produce an effective presentation. Whilst completing the written section of the assignment, we met up on more than one occasion to complete the assessment. As a result of the meetings, we decided to make a PowerPoint presentation of our chosen island, which was Northern Ireland and the various applicable issues. Our presentation was required to last for no longer than fifteen minutes and no less than ten minutes. Upon completion of the presentation, it was apparent that most of our presentation ran according to plan and the learning outcomes that were outlined before the presentation had been met. During the group discussions, we chose to write about different aspects of Northern Ireland, namely the aims, the economic overview, the political stability and the primary export strengths. In the group, my role was to explicate the social issues in Northern Ireland. The presentation also included information on tourism, the transport infrastructure, the conclusion of our presentation and finally the recommendations we made on Northern Ireland. My role within the group of the nine sections comprised of the social issues and a point from the conclusion section in the presentation. Firstly, I decided to research the various social issues of Northern Ireland, and aimed to expand on a number of these issues. I investigated these certain aspects by using different types of research. The group decided on using OHT's and Microsoft PowerPoint in order to communicate effectively with our audience. Therefore, the research, which I collected on the social issues of Northern Ireland, which was my role in the presentation, was put on both OHT's and Microsoft PowerPoint. My role in the work of the group for the presentation involved introducing the facts of the social issues of Northern Ireland and writing up on one of the four points in the conclusion, which was linked to the social issues. I explained the four main social issues to the class and why these points exist. (See Appendix 1). The remaining sections were completed by the other members my group. We all contributed to reading the conclusion and recommendations' slides in which we alternatively talked through all the points. Firstly, Craig Gallagher talked the class through the first two slides on the aims of Northern Ireland and the economic overview of the country, whereas David Long covered the political stability and the tourism sections. Peter Stephenson covered the section on the primary export strengths, leaving the transport infrastructure to Arif Patel. These members of the group also took certain points and went into detail when discussing their sections for the presentation. At the end of our presentation, we held a plenary session in which our audience were asked if they would like to ask any questions which could be answered on the different aspects which we discussed in our presentation. This demonstrated the audience's understanding of the information presented. The structure of our presentation included the clear use of Microsoft PowerPoint and the use of OHT's. this enabled the group to communicate more effectively with the audience, as it allowed visual aids to correspond with the verbal communication. The whole presentation was conducted around the use of the above in order for the audience to understand thoroughly the purpose of the presentation. I believe that my group successfully informed the class on our topic of Northern Ireland which we had chosen as a group with a mutual agreement. We chose our country from the list that had been given to us. As we held a plenary session towards the end of our presentation in which the class could ask our group questions, this allowed everybody a chance to express their views. All the discussions contained correct answers by the audience, which illustrated that we had covered all the topics effectively and resourcefully. If I was to carry out this particular, or any other, presentation in the future, I would ensure that my PowerPoint document is working well because in our presentation there was a problem with the PowerPoint, due to a technical hitch. This was the only aspect of the presentation which did not go according to plan. As a result of this, we were required to read off our print outs, which we had created in case of such circumstances. Another thing that I would change in the future is to be more organised and time efficient. This is due to the fact that we had to rush to put the presentation together, as we had all worked on our different sections of the assignment individually on our own. Therefore, when we met up we were required to organise our final piece, prior to the presentation. In addition, I feel that getting to know the members of a group and building a relationship between each other is essential, as it can cause some awkwardness when you do not know all the members. However, I was fortunate, as I knew some of them from my Economics class. Even though I did not know all of the members, we worked well together as a group and did not face any issues, which would have made it difficult for us to work as a team. To conclude this report, I feel that we were very successful in informing and motivating the class on our subject. The reason for this is that the class met the objectives, which we outlined at the beginning of our presentation and the met the criteria set in order to pass this section of the assignment.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Televised Aggression Effects on Children and Behavior Essay

Televised Aggression Effects on Children and Behavior With television violence more prevalent than ever before, parents and professionals have been concerned about this type of programming adversely affecting behavior in children. While thousands of studies have been completed on this subject, with most of them showing a direct connection between media violence and belligerent behavior, the ensuing information will show the inadequacies of such theories by further scrutinizing these points of interest: 1. Television Violence 2. Media Perception vs. Age 3. Genetic and Environmental Factors 4. Correlation vs. Causation Television Violence Through movies, talk shows, cartoons and more, our television screens have plainly become†¦show more content†¦Although these and several other correlations between television and children have been fortuitously accepted as causes, by many sources, it is noteworthy to point out that while these ideas may seem definitively linked to aggression, they, in fact, could be far less associated than generally believed. Genetic and Environmental Factors Countless other possibilities, which have been found to contribute to aggressive actions, can be discovered within genetics and a child’s environment. Among these potential contributors are inherited tendencies towards hostility (genetic predisposition), behavior learned from other children and parental abuse. Since impending factors, such as these, are potentially significant to violence issues, it would be premature to assume that one single source of input is ultimately responsible, such as media programming. Correlation vs. Causation When determining the cause of any condition, determining the correlations between a nearby activity, object, or person, is usually the first step of the process and may give what appears to be an obvious solution to the problem under examination. Nevertheless, using the generally accepted application of ‘Correlation vs. Causation’, the findings of such a discovery will only show that a tentative link exists between the target and apparent cause; therefore, these results should not be considered authoritative orShow MoreRelatedTelevised Violence causes Aggression in Young Boys1555 Words   |  7 PagesTelevised Violence causes Aggression in Young Boys Young boys are evidently influenced by things in their environment such as media, peers, and family. Elementary school aged boys are influenced easily because these are critical years in developing their sense of individuality and social skills with their peers. The vulnerably of young boys are a reason why they are a target of the popular culture of displaying television violence because they have rarely encountered it in previous years so theyRead MoreSocial Aggression : Interpersonal Relationships, Social Goals, And Self Image1137 Words   |  5 PagesSocial aggression harms one’s interpersonal relationships, social goals, and self-image. As Crick, Bigbee and Howes’s survey (1996, as cited in Martins Wilsons, 2012) showed, the social aggression is more frequently used among girls, since it can effectively damage girls’ social goals. Two theoretical explanations are provided for social aggression: social cognitive theory (Bandura, 2009, as cited in Martins Wilsons, 2012) and information processing theory (Huesmann, 1998, as cited in MartinsRead MoreThe Effects of Television Violence on Children1315 Words   |  6 Pagesher on fire in an identical manner. Several months later, NBC televised Born Innocent, a made-for-television- movie, which showed the sexual violation of a young girl with a broom handle. Three days after this program aired, a group of girls committed a similar attack on another 9-year-old girl (â€Å"Wild† A20). These are just a couple of shocking examples out of many illustrating how televised violence can spark violent behavior. Violence in society is a complex problem, and numerous sourcesRead More No Clear Link Between TV Violence and Aggression Essay2068 Words   |  9 PagesViolence and Aggression    There is a great deal of speculation on the role of television violence in childhood aggression.   Research demonstrates there may be other intervening variables causing aggression.   These variables include IQ, social class, parental punishment, parental aggression, hereditary, environmental, and modeling.   With all of these factors to taken into consideration it is difficult to determine a causal relationship between television violence and aggression.   It isRead MoreHow Media Violence Related to Aggressive and Violent Behavior672 Words   |  3 Pagesmedia violence does have a significant influence on violent and aggressive behavior. This is particularly the case amongst children where fictional media violence has been linked to increased aggression both in the short-term and in the long-term. This text highlights the extent to which media violence is related to violent/aggressive behavior. To What Extent is Media Violence Related to Aggressive and Violent Behavior? As I have already pointed out above, past research findings indicate thatRead MoreViolent Media and Violent Behavior2249 Words   |  9 PagesPaper Template Title of your research paper: Violent Media and Violent Behavior Thesis statement: Media violence has a serious negative impact on youths and to curtail this influence, we have to understand how and why aggressive behavior is encouraged through media viewing, experimental studies that support this claim, why youths are attracted to on screen violence, but more importantly how to curb the adverse effects of media violence on youths. Introduction –The introduction should containRead MoreTelevision and Media Violence - Effects of TV Violence on Children2097 Words   |  9 PagesEffects of Television Violence on Children    Television is the mainstream of our culture. Violence on television has been a topic of conflict since before 1950. There have been repeated debates on how to protect children from the harmful effects of violence on television. Television is one form of modern media that influences the everyday lives of people. Televised violence has a major effect on how children perceive the world and how they behave. American television has become the mostRead More effects of tv violence on children Essay719 Words   |  3 Pages Effects of Television Violence on Children In our society today, it is extremely important to pay attention to what influences children. One of the biggest influences America’s youth may have is the television. It is possible for children to be pulled into the television’s realistic world of violence with sometimes devastating results. The impact of television violence on youth behavior has been an issue for many years. Violent programs on television lead to negative behavior by children and teenagersRead MoreThe Walking Dead1495 Words   |  6 Pagesoff her flesh-hungry zombie attack. â€Å"The Walking Dead† has since amassed quite the following of fans who rave in equal parts about the show’s violent and spine-tingling special effects and its subtle commentary on hope and the human condition. Watching the hour-long gorefest in which infected men, woman and even children are repeatedly shown receiving violent and bloody blows to the head, one cannot help but wonder, is â€Å"The Walking Deadâ €™s† portrayal of violence harmful in its appeal to debased humanRead MoreWatching the World through Television1186 Words   |  5 Pages, 2008). With children being the main audience, this is a topic that has become highly debatable. Over the years more and more cases have come to light alleging television is the culprit to violence. Beginning in 1994, a three year study was conducted. This utmost recognized study of violence in television, the National Television Study, evaluated violence on the television (Slotsve et al., 2008). Through this study, a trend between violent and belligerent antisocial behavior was documented

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Carpenter Bees and How to Get Rid of Them

Carpenter bees can be a real nuisance. They resemble large bumblebees and can be found buzzing around dwellings and other structures where they like to build their nests. Every year, they cause millions of dollars in  damage to dwellings by tunneling into decks, porches, and other wood structures. They can also be aggressive, especially during mating season, and will fly very close to human beings and even bump into them. Fortunately, they rarely if ever sting people and their nests can be removed. Carpenter Bee Basics There are several species of carpenter bee in the United States, but the most common one is the Virginia carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica). These bugs are found throughout the Southeast but range as far as Connecticut to the north and Texas in the west. Carpenter bees range in size from about 5/8 of an inch to 1 inch and look very similar to bumblebees, but theyre not the same.   Bumblebees (genus Bombus) nest in the ground, usually in abandoned rodent nests, and live in social communities. Carpenter bees (genus Xylocopa) are solitary bees that burrow into wood. You can differentiate the two by examining the dorsal (upper) side of the abdomen. If its shiny and hairless, its a carpenter bee. A bumblebee, by contrast, has a hairy abdomen. Both are considered beneficial insects because they are  excellent plant  pollinators. Therefore, you should avoid eliminating these insects unless absolutely necessary. Carpenter bees usually live for about one year. Each new generation is hatched in the late summer, emerging from nests in August and September to grow and feed, pollinating flowers as they go  before  settling in for the winter and hibernating. Survivors emerge in April and May to mate. The female carpenter bee excavates a tunnel for her offspring. In each brood chamber, she stores food and lays an egg. Having reproduced, adult carpenter bees die off in July, leaving the new generation to continue the cycle when they emerge a month or so later. Most people encounter carpenter bees during April and May when theyve just emerged to mate. During this time, male carpenter bees tend to hover around nest openings, looking for receptive females. It can be rather unnerving being around them, as the males will also hover aggressively around people who approach the nests. They may even fly right into you. Despite this tough act, male carpenter bees cannot sting. Female carpenter bees can sting, but almost never do. How to Identify Nests If you see a bee emerging from a hole in the ground or within a structure, thats a good indication that youre looking at a carpenter bee nest. To be certain,  look at the entrance holes. A carpenter bee makes an entrance hole slightly bigger than her body, or just about  ½ inch in diameter. The first inch or two of the tunnel is usually made against the wood grain. The bee will then make a right turn and extend the tunnel another 4 to 6 inches in the direction of the wood grain. Carpenter bees will often eliminate their waste before entering their nest, so you might see yellow stains on the surface of the wood, just below the entrance hole. Stavros Markopoulos / Getty Images Though they burrow into wood, carpenter bees dont eat wood like termites do. Since their nest tunnels are limited in size, they rarely do serious structural damage. However, because such excavation requires a lot of energy on her part, a female carpenter bee will often prefer to refurbish an old tunnel to digging a new one. If carpenter bees are allowed to tunnel in the same structure year after year, however, the cumulative damage can be significant.   How to Control Carpenter Bees Your best defense is a good offense. Carpenter bees prefer to excavate untreated, unfinished wood. You can prevent carpenter bees from nesting in the first place by painting or varnishing your homes exterior. If an infestation has occurred, you will need to use an insecticide to eliminate the carpenter bees. Many professionals recommend sprays or dust, which can reach the interior surface of the entrance holes. Apply the pesticide at dusk, when carpenter bees are less active.   For the insecticide to work, the bees much come in contact with it as they crawl through the entrance hole of the nest. Apply the appropriate insecticidal dust in the spring, just before adults emerge to mate. Once you see the bees emerge, wait a few days before filling in the nest holes with wood putty or filler. If you didnt apply the insecticide before the spring adults emerged, you will need to treat the nests in the spring, and again in late summer, when the next generation of adults is foraging. In the fall, seal the nest holes with steel wool, then close off the hole with putty, wood filler, fiberglass, or asphalt.   A professional pest control service is your best choice, especially if you have a large infestation because theyll have specialized tools that can reach deep into crevices. However, if you want to do it yourself, any name-brand insecticide formulated to kill flying insects should work. If youd prefer to use a natural remedy, there are several, including boric acid,  Diatomaceous earth, and citrus spray. You can also contact  your local extension office  to find out which insecticides are effective and legal for use on carpenter bees in your area. Sources Bamabara, Stephen and  Waldvogel, Michael. Residential, Structural, and Community Pests. North Carolina State University. July 2009.Houseman, Richard. Carpenter Bees. The University of Missouri Extension.  Jacobs Sr., Steve. Carpenter Bees. Pennsylvania State University. January 2014UC Davis staff. Carpenter Bees Management Guidelines. The University of California. June 2014.13 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees. HomeRemedyHacks.com. 27 January 2015.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Domestic Violence And The Silent Epidemic - 1233 Words

Every 9 seconds in the U.S. a woman is assaulted or beaten. Domestic violence is a serious problem not only in the U.S., but across the globe. It is known as the silent epidemic because so many victims, majority women, suffer in silence. According to statistics, 85% of domestic violence victims are women. Additionally, statistics show that one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and that an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year (www.NCADV.org). In order to help individuals who are suffering from domestic violence, it is important to first understand the causes and effects of it. There are many theories on what actually causes abuse in relationships but a common theme is power and control. â€Å"Abusers may feel this need to control their partner because of low self-esteem, extreme jealousy, difficulties in regulating anger and other strong emotions, or when they feel inferior to the other partner in education and socioeconomic background† (What Causes Domestic Violence?). Domestic violence can also be due to a cultural belief where the men with traditional beliefs believe that men are superior and that they have the right to control women. Another perspective is that domestic violence is actually a learned behavior rather than genetics and is shaped by early childhood experiences. Men who as children witnessed their parents’ domestic violence are more likely to engage in domestic violenceShow MoreRelatedDiscrimination Against Islamic Women Essay1118 Words   |  5 Pagesas a necessity and something that must be adhered to. (Khaled Hosseini, 2007) Therefore, transmitting this obliviousness to the now ignorant citizens of the world. Regardless of this sexism epidemic, the Islamic women who fall victim to this ludicrous and frivolous injustice somehow find motivation and silent strength to carry on. Books such as A Thousand Splendid Suns and other pieces of literature like the poem â€Å"The Threshold of Silence† not only address sexism in Afghanistan and make it clearRead MoreDomestic Violence : South Africa1709 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic Violence in South Africa Love is looked upon as a beautiful thing but within beauty lies darkness in South Africa. There is an unspoken violence against women going on within the communities of south Africa that is now coming to light; domestic violence. Husbands, not strangers or men with guns, are now the biggest threat to women in post-conflict South Africa, according to a report by the International Rescue Committee. Attacked beaten, abused, killed these are sometimes words to describeRead MoreWhat crime affects one to four women in the United States each year? Domestic Violence. This crime1100 Words   |  5 PagesWhat crime affects one to four women in the United States each year? Domestic Violence. This crime is responsible for about 30% of female murders (Asher, Elba). Women need to comprehend the seriousness of this crime and know that there are laws to protect them so that they will not feel so helpless in any violent dispute. Domestic Violence has drastically increased over the years. Violence in the home is a concern for most. The most affected victims rather it’s emotionally or physically are womenRead MoreThere Should Be Stronger Laws And Consequences For People1325 Words   |  6 Pagesexecute acts of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a devastating problem, which occurs in various cities, countries, towns, homes and communities. Domestic violence or as some refer to as â€Å"family violence† has recently been recognized as a catastrophic rising crisis all across the world and one which has many damaging and harmful effects on family members â€Å"more extensively women and children†, ones’ community and our nation. The only real recurrent denominator of domestic violence; due to a broadRead MoreInjuries Caused During Violence is a Leading Cause of Death and Disability in the US919 Words   |  4 PagesViolence: injuries that are the leading cause of death and disabi lity for people aged 1 to 34 years in the United States. Violence is the threatened or actual use of physical force or power against another person, against oneself, or against a group or community, that either results in injury, death, or deprivation. Violence has become a national epidemic and a major public health issue. In a 1998 study by the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg School for Communication, 64.8% of the 405 AfricanRead MoreDomestic Violence : Will It Ever End?1620 Words   |  7 Pages Domestic Violence: Will it ever end? Jeanette M Mullen Columbia College HUMS 105 Abstract This paper is about Domestic Violence and how it affects the people that are victims of this abuse. You will read examples of domestic violence and see how the world has viewed this crime from the beginning of time to the present. Domestic violence doesn’t only affect women, there are also crimes of domestic violence reported of men being victims of this crime, but it is more prevalent in women beingRead MoreChildren Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence Essay1453 Words   |  6 PagesAfter many studies researchers have confirmed that when children are exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) it significantly effects their social emotional development (Hughes Chau, 2013; Herman-Smith, 2013). This raises a concern; if IPV was to be measured emotional abuse should children be removed from their families. If we consider that the majority of children that witness IPV are under six and would not be able to fully understand what is happening we can conclude that they would not beRead MoreThe Business Of Modern Day Slavery And Drug Trafficking1139 Words   |  5 Pageshaving control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation†(www.unescap.org). There are many forms of trafficking: sexual exploitation, including prostitution and pornography; forced labor, including agriculture, manufacturing (sweatshop), domestic servitude, fishing; forced marriage and illegal adoption; child soldiers; and organ trafficking (Al Jabal 48). The drug trade plays a major part in human trafficking by using drugs to recruit, retain, and exploit their victims. Runaway teens, bothRead MoreVideo Game Content Appropriate For The Everyday Teenager1273 Words   |  6 Pagesthink about what others enjoy in a game. Many teenagers play video games and are influenced by the content of the game. Sex, drugs and violence are portrayed in these games. Having a brother who is only that plays these games not only worries myself, but my parents. We are not worried that he will do something to harm anyone, but knowing that he sees drugs, violence and prostitution is worrisome. My parents have taught him between right and wrong so hopefully seeing the way these characters act willRead MoreQuestions On Taking Back Your Life Essay1613 Words   |  7 Pagesidentifies early life adversities (ELA) as a silent epidemic (Kaffman 2009) through: â€Å"Interpersonal trauma ranging from maltreatment, interpersonal violence, abuse, assault, and neglect experiences encountered by children and adolescents, including familial physical, sexual, emotional abuse and incest; community-, peer-, and school based assault, molestation, and severe bullying; severe physical , medical, and emotional neglect; witnessing domestic violence; as well as the impact of serious and pervasive

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The-Impact-of-Mergers--Acquisitions-on-It-Governance-Structures Free Essays

958 The Impact of Mergers Acquisitions on IT Governance Structures: A Case Study Pauline O. Chin Florida Atlantic University, USA George A. Brown Technologies Consultant, Jamaica Qing Hu Florida Atlantic University, USA Chapter 2. We will write a custom essay sample on The-Impact-of-Mergers--Acquisitions-on-It-Governance-Structures or any similar topic only for you Order Now 32 ABSTRACT Developing information technology (IT) governance structures within an organization has always been challenging. This is particularly the case in organizations that have achieved growth through mergers and acquisitions. When the acquired organizations are geographically located in different regions than the host enterprise, the factors affecting this integration and the choice of IT governance structures are quite different than when this situation does not exist. This study performs an exploratory examination of the factors that affect the choice of IT governance structures in organizations that grow through mergers and acquisitions in developing countries using the results of a case study of an international telecommunications company. We find that in addition to the commonly recognized factors such as government regulation, competition and market stability, organizational culture, and IT competence, top management’s predisposition toward a specific business strategy and governance structure can profoundly influence the choice of IT governance in organizations. Managerial implications are discussed. Copyright  © 2008, IGI Global, distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. The Impact of Mergers Acquisitions on IT Governance Structures InTRoduCTIon The business environment has become increasingly complex and competitive due to the rapid advances in technology and globalization of the world economy over the last two decades. In order to survive and to compete on a global scale, organizations have sought to increase their market share through mergers and acquisitions (MA) both locally and internationally. In a publication by the Bureau of Census (2002) on mergers and acquisitions in over 41 industries for the year 1998, it was reported that there were 3,882 cases of U. S. companies acquiring other U. S. companies. These data also indicated that there were 483 cases of foreign companies’ acquisitions of U. S. companies at an estimated value of US $233 billion, and 746 cases of U. S. companies acquiring foreign companies at an estimated value of US $128 billion. The trend toward mergers and acquisitions has been clearly demonstrated within the telecommunications industry worldwide (Oh, 1996; Ramamurti, 2000; Trillas, 2002; Wilcox et al. , 2001). Over the last several years, telecommunications companies in North America, Europe, and Asia have looked toward acquisitions and mergers for their survival and growth. During the last decade there has been an increasing number of local and foreign investments in the industry (Oh, 1996; Ramamurti, 2000), due primarily to the deregulation of the telecommunications markets as well as the move toward total or partial privatization of telecommunications companies within developing regions (Gutierrez Berg, 2000; Melody, 1999). Foreign investments in developing countries within Latin America and the Caribbean have increased tremendously over the last 20 years due largely to changes in the regulatory policies within these regions. Historically, companies in Latin America and the Caribbean were owned primarily by the local states. This changed dramatically in the mid-1980s to 1990s as the increasing economic and financial demands on the industry forced companies in the region to look toward foreign investments in order to stay competitive. Gutierrez and Berg (2000) reported that between the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, 14 out of the 24 telecommunications firms in the region privatized their companies. This strategy is also credited with setting into motion the current trend in a majority of the region’s telecommunications companies toward increased partial or total privatization (Gutierrez Berg, 2000; Ramamurti, 2000). As a consequence of this massive privatization and merger-and-acquisition movement in the telecommunications industry, the role f IT in these organizations has changed significantly over the last decade. The traditional relationship of IT providing support services to individual departments within an organization has evolved into one where IT now plays a broader role in achieving the overall strategic goals of the organization via a focus on global enterprise-wide support that encompasses not only multiple departments, but often different countries and cultures as well. As a result, IT governance in the dynamic and complex business environment has been pushed to the forefront of critical issues facing the management of these organizations, in spite of the fact that little research exists on IT governance that attempts to identify and explain the multiple factors that may affect the choice of IT governance structures in the context of mergers and acquisitions in developing regions. In order to address these issues, this article examines the evolution of a governance structure within a global telecommunications network organization, based on a framework developed from the extant literature on corporate and IT governance theories and practices. The article addresses the general research question: In the process of integrating foreign subsidiaries into the host company, what are the factors that influence the choice of IT governance structure? The primary purpose of the article is to contribute to a broader understanding 959 2 more pages are available in the full version of this document, which may be purchased using the â€Å"Add to Cart† button on the publisher’s webpage: www. igi-global. com/chapter/impact-mergers-acquisitions-governancestructures/9761 Related Content Information and Communication Technology and Good Governance in Africa G. Onu (2007). Encyclopedia of Digital Government (pp. 1026-1034). www. irma-international. org/chapter/informa tion-communication-technology-goodgovernance/11628/ Internet Voting: Embracing Technology in Electoral Processes Andru Riera, Jordi Sanchez and Laia Torras (2002). Electronic Government: Design, Applications and Management (pp. 78-98). www. irma-international. org/chapter/internet-voting-embracing-technology-electoral/9997/ Identifying Barriers to e-Government Services for Citizens in Developing Countries: An Exploratory Study Subhajyoti Ray (2011). International Journal of Electronic Government Research (pp. 79-91). www. irma-international. org/article/identifying-barriers-government-services-citizens/56100/ The State of Mobile Government in Turkey: Overview, Policy Issues, and Future Prospects Mete Yildiz (2008). Electronic Government: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications (pp. 236-248). www. irma-international. org/chapter/state-mobile-government-turkey/9708/ The â€Å"Quicksilver Initiatives† as a Framework for e-Government Strategy Design in Developing Economies Kelvin Joseph Bwalya, Tanya Du Plessis and Chris Rensleigh (2012). Handbook of Research on EGovernment in Emerging Economies: Adoption, E-Participation, and Legal Frameworks (pp. 605-623). www. irma-international. org/chapter/quicksilver-initiatives-framework-government-strategy/64874/ How to cite The-Impact-of-Mergers--Acquisitions-on-It-Governance-Structures, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Impact of Unethical Management Practices on Society

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Unethical Management Practices on Society. Answer: Introduction This report has been providing the brief description about the ethical issues and ethical dilemma. It has been focused on the ethical issues with the one business ethical problem i.e. unethical management behavior. The impact of unethical management behavior on the society has also been described in this report. Before starting, it is important to understand about the ethics in the business. Ethics can be described as the doing right activities and the practices for the welfare of the organization as well as society. In present time, unethical business and management practices can be seen in the various organizations and practiced by various people. Consequences of unethical business practices not only impacts on the business but also affects the society and community in which the organization is operating (Zuber Kaptein, 2014). The society depends so much on the organization as a source of goods, services, employment, and to some level to help in environment protection. When a busi ness decides to misuse the ethical values, that business will fall and will affect the society in many ways (Withanage, 2010). Along with this, those persons who works in the unethical business, they lost the meaning of getting employment. The customers who come from the society will be removed of the products and the services. This shows that how extreme the unethical business can go. Impact on Society It is the sad truth that now almost every company is involved in the unethical behavior for their personal benefit. There are many organizations which are adopting unethical behaviors to maximize the profit. In the present business environment, there is no lie between right and wrong. Those workers who have high moral standards are helpless. They cannot do anything against unethical behavior which they notice in their colleagues. Along with this, due to legal insignificance, the unethical conducts remain unpunished. An employee who is working with the organization having unethical practices, dishonest and fault conducts has directly affected the society. Workers who are involved in the unethical practices are responsible for their actions directly or indirectly (Moore, et al, 2012). Although, they may not found guilty by the court or law but it is understood that they may face stress in terms of mental and physical stress due to immoral actions. When a company is found guilty in doin g unethical practices, the workers of the company face many questions under investigation. If the workers are found to be involved in those false practices then thy may be get blacklisted for their professional career (Welsh Ordez, 2014). There are many workers in various organizations who are involved in the unethical and false practice and they do not know the cause of unease or other health issues. The unethical behavior and practices have the strong impact in the lives of employees who are working in such organizations (Tonus Oru, 2012). Further, the unethical management behavior can harm the society by many other ways. The unethical behavior can harm the sales of goods and services. The customer many deny or boycott to buy the products from those companies due to unethical behavior. Due to business dishonesty, the investors may also deny to buy the share of the companies as investing in the dishonest organization will give poor returns in the result. Immoral dealings and the unethical practices creates mistrust in the society. Along with this, workers face lower productivity, conflicts and cripple in the organization (Kish-Gephart, Harrison Trevino, 2010). Ethical dilemma Ethical dilemma can be described as a moral situation in which a choice has to be made by the person between two unwanted options. The ethical dilemma can be understood by the example. The ethical dilemma in the organization may arise due to various factors such as conflict of personal values, organizational goals versus social values and failure of personal character etc. business dilemma happens when the decision maker in the organization face the choice between two options (Andreoli Lefkowitz, 2009). For example, in an organization the new technology has launched which is very beneficial for both organization as well as client. But in that technology, there are less number of workers is required. Now decision maker is in now ethical dilemma i.e. either he provides the better services to the clients by the new technology or be loyal towards the employees of the organization. In this situation, neither clients nor employees deserve to suffer. Recommendations To reduce the unethical practices, there are some recommendations for the organizations: The seniors and the top management of the organization should cross check the decisions of organizations but they should also be legally correct. In the case of ethical dilemma, there should be the win-win situation. It is not wrong to adopt new technologies as the overall aim of the organization is customer satisfaction. But at the breakdown situation of technology, employees can be used. There should be a code of conduct in the written format for both employees as well as managers. The code of conduct will outline the unethical behavior and measures of the people within the organization (Kaptein, 2011). Conclusion This report has been focused on the unethical management practices in the organization. The impact of the unethical practices on the society has also been analyzed. From the above discussion, it has been observed that the society depends so much on the organization as a source of goods, services, employment, and to some level to help in environment protection. So, when an organization does unethical practices then the organization lost its trust among the consumers. Along with this, those persons who work in the unethical business are also responsible for their actions directly or indirectly. The unethical behavior can harm the sales of goods and services. There might be the condition of ethical dilemma, in which the organization can adopt unethical practices for its personal benefits. In the above given example, company can terminate the employees due to new technology for the personal benefit. So, to overcome from this type of situation, there must be code of conducts for the welfa re of the employees as well as society. References Andreoli, N., Lefkowitz, J. (2009), Individual and organizational antecedents of misconduct in organizations: Journal of Business Ethics, 85 (3), 309-332 Kaptein, M., (2011), Toward effective codes: Testing the relationship with unethical behavior: Journal of Business Ethics, 99 (2) Kish-Gephart, J. J., Harrison, D. A., Trevino, L. K., (2010), Bad apples, bad cases, and bad barrels: Meta-analytic evidence about sources of unethical decisions at work: Journal of Applied Psychology, 95 (1), 1 Moore, C., Detert, J. R., Trevino, L., Baker, V. L., Mayer, D.M., (2012), Why employees do bad things: Moral disengagement and unethical organizational behavior: Personnel Psychology, 65 (1), 1-48 Tonus, H., Oru, I., (2012), Unethical behaviors and their management in human resource management: A content analysis of a company's personnel regulation: Turkish Journal of Business Ethics, 5(10), 173-181 Welsh, D. T., Ordez, L. D. (2014), The dark side of consecutive high performance goals: Linking goal-setting, depletion, and unethical behavior: Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 123 (2), 79-89 Withanage, A. J., (2010), Motivated to be unethical: International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 5 (3), 55-69 Zuber, F. F., Kaptein, M. M. (2014), Painting with the same brush? Surveying unethical behavior in the workplaceusing self-reports and observer-Reports: Journal of Business Ethics, 125(3), 401-432