Business Ethics And The Business World - 2792 Words

Business ethics play an essential role in the business world today. Since their development they have become a major influence on anything business related. The importance of ethics was chosen to give more of an in-depth look at not only basic benefits that business ethics bring about, but some less known benefits as well. Business ethics add great morale to the corporation and its culture, allowing the organization to use this as a tool for a multitude of organizational affairs. While there are some that oppose the use of business ethics in today’s business world, the benefits outweigh the opposition’s points. Comparing and contrasting the benefits and the opposition’s invalid arguments, it can be plainly seen why business ethics should be implemented and are a core aspect of any business that is looking to be successful in the modern world. Maintaining a piece of today’s ever changing market is becoming increasingly difficult. The needs of the consumer fluctuate drastically, competition is at an all-time high, and the number of competitors is increasing daily. Considering all of these factors, it is feasible to see why a cutthroat mentality is needed and sometimes used for business. However, this cutthroat mentality is the reason why organizations are no longer fully trusted. With decisions and actions made by Enron, Arthur Andersen, and Bernard Madoff, how are consumers and the public supposed to fully give their trust to something or someone. Recently, organizations wereShow MoreRelatedThe World Of Business Ethics2141 Words   |  9 Pages Claim The world of business in the United States is complex, each decision for any given company affects a number of variables at a time. Likewise, each decision is based on the evaluation of many factors; decisions that would seem mundane to the outsider have to take into consideration applicable laws, on both the Federal and State level, â€Å"is what we’re doing legal?†, what is best for the shareholders, â€Å"will this yield greater dividends or increase share value†, whatRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Business World Essay1973 Words   |  8 Pagesbe completing, it is extremely important that you are aware of the certain business polices we have at this corporation. There are numerous policies in our company. These may be found in the document Business Conduct Guidelines. This memo will cover only those topics that are found in the guidelines that relate to writing ethically and handling written materials properly. This focus is very important in the business world because we are faced with ethical dilemmas every day. How you react in theseRead MoreEthics Codes And The World Of International Business1404 Words   |  6 PagesEthics or what it is sometimes known as moral philosophy is an idea that involves the decision or right or wrong conduct. Ethics play a very vital role in any business and especially in the world of international business. In an international business setting the set of ethically right doings expands greatly due to a particular countries ethics standards. Not all ethics standards are the same especially when dealing with countries across the seas from the United States of America. Due to differentRead MoreThe World Of Knowledge Is Not Exempt From Business Ethics1667 Words   |  7 Pages The World of Knowledge Is Not Exempt From Business Ethics MG 640: Managerial Economics Prof. Rawana Miral Patel Due: November 8, 2015 Ethics is one of the most pertinent topics in todays world. In the present one finds oneself in a constantly evolving lifestyle where the boundaries between what is right and what is wrong is constantly changing and the line between truth and false is blurring. Even in this scenario one does understand the implications even a small wrong decisionRead MoreWorld Philosophy, Personal Values, And Business Ethics2625 Words   |  11 Pagesshow how world philosophy, personal values, and business ethics have components that are shared that impact values and morals. Values are at the core of all decision making personal or business. This study will provide analysis of how these capacities shape a person’s or business ethics. It will show how something is reasoned to be right or wrong. It will highlight how these ideas get formed, the root of the problem as well as suggest recommendations that might resolve issues related to world, personalRead MoreThe Potential and Limitation of Team work Ethics as a Success Factor in the Business World1990 Words   |  8 PagesThe Potential and Limitation of Teamwork Ethics as a Success Factor in the Business World Abderazak Ouassou Texas AM University - Commerce The Potential and Limitation of Teamwork Ethics as a Success Factor in the Business World Lincoln Electric, one of the most successful companies, is the world leading manufacturer of arc welding products. It is also one of the leading producers of industrial electric motors. This success is mainly driven by the ethical practices of the company. The LincolnRead MoreThe News of the World Phone Hacking Scandal from Business Ethics and Csr Point of View3483 Words   |  14 PagesThe News of the World Phone Hacking Scandal from Business Ethics and CSR Point of View Date: 21 June 2012 Executive Summary The focus of the project you’re about to read is on the recently phone hacking scandal of famous UK News agency, - The News of The World. The report include a brief explanation of what has happened based on pre-selected online articles, analysis of the scandal from Business Ethics point of view by using various CSR theories discussed during the CSR course in period fourRead MoreWhat is Business Ethics?741 Words   |  3 Pages In today’s business world businesses face the challenge of doing the right thing over doing the profitable thing more than ever before. For many years the sole purpose of business was to be make profits for the shareholders. This view has now been changed. The propriety of business actions is being challenged by the modern day consumer. One of the major issues or opportunities (depending on which way one may see it) is the issue of ‘going-green’. Consumers in today’s society have access to a largeRead MoreImportance of Ethics in International Business1541 Words   |  7 PagesImportance of Ethics in International Business Executive Summary Ethics in the business world is important and global. Ethics  indicate what is right and what is wrong in  business branches and also lead employees and stakeholders with moral values. Due to the globalization of markets and production processes, business people have to deal with ethical issues in cross-cultural settings at an increasing number. The purpose of this paper is to explain the importance of international business, emphasiseRead MorePersonal Views Ethics Essay1083 Words   |  5 PagesViews Ethics Essay Each person should live with moral standards. To distinguish between the right and wrong is based on the person’s ethics. It describes what kind of values and beliefs does the person has. In business, it composed of standard ethics that serves as a guideline among employees about their expectation to the company. Newell S. stated that ethics in business focuses on identifying the moral standards of right and wrong as they apply to behaviour within and across business institutions

Machiavellian Macbeth Essay - 1609 Words

While Macbeth exhibits certain Machiavellian characteristics, he does not heed Machiavellis advice regarding rulers who desire to obtain their principalities through crime, and through either the ignorance of, or disregard for, this advice, Macbeth cannot be considered Machiavellian. Hence it should be noted that in taking hold of a state, he who seizes it should examine all the offenses necessary for him to commit, and do them all at a stroke....For injuries must be done all together, so that, being tasted less, they offend less... (Machiavelli 38). This key paragraph of advice is given by Machiavelli to all aspiring rulers who are contemplating the act of obtaining a principality through the use of criminal†¦show more content†¦The string of murders which Macbeth feels the need to perpetuate, from Duncan to Young Siward, follows the pattern that Machiavelli warned would occur with the misuse of cruelty and which Machiavelli wished to prevent. Machiavelli almost explicitly foretells the progress of Macbeths life, saying: Those cruelties are badly used which, though few in the beginning, rather grow with time than are eliminated. Those who observe the first mode can have some remedy for their state with God and with men, as had Agathocles; as for the others it is impossible for them to maintain themselves (Machiavelli 38). This almost directly mirrors the plight that Macbeth faces throughout each day of his cursed life after the murder of King Duncan. The list of people that he feels necessary to kill continues to grow with each passing day. He neglects to predict the members of the list as well as to exterminate the list of people in its entirety with one fatal blow--both of which were suggested by Machiavelli. As a result, Macbeth resorts to witchcraft in order to gain some sense of stability in his life and kingdom. He misunderstands the witches prophecies, and thereby cloaks himself with a misguided sense of security. This leads him to his eventual death at the hands of Macduff, which is parallel to the doom that Machiavelli projects with theShow MoreRelatedIs Macbeth a machiavellian character?1167 Words   |  5 Pagesuse. Have you ever thought about a leader that possessed these qualities that was from a play? Shakespeare s character Macbeth represents the Machiavellian idea that a ruler should appear well in public, be smart and strong, and do what is necessary to hold onto power. Shakespeare used imagery, and metaphors to portray Macbeth this way because, although he dies in the end, Macbeth still used Machiavelli s ideals, and was successful in many ways. Both Machiavelli and Shakespeare knew that it mattersRead MoreEssay Macbeth776 Words   |  4 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the main character, Macbeth, can be compared in many was to a Machiavellian prince. Macbeth’s ambition to be king and his desire for power are the basis of Machiavelli’s ideas, but when examined more closely we find many flaws in Macbeth’s character that Machiavelli warns will be destructive. Although Macbeth has many Machiavellian characteristics, Macbeth’s rise to power without true â€Å"fortune† or â€Å"virtue† leads him to his downfall. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;TheRead MoreMachiavelli ´s Principle in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay1648 Words   |  7 PagesTHESIS STATEMENT Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, applies the Machiavellian principles of how princes should properly conduct themselves which is directly applied through Duncan, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Malcolm. PURPOSE STATMENT Through analytic research, this paper will examine, as well as, compare and contrast the Machiavellian principles to the characters in Macbeth. The focus will include the influence of his principles, how they affect the characters, behaviors, and if they fit the descriptionRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare’S Macbeth Remains As A Crucial Play1705 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Macbeth remains as a crucial play in understanding the central concepts that shape modern Western civilization. The novel dramatizes the mental and physical impacts of those pursuing political power. For centuries, medieval and Renaissance civilizations were assured of a harmony between political and religious ideals. Audiences during Shakespeare’s time were familiar with kingdoms that incorporated religious aspects into their political systems. In Scotland and England, theRead MoreMacbeth - Supernatural Theme809 Words   |  4 Pagessupernatural forces in William Shakespeare s, Ma cbeth, provides for much of the play s dramatic tension and the mounting suspense. Several supernatural apparitions throughout the play profoundly affect Macbeth and the evil forces eventually claim Macbeth and destroy his morals. Macbeth s ambition was driven by the prophecies of the three witches and unlike Banquo, he was willing to do anything to assure that they actually transpire. Macbeth is horrified at the notion of killing Duncan, hisRead MoreMichael Attenborough’s Macbeth at the Playhouse by Queensland Theatre Company1199 Words   |  5 Pages QUEENSLAND THEATRE COMPANY’S MACBETH: A CRITICAL REFLECTION Having been much anticipated, Michael Attenborough’s Macbeth was recently shown at the Playhouse by Queensland Theater performed by The Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe as part of the Arts for all Queenslanders strategy instilled by Newman Government in 2013 (Walker, I. 2014. pg 3). With this in place it’s allowing renowned actors and directors to dazzle Queensland theatregoers with a new waveRead MoreThe Downfall of Macbeth by William Shakespeare1258 Words   |  5 Pages The play Macbeth is set around the rise and the fall of the protagonist, Macbeth. The audience perceives that there are a number of culprits that have caused his eventual down fall, such as Lady Macbeth, the three witches and Macbeth himself. We cannot ignore the thought that each of the factors has played a fairly notable role yet only one is truly responsible for setting off the tumultuous cycle of the play. Personally, when thinking over the causes and consequences I have come to a consideredRead MoreMacbeth As A Tyrant Essay1281 Words   |  6 PagesThe Downfall of a Tyrant Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in 1606, during the reign of James I, who was James IV of Scotland before he became the King of England. James I, was a sponsor of Shakespeare’s theatre, so it is clear that Shakespeare’s work was affected by James I’s sensitivities. Murder and intrigue was a part of the Scottish Reign when James was growing, and in fact, James’s father was murdered when he was just a baby. Macbeth tells the story of a Scottish general who, through prophecies receivedRead MoreCompare the ways Shakespeare presents fear and doubt in Macbeth and Richard III?1222 Words   |  5 Pagesuncertainty are presented in Richard III and Macbeth Macbeth is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare. The play is set in Scotland during the mid  11th century. But, the play was written in 1606 at a time where James I was on the throne. King James was a very superstitious man who believed in magic and witchcraft and these themes were presented in Macbeth to please the King. Also the political context is important as it was included in Macbeth with the ideas of excessive ambition. On theRead MoreMacbeth, By William Shakespeare Essay2179 Words   |  9 PagesShakespeare’s epochal play, Macbeth, centers around the power and manipulation of the main character along with the greed that accompanies it. Macbeth is centralized about vigor overriding inhibitions and the conscious awareness of its characters. The power of the female character in Macbeth is feasibly one of the most intriguing aspects of the entire play. Lady Macbeth acts as the play’s catalyst that aids in Macbeth’s treacherous acts. Through the n efarious actions of Lady Macbeth, she dexterously cajoles

Definitions of Abnormal Behavior free essay sample

Through the years it has been understood that there exists a great deal of difficulty when attempting to define an individual case of abnormal behavior. Many pros and cons must be described and studied In order to accurately define, decipher, or explain a particular aspect of the many behavioral abnormalities. Abnormalities as a legal concept can be defined most simply as the definition of Insanity given by the judicial system, which makes It a legal term as opposed to a psychological one. Insanities definition differs from one state, city, or Jurisdiction to another. In some situations insanity is deemed as whether or not the person fully or correctly understands the complete separation of right from wrong. Other entitles may see Insanity as whether or not the defendant clearly understands If his or her behavior was actually criminal, or non criminal, or If they were able to or not able to control themselves and their behavior leading up to, or at the time of the act. We will write a custom essay sample on Definitions of Abnormal Behavior or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In some states Insanity Is not even a viable defense at all.Abnormality as the Inability to function effectively deals with whether someone Is able to live their life as a productive member of society. Meaning ones ability to hold gainful employment, Interact well with other members of society, nourish their self properly or even malting a normal level of hygiene. There are some who are not able to function accordingly wealth their particular society. Those who are found to not be able to properly adapt to their respective societies basic demands may be viewed as abnormal based on their Inability to conform In these basic modes of function.

Things I Learned About Poisonous Snakes Essays - Snake,

things I learned about poisonous snakes POISONOUS SNAKES There are more than twenty-five hundred types of snakes in the world and only half of them will attack you under some circumstances. They will attack you if you run at them or try to hit them or some times they will not attack you at all. Not all snakes are human eaters. They may scare you even if they are not poisonous. There is a way to tell if they are poisonous or non poisonous by the colors on their back. There is a saying that goes ? If red touches yellow your a dead fellow, if red touches black your OK jack.? The second thing I learned about snakes is how they eat. Snakes have many different sizes' fangs that is where the poison is released from. The snake with the biggest fangs is on the viper. The weirdest thing is the python has such small fangs when it's such a big snake. The most poisonous snake is the sea snake that one lives in the ocean. I think it's cool how a snake eats because it swallows its prey whole by dislocating its jaw. It extends to swallow its victim. The way a snake catches its prey is by striking at it and then injects the poison into it, and a few minutes later the animal dies or is paralyzed. The snake smells it with its tongue and then does its thing. After it eats it does not need to have food for about 2 months. One other important thing, is that when an anaconda or other very big snakes eat it wraps its self around you or some kind of animal. They will squeeze you to death or until you pass out or die. They will then dislocate their jaw and swallow you whole. It will take about an hour to eat you it depends on the size of the body of the human or the animal. There are less than one thousand snake bites reported here in the United States. Here in the Southwest there are more rattle snakes than anywhere. If you are ever bitten by a snake, you should kill it and save it if you can. To be identified. Even after it's dead you should only touch it by its tale because the poison is still in its fangs. Another thing I learned about snakes is that they can be very friendly to you. There are many people that have snakes as pets. They are also taking a risk because they can bite and sometime strangled people. The ones that would be the safest for you are the non poisonous snakes. That was my book report on snakes

The Maasai Age-Grade System essays

The Maasai Age-Grade System essays Without war, how shall we know the courageous from the cowardly? (Massek 1974: 7-8). This quote comes from a story in a book of Maasai wisdom and proverbs. It is the story of an elder man taking his son to the Mountain of God to tell him the ways of the people of the Maa. He professes to his son the changes taking place in Maasai culture and their loss of prominence throughout the land. He tells him how the Maasai used to rule from the Northern Mountain of Gikuyu to the very gates of Mombasa (Massek 1974: 7). The father says that the warriors of today are no better then women, that without war there is no way to distinguish who the brave and courageous are among the Maasai. The father says that in these times the present any boy may put the sign of the courageous on his shield and go unchallenged by his age-group, and that now the Maasai no longer fight other cultures for their rights and property but are passive compared to the times of war and fighting that he used to know. Concl uding his story, the father says I say, I shall die as a Maasai, but I have no certainty for my children (Massek 1974: 8). The preceding story is one example of prevalent change in Maasai culture, a change in age-grade importance and relevance that has had a negative effect on the Maasai people. The warriors (Ilmoran) are a vital part of Maasai survival, performing a variety of tasks from capturing a cow to be slaughtered for ceremony to subduing a crazed rhinoceros charging the kraal (Saitoti 1980: 109). The children, warriors, and elders all have tasks that they perform as an integral part of society. The Maasai idea of age is much different from our own; they reckon time by ages or periods of approximately seven and a half years (Hollis 1971: 261). The Maasai idea of age is how they distinguish people amongst their respective age grades. For example, children are not all circumcised to...

Make Time to Be Solitary

Make Time to Be Solitary Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone. ~ Paul Tillich Books take many hours to write, which gives the public the impression that writers are lonely, solitary creatures. The average person cannot stand being alone. However, its next to impossible to be alone anymore. Im not talking about people interference, though that is an issue. How often do you write without access to the internet? Your phone? Earbuds or background music? Most writers arent solitary. On the contrary they usually cannot stand not to be connected. And maintaining that connection means you are not completely alone which could be impacting your writing. You may think you need the noise, connection, or music because your brain cannot take the concept of being totally shut off from it. Youve convinced yourself you need that accompaniment. Truth is, being focused on one, intense thing like creative writing is a challenge. We multi-task so much these days that we have lost touch with single-tasking. If we are too long silent online, or do not answer our phone, other people worry. Actually, when people are able to slide away into solitary mode and remain there a while, other people become concerned about broken, abnormal behavior. You arent depressed, are you? In reality, all the stimuli we cant keep up with might be more the cause of said depression. Suzanne Degges-White, a psychology professor at Northern Illinois University, says: â€Å"You can’t make good decisions if you don’t ever give yourself time to reflect.† And â€Å"if you’re constantly engaged in the world, it’s harder to make space for those moments of genius.† Resource: https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-need-for-alone-time-1225-story.html Gaming  on your phone is not alone time. Background music is not alone time. Anything conflicting with alone time saps brain function. Find time where nothing is required of you. Absolutely nothing. Regenerate with alone time, then try writing with nothing else active around you. Attempt pure, unadulterated thinking about your story. This allows your writing to pour instead of fighting its way around the distractions.

Law And Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Law And Society - Essay Example His programs were collectively called the New Deal. The New Deal projects by President Roosevelt suffered massive drawbacks at the courts. Most of them were frustrated by the supreme courts issuing verdicts that they were unconstitutional (Himmelberg, p19). The statues and provisions in the new deal programs that were struck down by the courts include the Agricultural Adjustment Act, which supported financially staple farmers, the National Industrial Recovery Act, which approved the cartelization of industries, and the Railroad Retirement Act. According to Leuchtenburg, these sudden changes precipitated a constitutional crisis. They posed a difficult challenge to the conventional dogma of the Supreme Court leading to a constitutional revolution (Leuchtenburg p213). Frustrated by the courts actions, President Roosevelt reacted by announcing his reorganization of the judiciary. This was infamously known as the â€Å"court packing† plan (Mannino, p293). Several writers argue that the courts struck down numerous important laws in the twentieth century. The two pertinent reasons fronted for this precedence were; the laws were hastily and poorly drafted during the emotional hundred days of Roosevelt in office and that they were badly defended in the courts. It must be noted that these two arguments were found with flaws. One law in New York drafted by the best law practitioners in United States was a casualty in this period. This reason amongst others weakened the reasoning held at that time (Leuchtenburg p234). The court packing plan, for instance, according to Leuchtenburg had frightened the courts and posed a danger to them. This to him might have had some effect relative to jurisprudence. However, the interpretation of the constitutional revolution in the 1930s is diverse. Several law scholars have cited different Court cases of the twentieth century to support their stand on which case actually represented a constitutional revolution. In this term paper, the cases West Coast Hotel vs. Parrish, argued for by Leuchtenburg and Wickard vs. Filburn argued for by Cushman will be analyzed. As a result, determine which authors interpretations of the cases amount to a revolutionary case. In the case West Coast Hotel vs. Parrish (1937), the Supreme Court judgment upheld the constitutionality of legislation on minimum wage passed by Washington State. It overturned the trials court decision that was based on the precedent of Adkins vs. Children’s Hospital (Leuchtenburg, p164). This decision is believed to have ended the era in which the Supreme Court had a penchant for quashing legislation intended at regulating enterprise. Leuchtenburg argues that, this case marked a notable divide in the history of the courts. It also had a significant consequence on the destiny of President Roosevelt Court packing plan. In addition, Elsie Parrish case prompted a constitutional revolution in the United States Supreme Court (Leuchtenburg p163). Her case appeared to be heading for defeat since for a decade; the Supreme Court had ruled that a minimum wage act for women was unlawful since it violated the liberty of contract that the Court assumptions were guaranteed by the Constitution. Against all odds, Elsie Parrish was resolute in her quest for justice. Following the precedent of Adkins, her case was never watertight in the eyes of legal practitioners. Even at the time, the finest law practition

Career Planning assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Career Planning assignment - Essay Example From here, one gets to the final stage of career planning which is designing their professional development plan. At this stage, an individual states the improvements they need to make in order to qualify for the requirements which are supposed to take them up towards their career goal (Fuller 2011, p. 410). The following text is my elaborated career plan as I aim at owning a top-of-the-range lingerie selling store in the U.K. I have always aspired to go into self-employment as opposed to being employed by anyone else. Specifically, I have always promised myself that I would start and run an executive lingerie selling store in the United Kingdom. This career appeals to me because I have a good taste of fashion, and I am sure what I will have to offer will be irresistible. Additionally, I am good at convincing people, and this is a good sign that I will always attract clients. Commercial skills to enable them to plan promotions, pricing, and product presentation, to achieve budget forecasts and targets, to devise the best store layout, and to advise retail managers on matters such as competition and marketing initiatives. Lingerie business also requires high standards so that compliance with procedures and policies is observed, excellence in customer service is instilled, and finally safety, repairs, and housekeeping is maintained. Presently, the skills I possess are aligned towards my career, but they are inadequate. First, I have people management and financial management skills that I have acquired from my major. These are however not sufficient in the event that I had to apply for such a lingerie store management job. The skills I have in commercial management are only on product pricing, presentation and promotion. However, the career demands that I should be able to achieve budget forecasts and targets. Additionally, my communication skills which I am quite satisfied with still need to be sharpened so that I

Developing A Performance Appraisal System Essay Example for Free

Developing A Performance Appraisal System Essay All organizations utilize some sort of system that periodically reviews the performance of every staff member. As the director of human resources, you are responsible for developing such a system. Write a 750- to 1,050-word paper in APA format that details an original performance appraisal system for a human service organization. Address the following: Determine the elements that should be present in an appraisal system. What is the purpose of a performance appraisal system and how does it benefit the organization? Outline the elements of good appraisal systems. Determine the criteria for each element that should be present in an appraisal system. Cite at least two sources. Determine the elements that should be present in an appraisal system The elements that should be present in an appraisal system are thorough goal-setting process, which decide what you want from employees and agree these objectives with them. The key component of the people element is the manager, who give your employees the tools, resources and training they need to perform well. The manager drives the system by setting expectations, communicating plans, encouraging development, and giving and receiving feedback. Carrying out the appraisal allow managers to monitor and assess employees performance, discuss those assessments with them and agree on future objectives .It also identifies employees developmental needs and includes robust reward and recognition practices. Consider pay awards and/or promotion based on the appraisal and decides how to tackle poor performance. However, there can be dangers as well as benefits of linking rewards to performance. What is the purpose of a performance appraisal system and how does it benefit the organization? The purpose of a performance appraisal system is the two basic systems operating in conjunction: an evaluation system and a feedback system. The main goal of the evaluation system is to recognize the performance  gap (if any). This gap is the deficit that occurs when performance does not meet the standard set by the organization as adequate. The central aim of the feedback system is to notify the employee about the quality of his or her performance. Nonetheless, the information flow is not entirely one way. The appraisers also receive feedback from the employee about job problems, etc.) One of the best ways to appreciate the purposes of performance appraisal is to look at it from the different viewpoints of the main stakeholders: the employee and the organization. Outline the elements of good appraisal systems 1. Measurement vs. Management the performance measurement aspect of the performance appraisal system is a useful tool for measuring current productivity levels and determining the gap between those current levels and desired productivity levels. 2. Employee Input Employee input is a vital element of the effective performance appraisal system. It is essential for supervisors and managers to include the employee in the performance management process to ensure that the employee feels a sense of engagement in the process. 3. Clarification of Expectations Before a manager or supervisor can expect an employee to meet expectations, it is essential to ensure that the employees perception of what is expected is in alignment with the managers perceptions 4. Employee Development Perhaps the most essential element of an effective performance appraisal system is employee development. While the performance appraisal itself may identify areas where improvement is necessary, the employee development portion of the overall performance management system is used to determine the best way to bring this improvement to fruition. Determine the criteria for each element that should be present in an appraisal system There are four key elements in a good performance and appraisal system: Set objectives decide what you want from employees and agree these objectives with them. [ If appropriate, set timescales for  achieving them. – Manage performance give your employees the tools, resources and training they need to perform well. If appropriate, set timescales for achieving objectives. – Carry out the appraisal monitor and assess your employees performance, discuss those assessments with them and agree on future objectives. Provide rewards/remedies consider pay awards and/or promotion based on the appraisal and decide how to tackle poor performance. However, there can be dangers as well as benefits of linking rewards to performance.

The Facts About Educational and Roth IRA’s Essay -- essays papers

The Facts About Educational and Roth IRA’s In 1997 great things came into play for the taxpayers. The Tax Reform Act of 1997, which was inacted by the IRS, allowed single taxpayers and married taxpayers a considerable amount of tax relief for the Educational and Roth IRA’s. Individual Retirement Accounts, also known as IRA’s, are accounts opened in an individual’s name only and provide tax-deferred savings for retirement. The contributions may be fully deductible, partially deductible, or nondeductible. All IRA’s have the same basic characteristics that enable customers to save money while gaining benefits that may include tax-deferred savings and tax deductions. An IRA is a product in which customers place additional products into, such as CD’s, stocks, bonds and mutual funds. These products are placed into IRA’s to meet customers’ retirement, education, or other future needs. The customers are able to select these products based on their tolerance to risk and their individual investment goals. The IRA will hold these products and provide the potential tax shelter and savings incentives. In order to explain the great qualities of the Roth IRA and the Educational IRA, you must know just a few things about the Traditional IRA. The Traditional IRA is the original product offered to help individuals set aside funds for retirement. To be eligible to contribute to the Traditional IRA the customer must be 70 1/2 or younger, and have an earned income. With the Traditional IRA any withdrawals are subject to income tax in the year in which they are being withdrawn. In addition there are some penalties which may apply if the individual is under the age of 59 1/2 when the funds are withdrawn. There are only seven ways the customers may withdrawal from their Traditional IRA before age 59 1/2 with out being penalized a 10% premature-distribution penalty. These seven ways would be death, disability, medical expenses over 7.5% of AGI, health insurance premiums for certain unemployed individuals, first time home buyer (up to $10,000), higher education expenses, and substantially eq ual periodic payments. With the Traditional IRA the maximum contribution allowed is the lesser of earned income or $2,000. This contribution is not tax-deductible (smartmoney, the ira super page, 2000). With a Traditional IRA there are required minimum distributions which must ... ...two options which they can choose from. The first option is to withdrawal the remaining amount, but it will be subject to income tax and an additional 10 percent tax that represents earnings. The second option is to have the remaining amount rolled over into another IRA. In addition to the two options just discussed the Education IRA can be designated to another beneficiary instead of rolling it over. Bibliography: SmartMoney.com (2000). Roth IRAs: You wanted to know [Internet]. Available: http://www.smartmoney.com/ac/ira/index.cmf?story=know [2000, January 28]. SmartMoney.com (2000). Roth IRAs: To convert or not [Internet]. Available: http://www.smartmoney.com/ac/ira/index.cmf?story=convert [2000, January 28]. SmartMoney.com (2000). The IRA Super Page [Internet]. Available: http://www.smartmoney.com/ac/ira/index:cmf?story=supertable [2000, January 28]. TrowePrice.com (2000). Education IRAs [Internet]. Available: http://www.troweprice.com/college/cpklib2.html [2000, February 8]. Dow Jones Industrial Webcenter (2000). What’s Hot! [Internet]. Available: http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/plain/hot/not97-603.html [2000, February 7

Importance and uses of contrastive linguistics Essay

Introduction: Contrastive Linguistics, roughly defined as a subdiscipline of linguistics which is concerned with the comparison of two or more (subsystems of) languages, has long been associated primarily with language teaching. Apart from this applied aspect, however, it also has a strong theoretical purpose, contributing to our understanding of language typology and language universals. The study of two languages in contrast, here called contrastive analysis, has been referred to by a variety of names, not all of which mean the same to all writers. One can find the following terms used: contrastive studies, contrastive language studies, contrastive linguistics, applied contrastive studies, contrastive description and others. contrastive analysis investigates the differences between pairs (or small sets) of languages against the background of similarities and with the purpose of providing input to applied disciplines such as foreign language teaching and translation studies. With its largely desc riptive focus contrastive linguistics provides an interface between theory and application. It makes use of theoretical findings and models of language description but is driven by the objective of applicability. Contrastive studies mostly deal with the comparison of languages that are ‘socio-culturally linked’, i.e. languages whose speech communities overlap in some way, typically through (natural or instructed) bilingualism . Much progress has been made in classifying the languages of the earth into genetic families, each having descent from a single precursor, and in tracing such developments through time. The result is called â€Å"comparative linguistics.† Of even greater importance for the future technology of thought is what might be called â€Å"contrastive linguistics.† This plots the outstanding differences among tongues – in grammar, logic, and general analysis of experience.A major influence on the development of the contrastive analysis approach has been the interest shown in it by language teachers and learners, and much CA has been undertaken with language teaching rather than translation in mind. One can prevent development of errors through a prior contrastive analysis and error analysis, leading to the development of appropriate teaching materials to  reinforce correct language learning. Relevance and uses of contrastive linguistics: The relevance of CL to translation: The emphasis of much of the work on CL on teaching and language learning raises questions about its relevance to translators. At a practical level, it is probably most useful in pointing out areas where direct translation of a term or phrase will not convey accurately in the second language the intended meaning of the first. At a global level, it leads the translator to look at broader issues such as whether the structure of the discourse for a given text-type is the same in both languages. Furthermore, although Contrastive Analysis is widely practised, there are a number of theoretical and practical problems in its application, all of which must affect judgements as to its usefulness in preparing or evaluating translations. There is some overlap between these problems, but they can nevertheless be related to specific difficulties of identifying a common ground for comparison, comparing descriptions of different languages, taking account of psycholinguistic and sociocultural factors, and taking account of extratextual and intertextual factors. Identifying a common ground for comparison All comparisons require that there be a common ground against which variation may be noted, a constant that underlies and makes possible the variables that are identified. Fonnal similarity is unreliable for several reasons. In the first place, a particular grammatical structure in one language may be a requirement while in another it may be one choice amongst several; in the second place, the choice represented by a grammatical structure in one language may have a different significance in that language from the choice represented by an apparently equivalent structure in another language .in the third place, in one language a particular structure may be unmarked while in another it may be marked. A pair of sentences might be semantically and/or pragmatically equivalent but have widely varying likelihoods of occurrence in the languages from which they are drawn. A simple example of all these points is that of the Portuguese expression â€Å"muito obrigado/a and the English expressio n much obliged. These  are syntactically and semantically comparable but have a different likelihood of occurrence, muito obrigado/a being the normal way of thanking in Portuguese and much obliged being a rare and more restricted usage than thanks a lot (and other related expressions) in English. Comparing descriptions of different languages Apart from the real but unavoidable problems arising out of comparisons of descriptions that utilize different linguistic models, there are problems that arise even between descriptions that utilize the same categories and theoretical framework.Understanding between and among disparate cultures has challenged mankind throughout history; and clearly, communication, intercultural communication, is a key element in achieving understanding. We believe a disciplined, linguistic approach to the study of intercultural communication, an approach that includes the building of linguistic corpora, research in contrastive rhetoric, and practical, real life application of the best practices learned, can provide valuable insights toward achieving understanding among cultures The relationship between contrastive analysis and translation The relationship between CL and translation is bidirectional. On the one hand, the translation of specific pieces of text may provide the data for CL On the other, CL may provide explanations of difficulties encountered in translation.The crucial factors here are what size of language sample has been chosen for translation, whether it is naturally occurring or fabricated for the purpose, and whether the translation is the analyst’s own. Though the focus of CL may continue to shift towards pragmatics and discourse analysis, its use in translation is not inevitable. It is however unlikely that it can be dispensed with completely either in the training of translators or in the assessment of translations, even in its more traditional lexico-grammatical manifestations; CL has arisen as a result of the needs of the language teaching profession and this project is no exception in that one of its major objectives is to provide teachers with assistance in the use of parallel concordancing in the classroom.It gives valuable evidence for translators on the transferability of certain collocations and colligations from one language to another. The f uture of CL’s use in translation may well lie in projects such as this, which are capable of providing with equal  facility explanations of past translating decisions and guidance as to prospective ones. As a useful learning tool: Knowledge and understanding of languages is increasingly important, and this course focuses on how such knowledge can be applied. It helps learners know more clearly and finding similarities and differences between them, thereby detecting errors, which bilingual learners often make, and how to fix. This assignment is based on contrastive linguistics. It uses many methods, especially contrastive method and surveys on grammatical aspect of these words. This study uses one-way transfer. We find a lot of two languages’ differences which may be make errors in structure and semantics. It is useful for bilingual learners to find mistakes which they can meet. Contrastive linguistic gives a comparative method to translate a learner’s thinking in an informed way. Giving structure to his/her intuitive relationship to the language. This bilingual approach in cl saves the students’ infinite time and labour. It has been proven that students learn faster and more effectively us ing it.Since it is our nature to compare, Contrastive Linguistics is the technique that clarifies our understanding of the language. For learners, similarities between languages cause no difficulties, while differences cause interference to learning. Through Contrastive Linguistics we can target and resolve the typical difficulties and Common Mistakes of our students. We can examine aspects that would not normally be noticed without such comparison. Bi-lingual comparative courses overlap in fruitful collaboration with other approaches. They clear away students’ deep-rooted mistakes and empower teachers with the answers to many of their students’ doubts. In Language Teaching: The change that has to take place in the language behavior of a foreign language student can be equated with the differences between the structure of the student’s native language and culture and that of the target language and culture. The task of the linguist is to identify these differences. The task of the writer of a foreign language teaching program is to develop materials which will be based on a statement of these differences; the task of the foreign language teacher is to be aware of these differences and to be prepared to teach them; the task of the student is to learn them. Importance of CL due to growing demand: There is a growing demand from both public and private sectors for professionals combining excellent language skills and sound linguistic theory and methodology. You study linguistic theory, description and methodology with a particular focus on corpus approaches and a strong multilingual component with high relevance for language professionals, especially in the field of foreign/second language learning, teaching (and testing), linguistics focusing on usage-based models and methods in language research and their applications, especially in multilingual contexts. It help students acquire the ability to read, write, speak, and understand world languages reach maximum capability with respect to communications, effective reasoning, and analytical thinking; to educate students for living and working in a competitive global society.. As the field of linguistics became more accepted as a discipline, other scholars from different fields began to incorporate language-related topics into thei r work. Contrative Linguistics found its way into sociology, anthropology, language arts, foreign language learning and teaching. It helps the translators to analyse the basic meaning and gist of the second language giving them an edge in interpretation jobs .

Distinctive Human Resource Are What Firms Need Essay

Introduction Benchmarking is a crucial management tool that guides the stakeholders on the overall performance of the organization as well as mobilizing the employees on a continuous improvement of the organisation’s environmental and social performance. Bench marking is considered to have an impact when the results of the organization performance are immediate (Vorhies and Morgan, 2005). It is essential to recognize that benchmarking and the transfer of the best industry practices are supposed to help an organization in the long run through maximum utilization of the available resources and filling in the gaps associated with an organization poor performance (Drew, 1995). The notion of a single best practice may be overstated. Distinctive human resource practices help to create unique competencies that differentiate products and services and drive competitiveness in organizations. People management practices are the drivers of efforts to create distinctive competencies and, in turn, business strategies. There are various human resource management models that have been used by companies to benchmark and stay competitive in the turbulent business environment and they include the Industrial Organization Model and McKenzie’s 7s Strategy which include shared values, structure, strategy, systems, style, staff and skills. Shared Values Shared values are commonly held beliefs, mindsets, and assumptions that shape how an organization behaves and its corporate culture. Shared values are what engender trust. They are an interconnecting centre of the 7Ss model. Values are the identity by which a company is known throughout its business areas, what the organization stands for and what it believes in, it central beliefs and attitudes. These values must be explicitly stated as both corporate objectives and individual values. Structure Structure is the organizational chart and associated information that shows who reports to whom and how tasks are both divided up and integrated. In other words, structures describe the hierarchy of authority and accountability in an organization, the way the organization’s units relate to each other: centralized, functional divisions (top-down); decentralized (the trend in larger organizations); matrix, network, holding among others. These relationships are frequently diagrammed in organizational charts. Most organizations use some mix of structures: pyramidal, matrix or networked ones to accomplish their goals. Strategy Strategies are plans an organization formulates to reach identified goals, and a set of decisions and actions aimed at gaining a sustainable advantage over the competition. Systems Systems define the flow of activities involved in the daily operation of business, including its core processes and its support systems. They refer to the procedures, processes and routines that are used to manage the organization and characterize how important work is to be done. Style Style refers to the cultural style of the organization, how key managers behave in achieving the organization’s goals, how managers collectively spend their time and attention, and how they use symbolic behaviour. How management acts is more important that what management says. Staff Staff refers to the number and types of personnel within the organization and how companies develop employees and shape basic values. Skills Skills refer to the dominant distinctive capabilities and competencies of the personnel or of the organization as a whole. Industrial Organization (I/O) Model The external environment is primary determinant of the organizational strategy rather than internal decisions of managers. The environment presents threats and opportunities all competing to have equal access to resources. Resources are highly mobile between firms. Organizational success is achieved by offering goods and services at lower costs than competitors. Professional sports 49ers †¢ The 49ers have succeeded by using a strategy of long-term player development by recruiting through college drafts rather than trades. This helps the team cement loyalty to the club by the players. Raiders †¢ The Raiders scoop up talented players who fail or do not fit in elsewhere. The club reinforces its strategy through autocracy where the members are not supposed to participate in decision making. The system of the club embraces outside recruit of experienced players. Retailing: Sales as the Service Sears †¢ The Sears selection system requires extensive training. The style keeps track of employee attitude and morale through employee surveys, pay programs to match other retail business through industrial organization model. Nordstrom †¢ The Nordstrom structure of hiring is decentralized and uses no formal selection tests. There are continuous stream of programs to motivate employees with very little attention paid to the staffs in terms of training and commissions when retailing. †¢ The link between employees and product market strategy is sometimes less direct in services, but there are still relationships between the way employees are managed, the competencies employees help produce, and the way companies compete. Professional Service Firms; Information and Advice as the Product Boston Consulting Group (BCG) †¢ The style of BCG is to hire the best undergraduate and MBA students to work for them. †¢ The firm’s system requires rigorous selection procedures and through industrial organization Model provides exceptional compensation to the employees as compared to other organizations. †¢ The firm develops its staff through formal training. †¢ BCG shared value approach expects each team to come up with innovative ways to reinforce its entrepreneurial culture. McKinsey †¢ The professional firm develops its distinctive capabilities through on-campus recruiting and employee skills and development through extensive training model. †¢ The firm’s strategy lies in providing clients with consistent services. The core competency is also consistent with the products and the techniques of the company. Business Schools Harvard Business †¢ The business school staff development represents internal skills development. The school hires employees and turns them into experts. †¢ The business school invests a lot on employee development through the staff model. Wharton School †¢ The school recruitment strategy model relies on external environment to recruit its employees from a network of academicians. †¢ The system model that is used to make the institution maintain a competitive edge in the market is by hiring employees with superior technical skills and by making use of its outside market. Financial Services Chubb †¢ The insurance firm success is based on its shared value model of becoming the insurance of choice. †¢ The firm makes substantial staff investment through its recruitment, intensive training and testing before hiring. American International Group (AIG) †¢ The success of the insurance firm is through its industrial orientation strategy model where the company identifies new areas of business, creates new products, and benefits from the first mover advantage as a result of exploiting the market. †¢ The company’s competencies are its ability to respond to the turbulent business environment. †¢ The company hires from its competitors and invests less on staff development. The Shipping Business FedEx †¢ The shipping business has a strategy model of empowering its employees in the implementation of its vision. †¢ First service company to win the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award †¢ Intensive orientation program for staff development. †¢ One hub at FedEx meant that there were fewer coordination problems, allowing for autonomy and participation through it structural model. †¢ This model highly enhances loyalty in employees. UPS †¢ The orientation of the company structure model takes an autocratic approach where the employees have no direct say over work organization matters. †¢ Company standards for each task through its shared value model. †¢ Pays the highest wages and benefits in the industry (Industrial Organization Model). †¢ Productivity of UPS’s drivers is about three times higher than that at FedEx due to its high compensation. †¢ UPS’s business demands a level of coordination that is incompatible with individual employee involvement and a â€Å"high commitment† approach through it structural model. Food and Beverages Coke †¢ Coke builds on employee skills and hangs on them through staff development model. †¢ Coke hires college graduates with little or corporate experience and provides intensive training. †¢ There is promotion and seniority based salary incentives. †¢ Decision making is centralized Pepsi †¢ The company relies on employees’ innovativeness to identify market niches †¢ Pepsi hires employees with experience and advanced technical skills through industrial organization model. †¢ Decision making is decentralized. †¢ Employees have little job security. †¢ Less loyal employees. References Drew, S. A. W. (1995). Strategic Benchmarking: Innovation Practices in Financial Institutions. International Journal of Bank Marketing 13 (1),4-16. Vorhies, D. W., & Morgan, N. A. (2005). Benchmarking Marketing Capabilities for Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Journal of Marketing 69 (January Issue), 80–94.

Vietnam War The Easter Offensive

Vietnam War The Easter Offensive The Easter Offensive occurred between March 30 and Oct. 22, 1972, and was a later campaign of the Vietnam War. Armies Commanders South Vietnam United States: Hoang Xuan LamNgo DzuNguyen Van Minh742,000 men North Vietnam: Van Tien DungTran Van TraHoang Minh Thao120,000 men Easter Offensive Background In 1971, following the failure of the South Vietnamese in Operation Lam Son 719, the North Vietnamese government began assessing the possibility of launching a conventional offensive in spring 1972. After extensive political infighting among senior government leaders, it was decided to move forward as a victory could influence the 1972 US presidential election as well improve the Norths bargaining position at the peace talks in Paris. Also, North Vietnamese commanders believed that the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was overstretched and could be easily broken. Planning soon moved forward under the guidance of First Party Secretary Le Duan who was assisted by Vo Nguyen Giap. The main thrust was to come through the Demilitarized Zone with the goal of shattering ARVN forces in the area and drawing additional Southern forces north. With this accomplished, two secondary attacks would be launched against the Central Highlands (from Laos) and Saigon (from Cambodia). Dubbed the Nguyen Hue Offensive, the attack was intended to destroy elements of the ARVN, prove that Vietnamization was a failure, and possibly force the replacement of South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu. Fighting for Quang Tri The US and South Vietnam were aware that an offensive was in the offing, however, analysts disagreed as to when and where it would strike. Moving forward on March 30, 1972, Peoples Army of North Vietnam (PAVN) forces stormed across the DMZ supported by 200 tanks. Striking the ARVN I Corps, they sought to break through the ring of ARVN firebases located just below the DMZ. An additional division and armored regiment attacked east from Laos in support of the assault. On April 1, after heavy fighting, Brigadier General Vu Van Giai, whose ARVN 3rd Division had born the brunt of the fighting, ordered a retreat. That same day, the PAVN 324B Division moved east out of the Shau Valley and attacked towards the firebases protecting Hue. Capturing the DMZ firebases, PAVN troops were delayed by ARVN counterattacks for three weeks as they pressed towards the city of Quang Tri. Coming into force on April 27, PAVN formations succeeded in capturing Dong Ha and reaching the outskirts of Quang Tri. Beginning a withdrawal from the city, Giais units collapsed after receiving confusing orders from I Corps commander Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Lam. Ordering a general retreat to the My Chanh River, ARVN columns were hit hard as they fell back. To the south near Hue, Fire Support Bases Bastogne and Checkmate fell after prolonged fighting. PAVN troops captured Quang Tri on May 2, while President Thieu replaced Lam with Lieutenant General Ngo Quang Truong on the same day. Tasked with protecting Hue and re-establish the ARVN lines, Truong immediately set to work. While the initial fighting in the north proved disastrous for South Vietnam, staunch defending in some places and massive US air support, including B-52 raids, had inflicted heavy losses on the PAVN. Battle of An Loc On April 5, while fighting raged to the north, PAVN troops advanced south out of Cambodia into Binh Long Province. Targeting Loc Ninh, Quan Loi, and An Loc, the advance engaged troops from the ARVN III Corps. Assaulting Loc Ninh, they were repelled by Rangers and the ARVN 9th Regiment for two days before breaking through. Believing An Loc to be next target, the corps commander, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Minh, dispatched the ARVN 5th Division to the town. By April 13, the garrison at An Loc was surrounded and under constant fire from PAVN troops. Repeatedly assaulting the towns defenses, PAVN troops ultimately reduced the ARVN perimeter to about a square kilometer. Working feverishly, American advisors coordinated massive air support to aid the beleaguered garrison. Launching major frontal attacks on May 11 and 14, PAVN forces were unable to take the town. The initiative lost, ARVN forces were able to push them out of An Loc by June 12 and six days later III Corps declared the siege to be over. As in the north, American air support had been vital to ARVN defense. Battle of Kontum On April 5, Viet Cong forces attacked firebases and Highway 1 in coastal Binh Dinh Province. These operations were designed to pull ARVN forces east away from a thrust against Kontum and Pleiku in the Central Highlands. Initially panicked, II Corps commander Lieutenant General Ngo Dzu was calmed by John Paul Vann who led the US Second Regional Assistance Group. Crossing the border Lieutenant General Hoang Minh Thaos PAVN troops won quick victories in the vicinity of Ben Het and Dak To. With the ARVN defense northwest of Kontum in a shambles, PAVN troops inexplicably halted for three weeks. With Dzu faltering, Vann effectively took command and organized the defense of Kontum with support from large-scale B-52 raids. On May 14, the PAVN advance resumed and reached the outskirts of the town. Though the ARVN defenders wavered, Vann directed B-52s against the attackers inflicting heavy losses and blunting the assault. Orchestrating Dzus replacement with Major General Nguyen Van Toan, Vann was able to hold Kontum through the liberal application of American airpower and ARVN counterattacks. By early June, PAVN forces began withdrawing west. Easter Offensive Aftermath With PAVN forces halted on all fronts, ARVN troops began a counterattack around Hue. This was supported by Operations Freedom Train (beginning in April) and Linebacker (beginning in May) which saw American aircraft striking at a variety of targets in North Vietnam. Led by Truong, ARVN forces recaptured the lost firebases and defeated the final PAVN attacks against the city. On June 28, Truong launched Operation Lam Son 72 which saw his forces reach Quang Tri in ten days. Wishing to bypass and isolate the city, he was overruled by Thieu who demanded its recapture. After heavy fighting, it fell on July 14. Exhausted after their efforts, both sides halted following the citys fall. The Easter Offensive cost the North Vietnamese around 40,000 killed and 60,000 wounded/missing. ARVN and American losses are estimated at 10,000 killed, 33,000 wounded, and 3,500 missing. Though the offensive was defeated, PAVN forces continued to occupy around ten percent of South Vietnam after its conclusion. As a result of the offensive, both sides softened their stance in Paris and were more willing to make concessions during negotiations.

Token Boards for Reinforcing Behavior in Classroom

Token Boards for Reinforcing Behavior in Classroom Like any educational tool, a token board is most effective when used consistently within the context of a comprehensive classroom management plan. Token boards have been associated with Applied Behavior Analysis, as they provide a simple and visual method of structuring and providing reinforcement. They can be used to narrow or broaden your reinforcement schedule. They can be used to teach children how to defer gratification. They can be used narrowly to address specific behavior problems. At the same time, unless you and your staff or you and your collaborating teacher are clear about how a token is earned, you can end up with a lot of dysfunction. The purpose is to provide clarity about which behaviors, even academic, that you are reinforcing. If you get preoccupied and dont consistently award tokens, you also undermine your whole reinforcement plan. For these reasons, its important to address how you make and use a token board in your classroom. Basically, a token board has individual pictures or tokens that are held in place by Velcro. The tokens are stored on the back of the board until they are moved to the front of the board. Usually, the number of tokens is determined by how long you believe you can defer reinforcement. Many token boards (as the one depicted above) may include a place for the students choice of reinforcement represented by a picture.   Token Boards Used for Reinforcement Creating a clear sense of contingency is the first and primary purpose of a token board. Your student needs to know that he/she receives a token and reinforcement for exhibiting a particular behavior. Teaching contingency is a process of first establishing one to one correspondence. In Applied Behavior Analysis, contingency is critical in order to match the reinforce to the behavior. A Token Board becomes a visual schedule for reinforcement. Whether you put a child on an 8 token schedule or a 4 token schedule, you are expecting a child to understand that they will receive access to reinforcement when they fill their board. There are ways to build toward an eight token board, including starting with a smaller number, or starting with the board partially filled. Still, the likelihood of increasing the behavior, whether it is communication or academic, is to be sure that the child knows that behavior is being reinforced. Addressing Specific Behaviors with a Token Board To start a behavior change program, you need to identify both the behavior you want to change and the behavior that should take its place (replacement behavior.) Once you have identified the replacement behavior, you then need to create a situation where you are reinforcing it quickly using your board. Example Sean sits very poorly at circle time. He gets up frequently and throws himself on the floor if he doesnt get access to a preferred toy, Thomas the Tank Engine. The classroom has a set of cube chairs that are used for circle time. The teacher has determined that the replacement behavior is: John will stay seated in his cube during group with both feet on the floor, participating appropriately in group activities (singing, take a turn, listening quietly.) The Stimulus-Response will be Sitting, please. The naming phrase will be Good sitting, Sean. A classroom aide sits behind Sean in group: when he sits for approximately a minute quietly a token is placed on his chart. When he gets five tokens, he has access to his preferred toy for 2 minutes. When the timer goes off, Sean is returned to the group with Sitting, please! After several successful days, the reinforcement period is expanded to about two minutes, with three-minute access to the reinforcer. Over a couple weeks, this could be expanded to sitting for the entire group (20 minutes) with a 15-minute free place break. Targeting specific behaviors in this way can be extraordinarily effective. The example above is based on a real child with real behavior issues, and it took only a couple of weeks to effect the desired result. Cost Response: Taking a token off the board once it is earned is known as cost response. Some districts or schools may not permit response cost, in part because non-professional or support staff may use it as a punishment, and the motivation may be revenge rather than behavior management. Sometimes taking away a reinforce after it has been earned will generate some pretty unmanageable or even dangerous behavior. Sometimes support staff will use response cost just to get the student to flip out so they can be removed from the classroom and placed in an alternate safe setting (this used to be called isolation.) Token Boards for Classroom Management A token board is one of several different  visual schedules you can use to support classroom management. If you have a reinforcement schedule based on the board, you can specify either a token for each completed tasks or a combination of appropriate participation and work completion. If you give a token for each completed worksheet, you may find that your students choose only the easy ones, so you may want to offer two tokens for a particularly difficult activity. A Reinforcement Menu A menu of reinforcement choices is helpful, so your students know they have a range of choices that are acceptable. You may create a choice chart for each individual child, or permit them to choose from a larger chart. You will also find that different students have different preferences. When you create a students choice chart, it is worthwhile to take the time to do a reinforcement evaluation, especially for students with very low function.

Why I chose funeral service as a career Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Why I chose funeral service as a career - Essay Example A funeral service career provides an individual with an opportunity to engage in assistance of his fellow beings by providing them guidance and emotional support in a time when they need it the most. The loss of a close friend or a family member is a very difficult period and a funeral service career provides an opportunity to be of help to these people by comforting and soothing them. This career raises a person’s self confidence and it earns an individual respect in the society as well. A funeral service career requires the qualities of being sympathetic, considerate and caring. It is a career where an individual needs to feel the pain of others so that he can help them in the most appropriate way. I believe I possess all these qualities and I am more than willing to be of all help to my fellow beings. Therefore, funeral service is the best career option for

Critique an article about patient with bipolar disorder Research Paper

Critique an article about patient with bipolar disorder - Research Paper Example On one hand, there are those people who, although they have bipolar disorder, accomplish so much in their lifetime and become historical landmarks. Conversely, bipolar disorder can interfere with the psychosocial functioning of certain people, thus making it difficult for them to carry out normal daily functions. In their work, Functional Outcome in Bipolar Disorder: The Big Picture Levy & Manove (2012) seek to gain more insight into the functionality levels of people with bipolar disorder. This essay aims at critiquing the work by Levy & Manove and analyzing the validity of their arguments. In their work, Manove & Levy (2012) aim at explaining the causes of negative functional outcomes among people with bipolar disorder, in addition to proposing mechanisms for reducing this deficiency in functionality. To this end, the authors succeed in explicating how people with bipolar disorder are unable to function properly. The authors do this by looking at a number of issues affecting bipola r people. The causes and triggers of bipolar disorder are often a debated topic among experts in this area. Some suggest that the condition is inherent, while others suggest that the condition is acquired from life experiences. ... Nonetheless, the authors argue that people with bipolar disorder experience more emotional instabilities than normal people, in addition to poor premorbid functionality. The authors successfully inform the reader about the various difficulties faced by people with bipolar disorder. For example, as Levy & Manove (2012) write, studies have shown that bipolar disorder affects the functioning of the brain, through a process in which the high stress levels reduce the volume of the prefrontal lobe, and an increase in the lateral ventricles. Essentially, severe illness leads to cognitive dysfunction, which then worsens the functioning of people with bipolar disorder. According to Levy & Manove (2012), studies show a positive correlation between cognitive deficiencies and the severity of illness among people with bipolar disorder. The authors suggest that changes in moods may affect verbal memory for bipolar people. If the mood changes are too frequent, then it may lead to psychological stre ss for the person with bipolar disorder, thus contributing towards the formation of neurotoxins which lead to the degeneration of the neurological and cognitive functions in the body. It is often reported that people with bipolar disorder often exhibit abnormally high levels of anxiety, as compared to normally functioning people. In this respect, Levy & Manove (2012) write that the more severe the illness, the higher the anxiety levels among bipolar people. Extremely high anxiety often leads to early onset of mania, addiction to substance abuse, and higher chances of suicide among bipolar peoples. The authors, therefore, argue that anxiety often leads to cognitive impairments among people with bipolar disorder. The argument advances

Critical Analysis of the Authenticity of Adventure Racers Identities Research Paper

Critical Analysis of the Authenticity of Adventure Racers Identities - Research Paper Example An examination of what it is that makes the identity of adventure racers in the sport authentic reveals that the characters involved in the sport usually depict a characteristic of resistance. This sport is self-sufficient, multidiscipline, multiday, non-stop, and it also involves a mixed gender team. This sport being a multiday sport requires that the racers master several outdoor skills. The racers are also required to develop skills on how to manage risks such as illness and injury. These are some of the factors that are seen to make the identity of adventure racers authentic in the sport. The racers are also required to get accustomed to harsh conditions such as the deprivation of sleep, extreme weather conditions, harsh terrains and weight loss (Brown and Eisenhardt, 1998). The distinctive Habitus theory and adventure racing This paper will use the distinctive Habitus theory to critically examine what makes adventure racers authentic in the sport. The Habitus theory will examine the embodied culture and link it with some of the new corporate cultures, and examine how they influence the authenticity of adventure racers identities. The analysis will be based on the concept of Pierre Bourdieu, which tends to be pivotal in the practice of authentic racing. According to this theory, adventure racing incorporates some schemes of disposition and these are some of the factors that make the identity of adventure racers authenti

Effectiveness Of Mbct Against Other Approaches Psychology Essay

Effectiveness Of Mbct Against Other Approaches Psychology Essay Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is increasingly used in adult mental health treatment. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of MBCT to other approaches. Mindfulness-Based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a relatively new class-based program designed by Segal, Williams and Reasdale, 2002. The program was designed to prevent future relapse for people who suffer from major depression (Coelho, Canter, Ernst, 2007). This approach to psychological prophylaxis, based on current metacognitive concepts on information-processing, was designed based upon the integration aspects of CBT (Beck et al., 1979) and the mindfulness-based stress reduction programme (MBSR) developed by Kabat-Zinn and colleagues 1990.(REFERENNCE) Recently there has been a growth of interest in mindfulness-based psychotherapeutic approaches across a range of medical problems. Although the current empirical literature includes many methodological flaws, findings suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may be helpful in the treatment of several disorders such as pain, stress, anxiety, depressive relapse, and disordered eating. (Baer, 2003) Mindfulness based cognitive therapy combines the practice and clinical application of mindfulness meditation with the tools of cognitive therapy. This paper aims to explore mindfulness based cognitive therapy in terms of schema theory in contrast to Wells S-REF model. A number of theorists have raised concerns over the limitations of schema theory, and have put forward revised frameworks for the conceptualization of cognitive processing in emotional disorders. Teasdale and Bernard (1993) believe that if people think negatively then that is the consequence of depression, rather than the cause of it, and the dysfunctional attitudes during an episode return to normal after recovery. Alladin (1985) conducted a longitudinal study which provided evidence that challenged the belief that negative cognitions caused depression. The primary focus of schema theory and cognitive therapy has been on the content of thoughts and beliefs rather than the cognitive processes. However, Becks schema theory explains the content of peoples thoughts but not on the style of their thinking. For example, overcritical parents, who never praised their child for success maybe the explanation for the definitive core believe (I am a failure) through the theoretical framework of schema theory. Although the model explains the content of peoples thoughts it does not give an explanation for the development of the distinct mode of thinking, for example, only processing information that backs up the failure theme, which is, the mistakes the person has made and the goals they have not achieved. However, Wells (2000) considers that these issues are missing links between cognitive theory and therapy. It is seen that how people think is an important dimension that has implications on the maintenance of psychological disorder and recovery. (REFERENCE) Teasdale et al. (2002) investigated the effectiveness of the mindfulness-based approach in prevention and relapse. Teasdale had 145 recovered randomised depressive patients to continue only treatment as usual or to receive mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. The patients were assessed over a 60week period the results showed that, for patients with three of more depressive episodes in the past, Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduced the risk of relapse, moreover, patients with only two depressive episodes sited no change. Teasdale et al. (2000) concluded that these results were clinically significant because the relapse rates of the group with the highest risk of reoccurrence had been halved. Teasdale et al. (2002) found that the combination of cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, as a result, metacognitive awareness is increased and depressive relapse is reduced. It can be seen that both approaches encourage a shift in a persons relationship with negative thoughts rather than a change of the thought itself. Despite the overall efficacy of the mindfulness approach, there are still theoretical limitations which need to be addressed which might lead clinical developments further in cognitive therapy. Baer 2003 emphasized a number of methodological problems whilst the research studies where taking place, noting that there were a major limitation to this approach. Baer criticizes the majority of studies examining the effects of mindfulness training, as they never used control groups. Moreover, TAU (treatment as usual) consisted of medical or unspecified psychotherapy approaches which does not allow the comparison of the effects of mindfulness interventions with specific psychological approaches. Bishop 2002 also questions the result from Teasdale et al. 2000 study, by stating that combining two forms of treatment together; it is difficult to draw any solid conclusions about the effectiveness of mindfulness-based approach in prevention of depressive relapse. Furthermore Bishop 2002 refers to problems with the conceptualization of mindfulness. Western descriptions up to now have been consistent with the Buddhist tradition which normally does not go beyond a descriptive nature. As of yet there have been no attempts to develop any qualities or the criteria of the mindfulness approach which have not been operationalised. Individuals experience and judge the effectiveness of mindfulness in different ways, which presents the problem of the determination of the criteria which are responsible for preventing patients from relapse and depression more difficult. Therefore the validity is in question due to the lack of evidence to support the definition of the construct. Bishop 2002 goes on to argue a conceptual definition is needed before the validity is tested. In this vein, Baer (2003) postulates the necessity of more randomized control trials to clarify whether observed effects are due to mindfulness interventions of to confounding factors such as placebo or passage of time. Furthermore, Wells (2000) criticizes the theoretical background of the mindfulness approach, the interactive cognitive sub-systems model, and states that one of its greatest limitations is the Implicational code concept and its circularity as it is difficult to define exactly what it means and where to locate implicational meaning in the information processing context. Moreover, Wells (2000) argues that the mindfulness awareness concept does not describe which component of self awareness improves or worsens emotional disorders. Wells (2000) then presents an alternative model of self-regulatory information processing (S-REF) which overcome the limitation of interactive cognitive sub-systems by using metacognition and attention in the centre of development and emotional disorders, rather than implicational meanings (e.g., ICS). Wells S-REF model is uniform with the schema theory, however it also incorporates aspects of cognitive architecture such as, regulation of attention and other components the individuals schema. The S-REF approach by Wells (2000) underlines the importance of restructuring maladaptive metacognitive beliefs as well as non metacognitive beliefs on schemas, which provides different clinical implications for cognitive behaviour therapy. New tools are then required for the restructuring of new therapeutic techniques in order to monitor and modify the metacognitive processes. An example of one of these new tools is metacognitive profiling (Wells, 2000) is to identify metacognitions like meta-beliefs, coping strategies, attention or memory that are activated in stressful situations. Wells (2000) and colleagues developed three different metacognitions questionnaires, an example of theses are , the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ) (Wells, 2000), which assess and monitor metacognitionin in patients during their treatment. Other than monitoring metacognitions, Wells (2000) presents two different techniques to restructure cognition, i.e., modify attention (Attention Training Technique (ATT) and Situational Attention Refocusing (SAR)), which have some similarity with the mindfulness approach but without the focus on meditation. The theoretical model of self-regulation mechanisms in emotional disorder developed my Wells is important for the future development of cognitive therapy. The S-REF model seems to create the missing link between cognitive theory and therapy that Wells (2000) identified and could possibly form a base for the advancement for cognitive therapy in the future (Scherer-Dickson, 2004). It would be premature to attempt to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of Mindfulness based cognitive therapy as it is still in its early days of research. Given the growing interest in MBCT is should be seen as to consider the way in which future research should be directed, and not be critical on current effectiveness of the model. (Coelho, Canter, Ernst, 2007). Evidence that is circulating gives some indication that MBCT may be effective in treating a cognitive style that is characterised with depression. Kingston et al., 2007 noted that MBCT may be useful in treatment of residual depressive symptoms, however, these findings are not due to any specific effects of MBCT. (Coelho, Canter, Ernst, 2007). Further methodological testing is still required gain more insight into the developments to give this approach an even more robust foundation (Scherer-Dickson, 2004). New models developed on the basis of findings in cognitive sciences and cognitive theories about information processing and emotional processing (see Rachmann, 1980; Teasdale, 1999b) seem to have a major impact on the understanding of the development and maintenance of emotional disorders. The new models of cognitive processing do have clinical implications for cognitive therapy that goes beyond the framework of Becks schema theory (Beck et al., 1979). Apart from the development for prevention of relapse of depression with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Wells (2000) has gone on further to develop metacognitive aspects of emotional disorders. On looking at the models and theories outlined in this essay, changing the relationship that people have with the way they think, instead of changing the content of those thou ghts, has a major impact on therapy outcomes and relapse prevention (Schere- Dickson, 2004). It is clear to see that Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression is a cost-effective treatment programme for prevention of relapse. It goes on to teach patients skills in which they can identify high risk situations, and change their attitude to accept the way in which they think. The programme works better for those who seem more vulnerable and enable them to break the cycle of lifelong course of recurrent depression. The high relapse rates for depression underline the importance of prophylactic treatment during periods that fall between acute depressive episodes. Group programmes, like the one presented, could have a major impact on health services as they are cost-efficient and seem to work especially well with recovered patients that are very likely to relapse. (Scherer-Dickson, 2004)

David Levinsons Seasons of A Mans Life :: Psychology Levinson Males Essays

David Levinson's Seasons of A Man's Life Introduction Background In May of 1977, Daniel Levinson constructed a model of the seasons of a man's life. His developmental theory consists of universal stages or phases that extends from the infancy state to the elderly state. Most development theories, such as Freud's psychosexual development theory or Piaget's cognitive development theory, end in the adolescent stage of life. Levinson's stage theory is important because it goes beyond most theories assuming that development continues throughout adult life. Levinson based his model on biographical interviews of 40 American men. These 40 men were between 35 to 45 years in age and they worked as either biology professors, novelists, business executives or industrial laborers. The biographical interviews lasted one or two hours and ranged from six to ten interviews for each subject. The questions asked focused on the subject's life accounts in their post adolescent years. The interviews focused on topics such as the men's background (education, religion, political beliefs) and major events or turning points in their lives. Levinson's concept of life structure (the men's socio-cultural world, their participation in their world and various aspects of themselves) is the major component in Levinson's theory. The life structure for each person evolves through the developmental stages as people's age. Two key concepts in Levinson's model are the stable period and the transitional period in a person's development. The stable period is the time when a person makes crucial choices in life, builds a life structure around the choices and seeks goals within the structure. The transitional period is the end of a person's stage and the beginning of a new stage. Levinson's model contains five main stages. They are the pre-adulthood stage (age 0 - 22), the early adulthood stage (age 17 - 45), the middle adult stage (age 40 - 65), the late adulthood stage (age 60 - 85) and the late late adult stage (age 80 plus). Levinson states "the shift from one era to the next is a massive development step and require transitional period of several years."(Levinson, 1977) This would explain why there is an overlap in each of these stages. Levinson's first adult stage in his model is called the Early Adult Transition Period. This phase is similar to Erikson's psychological theory in that both concern the young adult's identity crisis or role confusion. It is during this phase that the young adult first gains independence (financial or otherwise) and leaves the home. This is a transitional stage because it marks the end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood. The second stage would be a stable period because it marks the time

Personal Conflict Essay

It was on January 2006 when I first set my feet in USA, a day I will live to remember. I was eighteen years old then and had just graduated from high school. I was the best student in my previous school so I got a scholarship to further my studies. Since childhood ,I was fascinated by people especially their cultures, religions and other aspects of their lives but what really amazed me was the way they communicated and the different languages that they used. My life had revolved around one language that was Arabic and therefore when this chance came I was very excited and without second thoughts took the opportunity to study English as my second language. I chose English because it was an international language and I knew it would help me communicate with many people from different parts of the World. More so, it was to be of great assistance to me especially in my stay in the USA. When this day came, I was amidst mixtures of feelings. Even though I was very excited, terror and confusion took the better part of me. The thought of leaving my parents and my younger siblings really terrified me and all of a sudden, I felt lonely. Earlier on after waking up, prayers had been arranged for me and all people wished me a safe journey to America. I was escorted by my friends and family members to the airport where they bid me farewell. This was my first time to travel from my home country and the first to travel in an airplane. While in the plane many thoughts crossed my mind. I thought about the people I would meet and wondered how they would receive me. I also thought about the college I would be enrolled to and my classmates to be . I wondered if there were people from my home place, how many will they be and above all how I would communicate since I was not familiar with English by then. I was in this state when suddenly an air hostess brought me some snacks . Tasty as they looked, I never took a bite. What I could not understand about the air hostess was that she appeared composed and friendly and completely unaware of my predicament. She was young, energetic and cheerful and nothing seemed to trouble her. Contrary, I was deep in confusion and uncertainty . I lost my appetite something which seldom happens to me. In fact , I rarely choose food and anything edible is good to me provided it is not harmful . More so, being the first time to travel by plane I was really uncomfortable and the experience was horrifying. At one time a thought of the aeroplane crushing crossed my mind and it really got me scared. Sleep never crossed my eyes during the whole journey and it took exactly fourteen hours to reach my destination. I arrived at the JFK airport in New York at around 10 pm . The night was chilly and many people wore heavy clothing to keep their bodies warm . I had carried a light jacket which I wore to protect myself from the cold . The environment was new and everything about this place seemed new to me. I was really getting more and more confused and thought it was even better when I was in the plane. My light jacket did not seem to be of much help to me because the cold weather was getting the better of me. Though out of place, a thought crossed my mind. I wondered of how it used to be unusually hot at home and how I had adapted to that kind of climate. I wondered how long would it take for me to get used to this new environment. I do not know exactly how long I had been standing there but what I recall is that I found myself all alone, confused, scared and lost and attracting some policemen. I felt out of place and the way they were looking at me was scaring. Did they see me as a terrorist or something? I never got to answer that question because one of them came directly to where I was and asked whether I was Mr. Mohammed. Though at first I could not understand what he was driving at, the mention of my name made me realize he was out to find me. Upon receiving my answer, he took my passport and asked me to follow him. They took me to one isolated room where they begun interrogating me. Little did they know that I could not understand whatever they were talking about. From their faces I could tell they were suspicious of something. One police officer who was taller than the rest and had a pointed nose with glaring eyes called the others and got outside of the room. I heard them whispering but could not tell what they were discussing. I do not know exactly what transpired but the moment they came in I sensed danger. I was forced to take off my clothes which apart from being humiliating experience it really made me nervous. They might have thought that I had some atomic bomb with me. What made me extremely terrified was the way they were pointing guns at me. For a moment I thought I was going to die. Here I was, people back at home hoping the best for me but not having a clue of the deadly situation I was in at that particular time. The thought of my mum losing me, made me collapse and when I came back to my senses, I was bed ridded in a hospital. At the hospital I got acquinted to the nurse who was taking care of me . She was a very caring and pleasant lady. She did not like it when I told her (she understood me inspite the language barrier) how the policemen had treated me . She failed to understand how people sometimes could be so inhumane. It was from her that I learnt of how I ended up in an hospital and she also told me that our embassy had been contacted. All this she claimed was through the concerted effort of the management of the hospital . Through her kindness and assurance that all will be well, I was beginning to have hope that things would be better for me. I failed to understand how things could contradict themselves. It was simply not easy to relate the caring and treatment I received from the hospital with the ‘reception’ I received from the policemen. I had been at the hospital overnight and I got discharged at around 10 am in the morning. This happened when the Saudi Arabian embassy sent one of its agents to intervene . All was set right and I could not believe it when one policeman was sent to apologize on the behalf of the others and he even offered us a ride to a hotel. The ride was short but I did not fail to notice how the roads were smooth and carefully constructed. If it were home the journey would have taken a little bit longer because most of them need to be tarmacked and they are dusty. When I arrived at the hotel, I took a bathe, had lunch and then slept after 28 good hours of unrest. I woke up at around 10 pm and realized I was all alone, the agent from the Saudi Arabian embassy had promised to drop by the following morning to pick me up. He had informed me that he would take me to his house and where I would be staying for awhile while we sort matters out. I could not get sleep that night. All my thoughts directed to the kind of life I was to lead in the USA. Foremost, being an Arab and a Muslim I wondered where mosques could be found and whether I would learn to communicate in English. Also I thought about the encounter with the policemen and realized the matter had been made complex due to ineffective communications. All these and other thoughts ran across my mind through out the night. In spite uncertainty facing me, I kept on hoping believing and having faith that everything will turn out right for me and I would enjoy my stay in the USA and eventually make it my home. It has been three years now since I arrived in the USA. A lot of things have changed mostly with me trying to catch up with the American way of life. I have made new friends from different backgrounds and we assist each other in times of troubles. Even though I am different in my culture, religion and way of thinking, I get along with others through their support and understanding.

Abstract Affirmative

Abstract affirmative (AA) action is a policy that the government created for counteracting discrimination against people. This happened for the reason of presenting people the chance of gaining equal opportunities for employment education and business. Many of our formal presidents has authorized executive orders that was meant for all hiring to be free from discrimination of race, color, or national origin with all government contractors and the other specifically for associations that had accepted federal contracts and subcontracts intended to end discrimination within the workforce towards individuals where the focus was on race, color, religion, and national origin. Soon after affirmative action was changed to include no prejudice against ones gender. Affirmative action consequently established preferential treatment towards all minorities and women in the hiring process and the chance to receive a higher education. affirmative action holds private employers accountable as well. during the civil rights movement affirmation action was a tool that proposed opportunities for women and minorities and to provide equality for them. there are noted changes in how colleges recruit and enroll students housing and also how using public transportation where now blacks can sit anywhere since Rosa Parks. Since affirmative action was primarily intended on improving chances for African Americans in employment and education but there is still a low percentage of improvement that is why an executive order was signed and it required all government and private industry jobs to increase the number of women disable individuals and minorities to either receive employment or to have the ability to gain an education or have additional training for work enhancement. There are numerous organization that uses affirmative action and equal employment opportunity policies within their business structure there is still a controversy today surrounding these issues. I researched to see if equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies mean the same thing. equal employment opportunity definition is that it bans all types of discrimination. this means that no matter the race or gender everyone has the same chance of obtaining and getting promotions and the added incentive of training as the workforce continues to grow. But then affirmative action focus on past discrimination acts which were meant to give women, disabled individuals, and minorities an equal footing in gaining employment and a higher education. it was to create equality between the workers and employers however it has caused extra adversity in the workforce. because many believed that jobs held by whites were being jeopardized. has affirmative action been consistently and effectively used to create a more robust and productive workforce I would say yes; affirmative action has made it possible for many to see and earn their desired goals such as their life dreams. I feel that there are still many obstacles but if one applies themselves there are no limitations. Barak Obama was our nation's first black president and there are many who hold prominent leadership roles that which also includes women. recently in the news it was announced that the FBI for the first time in history may have a woman heading this department. though affirmative action has come a long way there are those who still discriminate and don't offer equal chances for others to succeed. Affirmative action has allowed the workforce to become more diverse in races genders and cultures. we must remember that the affirmative action is not about letting minorities to get into college or to get a job but it's about giving qualified individuals no matter their race a chance that they may not get otherwise. in conclusion has affirmative action been consistently and effectively used to create a more robust and productive workforce i would say yes it has worked extremely well. I hope to see it continue because there are many more who could benefit from this program.