Organisational Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organisational Development - Essay Example Obsolete technology is used. Time lag in maintaining trust and goodwill is present. Opportunities Favourable circumstances that can be a source of potential benefit for Jim’s Cleaning are as follows: After training programs, results will depict improvement in employee’s attitude and this will also result in possible new markets and strong brand loyalty by old customers. Emerging new technology from order taking to service delivery can enhance competitiveness. Expansion of business can be made in other cities as well as a result of increased customer’s awareness in cleaning services. Expansion can be made in service range as well to increase customer’s loyalty and broader range of customer needs. Threats The possible threats to Jim’s Cleaning are as follows: Low morale will result in employee turnover. Many competitors are entering the market. Development Plan In order to resolve the problem, the development process comprises of following steps: Prob lem Lack of service employee’s interpersonal attributes in Jim's Cleaning is negatively impacting customer satisfaction and their commitment to retain withntioon to Jim' 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 this company. Decreasing morale of employees is directly affecting the level of satisfaction of customers and ultimately success chart of Jim’s Cleaning. Employees in Jim’s Cleaning are not getting successful in satisfying customer to the optimum level. Henceforth customers are not spreading the awareness of Jim’s Cleaning to their friends or family. This is damaging the image of the organisation in different ways. Needs are going unfilled, word of mouth and repeated customers are declining. Ultimately, bad customer... This essay stresses that the on-going training program will help to boost our employee satisfaction. Through this training program the employees will become more confident, can upgrade their skills, can pace with the changes occurring in the organisation, can work with full potential, and can deal with changing demands and needs. The training program will result in employees who are creative, motivated, satisfied with their careers and have high morals. Training course will allow them to achieve higher customer satisfaction and responsiveness in meeting the job roles. This paper makes a conclusion that organisation development is a necessary process of improving organisation effectiveness and for achieving the desired goals. If Jim’s Cleaning concentrates on creating value in employees only, then it will be able to make a positive connection between employee satisfaction and organisation profitability. The management should recognise that employee morale, performance and overall job satisfaction is a highly important component for increased profitability. If this change is implemented in the organisation, it will definitely produce positive results. Successful execution of the plan will allow Jim’s Cleaning to constantly perpetuate this synergistic relationship. By this relationship, Jim’s Cleaning will win customer loyalty that ultimately results in increased corporate profitability. Satisfied employees are a precondition for increasing productivity, responsiveness, quality, and customer service.

HEALTH CARE QUESTIONS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

HEALTH CARE QUESTIONS - Essay Example Social marketing seeks to influence social behaviors not to benefit the marketer, but to benefit the target audience and the general society." (Kotler & Andreasen as quoted by Weinreich, 2006, par. 2). In every marketing campaign, the most important sources of data to examine are the elements of the marketing mix: product, price, promotion, and place. For social marketing campaigns, the following elements are added: public, partnership, policy and purse strings (Weinreich, 2006, pars. 4 – 11). Under health care, a social marketing campaign considers any of the wide range of products offered by health care institutions. Physical products come in the form of medicines, prosthetics, and other tangible health products. Health care also offers services ranging from diagnostic, laboratory, therapeutic examinations. Other products are likewise enumerated: â€Å"practices (e.g., breastfeeding, ORT or eating a heart-healthy diet) and finally, more intangible ideas (e.g., environmental protection)† (Weinreich, 2006, par. 4). The price is the cost for designing and implementing the social marketing campaigns. The place is the target market for the campaign. The promotion â€Å"consists of the integrated use of advertising, public relations, promotions, media advocacy, personal selling and entertainment vehicles. The focus is on creating and sustaining demand for the product† (Weinreich, 2006, par. 6). The other critical sources of data for the campaign are: publics (internal and external groups directly involved in the campaign); partnerships (affiliated organizations that team up to organize the campaign); policy (governing rules supporting the social marketing program); and purse strings (â€Å"funds provided by sources such as foundations, governmental grants or donations† (Weinreich, 2006, par. 11)). Coye, Foege, & Roper (1994) identified leadership traits required in public health to ensure the development of health objectives in one’s community, to wit: â€Å"the

Effect of Social Media on Travelling

Effect of Social Media on Travelling Social media and how it changes the world. Introduction. The definition of social media is a websites or an application that enable user to create and share content or to participate in social networking. there are platforms for social medias such as Facebook , Twitter , Youtube, Tumblr , Instagram , Schoology and etc. One of the function for Facebook is that one can post a status and pictures while instagram too can upload picture and recording video for 15 second for the world to see. Instagram , facebook too have social networking . Users can leave a comment or if they like their pictures or status. Users can give a LIKE too. Social media also can give information to the traveler and also to those who are doing business too. with social media it has changed the world in various ways. Method of Literature selection. I have conducted an electronic database search through Tunku Abdul Rahman University Colleges digital library and I have used the ACM Digital Library . The keyword that I used in the online database include social media, travels and tourist. I have also conducted searches on the How Big is the Crowd? Event and Location Based Population Modeling in Social Media archive, SocRoutes: Safe Routes Based on Tweet Sentiments archive, Event detection over twitter social media streams archive, Using Social Media to Find Places of Interest: A Case Study archive, GoThere: Travel Suggestions using Geotagged Photos archive and Near2me: An Authentic and Personalized Social Media-based Recommender for Travel Destinations. I have chosen only the articles that were published within 5 years ago. The three articles which I have chosen to reference on were selected based on the relevancy to the topic of the essay. Social media for travelling Social media is so popular these days and it is frequently used by the young and the old. Some of the purposes of the usage for social media is to get information about traveling, places that are popular and famous, places that usually attract tourists which in other term, it is also called the tourist attraction. One of the function that social media has is called GeoTag. Geotaggingcan help users search and found out all kinds of location-specific information. Social media can also let users check into all the places that they have been to and leave a trace to show and prove that the particular user has been there before. Users can also leave some comments or critiques about the visited places so that the other users can get feedbacks, information and know better about that particular place and maybe too can find out about the services or products provided there, whether or not it is good or bad. Social media is not only for lifestyle, it is also for tourist guidance and to let them know more about the history of the place. As an example, one application that has these functions is called Foursquare. Social media can also let users share information via twitter to other users so that they can know whether if the route they are taking is experiencing a traffic jam or not so that other users can choose either to go the usual route or go for an alternative way to reach their destination. Social media can too let users share information about the weather condition to others so that other users are able to know whether a particular place is drizzling, raining heavily, sunny, windy, snowing or just nice. Of course in Malaysia, there will not be any snowing going on. Anyway, in short social media can let users connect to each other. The other example of what social media can do is that social media can let users know whether if their friends are nearby them via Foursquare check in. Since they are able to know where their friends are and if they found out that their f riends are nearby, they could simply just go to where their friends are just to greet and chit chat a little while. The other function of social media is that one can share information worldwide through the internet. In my opinion social media has turned travelling easier and more convenient for travelers around the world. First and foremost, I think that social media can connect people around the world. This is based on the article How Big is the Crowd? Event and Location Based Population Modeling in Social Media. It is stated that recently the emerged social network services like Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare are some of the largest and fastest growing web communities, offering an immense platform for connecting people (Yuan Liang, James Caverlee, Zhiyuan Cheng, Krishna Y. Kamath 2013). I also think that social media can let travelers and tourist find popular places and events. Based on the writer of Event detection over twitter social media streams and Using Social Media to F ind Places of Interest:A Case Study, they claimed that there are 190 million geotagged Flickr photos and this kind of data is used to detect events, find popular places and tourist routes automatically(Steven Van Canneyt, Steven Schockaert, Olivier Van Laere, Bart Dhoedt 2012) and also in some cases, for example, for crisis management and decision making, monitoring some of the critical events over social streams can let the watch officers to analyze the whole situation carefully and accurately. This enables them to make the right decision based on the details shown over the social streams. They can easily identify what is exactly happening, where that particular event is taking place at and of course, who are those involved in it. (Xiangmin Zhou, Lei Chen 2013). Social media also helps travelers to find out and know more about a particular place based on the writer that writes the article GoThere: Travel Suggestions using Geotagged Photo. Assumptions made about tourist attractions is that those are the places that are often photographed and geotagged. Geotags annotated to photos have been exploited and used for many different things. For example, geotags annotated to photos are used for mapping geotags to places and also for suggesting recommendation of travel itineraries (Abdul Majid, Ling Chen, Gencai Chen, Hamid Turab Mirza, Ibrar Hussain 2012). Last but not least, the social media world is so advanced that someone actually created a prototype using social media for recommending places for tourist personal interest. Based on the writers of this article, they claimed that this prototype can allow users to explore, evaluate, and understand recommendations, control recommendation direction and discover informative supporting material (Christoph Kofler, Luz Caballero, Maria Menendez_, Valentina Occhialini, Martha Larson 2011). In my opinion, I think social media is very useful for travelers as it helps a lot in providing useful information, tips and feedbacks one needs for traveling. Conclusion In conclusion, social media can do a lot stuffs. It not only can be an immense platform that can help people connect to each other, it can also be an informative space for travelers and tourists to help them find useful information and tips about popular places and events. It really is a great help for the travelers to understand what they should be expecting before they go for a vacation at a particular place. This is how social media changed the world. Reference Abdul, M, Ling, C, Gencai, C, Hamid, M Ibrar, H 2012, GoThere: Travel Suggestions using Geotagged Photos, WWW 12 Companion Proceedings of the 21st international conference companion on World Wide Web, pp.577-578. Christoph, K, Luz, C, Maria, M, Valentina, O Martha, L 2011, Near2me: An Authentic and Personalized Social Media-based Recommender for Travel Destinations, WSM 11Â  Proceedings of the 3rd ACM SIGMM international workshop on Social media, pp. 47-52. Steven, C, Steven, S, Olivier, L Bart, D 2012, Using Social Media to Find Places of Interest: A Case Study , GEOCROWD 12:Proceedings of the 1st ACM SIGSPATIAL International Workshop on Crowdsourced and Volunteered Geographic Information, pp. 2-8. Xiangmin, Z Lei, C 2014, Event detection over twitter social media streams,The VLDB Journal — The International Journal on Very Large Data Bases,Vol.23, pp. 381-400. Yuan L, James, C, Zhiyuan, C Krishna, K 2013, How Big is the Crowd? Event and Location Based Population Modeling in Social Media, HT 13Proceedings of the 24th ACM Conference on Hypertext and Social Media , pp. 99-108.

The Subtle Truth of Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay -- Jane Eyre Es

The Subtle Truth of Jane Eyre      Ã‚  Ã‚   The role of a woman in Victorian England was an unenviable one. Social demands and personal desires were often at cross-purposes. This predicament was nothing new in the 19th century, yet it was this period that would see the waters begin to stir in anticipation of the cascading changes about to shake the very foundation of an empire on the brink of global colonization and industrialization. The question of what role women would play in this transformation came to the forefront.    Charlotte Brontà «'s female bildungsroman, Jane Eyre, attempts to spotlight many of the issues of the "woman question" facing this period and to draw a balance between a woman's social role and her need for personal freedom. Simply stated, Jane Eyre's childhood and her transition into adulthood are characterized by two competing needs: the one to love and be loved, and the other to be somebody in her own right, a woman of achievement and integrity, with an outlet in the world for her passions and her energies.    We are frequently reminded that Jane is a passionate woman-an often dangerous quality for the Victorian female-and through her passion, Brontà « delivers to us a message which, if it came by means of a sober treatise calling for a reversal of the status quo, would frighten us with its indignation, but appears softened with the venting frustration of a misfortunate orphan trying to find her station in life. The message, however, is clear to all who choose to acknowledge the truth delivered in its passion:    It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it ... Women are supposed to be very calm g... ... novels, that is happily, and yet the reader seems to take away something more than just a warm feeling of romance: there is a sense of justice in Jane Eyre. We are drawn back to Jane's insistent plea: "women feel just as men feel: they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do...."    Charlotte Brontà « engaged various facets of what came to be known as the "woman question" in Victorian England, but the longevity of Jane Eyre's appeal rests in its subtle truth and justice that "it is thoughtless to condemn [women] if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex" (114).    Works Cited Brontà «, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1975. Gilbert, Sandra A and Susan Guber. The Madwoman In The Attic. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979.   

Indian American Immigrants in the Golden Age Essay

Arthur W. Helweg is known as a Cultural Anthropologist and a Professor of Anthropology at the Western Michigan University, who studied the lives and stories of many Asian Indian Immigrants in different countries around the world which includes Australia, Canada, Great Britain, India and the United States of America (Arthur W. Helweg). Through his love and passion for the people with Asian Indian origin, he worked with different publications and has already written various books that feature the tale of many Asian Indian Immigrants around the world. He also co-authored the book entitled â€Å"Immigrant Success Story: East Indians in America,† which has been awarded with the Theodore Saloutos Book Award given by the Immigration and Ethnic History Society, as the best book on immigration history category in the year 1990. More so, he has also done co-editorial task wherein he has been chosen to be a part of the editorial team for the book series entitled â€Å"Discovering the People of Michigan. â€Å" The book entitled â€Å"Strangers in Not-So-Strange Land: Indian American Immigrants in the Golden Age† is regarded as one of the most brilliant works of Arthur William Helweg in his chosen field of interest in studying the narrative of many Asian Indian people around the globe who seek for better life and fortune outside the premises of their motherland. This book is also characterized as one of the apparent proofs that signify the dedication and excellence of Arthur Helweg, as a Cultural Anthropologist and an enthusiast of the Asian Indian struggles as immigrants in different countries abroad, more especially in the United States. Currently, there are now thousands of Asian Indians who are living in the United States. Synopsis of the Book In a sense, this book of Arthur Helweg presents his own account of case study regarding the narrative and struggle of many Asian Indians in the United States. For more than three decades, the story of these people has never been in the mainstream and almost regarded as nonexistent ever since they arrived in the U. S. However, this profound community of Asian Indian is regarded to be a group of immigrants with the highest educated members and known as the highest earning average family of any ethnic group in North America. Thus, theses Asian Indians are noted as valuable members and representatives of the latest type of immigrants arriving in the United States. In a sense, the author, Arthur Helweg, has focused more about the theme of immigration of these people in the United States. This book highlights the truth and facts about the narrative of Asian Indian immigration and how these highly educated and professionally trained immigrants vary and deal with different challenges and difficulties associated to the traditional concepts of migration in the United States. Thus, this book tells about the real stories of these people regarding their journey to the land of America and how they adjusted to the new set of laws in the United States, as immigrants and foreign people. This also highlights the case study of the author about the adjustments involved in creating a new line of respect between the Asian Indians and the Native American people. Furthermore, this reading also renders a clear overview about the historical narrative of the Asian Indian in the United States and how the Indian Diaspora becomes a global tribe, which has been all over the world. This also explains the origin of these people and how their homeland is being recognized, as these people continuous to create good recognition across their names internationally. With the fact that these people is now recognized as one of the well acknowledged group of immigrants in the United States, this book also highlights the real happenings as to how the ethnicity of the Asian Indian survived in a relatively new world and volatile nature of the United States. More so, this also depicts the apparent pictures with regard to the efforts and hard work of these people in laying the foundation of their ethnicity in the United States. The Critique From a personal point of view, it is of reasonable grounds to say that Arthur Helweg, as a cultural anthropologist, professor and author is indeed a master and specialist of what he does best, which is that of studying the narrative of Asian Indian immigrants in different areas around the globe, more especially in the United States, as evident in the excellence of this book. More so, this book is observable to be cohesive and reliable in presenting valuable and factual accounts of the Asian Indian ethnicity and their journey towards instituting their equal position in the American society. Starting from the fundamentals and discussing the significance of the main story, the writing style of Arthur Helweg for this book is indeed informative and at the same time profoundly entertaining, as he also incorporates most of his distinct humor in presenting and discussing some of the light aspects of the book. Though writing a case study type of book is a bit tricky and complicated to do, the author, Arthur Helweg, has done a good job in presenting a well researched and comprehensive readings with regard to the life and struggle of these people, as valuable refugees in foreign countries like the United States. The way Arthur Helweg highlights and reveals both of the minor and major issues that these people are experiencing in the United States, as immigrants, is really one of main factors of that has made this book cohesive and well informative, not only for the member of Asian Indian community in U. S. but also for the people who wants to know more about the narrative of these ethnic people. Relation to Class Material As for this book, the topic about ethnicity and race of the Asian Indian in the United States is what I really understand the most. As a part of the class discussion, I learned that though people from other countries with specific ethnicity or cultural background prefers to live and start a new in a foreign outside of their original home turf, they can still be classified as an individual according to their culture, as seen evident through their beliefs, actions and language. Thus, as for the case of Asian Indian, depicted in the book of Arthur Helweg, it has become more understandable that these people, though they traveled so far and miles away from their homeland, still remain as a recognizable ethnic society in the U. S. because of their cultural background and racial origin, which can never be easily altered though they are already living in a relatively strange world. More so, through the materials we have discussed in class, it made me understand better that racial inequality in diverse countries like the United States is one of the most significant and common issues as well as dangers that typical ethnic immigrants like the Asian Indian in the United States are facing as a group of people living a strange world. Lastly, it is of my well established knowledge that migration of different of ethnic group in particular country helps alter the cultural background and/or orientation by the people involved in the process. In the end, this book of Arthur Helweg, has helped me better understand the issues and facts as to how migration of different ethnic groups of people around the world is changing the world cultures and influencing the formation of various policies both local and international. More so, through this book, I learned that in the end, race and/cultural differences should not be the main basis from which one would draw the importance and superiority of ethnicity. Instead, people should value the worth of one another according to their abilities and help for the betterment of a given country, regardless of race or cultural background. Works Cited Arthur W. Helweg. 15 may 2009 Helweg, Arthur. Strangers in a not-so-strange land: Indian American immigrants in the global age. California: Wadsworth, 2004. Miller, Barbara. Cultural Anthropology in a Globalizing World. Boston: Addison-Wesley, 2007. Profile of Asian Indians in the U. S. A. spindlepub. com. 15 May 2005

Literary Analysis of Hanging Fire Essay

The poem, â€Å"Hanging Fire† written by Audre Lorde, causes readers to enter into the mind of a random person. It’s left up to the readers to determine whose thoughts have been recorded. It’s clear that Lorde believes readers can gain historical insight based on thoughts written in â€Å"Hanging Fire.† The poem’s language and order mimic human thought. It starts with someone revealing their age and a number of social dilemmas they are worried about. From the information, readers should assume that it is teenage black girl’s thoughts that have been written. Based on other factors readers can safely assume that the narrator is likely living in a Pre-Civil Rights Movement era. Assumptions are the best tool for readers to understand â€Å"Hanging Fire† because the audience is only left with vague thoughts. This makes the poem ambiguous enough to be interpreted in a number of ways. How the poem is interpreted depends on whether or no one can identify with the narrator. It would make sense that the great majority of readers interpret that the narrator is a black teenage girl struggling with issues of racism, sexism, and along with social issues that occur in the average teenage life. This theory is further supported if one notes that the author, Audre Lorde is a black female, who wrote the poem during times of racial tension. Lines like ‘and my skin betrays me’ with ‘suppose I dies before graduation’, point to this racial tension. If this assumption is true then the narrator would have had tremendous amounts of social strain simply because of her race. It’s likely that sexism would have been common in the setting of the poem, as demonstrated by the lines ‘I should have been on the Math Team my marks were better than his.’ Audre Lorde, overall, has a love for civil rights and women’s rights, something that was not very common when she wrote â€Å"Hanging Fire.† Lorde uses human thought rather than dialog to convey her message. â€Å"Hanging Fire† isn’t merely the random thought of a naive teenage girl, but a look into life during a time less favorable than our own.

Algebra Functions on ACT Math Lesson and Practice Questions

Algebra Functions on ACT Math Lesson and Practice Questions SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Functions. Just hearing the word is enough to send some students running for the hills. But never fear! Though function problems are considered some of the more challenging questions on the ACT, this is only due to the fact that most of you will be far more used to dealing with other math topics (like fractions, exponents, or circles) than you are functions. On the ACT, question difficulty is categorized by how familiar you are likely to be with any given question, and the only way to combat this challenge is to practice and get used to dealing with questions that are a little less familiar to you. You will generally see 3-4 function questions on any given ACT, so for those of you who are not yet comfortable with functions (or just want a tune up), this guide is for you. This will be your complete guide to ACT functions. We'll walk you through exactly what functions mean, how to use, manipulate, and identify them, and exactly what kind of function problems you'll see on the ACT. What Are Functions and How Do They Work? Functions act as a way to describe the relationship between inputs and outputs. They can be in the form of equations, graphs, or tables, but they will always describe this input-output relationship. It may help to think of functions like an assembly line or like a recipe- input eggs, veggies, and cheese, and the output is an omelette. Most often you'll see functions written as $f(x) = \an \equation$. The equation of the function can be as complex as a multivariable expression or as simple as an integer. Examples of functions: $f(x) = 14$ $f(x) = 2x + 10$ $f(x) = x^2 - 6x + 9$ Functions can always be graphed and different kinds of functions will produce different kinds of graphs. On a standard coordinate graph with axes of $x$ and $y$, the input of the graph will be the $x$ value and the output will be the $y$ value. Each input ($\bi x$ value) can produce only one output, but one output can have multiple inputs. In other words, multiple inputs may produce the same output. One way to remember this is that you can have "many to one" (many inputs to one output), but NOT "one to many" (one input to many outputs). This means that a function graph can have potentially many $\bi x$-intercepts, but only one $\bi y$-intercept. (Why? Because when the input is $x = 0$, there can only be one output, or $y$ value.) A function with multiple $x$-intercepts You can always test whether a graph is a function graph using this understanding of inputs to outputs by using the "vertical line test." A function will never hit more than one point on any vertical line. The vertical line test applies to every type of function, no matter how "strange" looking. Even "strange-looking" functions will adhere to the vertical line test. But any graph that fails the vertical line test (by intersecting with the vertical line more than once) is automatically NOT a function. This graph fails the vertical line test, which means it is NOT a function. If necessary, you can always spot a genuine function from a non-function by using the vertical line test. Function Terms and Definitions Now that we've seen what functions do, let's talk about the pieces of a function. Functions will be presented to you either by their equations, their tables, or by their graph (called the "graph of the function"). Let's look at a sample function equation and break it down into its components. An example of a function: $f(x) = x^2 + 12$ $f$ is the name of the function (Note: we can call our function other names than $f$. This particular function is called $f$, but you may see functions written as $h(x)$, $g(x)$, $r(x)$, or anything else.) $(x)$ is the input (Note: in this case our input is called $x$, but, just like with the name of our function, we can call our input anything. $f(q)$ or $f(\bananas)$ are both functions with the inputs of $q$ and $\bananas$, respectively.) $x^2 + 5$ is the equation that gives us the output once we plug in the input value of $x$ An ordered pair is the coupling of a particular input with its output for any given function. So for the function $f(x) = x - 6$, with an input of 2, we can have an ordered pair of: $f(x) = x - 6$ $f(2) = 2 - 6$ $f(2) = -4$ So our ordered pair is $(2, -4)$. (Again, our input value will represent our $x$ value and the result of the equation once that input value has been processed will be our $y$ value.) Ordered pairs also act as coordinates, so we can use them to graph our function graph. Now that we have all of our function pieces and definitions, let's look at how they work together. Different Types of Functions We saw before that functions can have all sorts of different equations for their output, which will change the shape of their corresponding graphs. Let's look at each type of equation and its graph. Linear Functions A linear function makes a graph of a straight line. The equation of a linear function can either be a simple number (e.g. ,$f(x) = 4$) or will have a variable that is NOT raised to a power higher than 1 (e.g., $f(x) = 3x + 3$). Why can the variable NOT be raised to a power higher than 1? Because $x^2$ can give you a single output ($y$-value) for two different inputs of $x$. For example, $-4^2$ and $4^2$ both equal 16, which means the graph cannot be a straight line. (We will look into this further in the next section on quadratic functions.) The standard equation of a line is: $y = mx + b$ $\bi m$ is the slope of the line. $\bi b$ is the $\bi y$-intercept. (For more on lines and slopes, check out our guide to ACT lines and slopes!) Examples of linear functions: $f(x) = x - 24$ $f(x) = 4$ $f(x) = 2x + 35$ Quadratic Functions A quadratic function makes a graph of a parabola, which is a "horseshoe" type graph that curves to open either up or down. It also means that our output variable will always be squared. The reason our variable must be squared (not cubed, not taken to the power of 1, etc.) is for the same reason that a linear function cannot be squared- because two input values can be squared to produce the same output (e.g. $5^2$ and $-5^2$ both equal 25). This gives us our curve. (Note: a parabola cannot open side to side because it would have to cross the $y$-axis more than once. This, we've already established, would mean it would fail the vertical line test and therefore NOT be a function.) This is NOT a quadratic equation, as it fails the vertical line test. A quadratic function is often written as: $f(x) = a^2 + bx + c$ The $\bi a$ value tells us how the parabola is shaped and the direction in which it opens. A positive $\bi a$ gives us a parabola that opens upwards. A negative $\bi a$ gives us a parabola that opens downwards. A large $\bi a$ value gives us a skinny parabola. A small $\bi a$ value gives us a wide parabola. The $\bi b$ value tells us where the vertex of the parabola is, left or right of the origin. A positive $\bi b$ puts the vertex of the parabola left of the origin. A negative $\bi b$ puts the vertex of the parabola right of the origin. The $\bi c$ value gives us the $y$-intercept of the parabola. (Note: when $b = 0$, the y-intercept will also be the location of the vertex of the parabola.) Don't stress if this feels like a lot of information for the moment- a little practice and organization will soon have you solving your function questions, no problem. Typical Function Problems ACT function problems will always test you on whether you properly understand the relationship between inputs and outputs. These questions will generally fall into four question types: #1: Functions with given equations #2: Nested functions #3: Functions with graphs #4: Functions with tables There may be some overlap between the three categories, but these are the main themes you'll be tested on when it comes to functions. Let's look at some real ACT math examples of each type. Function Equations A function equation problem will give you a function in equation form and then ask you to use one or more inputs to find the output (or elements of the output). In order to find a particular output, we must plug in our given input for $x$ into our equation. This will give us our final output, once we then solve the equation. So if we want to find $f(5)$ for the equation $f(x) = x + 7$, we would plug in 5 for $x$. $f(x) = x + 7$ $f(5) = 5 + 7$ $f(5) = 12$ So, when our input ($x$) is 5, our output ($y$) is 12. Now let's look at a real ACT example of this type: For the function $h(x)=4x^2-5x$, what is the value of $h(-3)$? A. -93B. -9C. 21D. 51E. 159 Though this function is named $h$ (instead of the usual $f$), the principles are exactly the same- we must plug in our input value of -3 in order to find our output. So let us plug in -3 for our $x$. $h(x) = 4x^2 - 5x$ $h(-3) = 4(-3)^2 - 5(-3)$ $h(-3) = 4(9) + 15$ $h(-3) = 36 + 15$ $h(-3) = 51$ Our final answer is D, 51. Nested Functions The second type of function problem you might encounter on the ACT is called a "nested" function. Basically, this is an equation within an equation. In order to solve these types of questions, think of them in terms of your order of operations. You must always work from the inside out, so first find the output for your innermost function. Once you've found the output of your innermost function, you can use that result as the input of the outer function. Let's look at this in action to make more sense of this process. Given $f(x)=4x+1$ and $g(x)=x^2-2$, which of the following is an expression for $f(g(x))$? F. $-x^2+4x+1$G. $x^2+4x-1$H. $4x^2-7$J. $4x^2-1$K. $16x^2+8x-1$ Because $g(x)$ is nested the deepest, we must use its output as the value of our input for $f(g(x))$. Essentially, instead of a number for $x$ in $f(x)$, we are given another equation, $g(x)$. And yet, the principle behind solving the function is exactly the same as we did above in our function equations section- replace whatever input we have with the variable in the output equation. So, to start with, we have two function equations. $g(x) = x^2 - 2$ $f(x) = 4x + 1$ Now let us replace $x$ in our $f(x)$ equation with the full equation of $g(x)$. $f(x) = 4x + 1$ $f(g(x)) = 4(x^2 - 2) + 1$ $f(g(x)) = 4x^2 - 8 + 1$ $f(g(x)) = 4x^2 - 7$ Our final answer is H, $f(g(x)) = 4x^2 - 7$ Function Graphs A function graph question will provide you with an already graphed function and ask you any number of questions about it. These questions will generally ask you to identify specific elements of the graph or have you find the equation of the function from the graph. So long as you understand that $x$ is your input and your equation is your output $y$, then these types of questions will not be as tricky as they appear. This question relies on us knowing how the formula for a quadratic equation works. If you remember from earlier, a quadratic equation requires a square power and will form a parabola. We are told that the $x$-coordinate value will be squared, so we know for a fact that this graph will indeed form a parabola and be a quadratic equation. This means we can eliminate answer choices F and G, as they are straight lines, not parabolas. Now, we are told that the $y$-coordinate value is 1 less than the $x$-coordinate square. We know that our standard quadratic formula equation is: $a^2 + bx + c$ $c$ gives us our $y$-intercept and, in this equation, we are told that it will be -1. This means we can eliminate answer choice H, as the $y$-intercept is not at -1. Finally, we are told that the points on our graph are the ONLY place where the $y$-coordinate is less than the $x$-coordinate. This means that our graph must open upwards, which means we can eliminate answer choice K. Our final answer is, therefore, J. Function Tables The last way you may see a function is in its table. Here, you will be given a table of values both for the input and the output and then asked to either find the equation of the function or the graph of the function. (Note: instead of using $x$ as our input, this problem has us use $t$. If you become very used to using $f(x)$, this may seem disorienting, so you can always rewrite the problem using $x$ in place of $t$. In this case, we will continue to use $t$, just so that we can keep the problem organized on the page.) First, let us find the $y$-intercept. The $y$-intercept is the point at which $x = 0$, so we can see that we are already given this with the first set of numbers in the table. When $t = 0$, $d$ (otherwise thought of as $f(t)$) equals 14.) Our $y$-intercept is therefore 14, which means that the equation of our line will look like: $y = mx + 14$ We can automatically eliminate answer choices B, D, and E, since their $y$-intercepts are not at 14. Now, let us use the strategy of plugging in answers to make our lives simpler. This way, we don't have to actually find the equation on our own- we can simply test which answer choices match the inputs and outputs we are given in our table. Our answer choices are between A and C, so let us first test A with the second ordered pair. Our potential equation is: $d = t +14$ (or, in other words: $f(t) = t + 14$) And our ordered pair is: $(1, 20)$ So let us put them together. $f(t) = t + 14$ $f(1) = 1 + 14$ $f(1) = 15$ This is incorrect, as it would mean that our output is 15 when our input is 1, and yet the ordered pair says that our output will be 20 when our input is 1. Answer choice A is incorrect. By process of elimination, let us try answer choice C. Our potential equation is: $d = 6t + 14$ (or, in other words: $f(t) = 6t + 14$) And our ordered pair is again: $(1, 20)$ So let us put them together. $f(t) = 6t + 14$ $f(1) = 6(1) + 14$ $f(1) = 6 + 14$ $f(1) = 20$ This matches the input and output we are given in our ordered pair. Answer choice C is correct. (Note: it is generally a good idea to test more than one ordered pair, as two equations may occasionally get the same ordered pair. In this case, we stopped here as there were no other answer choices that could possibly match). Our final answer is C, $d = 6t + 14$. Now that we've seen our definitions, let's talk function strategy. How to Solve a Function Problem Now that you've seen all the different kinds of function problems in action, let's look at some tips and strategies for solving function problems. For clarity, we've split these strategies into multiple sections- tips for all function problems and tips for function problems by type. So let's look at each strategy. For All Function Problems #1: Keep careful track of all your pieces and write everything down Though it may seem obvious, in the heat of the moment it can be far too easy to confuse your negatives and positives or misplace which piece of your function (or graph or table) is your input and which is your output. Parenthesis are crucial. The creators of the ACT know how easy it is to get pieces of your function equations confused and mixed around (especially when your input is also an equation), so keep a sharp eye on all your moving pieces and don't try to do function problems in your head. #2: Use PIA and PIN as necessary As we saw in our function table problem above, it can save a good deal of effort and energy to use the strategy of plugging in answers. You can also use the technique of plugging in your own numbers to test out points on function graphs, work with any variable function equation, or work with nested functions with variables. For instance, let's look at our earlier nested function problem using PIN. (Remember- most any time a problem involves variables, you can use PIN). Given $f(x)=4x+1$ and $g(x)=x^2$, which of the following for $f(g(x))$? F. $-x^2 +4x+1$G. $x^2+4x-1$H. $4x^2-7$J. $4x^2-1$K. $16x^2+8x-1$ If we remember how nested functions work (that we always work inside out), then we can plug in our own number for $x$ in the function $g(x)$. That way, we won't have to work with variables and can use real numbers instead. So let us say that the $x$ is the $g(x)$ function is 3. (Why 3? Why not!) $g(x) = x^2 - 2$ $g(3) = (3)^2 - 2$ $g(3) = 9 - 2$ $g(3) = 7$ Now, let us plug this number as the value for our $g(x)$ function into our nested function $f(g(x))$. $f(x) = 4x + 1$ $f(g(3)) = 4(7) + 1$ $f(g(3)) = 28 + 1$ $f(g(3)) = 29$ Finally, let us test our answer choices to see which one matches our found answer of 29. Let us, as usual, start in the middle with answer choice H. $4x^2 - 7$ Now, we replace our $x$ value with the $x$ value we chose originally- 3. $4(x)^2 - 7$ $4(3)^2 - 7$ $4(9) - 7$ $36 - 7$ $29$ Success! We have found the answer choice that matches our found answer of 29. (Note: if you use this method on the test, make sure to test out your other answer choices to make sure you do not have any duplicate correct answers. We can skim over our answer options and see that none of them equal 29 after we replace our $x$ with 3.) Our final answer is H, $4x^2 - 7$ #3: Practice, practice, practice Finally, the only way to get truly comfortable with any math topic is to practice as many different kinds of questions on that topic as you can. If functions are a weak area for you, then be sure to seek out more practice questions. For Function Graphs and Tables #1: Start by finding the $\bi y$-intercept Generally, the easiest place to begin when working with functions is by finding the $y$-intercept. From there, you can often eliminate several different answer choices that do not match our graph or our equation (as we did in some of the examples above). The $y$-intercept is almost always the easiest piece to find, so it's always a good place to begin. #2: Test your equation against multiple ordered pairs It is always a good idea to find two or more points (ordered pairs) of your functions and test them against a potential function equation. Sometimes one ordered pair works for your graph and a second does not. You must match the equation to the graph (or the equation to the table) that works for every coordinate point/ordered pair, not just one or two. For Function Equations and Nested Equations #1: Always work inside out Nested functions can look beastly and difficult, but take them piece by piece. Work out the equation in the center and then build outwards slowly, so as not to get any of your variables or equations mixed up. #2: Remember to FOIL It is quite common for ACT to make you square an equation. This is because many students get these types of questions wrong and distribute their exponents instead of squaring the entire expression. If you don't properly FOIL, then you will get these questions wrong. Whenever possible, try not to let yourself lose points due to these kinds of careless errors. Ready to test your function knowledge? Test Your Knowledge Now let's put our function knowledge to the test, using real ACT math problems. 1. A function $f(x)$ is defined as $f(x)=-8x^2$. What is $f(-3)$? F. -72G. 72H. 192J. -576K. 576 2. 3. Consider the functions $f(x)=√x$ and $g(x)=7x+b$. In the standard $(x,y)$ coordinate plane, $y=f(g(x))$ passes through $(4,6)$. What is the value of $b$? A. $8$B. $-8$C. $-25$D. $-26$E. $4-7√6$ 4. 5. A function P is defined as follows: for $x0$, $(P(x)=x^5+x^4-36x-36$for $x0$, $P(x)=-x^5+x^4+36x-36$ What is the value of $P(-1)$? A. -70B. -36C. 0D. 36E. 70 Answers: F, C, A, F, A Answer Explanations: 1. Here, we have a simple function equation. So let us replace our given input (-3) for our $x$ value in order to find our output. Note that the reason this problem is tricky is due to the many negative signs and the placement of the square. But so long as we are careful and make sure to keep track of all our pieces, we can solve the problem just fine (without falling for bait answers!). $f(x) = -8x^2$ $f(-3) = -8(-3)^2$ $f(-3) = -8(9)$ $f(-3) = -72$ Our final answer is F, -72. 2. This question is a function table, so let us remember our function table tips and tricks. Before we begin, this problem may get slightly confusing, as the labels in the chart are different from that which we normally use. To visualize our data, we are given $x$ as a certain distance that the cart is at any given second, $t$. This means that our input is $t$ (seconds) and our output is $x$ (distance). Now that we can see this, let us work through the problem. First, let us find the $y$-intercept. Luckily for us, we are given a coordinate pair with $t = 0$, $x = 10$. Because $t$ is serving as our input value (our $x$-coordinate) and $x$ is serving as our output (our y-coordinate), we can see that our $y$-intercept is the point at which $t = 0$. This means that our $y$-intercept is 10. Knowing that this is a linear function and the graph of a line is $y = mx + b$, we can eliminate answer choices B, D, and E. None of those give the y-intercept as 10, so none of them can be the correct answer. Now let us use our PIA strategy to find the equation of the line using our existing coordinate points. So let us test the point $(2, 18)$ and see which of our remaining equations (answer choice A or answer choice C) gives us these coordinates. Let us first test answer choice A. $x = t + 10$ $x = 2 + 10$ $x = 12$ Answer choice A is incorrect. When $t = 2$, $x$ should equal 18. So let us test answer choice C instead to see if it lines up with our input and output of $(2, 18)$. $x = 4t + 10$ $x = 4(2) + 10$ $x = 8 +10$ $x = 18$ Success! We have found our proper equation. Our final answer is C, $x = 4t + 10$ 3. This is a nested function problem that requires us to understand that coordinate points can act as inputs and outputs. So if we solve the nested equation as we normally would (remembering to act inside out), we would see: $g(x) = 7x + b$ $f(x) = √x$ $f(g(x)) = √{7x + b}$ Remembering that $f(x)$ is essentially another way of saying $y$ (in terms of coordinates), we can say: $y = √{7x + b}$ Now, let us get rid of the root by squaring both sides (for more on roots and squares, check out our guide to advanced integers). This gives us: $y^2 = 7x + b$ We know that the function passes through the coordinate point $(4, 6)$, which means we can replace the x and y-values with our $x$ and $y$ in the function equation. So: $y^2 = 7x + b$ $(6)^2 = 7(4) + b$ $36 = 28 + b$ $8 = b$ Our final answer is A, $b = 8$. 4. In this type of graph question, we are being asked to identify how the two graphs interact. Even without knowing their equations, we can understand- just through the diagram- a good deal of information about our two functions. In this case, we can see that the two functions intersect at exactly two points. This means that they are equal at exactly two values of $x$. So answer choice F is correct. But before we select answer choice F, let us also take the time to eliminate our other answer options. We know that answer choice G is incorrect, because we have already established that the two graphs intersect at two points and so have two values of $x$ at which they are equal, not 1. Answer choices H and J are both wrong, because there are x-coordinate points at which the graph $f(x)$ is higher (larger) than that of $g(x)$ and $x$-coordinate points where $f(x)$ is smaller. Neither function is larger (or smaller) at all points of $x$ than the other function. And finally, answer choice K is also incorrect, as these are two different functions- quadratic and linear- not inverse functions. An inverse function would produce the same type of graph, just inverted. We know our original answer choice is correct and we have successfully eliminated the others. Our final answer is F. 5. This is a function that has two different equations depending on our input value. So we must first determine which equation we are using in order to find the output to our particular input. We are given that our input ($x$) is -1. We also know that we must use the second function equation for any $x$ that is less than 0. This means we must use the second function equation, $p(x) = -x^5 + x^4 + 36x - 36$ So now we just plug in our input value of -1 (being very careful about all of our negative signs). $p(x) = -x^5 + x^4 + 36x - 36$ $p(-1) = -(-1)^5 + (-1)^4 + 36(-1) - 36$ $p(-1) = -(-1) + (1) - 36 - 36$ $p(-1) = 1 + 1 - 36 - 36$ $p(-1) = 2 - 72$ $p(-1) = -70$ Our final answer is A, -70. Congrats! You've mastered ACT functions! The Take Aways Even though there are many different ways you can be presented with a function problem, the core principles are always the same. No matter the equation or the graph, functions are always looking at inputs and outputs and the relationship between the two. So long as you remember your function definitions (and the corresponding graph shapes) and keep a clear head, and you'll see that functions are not as difficult as they may have once appeared. What's Next? You've taken on (and conquered) one of the most difficult math topics on the ACT (go you!), but there are many more topics to cover. Next, take a gander at all the math topics on the test and then bulk up on any topic with which you feel rusty. Need to brush up how to complete the square? On your rules of roots and exponents? How about your triangle rules and problems? All of our ACT math guides come complete with strategies and practice problems for any topic you need. Feeling overwhelmed? Make sure you take a practice test and then see how your score stacks up so that you can set realistic milestones and goals. Running out of time on the ACT math section? Check out how to best beat the clock and maximize your score. Aiming for a perfect score? Our guide to getting a perfect 36 on the ACT math section (written by a perfect-scorer!) will help get you where you need to be. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math lesson, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Art in Public Spaces

Art in Public Spaces Introduction The following essay examines a piece of public art and the space it is found in order to discuss art, beauty and the purpose of public art. The essay specifically focuses on the Unnamed Sculpture at Pier 39 in San Francisco and uses the concepts from Semiotics to analyze the space and art piece together.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Art in Public Spaces specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Also, the essay discusses the purpose of the Unnamed Sculpture at Pier 39 in San Francisco as a public art. The Skygate in San Francisco is a modern sculpture that was designed by Isamu Noguchi.This public art is usually set for free entertainment each Wednesday at noon. The Skygate has a natural framing that is presented by trees and thus giving it an outstanding background. The contributions of art in public places have not been fully recognized. Art in public places affects the everyday lives of millions of people ac ross the globe as more money is spent while commissioning them. However, the critical recognition of public art is yet to be recognized despite its proliferation. This is as a result of such factors as lack of a clear historical framework, evaluation as well as confusion concerning the definition of art in public places. According to some scholars, art in public places has been in existence since time immemorial. According to them, public art existed in form of Lascaux’s cave paintings. Other scholars believe that art in public places came into practice in 1967 following the creation of public arts program by the National Endowment for the Arts. According to some historians, art in public places began in 1935 with the establishment of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) which was aimed at providing the US citizens with economic relief following the Great Depression. It is believed that President Roosevelt enhanced the proliferation of arts in public places during this tim e by providing employment opportunities to thousands of artists who worked in the public works division of WPA.Thus,the; the main challenge with regards to public arts is establishing the time line for its development. This makes the definition of arts in public places to be at issue. Since the term ‘art in public places’ was coined over fifty years ago, it is disappointing to note that the term has not been clearly defined. According to Hein’s, public art has the capacity of occupying public space and also drawing public into debate and intelligent discourse.Advertising Looking for essay on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to him, art has the potential to of engendering new ways of thinking and new perspectives .Similarly, Barber in his ‘Cultural Interventions in the Public Sphere’ book stated that public art provides people with an opportunity to develop a range of res istant and critical strategies that have an effect of encouraging multiple responses(Merryman and Elsen 656-658). Arts in public places can exist in various forms including letters, orchards, sculptures, displays, monuments, memorials among others. A large number of arts in public places are found in towns and urban areas even though some are found in rural areas. Art in public places are found everywhere i.e. they are displayed on side of buildings, airport terminals, recreational parks, business organizations e.t.c. (Merryman and Elsen 656-658). San Francisco’s Skygate and semiotic approach Usually, arts in public works have the effect of conveying meaning to millions of spectators. Semiotics is commonly defined as the ‘science of signs’ implying that, pubic art is intended to have some significant meaning and purpose to human beings. According to semiotic approach, public arts can provide meanings in various forms including; words, texts and codes (Ashton 301) . Isamu Noguchi in his Skygate work adopted a semiotic approach by harmonizing both the architecture and the space. He created an attraction site with a view of communicating a range of meanings to societies, spectators, designers and all the interested persons across the globe. The sculpture is constructed in such a way that, in absence of written records, the space and site can provide people with the required information for understanding the identities. The work by Isamu Noguchi takes Skygate identity from the site as it reflects the space and architecture around it in manner that is accurate and distorted. Despite the fact that Skygate’s title has a chaotic title, the space and the subject are harmonious. Isamu Noguchi in his sculptural work has combined shape with mirror-polished stainless steel to produce an attractive public art (Ashton 301). Purpose of San Francisco’s Skygate as a public art Skygate in San Francisco as a public art enhances democracy in that i t is accessible to everyone.Basa (2008) in his studies states that public arts should be designed in such a way that everyone is capable of viewing it. Public art that is accessible to everyone promotes public response and support. Public arts form an integral part of any public environment due to the fact that they are seen everyday by millions of people. Art in public places usually have an enormous impact with regards to the impressions that are created about a place. The appearance of public art plays an important role as far as people’s feelings are concerned. It is for this reason that millions of dollars are spent for public arts. Also, the appearance of arts in public places can become a subject of debate in editorial columns. It is therefore important that arts in public places have a good appearance as it can become a public issue (McNiff 36).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Art in Public Spaces specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/pa ge Learn More Skygate has the effect of attracting larger audiences from all walks of life. The youths are the majority of audiences who comes to Skygate. The sculpture is a major tourist attraction as millions of tourists tours United States to view it. Throngs of people constantly fill the park everyday. This public art provides people of all races, ages, nationalities and classes with an opportunity to interact with each other. This in turn plays an important role of earning the United States Federal Government foreign exchange. This sculpture has become a major tourist marketing (Fleming and Goldman 201-225). This public art is found in an open space and therefore, people can use the environment for multiple purposes ranging form politics to social interaction. The art piece is found in an open space and does not have an obstructive effect on the surrounding buildings i.e. it is both people and environmental friendly. This aspect has the effect of forcing people to visit Skygate on a constant basis. People are usually proud of art in public places that are found where they live. Everyone has a stake in public arts and everyone wants to be associated with them. First people are concerned with enjoying their environments. Secondly; they prefer to visit those places that favorably impress them. People also prefer that their self image and self worth be reflected by the appearance of public arts (Fleming and Goldman 201-225). Also, the material that is used to construct the public art is environmental friendly. The artists were careful while they were choosing the kind of materials to use when constructing the public art. They preferred using polished-stainless steel materials which are undestructive. The investors demand that public arts be well planned and attractive as this increases property values. Art in public places is an important component as far as any strong and vibrant community is concerned. The Skygate in the San Francisco acts a s an economic development tool. It has seen numerous cities jump start their economies. According to a research by Basa (2008), major towns that have a robust and lively art in public places are associated with sustained economic growth. Conclusion Skygate as a piece of art has an aesthetic appeal and this makes it to look attractive. The art piece is in accordance with the semiotics approach of arts in public space. This public art has the effect of appealing to a large audience. Its design can satisfy the large mass of people who experiences it on a regular basis.Advertising Looking for essay on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Aesthetic appeal is necessary as it significantly contributes to how the public feels and values a given public art. Aesthetic appeal has social and cultural components and it goes beyond simple expressions of a person’s taste .Public arts should be designed in such a way that the beauty resides in the art piece as opposed to the beholder’s mind. Ashton, Dore. Noguchi East and West. New York. University of California Press, 1993. Basa, Lynn. The Artists Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions. New York: Allworth Communications, Inc., 2008. Fleming, Lee and Goldman, Melisa.The art of placemaking: interpreting community  through public art and urban. Michigan: The University of Michigan, 2007. McNiff, Shaun. Integrating the Arts in Therapy: History, Theory, and  Practice.Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, 2009. Merryman, John and Elsen, Albert. Law, ethics, and the visual arts. Alphen aa den Rijn: Kluwer Law International, 2002.

Being Gay in America

What two people do with their lives is up to them but when they try and add another person into their lives, it changes the circumstances. Gays have been trying to fight for their rights for years. The Society for Human Rights in Chicago is the country’s earliest known gay rights organization. Wisconsin was the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders (InfoPlease). Just recently the military got rid of its â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† policy allowing gays to serve in the military openly. I don’t see anything wrong with two people getting married to each other, but I don’t feel that homosexuals should be capable to receive the same benefits of marriage like heterosexuals. If a gay person wants to be married then they should but they also should be taxed for being in a same sex marriage. I feel like they should get taxed because it is not natural for a man to be with a man or a woman to be with another woman. Two of the same sex cannot bear children therefore it is not acceptable to me. Homosexuals are trying to get the same equal opportunity as heterosexual marriages unless they are willing to pay some kind of payment. Under the Defense of Marriage Act made in 1996, it states that a gay married couple can take advantage of state laws with the benefits of marriage, but not any of the benefits by federal law (DOMA). The benefits that heterosexual marriages aren’t authorized to are social security, tax, estate, veteran and military, federal employment, and immigration. The law also states that marriage is legal union between one man and one woman. Under the law, no state may be required to distinguish same sex marriage considered to be marriage in another state. There are six states that consent same sex marriages which are Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. Since most states don’t allow same sex marriage, many homosexuals have ended up going with civil union. Civil union is lawfully documented union like to marriage, but it is not marriage. It is the declaration of a partnership shared by a couple. Civil union isn’t recognized by the federal government and under the Defense of Marriage Act other states don’t have to oblige to recognize them. States that allow civil union are California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are gay that is fine. What you do behind closed doors is your problem, but many gays are adopting children and raising kids into their lifestyle. In our society today, it has been an all-time high of suicides due to bullying. Why would you want to put a child in that kind of situation where they will be picked on because they have two dads or moms? Cited Section 1. ) DOMA. www. domawatch. org. 28November 2011 2. ) www. hrc. org/issues. 28November 2011 3. ) INFOPLEASE. www. infoplease. com. 28November2011 4. ) Being Gay in America What two people do with their lives is up to them but when they try and add another person into their lives, it changes the circumstances. Gays have been trying to fight for their rights for years. The Society for Human Rights in Chicago is the country’s earliest known gay rights organization. Wisconsin was the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders (InfoPlease). Just recently the military got rid of its â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† policy allowing gays to serve in the military openly. I don’t see anything wrong with two people getting married to each other, but I don’t feel that homosexuals should be capable to receive the same benefits of marriage like heterosexuals. If a gay person wants to be married then they should but they also should be taxed for being in a same sex marriage. I feel like they should get taxed because it is not natural for a man to be with a man or a woman to be with another woman. Two of the same sex cannot bear children therefore it is not acceptable to me. Homosexuals are trying to get the same equal opportunity as heterosexual marriages unless they are willing to pay some kind of payment. Under the Defense of Marriage Act made in 1996, it states that a gay married couple can take advantage of state laws with the benefits of marriage, but not any of the benefits by federal law (DOMA). The benefits that heterosexual marriages aren’t authorized to are social security, tax, estate, veteran and military, federal employment, and immigration. The law also states that marriage is legal union between one man and one woman. Under the law, no state may be required to distinguish same sex marriage considered to be marriage in another state. There are six states that consent same sex marriages which are Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. Since most states don’t allow same sex marriage, many homosexuals have ended up going with civil union. Civil union is lawfully documented union like to marriage, but it is not marriage. It is the declaration of a partnership shared by a couple. Civil union isn’t recognized by the federal government and under the Defense of Marriage Act other states don’t have to oblige to recognize them. States that allow civil union are California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are gay that is fine. What you do behind closed doors is your problem, but many gays are adopting children and raising kids into their lifestyle. In our society today, it has been an all-time high of suicides due to bullying. Why would you want to put a child in that kind of situation where they will be picked on because they have two dads or moms? Cited Section 1. ) DOMA. www. domawatch. org. 28November 2011 2. ) www. hrc. org/issues. 28November 2011 3. ) INFOPLEASE. www. infoplease. com. 28November2011 4. )

Whether we should ban the use of internet and social media in schools Thesis

Whether we should ban the use of internet and social media in schools - Thesis Example As the Internet and social media started its active development, concerns over its negative influence on the general population, and especially on children, has been present and widely discussed. Among the most disturbing issues has been the fear that as an endless source of information and opportunities for connecting with diverse people, social media creates versatile threats for the young individuals, their normal emotional health and development. (Wallace) Namely, there are concerns that students are in danger of accessing â€Å"inappropriate matter on the Internet† that can be expressed by both â€Å"harmful content or harmful contact†. (Varlas) Subsequently, the problems of cyberbullying and online harassment are commonly discussed while talking about social media usage by children and teenagers. (OKeeffe, and Clarke-Pearson 800-804) As a result, some educators tend to explain that it is more effective and easy to ban the usage of social networking than to control the way students use them. Apart from harmful influences that social media can produce, much has been said in relation to its distracting effect. At present, it has already become a norm to spend a significant percent of time in front of the monitor, communicating, sharing information and photos, or other. (Varlas) It follows that, often, the computer is a substitution of the real-life activities, such as face-to-face communication, sports, going out and having good time with friends, everything that can be considered a part of the normal process of maturing and social development. For instance, specialists revealed that spending too much time online, adolescent are at risk of developing â€Å"Facebook depression†, which is both a result and root of â€Å"social isolation leading to risky behavior.† (OKeeffe, and Clarke-Pearson 800-804) In addition, social media is also sometimes blamed

Ancient Egyptian Art, Painting, and Sculpture Research Paper

Ancient Egyptian Art, Painting, and Sculpture - Research Paper Example Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html Being that ancient Egypt was a religious nation, most of the paintings and sculptures during civilization encompass the goddesses, gods, and Pharaohs.3 These were religious leaders who were considered as divine and they were accorded much respect as they determined individual fate. The ancient arts were characterized by idea according to the outlined order. The arts consisted of clear and precise lines that combined with simple shapes and colors to create some manners of order and top bring balance in the Egyptian nation. Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/egyptart.html Similarly, ancient Egyptian arts had horizontal and vertical lines, which they used in maintaining proportions in the artistic works. The artists maintained both religious and political orders, as they were involved in their artistic works. They also drew figures into sizes not considering the painter’s point of view as it was meant to define the social hierarchy of situations. A good example of this can be depicted by drawing the figure of pharaoh to be bigger in the painting paying no respect to its location.4 It also applies to greater gods and lesser gods. Egyptian sculptures were made of clay, wood, metal and stones. These materials were readily available during the period and they were regarded precious in making sculptors at the time. The use of stones in making sculpture was the most plentiful as it was considered permanent because it is hard and was available in different colors which provided a wide choices. The ancient Egyptian sculptors were very distinctive in its nature in two different ways: it is characterized as cubic and frontal. This is because it takes the form of the cubes or the... This paper stresses that ancient Egyptians arts resembled the actual life situations and nature. They conformed to strict rules which represented their three dimensional forms. Most of the paintings if not all portrayed the figures and images of real life and nature as it was easily noticeable with keen observation. The drawings and paintings were very complete and pretty and they also represented real life situations. ancient Egyptian arts had horizontal and vertical lines, which they used in maintaining proportions in the artistic works. The artists maintained both religious and political orders, as they were involved in their artistic works. They also drew figures into sizes not considering the painter’s point of view as it was meant to define the social hierarchy of situations. A good example of this can be depicted by drawing the figure of pharaoh to be bigger in the painting paying no respect to its location. It also applies to greater gods and lesser gods. Egyptian scul ptures were made of clay, wood, metal and stones. These materials were readily available during the period and they were regarded precious in making sculptors at the time. The use of stones in making sculpture was the most plentiful as it was considered permanent because it is hard and was available in different colors which provided a wide choices. The ancient Egyptian sculptors were very distinctive in its nature in two different ways: it is characterized as cubic and frontal. This report makes a conclusion that the ancient Egyptian arts, paintings, and sculpture play an important role in the life of the Egyptian. The ancient arts have certain characters which makes them distinctive from other forms of arts of other countries. This has made them stand over period and preserve their arts.

Managment class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managment class - Essay Example The most prominent scenes where the episodes when the colonel Nicholson was ready to die and scarify the lives of the British officers to state his position about Geneva Convention, article 27 which stated that the officers shall not be forced to work. Even after his has been sent to the punishment cell, the colonel Nicholson was sure that only one person can win and he should not go for comprise even though the officers and soldiers would have better conditions. The colonel Saito has managed to avoid a conflict when the colonel Nicholson offered a new plan of the bridge construction. By saying that the commands have been already given in response to Nicholson’s’ new plan, Saito has shown an intention to â€Å"ignore a conflict† (219). The first bit of this stage took place when the colonel Saito invited Nicholson for a dinner in order to negotiate the way of cooperation so that he could achieve the goal set. This stage implies that â€Å"there is no clear winner or loser† (219). When both colonels understood that building of the bridge did have certain benefits to both parties, they have accepted the solution that â€Å"provided incomplete satisfaction of both parties’ concerns† (219). Both parties have lost something: the colonel Nicolson – his ideology and officer’s duty, where the colonel Seito – his leadership, authority, and control over the bridge construction process. Collaborating stage took place on the moment when construction of the bridge was over and the colonel Nicholson has found a mine around the bridge. Both parties where interested in the final result – railroad path through the bridge as lots of efforts have been put to achieve this goal. Both Nicholson and Seito went together down to the river to find the problem and secure the bridge. Based on the film scenes it is possible to state that both leaders Saito and Nicholson have absolutely different

Marketing Planning and Strategy (Marketing Yourself)2 Assignment

Marketing Planning and Strategy (Marketing Yourself)2 - Assignment Example According to Parrish (2014), marketers always strive to create ‘needs’ for their customers because this strategy can assist marketers to make their products/services absolutely necessary to the targeted market segment. In contrast, consumers try to distinguish between their ‘needs and wants’ so as to make effective utilization of money. I do not think that marketers overlook the target market. Generally marketers develop specific policies and practices to market their products/services to the target market. Hence marketers cannot meet their goals once they fail to focus on the target market. I strongly believe that an exercise was carried out to identify the target market for this course because candidates are required to express their knowledge in marketing profession. I do believe that I will be more marketable on completing this course because it is comprehensive enough to provide me with an in-depth knowledge regarding the marketing profession. Parrish, J. (2014). Creating A Sense Of Urgency: Why Marketing Must Behave Like Sales. Forbes, Sep 1. Retrieved from

Does Dr Who tell us about science and technology or the Britain of its Essay

Does Dr Who tell us about science and technology or the Britain of its time Discuss - Essay Example Moreover, the era gave birth to television, which changed many aspects of the British society (Campbell). During these years of technological advancements many other elements were also becoming popular in Britain. People were fascinated with TV shows and greatly appreciated them. One of the most famous TV shows of all times is Doctor Who broadcasted on BBC, the first story of the series began on 23 November 1963 (Hyland). The caste of Doctor Who is fascinating and interesting, the science fiction elements in the series is its major attraction. the first episode of ‘Unearthly Child’, Doctor Who has been at the heart of its viewers (Britton). This paper aims to analyze whether Doctor Who tells us more about science and fiction or Britain of that time. Moreover, the paper will discuss some of the many technological elements from Doctor Who. Thesis Statement: Doctor Who is a science fiction show which was first presented in 1963. The show has presented many technological ele ments which are either inevitably possible or impossible. It has merged science fiction with science fantasy and has grasped what was going on in the British society of that particular time. Background The longest running British science fiction series, Doctor Who first began in 1963. The series is based on about 800 episodes that have been broadcasted periodically, and celebrates its 50 years anniversary. The theme of the series revolves around the science fiction and science fantasy, as some of the critics identify it as science fiction where as some believe it’s a science fiction. Doctor Who portrays some of the most amazing and fascinating adventures for humans. The series incorporates elements of science and technology, through illusions, imaginary narrative, through its unique representation of character and events, like Aliens, Cyber men, Sonic Screwdrivers etc. The entries story of the series focuses on the concept of time travel that allows the characters of the seri es to travel anywhere, even in the past and future. Doctor Who presents advanced science, technology and fiction in a very innovative manner, attracting several viewers around the world. Some believe that the ideas in the series are beyond human imagination, whereas some ideas seemed quite reasonable with the foreseeable science and are believed to be possible. Another chief element, which contributed towards the longevity of the show, is that it has effectively portrayed the fact of technological development and transformation of British society. Doctor Who certainly highlights science and fiction, which has tapped fear and curiosity among the viewers with the help of strong imaginary narratives and comments of the technological issues. The argument Doctor Who is undoubtedly a brilliant piece of science and fiction, but the need is to understand whether the show has actually tried to portray science fiction or science fantasy and whether it has reflected the Britain of that period. The science and technology that has been showed in Doctor Who is certainly beyond ones imagination (Campbell). Doctor Who is a science fiction series and viewers enjoy watching it as it is fun (Mckee). It gives the viewer an escape from their routine life and exhausted schedule so that they can fire up their imagination with some extra imaginary story. Some of the concepts in the serieshave become a part of reality whereas some are

Managment class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managment class - Essay Example The most prominent scenes where the episodes when the colonel Nicholson was ready to die and scarify the lives of the British officers to state his position about Geneva Convention, article 27 which stated that the officers shall not be forced to work. Even after his has been sent to the punishment cell, the colonel Nicholson was sure that only one person can win and he should not go for comprise even though the officers and soldiers would have better conditions. The colonel Saito has managed to avoid a conflict when the colonel Nicholson offered a new plan of the bridge construction. By saying that the commands have been already given in response to Nicholson’s’ new plan, Saito has shown an intention to â€Å"ignore a conflict† (219). The first bit of this stage took place when the colonel Saito invited Nicholson for a dinner in order to negotiate the way of cooperation so that he could achieve the goal set. This stage implies that â€Å"there is no clear winner or loser† (219). When both colonels understood that building of the bridge did have certain benefits to both parties, they have accepted the solution that â€Å"provided incomplete satisfaction of both parties’ concerns† (219). Both parties have lost something: the colonel Nicolson – his ideology and officer’s duty, where the colonel Seito – his leadership, authority, and control over the bridge construction process. Collaborating stage took place on the moment when construction of the bridge was over and the colonel Nicholson has found a mine around the bridge. Both parties where interested in the final result – railroad path through the bridge as lots of efforts have been put to achieve this goal. Both Nicholson and Seito went together down to the river to find the problem and secure the bridge. Based on the film scenes it is possible to state that both leaders Saito and Nicholson have absolutely different

Does Dr Who tell us about science and technology or the Britain of its Essay

Does Dr Who tell us about science and technology or the Britain of its time Discuss - Essay Example Moreover, the era gave birth to television, which changed many aspects of the British society (Campbell). During these years of technological advancements many other elements were also becoming popular in Britain. People were fascinated with TV shows and greatly appreciated them. One of the most famous TV shows of all times is Doctor Who broadcasted on BBC, the first story of the series began on 23 November 1963 (Hyland). The caste of Doctor Who is fascinating and interesting, the science fiction elements in the series is its major attraction. the first episode of ‘Unearthly Child’, Doctor Who has been at the heart of its viewers (Britton). This paper aims to analyze whether Doctor Who tells us more about science and fiction or Britain of that time. Moreover, the paper will discuss some of the many technological elements from Doctor Who. Thesis Statement: Doctor Who is a science fiction show which was first presented in 1963. The show has presented many technological ele ments which are either inevitably possible or impossible. It has merged science fiction with science fantasy and has grasped what was going on in the British society of that particular time. Background The longest running British science fiction series, Doctor Who first began in 1963. The series is based on about 800 episodes that have been broadcasted periodically, and celebrates its 50 years anniversary. The theme of the series revolves around the science fiction and science fantasy, as some of the critics identify it as science fiction where as some believe it’s a science fiction. Doctor Who portrays some of the most amazing and fascinating adventures for humans. The series incorporates elements of science and technology, through illusions, imaginary narrative, through its unique representation of character and events, like Aliens, Cyber men, Sonic Screwdrivers etc. The entries story of the series focuses on the concept of time travel that allows the characters of the seri es to travel anywhere, even in the past and future. Doctor Who presents advanced science, technology and fiction in a very innovative manner, attracting several viewers around the world. Some believe that the ideas in the series are beyond human imagination, whereas some ideas seemed quite reasonable with the foreseeable science and are believed to be possible. Another chief element, which contributed towards the longevity of the show, is that it has effectively portrayed the fact of technological development and transformation of British society. Doctor Who certainly highlights science and fiction, which has tapped fear and curiosity among the viewers with the help of strong imaginary narratives and comments of the technological issues. The argument Doctor Who is undoubtedly a brilliant piece of science and fiction, but the need is to understand whether the show has actually tried to portray science fiction or science fantasy and whether it has reflected the Britain of that period. The science and technology that has been showed in Doctor Who is certainly beyond ones imagination (Campbell). Doctor Who is a science fiction series and viewers enjoy watching it as it is fun (Mckee). It gives the viewer an escape from their routine life and exhausted schedule so that they can fire up their imagination with some extra imaginary story. Some of the concepts in the serieshave become a part of reality whereas some are

The issues surrounding Abortion Essay Example for Free

The issues surrounding Abortion Essay Explain how a follower of natural law might approach the issues surrounding Abortion. Natural Law, as outlined and enforced by Thomas Aquinas, says that every living thing has a purpose, and that every solution to a dilemma and every action can be solved by reasoning, which will gain you ultimate happiness. This Is linked with Aristotles idea that everyone has a specific purpose, and the Primary Precepts can help you to achieve your purpose. This is key knowledge to help with the understanding of Natural Law followers views about abortion. Human reasoning in any dilemma or problematic situation should be applied to the Primary Precepts of Natural Law. The two main precepts that are concerned in Natural Law with abortion are The Preservation of Life and Reproduction. Generally, conforming to Natural Law, the right action to take would be one that conforms to all the precepts, however with abortion it is not quite as simple. The first Precept to consider when thinking about abortion from a Natural Law followers state of mind would be Reproduction. The precept of Reproduction states that it is always right to encourage reproduction, and most nearly always wrong to prevent reproduction. Applying this to abortion would result in a follower of Natural Law believing that abortion is wrong. This is because the act of aborting a foetus, or baby, is preventing the act of reproduction, and therefore going against one of Aquinas Primary Precepts; Preservation of Life. Natural Law does not consider the people involved or most of the consequences, but more on the act of abortion itself. Reproduction as known is a Primary Precept of Natural Law, and because the act of abortion stops procreation then it is frowned upon by Natural Law followers. The act of abortion can also disturb the precept of Preservation of Life. This precept states that it is always right to help save or maintain a life, and always wrong to try and intentionally. However this is only if one believes that life begins at conception. Abortion involves taking the life of a foetus that you believe to be a human life, which in turn act against the precept of the Preservation of Life, as you not preserving life, but taking one away. However, there are a few exceptions. Aquinas Doctrine of Double effect applies these exceptions. Aquinas saw the precepts as absolutely true for every single being, and that using our reasoning can bring us to the right solution in every situation. However there are times when in order to conform to one precept, we must decide to act against another. For example; there is a pregnant woman, however for medical reasons carrying on with the pregnancy would end in her death. She has two choices, one; have the baby and end her own life or two; have an abortion and save her own life. The first solution would go against the precept of the Preservation of Life, where the second would go against both the Preservation of Life and Reproduction. In this case it is okay for a person to come to a suitable solution through reasoning, as whatever happens there will be bad consequences. However, this is only acceptable if the bad consequence is but an unwanted side effect of the action with good intent. All in all, abortion acts against two of the Primary Precepts of Natural Law, which clearly makes it a bad action. Even though there are a few exceptions, these are only in the worst of situations, and on the whole, abortion is entirely wrong according to Natural Law. A foetus is not a person Discuss. There are many different opinions and arguments as to when a Foetus becomes a person, and these all play different but key roles into solving many huge arguments. To hope to solve this argument is absurd, however the different viewpoints can be stated and analysed to find the strongest. One way in which to argue whether or not a Foetus is a person is to apply it to the criteria of Personhood. These criteria are suggested by Mary Anne Warren, and are Sentience, Emotionality, Reason, Ability to Communicate, Self-awareness and Moral agency. Conforming to these criteria would mean the a Foetus cannot be classed as a person, as it does not fit into any of these criteria. However, later on in the development of a Foetus it begins to fit into some of the criteria, such as Sentience. Could this mean that a foetus slowly becomes a person? Mary Anne Warren suggests that a Foetus is a potential person, but says that it does not have a right to life, which really does not solve any arguments as to whether or not a Foetus is a person. It is also argued that a potential life, as proposed by Mary Anne Warren, does not have any rights or privileges. This would also mean that a Foetus does not have access to human rights, and the right to life. So that begs the question, if something does not have access to human rights, is it a person?

Corporate Social Responsibilty In Mauritius Management Essay

Corporate Social Responsibilty In Mauritius Management Essay The European Commission defined Corporate Social Responsibility as a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis. In other words, it concerns actions by companies over and above their legal obligations towards society and the environment. According to the European Commission certain regulatory measures can create a more conducive environment for organisations to voluntarily meet their social responsibility. Similarly, the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) defines Corporate Social Responsibility as the concept whereby companies act to balance their own economic growth with the sustainable social and environmental development of the country. An organisation that is highly involved in CSR is one that goes beyond the legal compliance and actively practices positive impacts on the local communities and the environment. In fact, there is not a standard definition of Corporate Social Responsibility as it is varies according to various countries and cultures. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an important issue over the last two decades. Lawyers, practitioners, economists, and civil society have contributed to defining, developing, and analysing the content, nature and implementation of CSR (P. R.Waagstein, 2011). CSR has been practiced by companies all over the world for many years as shown by many researchers. At the beginning, it was more for staff well-being. For instance, during the industrial revolution and age, factories provided different facilities for the community surrounding them in order to make use of their labour. Over the past few years, both businesses and academic researchers have shown increasing interest and enthusiasm for Corporate Social Responsibility. For instance, research done has suggested that CSR may be an efficient tool to improve the legitimacy of companies amongst their stakeholders as per Handelman and Arnold (1999), and to develop positive social responsibility images, according to Sen and Bhattacharya (2001). PROBLEM STATEMENT The term CSR has, over years, been coined to allow the economic development of a country to participate in the socio-economic development. By being responsible for society, the same industries were allowed to give back, in a responsible way, to people working for them and purchasing their goods and services. Amongst the different levels of society, the emergence of need for different categories arose, for example, handicapped people, abandoned children, out laws, the elderly and street people. Thus, Corporate Social Responsibility became a term used for catering to all categories of humans and their wellness in the society. At the onset, Corporate Social Responsibility was a voluntary initiative for companies to act socially responsible. However, over the years, especially in the new millennium, since complete improvement was not totally visible around the world, the United Nations proposed some Millennium Development Goals to improve the general conditions of living. One of their main goals was to eradicate absolute poverty in developing countries and underdeveloped countries. Indeed, the United Nations Millennium Campaign, started in 2002, supports and inspires people from all four corners of the world to get involved and take actions in supporting the Millennium Development Goals. As stated, the main challenges and major concerns of the International community is to eradicate absolute poverty, but this can only be done by the combined efforts of all governments, civil society organisations and the private sector. As mentioned by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the goals are ambitious but feasible and, together with the comprehensive United Nations development agenda, set the course for the worlds efforts to alleviate extreme poverty by 2015. The Government of Mauritius has established a policy with the objective of mandating registered companies to pay 2% of their book profit towards programmes that contribute to the social and environmental development of the country. In Mauritius, CSR has been formulated in the year 2008, when then the Minister of Finance decided that companies should reinvest 2% of their book profit towards societal development. To date, CSR has been practiced by companies for years and one of the main issues that arose recently is how to regulate it. Should it be a legal norm, ethical norm or social norm? This question can be further elaborated: Should CSR be regulated through state regulation, code of conduct or self-regulation? Should it be regulated in a voluntary way or should it be an obligation to corporations? Another question that arises is whether it is the role of the private sector to take care or to look after the society, or whether it is the role of the government to do so, since all companies are paying tax and the main objective of a company is to maximise profits. In addition, on a different perspective, another question emerges: should an organisation only focus on maximising profits or should its role as a so cially responsible organisation also include looking after its society and the community? Matten and Moon (2008) offers a broad interpretation, arguing that it should be perceived both as a social imperative and social consequence of business success. Accordingly, two forms of CSR, implicit and explicit, have been introduced. Implicit CSR is embedded in various relationships among business, society and government within the political system. It is represented by strong values, norms and rules or regulations which require corporations to address stakeholder issues. It is important to note that politics and organisations are interrelated and interdependent as they need each other to accomplish their social responsibility in an effective and efficient way. A textbook example in Mauritius would be the Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile (CMT) that has donated Rs 25m to the government for the new project of building a high tech school for vulnerable and deprived children. 1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The aim of this research is to determine the importance of voluntary or mandatory CSR for the overall socio-economic development of the country. In this context, the specific objectives are to: To assess the local opinion of CSR drivers and whether it is better as a mandatory or voluntary practice. This will provide a course of action for the new Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment. To provide for modifications in the local way of practicing CSR and to be able to answer queries of International organisations on eradication of poverty. To make recommendations so as to meet the targets set by United Nations and the Millennium Development Goals project, and to showcase Mauritius as a success example in Africa. 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH In fact, Corporate Social Responsibility is mandatory in Mauritius and this research primarily focuses on determining the opinions, points of view and the experiences of companies that are actively engaged in CSR. Further assessment will be made as to whether they prefer a voluntary or mandatory implementation and determining whether the local way of practicing CSR has benefitted society and provided improvements in the current way local companies are practicing CSR. In addition, it analyses the need for mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility in Mauritius and determines whether the government should keep it mandatory or voluntary or both. It further develops the idea of whether voluntary CSR should be modified to some other form to cater to the needs of the Mauritian society. It also gives a comprehensive overview of findings and conclusions that will allow the local CSR Committee and Government to review and improve its CSR policies for the country. 1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS Based on the above research objectives of the study, the following research questions have been formulated: How organisations define Corporate Social Responsibility? Awareness of local CSR guidelines and what their opinions are and suggestions on the CSR guidelines? What problems they encounter while implementing CSR practices? How can the CSR Committee help in implementing CSR activities? How businesses perceive Corporate Social Responsibility as a mandatory practice in Mauritius. Should it be voluntary or mandatory? 1.6 STRUCTURE OF THE DISSERTATION Chapter 1 Introduction This chapter provides an overview of the topic research on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and sets out the problem statement of the study, outlining the objectives of the research and highlighting the research questions. Chapter 2 Literature Review This chapter reviews the literature relevant to the topic. It provides past reviews carried out by different researchers on Corporate Social Responsibility in various countries around the world. It also provides a description of CSR implementation in Mauritius and the similarities and contrasts that exist among the different countries. Chapter 3 Methodology The methodology chapter outlines the methods and techniques used to conduct the study, namely the research approach, design and strategy used. Information about the target population including the sample size and sampling method is given along with details about the interview questionnaire. Chapter 4 Analysis and Findings This chapter presents the data analysis and research findings. The source of data has been derived mainly from interviews that have been carried out. Further, discussions are based on the findings of this study. Chapter 5 Recommendations and Conclusions In this final chapter, appropriate recommendations will be made and the chapter will end with a concluding paragraph including the possibility for further or future research. CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter presents an overview of the literature relevant to Corporate Social Responsibility. It provides a review of the past studies carried out by different researchers. The idea of social responsibility emerged in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. Carroll (1989) states three critical turning points in the evolution of social responsibility: The Entrepreneurial Era Businessmen in America were building industrial empires and were abusing their power, being found guilty of antisocial and anticompetitive practices. Such practices included tax evasion and other unethical business practices. This caused frustration among the public who voiced their objections, causing the government to enforce laws whereby business had a role to play in society beyond profit maximisation. The Depression era of 1929- 1930s The economy of United States was dominated by large organisations and the government passed laws to protect investors and smaller businesses. In addition, the social responsibility of organisations was more clearly defined. (iii)The Social Era of 1960s This era was characterised by social turmoil in the United States. The Government looked closely at organisational practices and it was clearly defined to whom the organisation was responsible and who in an organisation was responsible for the organisational practices. Bowen (1953) the pioneering advocate of CSR, described Corporate Social Responsibility in terms of the obligations of businessmen to pursue those policies, to make those decisions, or to follow those lines of action which are desirable in terms of objectives and values of our society. (Social Responsibilities of Businessmen, 1953). The emphasis was laid on peoples conscience rather on the company itself. This alteration in focus was provoked by a number of factors such as the managerial revolution and the mounting hostility of people experiencing social problems. The obligations were further elaborated upon, going beyond economic and legal implications by including the employee, the community welfare and the political and educational needs of society (McGuire, 1963). This gave rise to the modern concept of corporate citizenship (Maignan, Ferrell, and Hult, 1999). The Committee for Economic Development (1971) viewed CSR as the service of a wide range of human values to improve the quality of life. The managerial role in changing societal expectations has also been articulated by the Committee. On one hand, Manne Wallich (1972) mentioned that businesses should not spoil society but should provide solutions through voluntary assumption of obligations. On the other hand, Caroll (1979) summarised the discussion by providing the following definition: social responsibility of business encompasses the economic, legal, ethical and discretionary expectations that society has of organisations at a given point in time. Figure 1 Carrolls classic pyramid (Carroll, 1991) Carrolls CSR Pyramid covers the whole perspective of what society can expect from a company, economically as well as socially. This theory can be used to identify a companys CSR activities and how they use CSR as a strategy. It will further explain and recognise the connection between a companys CSR activities and its stakeholders. Carrolls CSR Pyramid can be used as a tool to clarify the different kinds of responsibilities that a company has to fulfil in order to achieve legitimacy from its surrounding society and stakeholders. 2.1 Definition of Corporate Social Responsibility Various organisations have viewed CSR in different ways, although there are considerable common opinions between them. According to Mallen Baker (2004), CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society. Lord Holmes and Richard Watts (2000), in their publications Making Good Business Sense, defined CSR as: Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large. This publication also provides some evidence of the different perceptions of what this should mean to a number of different societies across the world. It respects cultural differences and finds the business opportunities in building the skills of employees, the community and the government through CSR. Corporate Social Responsibility Developing Countries and Overseas Experiences In the year 2000 , the Millennium Development Goals set the challenge of Corporate Social responsibility in developing countries in view of eradicating poverty, hunger, providing better education to children, equal opportunities for women and a healthier environment (UN, 2006: 3). Unfortunately, in many developing countries these global aspirations have remained unaccomplished. (Visser et al., 2007) viewed CSR in developing countries as the formal and informal ways in which business makes a contribution to improving the governance, social, ethical, labour and environmental conditions of the developing countries in which they operate, while remaining sensitive to prevailing religious, historical and cultural contexts. According to a survey done by Welford (2005) in Asia, research showed that countries such as Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand where indicative of having less prevalent CSR activities. Malaysia is considered as the weakest in terms of CSR performance, with Thailand being relatively strong on external aspects (such as child labour and ethics) and Hong Kong being generally better on internal aspects (such as non-discrimination and equal opportunities). It was determined through a review done on CSR literature (Visser et al, 2006) that only 12 out of 53 countries in Africa have publications in CSR journals and that 57% of published articles focus on South Africa with 16% focusing on Nigeria. On one hand, CSR in the United States has been defined mainly in terms of a philanthropic model. Most companies focus on making and maximising profits and only contribute to charitable activities in an effort to benefit from tax concessions, contributing a certain share of the profits to charitable institutions. They believe that receiving any benefits from charitable sharing would tarnish the reputation of the company. On the other hand, the Canadian Governments perception of CSR is generally understood to be the way a company achieves a balance or integration of economic, environmental and social imperatives while at the same time addressing shareholder and stakeholder expectations. According to Cecil (2008), disclosure of CSR in the United States does not currently exist and is therefore unregulated as a required framework. In fact, various models and categories of reporting do exist under the umbrella of CSR, such as environmental reports, social reports and sustainability reports. Therefore the CSR report is separate from the annual report and represents non-financial qualitative and quantitative data. In contrast to other developed countries, Corporate Social Responsibility in the United States is not forcefully imposed. Companies in the United States participate in CSR based on their own moral and social values, allowing them to apply the triple-bottom-line approach voluntarily. In comparison, the laws of Mauritius state that it is mandatory for profit bearing organisations to pay the government 2% of their annual book profit as a CSR contribution. While companies in the United States have no mandatory obligation towards CSR, they widely exploit the CSR programme as a means of increasing their public image and corporate reputation. Given the fact that CSR in the United States is non-mandatory, companies can define and interpret their views of social responsibility within the context of own their company. Having this freedom has allowed them to better measure and promote CSR activities in comparison to their International counterparts. It is interesting to note that although companies in the United States are very explicit in their public statements with relation to their commitment to corporate responsibility, the lack of precise definition has led to confusion in terminology. A wide range of terms for CSR now exists, such as social responsibility, community investment and corporate citizenship. Each company tends to define them differently, yet having little understanding of what they actually mean, whether that is philanthropic giving, raw material sourcing or employment practices. Mauritius in comparison, although less developed than the United States, has a well-defined CSR programme as the mandatory enforcement of social responsibility has led to a single, precise and distinct perception thereof. The Government of the United Kingdom interprets CSR as the contribution a business makes to their sustainable development goals in terms of how they account for economic, social and environmental impacts. According to I. Pearson, Minister of the state UK, the world is experiencing major economic challenges and the issue of Corporate Responsibility must remain high on business and political agendas. He states that most successful companies have always been the most responsible. Business leaders recognise that Corporate Responsibility makes good business sense and it attracts the best talent, earns the trust of customers and the community and acts as a powerful investment for long-term sustainability. However, just like the United States, and in contrast to Mauritius, CSR is voluntary in the United Kingdom. The Government of the United Kingdom has adopted the voluntary approach as they believe it will motivate and encourage Corporate Social Responsibility through best practice guidance, and where appropriate, regulation and fiscal incentives. In the United Kingdom, CSR is viewed as a voluntary activity that should address both competitive and social interests. Mauritius does not share this approach and even encourages companies to contribute above the legal requirement to benefit the community and environment, invest in education and to help eradicate poverty. The question of whether or not CSR should be considered mandatory emerges when we consider that countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have no such legal compliance obligations. Why would a country like Mauritius, being a small island in the Indian Ocean, apply CSR as compulsory, especially considering that Mauritius is only the second country in the world where CSR is mandatory? NRE (Nouvelles Regulations Economique) law introduced in France in 2001 requires that all publicly listed French companies disclose information to their stakeholders pertaining to social and environmental impacts on their activities, together with their annual reports. There is no requirement for any specific constraints to be included with regards to their standards, thresholds or any other regulatory requirements. Although the law has been introduced, it should be considered as a soft law since the disclosed information is not regulated and there are no clear rules with regards to non-compliance. The legal responsibility is to report on social and environment impacts but without the requirement for certification of the disclosed information. In addition, the law does not clearly outline possible sanctions that may be imposed in cases of non-compliance or falsification of information. According to the research presented by L. Drusch and A.Lioui (2010) there has been a rapid growth in Corporate Social Responsibility in France over the last decade. This growth can be measured by the increase in the number of French companies that are listed in the Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) index in France as well as the listing of French companies in International CSR rankings, such as the 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World listing. Like the United States, CSR in France is based on the triple-bottom-line approach and is aimed at improving social, economic or environmental aspects in society beyond financial motivation. In addition, the United States does provide CSR reporting to some extent although not regulated and submitted in a separate report to the annual statements. In July 2007, Indonesia enforced a mandatory regulation regarding corporate social responsibility, being the first country in the world to do so. Based on the research done by Rosser et al (2008), Indonesia promotes CSR to local small and medium enterprises as a way to reach US and European markets. As compared to Mauritius, where the obligation is to pay 2% of the book profit, Indonesia has imposed a 3-5% obligation to be paid to the government. According to empirical data, the CSR law in Indonesia requires revision and improvement due to misinterpretations thereof, as well as lack of a precise definition. The law created a fierce debate and was heavily challenged as being nothing more than a philanthropy tax that was detrimental for business. Those challenging the law argue that there is no need to regulate CSR as sectorial rules have already been defined and introduced to regulate corporate responsibilities, such as the Environmental Law, Labour Law and Investment Law. The law is very unclear with regards to the governments expectations and has no clear definition of CSR. Unlike France, the law in Indonesia does stipulate penalties for non-compliance. Grafstrà ¶m et al (2008) identified that over the past three decades, the term CSR has been extensively debated by companies and in academic circles across the globe with a common goal: to identify a definition of CSR that all and sundry can collectively agree upon. Kemp et al (2001) observed that companies were hesitant to divulge their actual CSR activities due to the confusion that the term has produced over the past years. It was found that companies are reluctant to publish their activities for fear of reprisal by the media and NGOs should their approach be erroneous. Carroll (1998) found that companies often interpret regulations incorrectly and that laws often create a hindrance rather than improving economic performance. Although Mauritius followed Indonesias stance on mandatory CSR, being only the second country in the world to do so, the differences between the two countries can be easily identified. When the law was introduced, Indonesia faced fierce disapproval and the mandatory requirement is still an on-going debate. It remains mostly a disorganised and misunderstood concept whereas Mauritius appears to have a clearly understanding of what CSR actually entails as opposed to simply being a governmental tax requirement. The introduction of CSR into the Mauritian business environment was done so with a clear understanding on the benefits to business success, reputation and the social impact that such contributions would make on the island. Many are of the opinion that even if CSR was not mandatory in Mauritius, most organisations would still voluntarily contributing to CSR as a good business practice. Like Indonesia, India faced strong criticism when trying to impose mandatory CSR obligations in 2011. Their intention was to make it mandatory for companies to contribute at least 2% of net profits to the government. In July 2011 the Indian government backed down and made CSR contributions voluntary by recasting it as responsible business and issuing a set of guidelines for companies released on July 8th 2011 by the then Union Minister of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Murli Deora. The debate surrounding the mandatory CSR in India continues and the government has requested that companies keep records of their CSR spending in order to disclose to their stakeholders. The Companies Bill 2009 contains many provisions but none more debated than CSR. Salman Khurshid (the current Union minister for law) and Deoras predecessor, initially a mandatory CSR enthusiast, swayed his views that if CSR contributions were publicised, they would create competitiveness between organisations that in turn would encourage contributions. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Industry (FICCI) suggested tax concessions to companies who reached voluntary targets. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a rival of the Indian Chambers, felt that mandatory corporate responsibility would be counterproductive, arguing that companies may resort to camouflaging activities to meet such regulations, particularly during recessionary periods and economic downturns. Indias philanthropic community does not support mandatory CSR. According to research, the CEO of the NGO Give India viewed this as a crazy idea. He believed that once CSR is made mandatory, people will find ways and means to get out of it. The rules would be so vague that the reporting would be even vaguer. The CEO and co-founder of the Dasra foundation agreed. He was not in favour of mandatory CSR. He felt that when you make things mandatory, the chance of them not being done would be greater. Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani strongly opposed mandatory CSR believing that it was just outsourcing of governance. She felt that if wanted, the corporations should be taxed and the money put into social programs but that CSR should not be dictated. Corporate giants, TATA and BIRLA, have practiced Corporate Social Responsibility actively, decades before the term CSR became popular in India. Even still, CSR remains misunderstood in the Indian Development Sector. Only a few private and public companies apply CSR and those that do tend to have International shareholding from countries where CSR is considered a business best practice. India attempted to follow in the footsteps of Indonesia and Mauritius by imposing mandatory CSR regulations, the only other country to have actively considered such enforcement. It seems evident from the various researchers and the review of the various approaches and overseas experiences that there is a marked difference in the concept and interpretation of CSR world-wide. Mauritian Context In Mauritius, private organisations are reputed to have an extended culture and tradition of CSR, principally in terms of voluntary social engagement in the communities where they operate and in the society at large. They have participated and contributed over the years to the social and environmental development of the country. Previous survey reports published by the Mauritius Employers Fund (MEF) in 2006 and 2008 indicate that Mauritian businesses in their large majority believe that their role in society extends beyond wealth generation and that pursuing economic interests needs to be balanced with social and environmental responsibility. Indeed, Mauritian enterprises have been engaged in both internal and external CSR, driven mainly by ethical considerations, employee motivation, company reputation and brand positioning. They have also taken into consideration benefits of employees and engaged in external CSR initiatives by contributing and supporting social and community relate d activities. The MEF Surveys have also shown that CSR has followed a rather philanthropic approach, characterised by informal activities, unrelated to business operations and strategy. The recent economic and financial crisis has led to a rise in the level of involvement of governments in the operation of the business sector across the world. There is also an emerging debate in the Corporate Social Responsibility literature with regards to the role of the state in the business relationship. Despite the efforts made by government and International agencies, the global poverty problem is worsening day by day. Thus, the contribution of organisations to Corporate Social Responsibility for the creation of a better society is rising. Corporate Social Responsibility Mandatory in Mauritius According to Y.Ramtohul (Sept 2011), on one hand, in Mauritius, all companies such as those holding a Category 1 Global Business Licence under the Financial Services Act, banks in Mauritius whose income is derived from banking transactions with non-resident or corporation holding a global business license under the financial, IRS companies as mentioned in the investment promotion ( Real Estate Development Scheme) Regulations 2007, as well as any non-resident societe , a trust or a trustee of a unit trust scheme are exempted from mandatory obligation from contributing to the CSR fund. On the other hand , all other companies incorporated and registered at the Registrar of Companies of Mauritius have to contribute 2% of their annual book profits to the CSR fund as provided by the S 50L of the Income Tax of Mauritius ( Act 16 1995). According to the S 50L of the same Act the 2 % that goes to the CSR fund shall be used to either implement an approved programme by a company, an approved programme under the National Empowerment Foundation or to finance an approved NGO. It is the responsibility of the CSR committee to review these programmes or NGOs to be financed as set up under the S 50 L section of the Income Tax in order to have a better control and transparency about the investment made. It is also interesting to understand that if, in respect to a year, the amount paid out to the CSR fund is less than 2% then the difference shall be remitted as an income and will be taxed at the end of the financial year. Statutory Requirements As from July 2009, companies in Mauritius therefore have the legal obligation to contri