Clash of science and religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Clash of science and religion - Essay Example On the other hand, the religious perspective of human evolution is based on the readings (Geoffrey, 2011). The readings develop the assumption that human beings are created by God. In addition, the creation of man is the most valuable creation of the deity. The discoveries of an evolution theory that can be explained through scientific evidence undermine the significance of the religious creation theory (Philip, 2009). On numerous occasions, religious fanatics have questioned the originality of scientific theory citing that there must be a source of life. Consequently, this can only be explained by the existence of a supernatural power. The scientific discoveries that explain the existence of the universe also create conflict with religion. For instance, the continental drift theory does not value the importance of religion in the creation story (Philip, 2009). The theory is developed on the assumption that the world was a one piece of land mass that drifted due to cosmic activity. The movements enable the creation of continents separated by seas. From a religious perspective, the complete format and existence of the universe was as constructed by God. Mathisen (2006) is of the assumption that religion perceives the continental drift theory as a way that undermines the significance of their deity. The author further points out that; religion increases its dissatisfaction on the theory every time a new discovery is attached to the theory (Mathisen, 2006). The modern day scientific discoveries also attract opposition from religion. For instance, modern day scientists have dwelled so much on the creation of an artificial life-form. Over the years, discoveries on human robotics have been made to justify that man can develop a more complex form of human. McRae (2010) is of the assumption that creating an artificial human being is automatically perceived as act that provokes God. From a religious perspective, creation of

Plan balanced meals snacks Essay Example for Free

Plan balanced meals snacks Essay

Stress Reduction: Meditation, Medication, And Relaxation

Stress Reduction: Meditation, Medication, And Relaxation This research highlights the effects of stress at work place, and on personal healthy. There are three indicators for stress they are; emotional, and physical. Stress in general is not hazardous, but if it continues for a long time it become chronic, and may affect persons life. Therefore I am going to present three ways to cope with stress they are: medication, meditation, and relaxation. Meditation and relaxation are two safe ways unlike medication which contain some kind of drugs and it have many side effects. Finally I will give some hints to reduce stress at work socially. Stress isnt illness but theres quite a bit of evidence that it increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and mental health problems. So people can become ill because of chronic stress (Barber, 2008). Stress hormones constrict blood vessels, speed up the heartbeat, and make the heart and blood vessels especially reactive to further stress.(Harvard letter) -(www.health.harvard.edu). Work is the most important factor in peoples life, it affects on their whole life. In work place, every employer or employee try to do the best, therefore employers tend to challenge each other which can be a source of stress. This source is known as the interaction between individuals and any source of demand (stressor). (Bonita, 1995). The United Nations World Labor Report attributes the source of stress to work places that can increase stress levels and they are: long work hours; role conflict; physical hazard exposures; and interpersonal conflicts with coworkers or supervisors. (Bonita, 1995).Consequently stress causes healthy problems and social conflicts. Therefore medication, meditation, relaxation, and job management are powerful ways to over come stress. Signs and symptoms: They are divided into two categories emotional, and physical. Emotional: Feeling irritable, feeling frustrated at having to wait for something, feeling restless, unable to concentrate, Becoming easily confused, Having memory problems, Thinking about negative things all the time, Negative self-talk, Having marked mood swings, Eating too much, Eating when you are not hungry, Finding it difficult to concentrate, Not having enough energy to get things done, Feeling you cant cope, Finding it hard to make decisions, Having emotional outbursts, Generally feeling upset, and Lack of sense of humor.( www.changingminds.org) Physical: Muscle tension, low back pain, pains in shoulders or neck, pains in chest, stomach/abdominal pain, muscle spasms or nervous tics, unexplained rashes or skin irritations, Pounding or racing heart, sweaty palms, sweating when not physically active, Butterflies in stomach, indigestion and the gurgles, diarrhea, unable to sleep or excessive sleep, shortness of breath, and holding breath. (www.changingminds.org) Medication: Before beginning with types of medicines, brain is related or affected by hormones and these hormones are responsible for feeling and behavior. There are as many as systems that control function of the body and the brain, they are affected by many factors, especially stress. Medicines balance the release of hormones, which decrease stress. There is no one specific family of medicines that is used to decrease stress. Physicians prescribe a range of medications to set specific stress-related symptoms. For example, Sedatives and Antidepressants they use to help people to cope with stress. The role of Sedatives is to decrease the activity of the central nervous system, which makes persons feel more relaxed. This family contains the following types of medicines: Benzodiazepines which include alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), triazolam (Halcion), temazepam (Restoril), and chlordiazepoxide (Librium). These medicines acts on a naturally occurring neurotransmitter substance in the brain called GABA whose role is to slow down the activity of the brain. The side effect of these medicines in a higher dose can cause slurred speech, an impaired ability to walk around, poor judgment, and slowed reflexes. (www.mhmrtc.org) Antidepressant, their use is to treat depression. However they are used also used to treat stress symptoms. The family name of these medications is called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) they contain medicines such as Paxil, Prozac, and Lexapro. They directly affect on the primary cells in the brain whos called Neurons, they are connected to each other by a chemical messengers known as a neurotransmitters. The process of communication releases a neurotransmitter chemical into a space between neurons known as the synapse, where it makes contact with a receiving neuron and stimulates that neuron into action. Having completed its communication job, the Serotonin gets sucked back up by the sending neuron in a process called reuptake. When reuptake happens too quickly or efficiently the net effect is that not enough Serotonin is present to properly do its job, and mood regulation problems can result. They can cause nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, sleep disturbances, and a wi de range of sexual arousal and climax problems as side effects.(www.mhmrtc.org) Meditation: Meditation is an important example for relief of stress, and it had been used from hundred years ago. It is an effective way to cope with stress without taking medicine, and it is known as a self helping process. The example that I took is Yoga. Yoga is one of the oldest systems of health. The practice of Yoga is to normalize the production of thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland is the master regular of all other glands, and as the glands are connected with stress and emotion the ability to increase or decrease thyroid activity can be an important self-help process. There have been more than a thousand studies since 1970s for Yoga. The studies have demonstrated that Yoga can bring that about stress and anxiety alleviation, blood and heart rate reduction, improved memory and intelligence, pain alleviation, and many other benefits. Relaxation: Stress management begins with identifying sources of stress. To identify your source of stress look at you habits, and your attitude. Try to answer these questions: What caused your stress- how you felt physically and emotionally- how do you act in response- what you did to make yourself feel better. Your goal is to change the situation or to change your reaction. If you canà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t avoid a stressful situation, then try to face it. Express your feeling instead of bottling them up. Be willing to compromise, be more assertive, and manage your time better. These are healthy ways to relief form stress: Go for a walk, spend time in nature, call a good friend, take a long bath, listen to music, and you can watch a comedy film. For deep explanation, you should set aside relaxation time. This time you should set alone without any interruption from others, its your time to take a beak from every thing donà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t remember any thing about the past nor things about your future. Second helpful thing that you should make connection with friends; spend time with good friends that may help you to over come your conflicts. Eating healthy food may also help, you can also avoid caffeine and sugar because they increase energy and affects you mood; cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs they relief you for a while, but the relief is not permanent. Do try to escape from your problems by these kinds of things, solve your problems with a clear mind. And finally sleeping probably, and getting enough time for sleep helps your mind to relax and recharge, because the more you are tired the more stress you will have. (www.helpguide.org) Stress management at work: Work is the most important factor in peoples life and it affects on their whole life, so every one try to do the best, employers tend to challenge each other which can be a source of stress. The United Nations World Labor Report writes about the factors that may increase stress level and they are: long work hours, role conflict, physical hazard exposures; and interpersonal conflicts with coworkers or supervisors. So the first thing you do is the job control. You are faced as many as status in your work place, bad dealing with employers, coworkers, and customers means bad situations which makes the feeling of stress more and more, so you must have the control on every single thing in your job. Their some strategies may help you to reduce work related stress given by Lazarus 1991 they are: First thing is to alter the working conditions so that they are less stressful or more conducive to effective coping. This strategy is most appropriate for large numbers of workers working under severe conditions. Examples include altering physical annoyances such as noise levels, or changing organizational decision-making processes to include employees. Second step is to help individuals adapt by teaching them better coping strategies for conditions that are impossible or difficult to change. A limitation to this strategy is that it is costly to deal with each individuals unique transaction with the environment. Intervention strategies could include individual counseling services for employees, Employee Assistance Programs, or specialized stress management programs, such as cognitive behavioral interventions. The third step is to identify the stressful relationship between the individual or group and the work setting. Intervention strategies might include changes in worker assignment to produce a better person-environment fit, or it could involve teaching coping strategies for individuals who share common coping deficits. (e.g., training in relaxation skills). (www.ericdigests.org) Deep breathing for stress relief: Sit comfortably with your back straight. Sit comfortably with your back straight. Put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Breathe in through your nose. The hand on your stomach should rise. The hand on your chest should move very little. Exhale through your mouth, pushing out as much air as you can while contracting your abdominal muscles. The hand on your stomach should move in as you exhale, but your other hand should move very little. Continue to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try to inhale enough so that your lower abdomen rises and falls. Count slowly as you exhale. Muscle relaxation for stress relief: Loosen your clothing, take off your shoes, and get comfortable. Take a few minutes to relax, breathing in and out in slow, deep breaths. When youà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢re relaxed and ready to start, shift your attention to your right foot. Take a moment to focus on the way it feels. Slowly tense the muscles in your right foot, squeezing as tightly as you can. Hold for a count of 10. Relax your right foot. Focus on the tension flowing away and the way your foot feels as it becomes limp and loose. Stay in this relaxed state for a moment, breathing deeply and slowly. When youà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢re ready, shift your attention to your left foot. Follow the same sequence of muscle tension and release. Move slowly up through your body-legs, abdomen, back, neck, face. (www.helpguide.org) Conclusion: Depending on the research; first stress is not hazardous but it is in chronic stress. There are many ways to over come or to cope with stress. Self helping is the most important way to deal with stress. Also dealing with stressors at work place, and practicing relaxation technique is an important factor to decrease stress level, unlike taking medicines which have many side effects on body.

The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children Essay example -- Violence

Depression and post traumatic stress disorder are two of the main illnesses seen in children after being exposed to domestic violence. Among depression and post traumatic stress disorder, there are multiple sub-categories to help place the severity of the disorder. Many influences can change the severity of a disorder in the child including but not limited to: length of exposure, type of exposure, and time-lapse since the exposure. Domestic violence is defined as violence between members of a household such as that of a married couple or a parent to one’s child. Some cases of domestic violence can just be through witnessing while some of the more scarring events occur directly to the child. Domestic violence can be separated into three smaller categories: physical abuse, sexual abuse, and psychological abuse. The most common type of domestic violence is done through physical abuse. This can include hitting, kicking, punching, choking, etc. Physical abuse can be minor in that it just leaves bruises or a bad memory, but physical abuse can also be as serious as broken bones, time in the hospital, or as serious as death. Sexual abuse is also a very common type of abuse. Pressuring a child to do sexual acts, child pornography, and unwanted penetration to a child’s genitals are all forms of sexual abuse. Psychological abuse is the least common form of abuse performed. Psychological abuse does e xactly what the name states. It’s abuse to someone through their mind such as telling someone they are fat or that they are ugly. Domestic violence can be scary for the young children who witness it. Depending on the situation, domestic violence can have negative outcomes that can stay with the child for the rest of his... ...ional Journal 34 (2010): 448-453. EBSCO. Smith, Barbera E., Laura B. Nickles, Darlanne Hoctor Mulmat, and Heather J. Davies. Helping Children Exposed To Domestic Violence:Law Enforcement And Community Partnerships. Washington D.C: American Bar Association, 2000. Print. "The Facts on Health Care and Domestic Violence." Family Violence Prevention Fund. University California, San Francisco, n.d. Web. 7 Oct. 2014. . "Turning Point Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services." Turning Point Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2014. . Volpe, Joseph S. "Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Adolescents: An Overview." American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. N.p., 1996. Web. 7 Sept. 2014. .

Capstone to Business Management Final Project Essay

Executive Summary Tim’s Coffee Shoppe is located in Sunnydale, Illinois. Sunnydale is a mid-sized city with a busy business district and a large university and Tim’s is located smack dab in the middle of all the traffic. Tim’s Coffee Shoppe is in need of some much needed improvements and needs things to run more smoothly. Some of Tim’s problems were customer satisfaction, employee loyalty and marketing. The following pages have a detailed review of what Tim needs to become more successful. One of the most important things Tim needs to accomplish is a makeover of his human resource program to address employee training, thus creating better customer service as well as expanding the types of marketing he utilizes. If he follows suggestions he would have the opportunity to obtain his long term goals such as * To double revenue by the end of the current fiscal year. * To receive at least 95 percent positive customer feedback regarding the service we provide. Regulations and Management Summary The attempt is to suggest to Tim’s Coffee Shoppe’s areas of weaknesses where subtle improvement to business strategies which can bring in the much desired and needed revenues and increase customer traffic. It is also an attempt to provide cost effective products through a change in supply and logistics for Tim’s Coffee Shoppe. The market segmentation is also to be altered to expand his customer base. Action Items The vision statement chosen is: â€Å"To ensure that each guest receives prompt, professional, friendly and courteous service. To maintain a clean, comfortable and well maintained premises for our guests and staff. To provide at a fair price – nutritional, well-prepared beverages and foods-  using only quality ingredients. To ensure that all guests and staff are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. To thank each guest for the opportunity to serve them. By maintaining these goals we shall be guaranteed a fair profit that will allow us to contribute to the community we serve† (Missionstatements.com, 2013). There are various things Tim could do to help achieve living up to this vision for his business. The following are Short Term Goals which would be actions that should ideally be completed within the next three months. * Spend the next month analyzing the competition and brainstorm on what they don’t offer that we do or can offer. * Choose one or two high-profile local charity events to sponsor * Redesign the customer service research process to include new questionnaires and incentives, such as monthly drawings for free products or discounts on future purchases for customers who take the time to respond. (Williams, 2013) The next few items are actions that would be Long Term Goals which should be completed by the end of the business’ fiscal year. * To build the company’s name recognition within the community through community outreach projects (Williams, 2013) What else could Tim do to help achieve these very important goals? * Create actionable steps within committees to break down workload * Be positive and energetic * Decide how you are going to measure your success and keep track of it at regular intervals. * If your company is achieving its goals, be sure to recognize employees that helped. (Slutsky, 2013) HR Analysis Summary Human resources help the business in many ways. However, Tim has not been taking full advantage of this valuable tool. â€Å"While human resources handle many of the matters pertaining to the employees of a company, such as recruiting and benefits management, they also work with management to help develop long-term strategies for the growth and development of a company. HR departments often act as a middleman between employees and management and should be where employees go for basic company information† (Christensen, 2013). According to the files in Tim’s office most of his employees are  valuable assets. Employees are a critical component of any business. Successfully managing the human resource aspect of business can be important, even for very small businesses such as Tim’s Coffee Shoppe. After all, in a service economy, employees are part of the delivery of the product and service. Their performance, commitment and loyalty to the job are critical and can be boosted through successful HR management. However, there are a few that need coaching to achieve higher customer service and company loyalty standards, such as Darryl. The files also need to be better organized to achieve higher efficiency. It can become the single largest consumer of your time and energy if you don’t know how to handle things well. And, it’s still a big consumer of your time and energy, even if you’re adept at handling such things. Action Items There are numerous actions Tim should take to help this area of his business run more smoothly and effectively. These include; to have a staffing plan, find good employees, how to screen potential candidates, conduct personal interviews and the actual hiring process and most important of all, retaining the valuable employees and evaluating their performance as well as maintaining high standards. There are several steps to follow to help stay organized and achieve a highly valuable staff. The following are actions to take to maintain and educate the staff Tim already has. * Put together a human resource guideline handbook that states what policies and procedures you will and expect the employees to follow. This handbook should address issues such as: * at will employment * compensation * perquisites and bonuses * performance reviews * lay offs * terminations * conflicts of interest * disciplinary process * vacation time * sick time * family time * leave of absence * employee behavior * â€Å"To retain employees, your human resource management philosophy should be to eliminate things that push employees out. It should also, within reason, provide a number of things that keep pulling employees into the organization. Both approaches should be successful in retaining good employees as they both counteract the â€Å"pulls† from outside organizations† (Sensible Small Business Ideas, 2013). Some employees will lose interest and need something new to keep their interest in your company. It might be necessary to provide challenges, opportunities for advancement and other rewards. * It is important to remember that everyone including yourself, the owner, is a team. Everyone needs to be quietly evaluated on their performance and their pay should reflect that. Make sure to recognize high performing employees to upkeep their motivation to better your company and take the time to coach your lower performing employees. Also make sure they all know you are there to support and help them with any issues that they come across. Marketing Analysis Summary The competitive environment, also known as the market structure, is the dynamic system in which your business competes (Mack, 2013). It is the part a company’s external environment that consists of other organizations trying to secure clientele in the same market. It is the part of the trade that includes all immediate rivals. Tim has not effectively advertised his coffee shop. He has signage in the office that is not being put to use and the only sign that is noticed in the coffee shop is the Buy 10, Get 1 Free. Also, I believe that Tim heavily relies on his location of being near the university, bus stop and business district to attract customers. It may work well but there is always more that he could do to take his business from being good to booming. Some possibly effective marketing ideas to promote Tim’s Coffee Shoppe might be: * To create a website- Even if it  is just 1-3 pages of general information, it’s better than nothing. Blog sites are best because Tim would be able to easily update. * Neighborhood Marketing- Take advantage of areas that are outdoors like billboards, bus-stops, park benches†¦ anywhere that potential customers might frequent. Also, partner up with other small businesses and exchange flyers to pass out to customers. * Social Sites- Facebook and Twitter * Use Guerilla Marketing tactics- Go pass out coupons at malls, pass out fliers at the college, etc. Take samples of coffee and pastries to churches or community centers. Get reviewers to come in and write an article about the coffee shop. * Celebrate holidays or create a family day with free drinks for kids under a certain age. * Educate your customers- Host a seminar on the use of coffee or on different brewing methods. Have a â€Å"Coffee of the Month† where you can educate on the origin country of the coffee. (Reynolds, 2013) The majority of Tim’s Coffee Shoppe’s customers are the university’s students and also business professionals stopping by on their lunch breaks. A lot of the customers have filled out satisfaction surveys. This is a great tool and lets Tim know what they are doing right or wrong and what they need to improve on to make their business more successful and profitable. Especially when there is space for the consumer to fill in their own suggestion or comment, such as the survey at Tim’s which stated â€Å"I just love Tim’s. I love the special attention, atmosphere and a coffee shop that isn’t a chain for once.† This shows Tim that the customer is extremely pleased and he should be proud of his product and staff. However, the surveys can also show Tim where his business needs to improve to keep people coming back, such as the comment â€Å"The morning staff is RUDE† or â€Å"The coffee always tastes burnt. Don’t know why I come back†. This shows the Tim where there is opportunity for improvement. By making customer satisfaction surveys available, this is another tool they can utilize by taking suggestions to make their company better than the competition. Taking these suggestions and considering them an opportunity to improve will attract more customers to come back as well as giving Tim and his employees a goal to work towards and achieve. Action Items Creating a SWOT analysis — identifying the good, bad and potential ugly — for your business is essential before moving forward. Strengths: Tim needs to stand out from the rest of his competition. One strong strength would be his location. Being close to the university, Business Park and bus stop is a prime location to attract business. Weaknesses: Weaknesses noted on the marketing surveys are rude staff, old cash registers which make customers order incorrect, cramped seating, slow service, not taking debit cards and so on. Opportunities: Some opportunities for Tim’s might include a coffee of the month club, or adding more items to the menu. Threats: Some of the threats might be, of course, Queequeg’s and even the campus coffee machine. Economic Environment/Finance and Accounting/Financial Statements Summary Looking at the economic situation at Tim’s Coffee Shoppe it is decent but could definitely be better. To have a strong and successful business, you need to have a clear understanding of the financial impact that your most business decisions may have. Tim is expecting an increase in sales volume due to several large businesses moving into the area around the coffee shop. With more traffic going by the coffee shop, one would expect an increase in customers which would mean an increase in income for Tim. Virtually all of your business’s costs will fall, more or less neatly, into one of two categories: variable costs and fixed costs. â€Å"Variable costs are costs which increase directly in proportion to the level of sales in dollars or units sold† (BizFilings, 2012). Variable expenses for the coffee shop would be some examples would be cost of goods sold, costs of supplies, and salaries of the employees. Action Items The total expenses will increase if the sales volume will increase due the variable expenses increasing. The company’s total costs are a combination of the fixed and variable costs. â€Å"Assuming your sales exceed your variable costs, each additional unit of sales volume increases your gross profits and  your net income. If you can lower your costs without impacting revenue and maintain the same sales volume, your profits will go up† (Kokemuller, 2013). This means if Tim’s profits increase so does his net income. â€Å"It is very important for small business owners to understand how their various costs respond to changes in the volume of goods or services produced. The breakdown of a company’s underlying expenses determines the profitable price level for its products or services, as well as many aspects of its overall business strategy† (Inc.com, 2013). The salaries of the employees will increase due to the fact Tim will have to hire more employees or increase the hours of existing employees to accommodate the additional customer base. The cost of supplies and goods sold will increase with the more customers and products sold. Fixed cost will remain the same regardless of the level of sales. These expenses would include Tim’s rent, depreciation, the lease on the refrigerator, taxes and insurance. Problem Solving/Recommendations Summary There are several things Tim could do to improve his coffee shop, especially to get it to become more marketable for him to sell. The following are good recommendations to start with: * Redesign the customer service research process to include new questionnaires and incentives, such as monthly drawings for free products or discounts on future purchases for customers who take the time to respond. * Create actionable steps within committees to break down workload * Put together a human resource guideline handbook that states what policies and procedures you will and expect the employees to follow * Expand advertising to other venues * More employee training and recognition References Associates Capstone in Management. (2012). Retrieved from Tim’s Coffee Shoppe simulation: http://extmedia.kaplan.edu.edgesuite.net/buness/AB299/Tims_Coffee_Shop/index.html BizFilings. (2012). Business Decisions and Finances: Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis. Retrieved June 24, 2013, from

The Case of Martha Stewart On Improper Actions

The Case of Martha Stewart On Improper Actions Introduction One of the most intriguing cases, the one of the famous Martha Stewart, offers quite a lot of food for thoughts. With help of the mystery that has been created about the case, the popularity of the celebrity has increased immensely. However, it cannot be denied that Martha suffered greatly, trying to prove her innocence – unfortunately, in vain.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Case of Martha Stewart: On Improper Actions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although the guilt of the celebrity has already been proven, it must be admitted that the case, quite complicated and entangled, requires certain clarifications. It seems that there are certain issues that might bring the entire case into conflict and prove that the fault of the convicted was far not that great as the court has emphasized. One of the women known for her TV shows with her recipes for a comfortable life in a cozy house, the supers tar of our times is now considered guilty of selling the Erbitux medicine, which resulted in ImClone Systems company suffering certain losses in their trade. Quite a precedent to be discussed in the court, this story could have led to rather sad consequences for the film star. However, as it has turned out, it was not the very issue of selling the medicine in the improper way that turned Martha into the accused – but the improper behavior! This is quite a reason to feel concerned, it seems. On the one hand, there is no doubt that the high standards for the behavior of the world celebrities must be somewhat coordinated, and some standards must be set, yet the accusations themselves seem ridiculous. The Struggle Begins: the Sufferings of the Celebrity Despite all the emotions concerning the social status of the accused and her attempts to plead not guilty, there is no doubt that the woman is to be charged for the negligence of laws. No matter how hard this might result in her c areer, the case was supposed to be carried on until it had resulted in either conviction or the exoneration. Such are the postulates of the law – it must be kept in mind that all people are equal when it comes to facing the justice, and the social status does not matter in this case. Thus, it is absolutely clear that Martha Stewart, â€Å"charged only with lying after the fact about the stock sale† (Turrow 64), should have received the penalty, which she actually did. Therefore, the sentence passed by the jury can be considered well-grounded and completely just. However, certain details must be kept in mind. On the one hand, Martha’s guilt has been proved, which leaves no place for doubts. Yet the way in which the woman was treated makes one doubt if the basis for the conviction was just enough. Logically, Stewart should have been penalized for the unjust behavior and for selling the medicine that she had no right to. Yet at present all the details of the case p oint at the fact that the attitude towards the accused was shaped because of the way she treated Douglas Faneuil.Advertising Looking for essay on common law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Into the Details: The Charges According to the official charge, the woman was accused of selling the shares of the ImClone Systems company, which led to its considerable drop of rates. Therefore, the celebrity was accused of the unfair manipulations and charged. However, that was the official version of what had happened. According to the comments that the public made after the judgment was passed, the decisions of the jury were based on the celebrity’s behavior – the woman treated Douglas Faneuil in rather rude way and behaved in the manner that was considered as an â€Å"inappropriate† for a woman. Therefore, it can be considered that the sentence passed was based mainly on the personal impressions of the ju ry. That Is Unfair, or On Personal Opinions Based on the testimonies of Larry Stewart, the court decision seems rather unfair. Although the official sentence was based completely on the facts and the actual pieces of evidence, the following question can be raised: once the celebrity behaved in a â€Å"proper†, â€Å"female† way, would the decision of the jury the same? â€Å"Are we punishing Martha Stewart for refusing to fulfill expectations?†, Lisa Nuss (4) asks. It is quite doubtful that, once Martha displayed the emotions that one is â€Å"supposed† to in the given situation, and behaved in the most composed and modest way, the sentence passed by the court would have been the same. It is necessary to emphasize that the decision of the court seems to be based on personal opinion rather than on the evidence that was displayed. Conclusion Therefore, it must be considered that the case of Martha Stewart is much more complicated than it used to seem. Unles s the case had been so emotionally rich and filled with personal likes and antipathies, it would have been able to find out whether Martha had been convicted justly or not. Yet with the controversy of the present situation, it is impossible to claim for sure whether the sentence passed to Martha was well-grounded. Thus, it seems that the appellation could be used in this case. Only reconsidering the details of the case, one can pass the right verdict, with impartial judge and the jury that would not base their convictions on the gossips and the prejudices concerning women’s behavior.

Apples Performance Management Methodology

Apples Performance Management Methodology Introduction Apple Inc. is a successful American company, which has been in existence since 1976 (Reuters, 2012, p. 1). Over a span of three decades, Apple Inc. has been able to establish itself as a force to reckon with in the electronics market. The company has received a lot of admiration (both locally and globally) after it was ranked by Fortune magazine as the most admirable company in America (in 2008), and the most admirable company globally (since 2009) (Reuters, 2012, p. 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Apple’s Performance Management Methodology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Apple Inc has a global presence in 10 countries around the world and it runs 357 retail stores in these locations. Apple is engaged in the manufacture of hardware products such as Macintosh, portable music players, personal computers (PCs) and software, networking solutions, third party digital content and related software. The company’s most notable products include Macintosh computers, ipods, ipads and the Apple TV. Apple’s online presence is also firm, especially with the existence of a virtual marketplace where the company sells digital content through App store, itunes, iBookstore among other online platforms (Reuters, 2012, p. 1). This paper critically evaluates Apple Inc. to establish its trends in training and how such a critical component of the company’s existence can be improved. To accomplish this objective, this paper assesses existing training strategies and identifies the most appropriate training strategy for Apple Inc. In addition, this paper evaluates the best ways the above strategy can be supported and implemented in the organization. Since employee performance is a critical component of Apple’s success, this paper also develops an outline of a learning, motivation, and performance improvement strategy for the company. To do this effectively, existing the ories (associated with learning, motivation, and employee performance) will be evaluated. Training Trends Different companies adopt different training trends depending on their objectives, capabilities and organizational structures. However, existing training trends fall within the confines of a few training methodologies used by most companies today. A notable trend in training is the multimedia and online training method, which many virtual companies have adopted (Heathfield, 2010, p. 2). However, like other training methodologies, the multimedia and online training methodology has different advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is the fact that it is relatively inexpensive and easy to manage. However, the multimedia and online training method has a high dropout rate (because it is often self-managed) and it has a high inability to develop an effective interface for the trainers and the trainees (Heathfield, 2010, p. 2).Advertising Looking for essay on business econ omics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Performance consulting is also another emerging trend, which is being quickly adopted by major companies across the globe as a credible training methodology. Few companies around the world are therefore adopting trainer-led and generic methodologies for improving their human capital because the focus is currently shifting towards providing a comprehensive and all-rounded review of human capital training. Heathfield (2010) explains that, â€Å"Alternatives to training offered by progressive human resource departments include coaching, organizational development or planned change consultation and interventions, facilitated planning sessions and large group processes† (p. 3). Often, these types of training are highly programmed to incorporate the overall direction of the business and its goals. However, for purposes of identifying the right training strategy for Apple Inc., it is vi tal to point out the performance management training methodology as an important training technique for the technological company. The main advantage that Apple Inc. stands to benefit from this training methodology is the integration of the human capital development into the overall performance management system of the company (Heathfield, 2010, p. 2). This performance criterion eliminates the traditional practice of undertaking performance appraisals at least once a year. The performance management methodology also provides increased opportunities for personal and professional development. Furthermore, this training methodology is superior to other training methodologies because it is holistic. It includes the input of peers, staff members and management. Employees are therefore able to receive constant feedback from the most important stakeholders in their journey to employee excellence. To explain this training methodology, Heathfield (2010) elaborates that, â€Å"The performanc e management system also integrates a performance development plan for the individual. This plan assists the employee to continue to develop his skills and abilities. For these plans, preference is accorded to integrated corporate university courses and internally custom designed and presented training† (p. 3). In 1995, the US government used the performance management technique to improve its regulations and to provide a sound management criterion for its employees. During the implementation process, it was observed that the new training methodology should not clash with existing government programs (U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Apple’s Performance Management Methodology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Throughout the entire process, it was also observed that, communication within the organization improved, everybody understood the rules, and there was bet ter recording of government programs (U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2011). These were commendable outcomes of the performance management process. Support for Training Initiative Support for the performance management program can be offered in several ways. However, most of the expectations for supporting the training program rest with the company’s management. Apple Inc. has had a good record of supporting productive employee initiatives and therefore, this understanding is expected to provide a good platform for future support initiatives. However, the most important and open way that the company’s management can support the performance management training initiative is providing the required financial support for the program. Providing adequate financing will go a long way towards ensuring the entire training process is a success. In fact, the realization of commendable program outcomes rest with proper financing (U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2011). An other area of support that the organization can adopt is opening up more opportunities for employee professional growth. These opportunities for growth can be manifested through promotions, wage or salary increases, increased responsibilities (and the likes). This window of support is vital for the survival of the program management technique because it would be fruitless for the employees to undergo a rigorous employee-training program without realizing its rewards. Moreover, it is in the best interest of Apple Inc. to create more opportunities for employee growth (within the organization) because if they fail to do so, their trained employees may decide to pursue other growth opportunities in other companies. Providing the right support for the training program is therefore of utmost importance. Outline for Learning, Motivation, and Performance Improvement For purposes of developing an outline for learning, motivation and performance improvement for Apple Inc., we will rely on Mas low’s hierarchy of needs because it defines the need theories of motivation. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs stipulates that some form of deficiency (in the employees’ personal or professional lives) motivate employees to work harder (Koontz, 2006, p. 290). Though other theories such as the scientific management approach emphasize on financial and other forms of material rewards as the main motivators for employees, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is more holistic and encompasses different aspects of employee lives. This is the main justification for the use of this theory.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Based on the above facts, it is important to outline the learning, motivation and performance improvement strategies on the five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (physiological needs, safety needs, love/belonging needs, self-esteem needs and self-actualization needs) (Koontz, 2006, p. 290). In designing the training program, the five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs need to be highlighted in the program. It is also equally important for Apple’s management to realize at which point of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs do their target employees stand so that they identify the right motivations for the employees. Once management has identified which level of need their employees are in, they can introduce a higher level of need to motivate the employees to attain a higher level of satisfaction. For instance, once Apple’s management has identified that their employees have satisfied the physiological level of need, they may introduce some elements of safety in the training program to motivate their employees to continue with the program. This outline is therefore set to ensure employees feel satisfied with the entire program Conclusion After weighing the findings of this study, it is important to note that, the performance management methodology is likely to improve Apple’s chances of developing highly effective employees. However, the realization of this goal depends on the financial and logistical support of management towards the program. Nonetheless, the program can significantly improve the odds of the technological giant to realize effective organizational success (at least with respect to its human capital). References Heathfield, S. (2010). Training  Trends. Web. Koontz, H. (2006). Essentials Of Management. London: Tata McGraw-Hill Education. Reuters. (2012). Apple Inc. Web. U.S. Office of Personnel Management. (2011). Performance Management. Web.

Social Networks in Modern Business

Social Networks in Modern Business Introduction In recent past, social networking has been on the rise. Many companies and individuals have embraced use of social networks because of their many benefits. For example, companies are using social networks to interact with customers.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Social Networks in Modern Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many companies have successfully used social networks to improve their understanding of the modern marketplace (Jue and Kassotakis 45). For example, Del Monte uses social networks to reach out to its customers in a process referred to as customer intimacy (Rainer and Ceglieski 160). The company has developed three platforms to facilitate communication and interaction with customers. Social networks are beneficial to both individuals and companies. However, they have several disadvantages that limit their reliability and efficiency. Disadvantages include exposure of data to security risks, possible reduction in employee performance, reduced ability to monitor employees, and reduced organizational efficiency and productivity. Advantages of social networks Social networks have many advantages that have resulted in increased demand and use. They provide information, enable businesses do things in new and more efficient ways, facilitate communication, and enhance collaboration (Jue and Kassotakis 55). Common social media tools that organizations and individuals use include Twitter, Facebook, blogs, MySpace, and others that allow free interaction with customers. Social intranets area common aspect of communication in many organizations. Many organizations sue them as a tool for internal communication.Advertising Looking for assessment on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Social networks transform computers into reliable and efficient sources of information. As such, in dividuals can access information from numerous sources on the internet. On the other hand, companies and individuals can conduct research because adequate information is available on different topics and disciplines (Haigh 77). Availability of adequate and relevant information has transformed ways in which organizations conduct business. Reliability of social networks is the main reason why many organizations choose them as primary sources of information. In addition, retrieval of information is fast and cost-effective (Haigh 78). In olden days, organizations hired research companies to collect information from customers. However, with advent of social networks, organizations collect first hand information from customers through social networking services such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. Another advantage of social networks is that they facilitate communication (Rainer and Ceglieski 167). They promote communication channels such as chat rooms, emails, call centres, and voice messages that reduce costs of operations. A study conducted on more than 290 organizations located in America, Asia, and Europe found out that more than half of them rely on use of social intranets for communication within the organization (Rainer and Ceglieski 169). Among them, the most common social networking tool used was instant messaging. It was used by 77 percent of surveyed organizations. Other commonly used tools included streaming audio and video.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Social Networks in Modern Business specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the study found out that even though many organizations use social networking tools for internal communication, their use among employees is still poor. In many organizations, social media is used to facilitate communication between employees, and team members. It has been used for top-down communication between employees and management. For example, blogging promotes communication between employees and managers in organizations that have large teams of employees (Rainer and Ceglieski 169). One advantage of use of social networks is because many of them do not compromise privacy. In addition, communication between employees and managers promotes effective organizational dialogue between different levels in an organization (Jue and Kassotakis 58). Another advantage of using social networks for communication in organizations is enhancement of relationships and efficiency. It is easy for employees to give their ideas, opinions, and feedback regarding any organizational mater without fear of victimization by supervisors or managers (Haigh 81). For example, during a crisis, communication between different levels of an organization is quick and effective in solving the crisis. Social networks support new ways of conducting business (Rainer and Ceglieski 160). For example, they support new ways of marketing and advertising, supply chai n management, customer service, and human resource management.Advertising Looking for assessment on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More New methods of conducting business enable organizations and businesses develop competitive advantage strategies that enhance survival in the highly volatile and uncertain modern business environment (Haigh 41). For example, many organizations save a lot of money that was traditionally used to advertise products by using social networks. Instead of conducting expensive marketing and advertisement, organizations rely on social networks to share experiences with customer on certain products introduced in the market (Haigh 44). In addition, customers share information regarding products and companies on social networks. This serves as an efficient marketing strategy for many organizations. On the other hand, many organizations use social networks to build their corporate images. For example, organizations use twitter to share short messages with customers on their corporate social responsibility activities and projects (Jue and Kassotakis 61). These messages improve the images of organi zations thus attracting and more customers and investors. In addition, they have introduced a new business paradigm that is necessary in the social media era. Companies and organizations that were little known have become famous in many areas because of use of social networks. They facilitate use of new communication methods, new ways of developing relationships between managers and employees, and facilitate new ways of solving organizational problems and challenges. Many organizations embrace use of social networks because they promote open communication, strong relationships, and transparency among employees and employers (Jue and Kassotakis 63). Finally, social networks facilitate collaboration between employees in achievement of organizational goal and objectives (Rainer and Ceglieski 168). Social networks have made collaboration between virtual teams easy. Teams in different locations can conduct virtual meetings and perform certain tasks together. This has contributed to cost reduction and proper use of time by organizations (Rainer and Ceglieski 168). For example, social networks facilitate crowd sourcing, which is a new concept that has improved efficiency and productivity of many organizations. Disadvantages of social networks Social networks have disadvantages that limit their reliability and usefulness. They include feelings of isolation from other employees, lack of socialization, reduced chances of promotion at the workplace, and exposure of data to online fraudsters (Golden 48). Many organizations conduct many business activities on social networks. Activities such as research, marketing, human resource management, and recruitment are now conducted through social networks. Therefore, employees spend a lot of time online interacting with customers and potential employees. This has reduced physical interaction and as a result created a feeling of isolation in employees (Dahln, Lange, and Smith 83). It is important for employees to feel that they ar e part of an organization and corporate culture. However, social network have widened the gap and facilitated development of isolated work environments that have affected employees adversely. There is no physical contact between employees and customers or potential employees. This has reduced socialization because many activities and tasks are executed virtually. Socialization between employees is one of the most important aspect of improving employee performance and productivity. However, social networks promote virtual socialization that does not offer benefits of social interaction. In traditional marketing, employees interacted physically with customers. This was a very effective way of convincing customers because employees could use emotions to connect with customers (Dahln, Lange, and Smith 85). In contrast, social networks do not facilitate emotional connection between employees and customers, which is an important marketing strategy (Haigh 47). Even though successful, use o f social networks has reduced effectiveness s of certain organizational activities. Use of social networks has reduced employee monitoring. Therefore, it is difficult for an employer to promote an employee because social networks do not facilitate measurement of employee performance. In addition, employees may lose certain benefits and be subject to lower remuneration (Dahln, Lange, and Smith 84). This is because social networks have made execution of tasks easier and faster. For example, employees do not need to travel or make phone calls to convince customers to buy their products. These activities are conducted online through social networks. Employee monitoring is important in order to measure employee performance and productivity, parameters that are used to promote and demote employees (Dahln, Lange, and Smith 88). However, these activities have become difficult with advent of social networks in organizations because managers cannot monitor employees virtually. Another disadva ntage of social networks is threat to data security. Sustained use of social networks exposes an organization’s data to risk of compromise (Golden 50). With absence of fraudsters on the internet, companies risk losing data that could be used to compromise their operations. Many rival organizations hire fraudsters to obtain data illegally form companies that rely on social networks to perform organizational activities. For example, marketing and strategic data of organizations may be obtained from social networks during interaction between managers and employees. In most cases, data and useful information is compromised in cases where competition is stiff between organizations or companies. Certain organizations hack into databases of other organizations and obtain information that helps them gain competitive advantage in the market. In addition, information on customer and marketing strategies could be used to compete with companies that dominate certain markets. Use of socia l networks makes it difficult for employers to monitor employees (Dahln, Lange, and Smith 86). This may lead to poor performance and low productivity. In addition, cost of purchasing, installing, and maintaining technological gadgets is high. Additional costs arise from training employees on ways of using social networks effectively in order to achieve organizational goals and objectives in desired ways (Dahln, Lange, and Smith 87). Conclusion Social networking has introduced new business concepts in the field of communication that have benefited organizations and individuals. Social networks are used for communication and information retrieval. In addition, they allow organizations do business in new ways. They present cost-effective ways of doing business such as cheap marketing and advertisement. Organizations save a lot of money by avoiding traditional methods of marketing and advertisement by focusing on marketing and advertising using tools availed by social networks. However, they have disadvantages too. They contribute to low employee performance, increase costs of operations, create a feeling of isolation in employees, and expose organizations’ data to online fraudsters. For example, rival companies hack into each other’s databases and gain access to useful information that enables them gain competitive advantage over each other. Dahln, Micael, Lange, Fredrik, and Smith Terry. Marketing Communications: A Brand  Narrative Approach. New York: John Wiley Sons, 2007. Print. Golden, Michelle. Social Media Strategies for Professionals and Their Firms: The Guide  to Establishing Credibility and Accelerating Relationships. New York: John Wiley Sons, 2010. Print. Haigh, Paul. Social Network Websites: Their Benefits and Risks. New York: Optimus Education eBooks, 2009. Print. Jue, Arthur, and Kassotakis Mary. Social Media at Work: How Networking Tools Propel  Organizational Performance. New York: John Wiley Sons, 2003. Print. Rainer, Robe rt, and Ceglieski Casey. Introduction to Information Systems: Enabling  and Transforming Business. New York: John Wiley Sons, 2010. Print.

Soccer Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Soccer Culture - Essay Example I asked my father to intervene and decide for us. It was when my father confirmed it as Soccer that I happened to learn that this was a world of wonders that I yet needed to explore. One question was constantly beeping in my mind, â€Å"But why was it so non-existent in US?† I consulted several sources to find the answer and was lucky enough to gather bits which when assembled laid a comprehensive answer in front of me. I would answer that question in this paper, but first, I want to share some general information about the Soccer culture that I happened to find in the way of searching my question’s answer. One of the most played sports in the world is Soccer. If we track its history, this sport has always had a unique culture that has inspired the civilized world. When we talk about the culture of Soccer, it includes various successful events, rumors and articles in the life of the sport, controversies that the sport has remained subjected to form time to time as well as its political, economical and sociological impacts on the world in general and individual nations in particular. Soccer is a very well known sport and is played almost everywhere. Some people confuse Soccer with Football, though the two games are considerably different in concept, rules and techniques. Soccer fans are divided into derbies (Mercado). These are essentially contests between competitors who are emotionally supported by their fans. This is what makes this sport feel more like a battle with various political and socioeconomic influences on the competing nations than a game. Also, the news and articles that discuss Soccer matches commonly orient their discussion around the rivalry between competitors. Soccer match is considered worth betting on and millions of people loose and earn millions of dollar in a matter of only moments. Likewise, the soccer clubs differ from each other in order to accord with old traditions. Their differences are based on various socioeconomic and political traits of old traditions. The rivals conventionally base their aggression on various disturbing events of the past and also, the political and cultural differences between them. There is also a big industry in the name pf Soccer that manufactures such things as banners, scarves and hats. These products are conventionally made with meaningful and team specific symbols on them so that use of these products would speak of the consumer’s favor for particular teams. Famous players give autographs on the balls to make them precious souvenirs, which promote the culture of Soccer. Owing to its voluminous popularity, many Soccer leagues have been established in different countries across the globe. Prominent clubs and team cultures are encouraged in festivals, literature and crafts. Soccer has always served to unite the divided world. This is evident from the fact that British soldiers played Soccer with indigenous people of Iraq and Afghanistan just like they had done d uring the 1st World War on the Christmas Day in 1914 (NPR). However, US has never made similar use of Soccer. The primary reason behind this is that a nation’s culture reflects in its ports. As a result of my study, I discovered that Soccer had originated in Europe. Around the mid 19th century, it was fashioned in UK from where it spread far and wide (NPR). However, the European nations have had a strong influence on it. If there is something that best represents the gap between the American and European norms, it is the differences betwe

Computer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Computer - Essay Example My goal while writing this essay was to convince the readers that modern life cannot be imagined without computer in it. We have become so much dependent on computer now that we can no longer imagine living a comfortable life without it. Today, people feel happy because their time and energy is saved in finding happiness, as computer has brought happiness and leisure at their doorstep. Hence, it is impossible to delete the usage of computer from our lives because it has affected our freedom and happiness in the most unbelievable way ever possible. This message is what I want my readers to take away with them. I had a wonderful experience while writing this anecdote-cum-essay, as this helped widen up my horizon regarding how much I depend on this wonderful invention of man. I am very happy to depend on it. How Computer Makes Life Easier It was May 1, 2000. I was at my house located in North California. I was sitting with my friends doing combined study. Papers were scattered all aroun d us. We had put down notes on those papers, and had made several copies of those notes by hand. However, they were all messed up. We were stressed out collecting them and stapling them together because the next day was our examination, and we had not even started studying yet. The big mess of papers was all confusing. That was the time we did not use computer to make and save notes, and so, we could not make sophisticated copies with some changes, in just one click. We all decided to get our hands on a computer as soon as our exam finished. So, all of us collected money and bought one, which we kept at my house. After that, one of us would make notes on Microsoft Word, and all the others would copy/paste the content with some changes. So, we were able to make multiple copies of one document in just one click, by attaching a printer to our computer. We were no more confused about manual copying of notes, and our rooms were no more a mess. We had gotten rid of the manual work, and th at saved much of our time and energy. We were able to organize our documents neatly in computer. We installed an encyclopedia and a dictionary, and it was so handy for us not to take care of books and notebooks anymore. For entertainment purposes, we installed some games. We also saved many of our photographs in a folder, and we would look at them whenever we missed the old days. We no longer cared about saving pictures manually in albums, because we had saved them in our computer. Every friend had a copy of them. Our new computer was really a great blessing for us. We also suggested the use of computer to our educators; and since then, they have also been trying to modify the instructional process with the help of computer. We made them realize the necessity of incorporating computer technology in teaching language; and so, they started organizing computer based instructional schemes in such a way that all students with their unique calibers were equally attended to. To sum up, com puter made our lives easier and comfortable as it brought with it a lot of resources which we could efficiently use to enhance our learning and get better informed about the world around us. So, if used for informative purposes, computer can help us make progress by leaps and bounds in today’s information society. It solely depends on the user whether he wants to benefit in

The Library Organisational Project Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Library Organisational Project - Case Study Example Different data-gathering methods were used, such as conducting interviews, distributing questionnaires and searching information from various sources, to gather as much information as the project requires. Team members were assigned to conduct interviews with each senior manager. I was responsible for interviewing Mr. Antony Brewerton, Head of Academic Support. Initially, I asked Mr. Brewerton to fill out questionnaires with the intention to analyse his perspective against his employee's perspective. Afterwards, I proceeded to interview him on leadership and management so as to analyse his leadership style and how he manages his department. Organisational Diagnosis Questionnaire (ODQ) designed by Robert Preziosi (1980) was used and the questionnaires were distributed to cover the five departments in the library. Using this questionnaire, a variety of dimensions of an organisation could be studied-such as purpose, structure, leadership, relationships, rewards, helpful mechanisms and attitude toward change. The questionnaire was used the in the analysis because of its benefits, as enumerated below- With the data gathered from the questionnaires, I conducted the qualitative analysis. ... b) Questionnaires: Organisational Diagnosis Questionnaire (ODQ) designed by Robert Preziosi (1980) was used and the questionnaires were distributed to cover the five departments in the library. Using this questionnaire, a variety of dimensions of an organisation could be studied-such as purpose, structure, leadership, relationships, rewards, helpful mechanisms and attitude toward change. The questionnaire was used the in the analysis because of its benefits, as enumerated below- Relatively easy to analyse, People familiar with the questionnaire, A large sample of the given population can be conducted, Information is collected in a standardised way, The questionnaires can be used for sensitive topics, which users may feel uncomfortable speaking about to an interviewer, and Respondents have time to think about their answers because they are not usually required to reply immediately. After finishing the interview with Mr. Brewerton, I asked for his cooperation to distribute the questionnaires among his staff through emails and to kindly forward the responses to me. c) Various sources: To get acquaintance with the organisation, I searched the information from different sources such as library websites, articles and documents provided by the Librarian. 2. Data Analysis The findings were divided into two categories, which are qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis- a) Qualitative analysis With the data gathered from the questionnaires, I conducted the qualitative analysis. The ODQ questionnaires were grouped under the seven dimensions and I calculated the average ranking for each of the dimensions. I plotted graphs in MS

Business Plan for Kidwatchers Daycare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Plan for Kidwatchers Daycare - Essay Example The educational experience in the thirteen staff members complemented with two qualified nurses is expected to deliver the needed intense care to the children. The motive intended to be presented seeks a target of children under the age of 6 years with minimum 4 years, and the attention advanced with registration of a maximum 20 children. The legislation is also expected to help establish a stable society through the necessity of the legal documents on legislation. The budget needed to construct the facility will be directed towards installing safety precautions that are approved by government policies to pass the safety test. Furthermore, the administration expects to drive confidence from the Short Hill community through the administration of affordable registration charges to deliver the goal that seeks to deliver quality services at an affordable fee. Mission The leading mission of the daycare facility will be to generate an effective and efficient environment to develop the inte llectual skills of the delicate members of the community. Kidwatchers expects to achieve this through engaging children in activities that drive fun and involvement without driving the difficulty in task completion. The majority of the focus would be issued in driving fun and a lasting impression of the kids mind and fulfilling the goal of entertainment provision in the facility. These are to be achieved though games, art classes, music lessons and tours of the famous spots in the community. Kidwatchers also offers basic recreational activities through children channels and involvement of parent-children sessions to increase bonding (Greene 78). Objective Gain popularity in Short Hill region after six months of establishment Create creative children as they are prepared for preschool education Expand the facility to occupy more children admission by the end of the first year Maintain the regulation of the financial returns to increase funding to the facility Industrial Analysis The education industry in Short Hills has embraced the advanced trend in the educational sector through observing technological advances. The Short Hill association has offered the need to incorporate computers and other learning aids within the process, although the emphasis is accorded to the traditional teaching measures in including teachers in the learning organization. The industry is composed of all public and private schools that strive towards delivering quality education to their students. The common factor incorporated in the kindergartens in the region includes offering, affordable quality, education for the vulnerable groups within the Short Hill community. The other alternative offered to supplement daycare education has been the increased in qualified nurses that deliver the needed care for children in the community. The other established competitors have gained funding from investors who seek to generate preference and popularity in New Jersey. Legal Structure The Depart ment of Children and Families (DCF) has been charged with the regulation of the daycare facilities and areas that are tasked with the responsibility of managing children affairs within New Jersey (DHS). The organization inspects the activities of a licensed facility to ensure the safety precautions are implemented in the required provision. The system dictates the provision of the licensing program that is offered to the most qualified institution to

2012 Olympic's impact on Sports management in London Essay

2012 Olympic's impact on Sports management in London - Essay Example Hence, Tennis Wimbledon Tournament or Football League Championship is mega-event known all over the world, which attracts millions of viewers. Also today there is no grown-up person who is not aware what the word â€Å"Olympics† means and who has not watched the greatest international complex sport competitions on television at least once. It is well-known that the famous symbol of Olympics, five colorful rings, can be identified by more than ninety per cent of planet’s population. This exceeds the recognition of such extremely popularized brands as Nike, Coca-Cola and McDonalds (Vigor, Mean, Tims 2004, pp. 4). Even in a far antiquity Olympic Games were the main sport event of all the times and nations. During the period of Olympics peace and consent were proclaimed on the Earth. The wars stopped and all dignified athletes competed in a fair fight for the top ranking. Olympic movement managed to overcome a lot of impediments, among which were: interruptions by World War s, attacks of terrorists, including bombing, kidnapping of sportsmen, murders, boycotts, and various diplomatic incidents. However, the Great Games have survived and currently take place every forth year, with interchange of summer and winter games with a difference of two years. Nowadays Olympics are spread on a large scale, being equipped with the latest techniques and recorded by numerous computers and cameras for defining the final results of the sportsmen with a high accuracy. Lately the cities that organize Olympics become the capitals of the world for the period of games holding. The place of the consecutive Games is announced beforehand for giving at least seven years to the country to get itself ready. Hence, London has been officially chosen for the Olympics 2012 on the sixth of July 2005, leaving behind such serious rivals as Paris, Moscow, New-York and

What is America Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What is America - Assignment Example The truth is, America takes pride of being the world’s cultural melting pot whose society is composed of immigrants from all over the world who dreamt of better life. The social upheavals it undergone from the Civil War to Martin Luther King are part of America’s proud past that it struggled to end tyranny and discrimination. America became what it is today because of these circumstances. It became the richest country in the world and the most technologically advance because of the varying perspectives its citizen contributed. It is also inaccurate to generalize that America is a cultural barren as how Badurillard portrayed America in his book. The truth is farthest from his observation because many of the most extensive museums in the world are found in America such as the Smithsonian Institute, MOMA etch. I believe that Badurillard’s assessment of America does not reflect the historical and cultural truths about the country. Furthermore, it can be argued that the history and culture of America as a nation presents its peopl with the opportunity to act and behave in a manner that Badurillard finds despicable. Thus, I believe that the circumstances and position that America finds itself in is as a result of the amalgamation of historical and cultural events that the country has undergone since

Business Plan for Kidwatchers Daycare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Plan for Kidwatchers Daycare - Essay Example The educational experience in the thirteen staff members complemented with two qualified nurses is expected to deliver the needed intense care to the children. The motive intended to be presented seeks a target of children under the age of 6 years with minimum 4 years, and the attention advanced with registration of a maximum 20 children. The legislation is also expected to help establish a stable society through the necessity of the legal documents on legislation. The budget needed to construct the facility will be directed towards installing safety precautions that are approved by government policies to pass the safety test. Furthermore, the administration expects to drive confidence from the Short Hill community through the administration of affordable registration charges to deliver the goal that seeks to deliver quality services at an affordable fee. Mission The leading mission of the daycare facility will be to generate an effective and efficient environment to develop the inte llectual skills of the delicate members of the community. Kidwatchers expects to achieve this through engaging children in activities that drive fun and involvement without driving the difficulty in task completion. The majority of the focus would be issued in driving fun and a lasting impression of the kids mind and fulfilling the goal of entertainment provision in the facility. These are to be achieved though games, art classes, music lessons and tours of the famous spots in the community. Kidwatchers also offers basic recreational activities through children channels and involvement of parent-children sessions to increase bonding (Greene 78). Objective Gain popularity in Short Hill region after six months of establishment Create creative children as they are prepared for preschool education Expand the facility to occupy more children admission by the end of the first year Maintain the regulation of the financial returns to increase funding to the facility Industrial Analysis The education industry in Short Hills has embraced the advanced trend in the educational sector through observing technological advances. The Short Hill association has offered the need to incorporate computers and other learning aids within the process, although the emphasis is accorded to the traditional teaching measures in including teachers in the learning organization. The industry is composed of all public and private schools that strive towards delivering quality education to their students. The common factor incorporated in the kindergartens in the region includes offering, affordable quality, education for the vulnerable groups within the Short Hill community. The other alternative offered to supplement daycare education has been the increased in qualified nurses that deliver the needed care for children in the community. The other established competitors have gained funding from investors who seek to generate preference and popularity in New Jersey. Legal Structure The Depart ment of Children and Families (DCF) has been charged with the regulation of the daycare facilities and areas that are tasked with the responsibility of managing children affairs within New Jersey (DHS). The organization inspects the activities of a licensed facility to ensure the safety precautions are implemented in the required provision. The system dictates the provision of the licensing program that is offered to the most qualified institution to

What is America Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What is America - Assignment Example The truth is, America takes pride of being the world’s cultural melting pot whose society is composed of immigrants from all over the world who dreamt of better life. The social upheavals it undergone from the Civil War to Martin Luther King are part of America’s proud past that it struggled to end tyranny and discrimination. America became what it is today because of these circumstances. It became the richest country in the world and the most technologically advance because of the varying perspectives its citizen contributed. It is also inaccurate to generalize that America is a cultural barren as how Badurillard portrayed America in his book. The truth is farthest from his observation because many of the most extensive museums in the world are found in America such as the Smithsonian Institute, MOMA etch. I believe that Badurillard’s assessment of America does not reflect the historical and cultural truths about the country. Furthermore, it can be argued that the history and culture of America as a nation presents its peopl with the opportunity to act and behave in a manner that Badurillard finds despicable. Thus, I believe that the circumstances and position that America finds itself in is as a result of the amalgamation of historical and cultural events that the country has undergone since

Early School Leavers Essay Example for Free

Early School Leavers Essay Why do student dropout of school? Do you know why students drop out of school? Nowadays students usually drop out of school, to get a career. More than before job seekers are looking for people who have finished high school (at least). The fact that students drop out of school is caused for different reasons. There are three main causes why students drop out of school: they cant afford tuition, they prefer to work, and they fail the course. Family problems are one cause. If parents are divorced, no-one may be taking responsibility for the child. If parents are uneducated, there may be little encouragement to do homework or to stay in school. Financial factors are also important. Some students want to work in order to support their families. In contrast, others may have family businesses and not see any benefit in obtaining a high school certificates. Perhaps the main reason why students drop out is for academic reasons. For many students, school is stifling and boring. The curriculum does not challenge them or grab their attention and they are unable to be creative. Others have learning difficulties that need specialist help. New Zealand has the second-worst drop-out rate in the developed world. It shows that 26. 9 per cent of New Zealanders aged 15 to 19 are not in education. More than a quarter of Kiwi teenagers quit school early. Many students fail to complete their basic schooling. This can cause serious problems for the individual, their families and the country. In this opinion, I will examine the reasons why students leave school early, and suggest some possible solutions. I both agree and disagree with the reasons presented here. The paper said one of the main reasons is that students drop out because they PERCEIVE that classes are boring. The truth is that many classes ARE extremely dull, due to poor lesson-planning and unmotivated, apathetic teachers. Demonizing the students’ perception of the classes is nothing more than a tactful yet deceptive approach at the internal shortcomings of the educational bureaucracy. Instead of engaging work and active intellectual discussion/debate, students are forced to jump through the hoops of pointless busy work and futile self-help/self-awareness assignments such as this one. Student disinterest and apathy are products of a stagnant and stifling environment. Dropout rates, I personally believe, would be exponentially lowered if educators took a less bureaucratic approach at student achievement. You can’t have a successful one size fits all plan that will actually end up working. The theories of Dr. Howard Gardner attest to this by outlining the many different ways that people can think. Standards written by left-brain officials cannot work for predominantly right-brain students. For years in this school system my creativity and viewpoints have improve in some classes, but for the most part have been stifled by teachers not willing to either put forth the effort necessary to facilitate such individuality or that are simply opposed to any unorthodox thinking or changes in practice. In an environment where the students are not the â€Å"customers† and when individuality is squelched in the name of following senseless, regimented practices, the students are done a great disservice. I am committed to graduate ONLY because I know that I must do so to get anywhere in life. I am frustrated, dissatisfied, and stifled by MANY of the practices employed in many classes I have this year and have had in the past within the school system. Many who read what I have written here will look down on my views, because they will [see] them as â€Å"rocking the boat,† something that I believe it is safe to say is frowned upon here as a general rule. There is a quote by John Locke that says, â€Å"New opinions are always suspected and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not common. There is such logic in this and the sad thing is that my ideas (in this respect) are neither new nor radical, only despised because they require energetic commitment to be put into practice. It saddens me deeply that the school boasts of a forward-thinking, cutting-edge, technologically-cantered, example-setting school system, when in reality these claims are only partially true. Money is NOT the issue. I am so fed up with the excuse of lack of funding bein g used to excuse time-wasting, needless activities! An engaging, entertaining, worthwhile class can be executed with nothing more than a committed instructor and engaged students . I am not referring to some ideal, yet non-existent classroom setting. My PHYSICS class this year has been absolutely enthralling EVEN THOUGH some of the required, yet frustrating practices have been implemented in her class on a regular basis. At the end of the day, those who come to school with a genuine DESIRE to take something away from the experience do so; and those who have no drive do not do so, REGARDLESSS of the implementation of the practices put into place in hopes of improving student achievement. The problem with these types of measures is that they focus solely on boosting TEST SCORES. THIS IS NOT THE PROPER APPROACH! (Standardized tests are 9 times out of 10 are a very poor representation of student UNDERSTANDING. Simple memorization is not adequate education! I can memorize scores of random information and then ace a test over it, but all that proves is that I have a good memory. Memory is of importance, there is no doubt of this, but equally, it is NOT the main goal. A deep understanding of the material is vastly more instrumental in the students gaining REAL-WORLD understanding. It is no wonder to me why so many graduates/dropouts here go into construction/metalworking, etc. These are the only classes many individuals find worthwhile because they are the few classes offered that provide hands-on experience that guarantee understanding through practice, not simple words. I guarantee you I can read an instructional book on how to do just about ANYTHING, and then write extensively on how to do it, but that writing is no proof whatsoever that I actually understand how to perform said task or that I am physically capable of doing the activity in a real-world setting. I have a lot more that I could say but basically all I’m trying to get across is that the entire focus in this school is wrong and that is one of the main reasons for teenage dropouts here. As can be seen, there is no one solution to the problem of school drop-outs. Educational authorities, parents and schools need to work closely together to find the reason for each student’s decision to leave school, and to try to do as much as possible to encourage them to stay in the system.

Women’s Changing Role in the Family and Society

Women’s Changing Role in the Family and Society Nicole M. Tortoris Today, women are tipping the balance of power in their favor. Women have gained power because society is becoming more aware of women’s potential, not only as mothers and housewives, but as businesswomen and entrepreneurs (Schoen, Astone, Rothert, Standish, Kim, 2002). The battle of the sexes continues; women are becoming more independent and more preoccupied with their careers. Women’s independence is why they are less dependent on men and men’s financial support, and less willing to start a family for reasons concerning only economic safety. The emancipation of women, which began decades ago, led to a more active and influential presence in the business world, also known as â€Å"a man’s world.† The time to be an obedient housewife and a dedicated mother has passed, while the time for education and profession is present. Women are becoming too busy for large families for whom they must care during their entire youth (Schoen, Astone, Rothert, Stan dish, Kim, 2002). In their study, Schoen, Aston, Rothert, Standish and Kim (2002) investigated whether or not married women’s employment threatens their marriages. They pose a complex three-part hypothesis in which they examine the likelihood of a marriage to end in divorce based on the woman’s employment and the happiness of both or either spouse. They investigated these hypotheses using data from the 1988 and 1992-94 National Survey of Families and Households. In their analysis of this data, the authors consider two theories using the variables role specialization, interdependence, and economic opportunity. The first suggests that a married woman’s employment does pose a threat to her marriage; however, the second argues that in itself, the wife’s work does not endanger her marriage, but would allow her to leave if she were unhappy with the marriage. The authors’ findings support the second theory, that a working woman would be more likely to leave an unhappy marri age. The risk of divorce for a full time employed wife when both partners are unhappy is 4.94 times greater than not getting a divorce, p Women’s fuller participation in the decision-making processes of our social institutions has shattered stereotypes that tended to limit females to feminine activities and pushed males into male activities (Heslin, 2007). As structural barriers continue to fall and more activities are degendered, both males and females will be freer to pursue activities that are more compatible with their individual abilities and desires instead of society’s prescribed roles. As stereotypes continue to be broken, new role models develop and socialization of children changes. Males and females will gain new perceptions of themselves and of one another. Sociologist Janet Chafetz (1974) conducted a qualitative longitudinal study utilizing focus groups, (based in large part on small class project by her students). In this study, Chafetz identifies 16 acceptable behaviors, eight for men and eight for women. Each of these themes focused on specific behaviors that are considered acceptable for men and women. This study’s findings were more useful in determining acceptable behaviors for men and women, and efforts to understand how far both men and women have advanced in terms of acceptable behaviors. This study was also useful because it looked at behaviors instead of stereotypes. In an attempt to take a new approach to this area of study, this study coded specific sex-typed behaviors, instead of using stereotypes, to assess gender in commercials. Chafetz (1974) explained that this change will allow men and women to express needs and emotions that traditional social arrangements denied them. Women and girls will likely perceive themselves as more in control of their lives, more assertive, and striving more for positions of leadership. With these roles changing, men and women will also develop a new consciousness of their capacities and their options, which will change relationships among men and women. Offen (1990) predicted that if current trends continue, American society may see a growing appreciation of sexual differences coupled with greater equality of opportunity. This has the potential of transforming society. According to Rogers and Amato (2000), there have been fundamental changes to gender relations. Since the 1960s, both men and women have become less traditional in their gender-role attitudes. Judge and Livingston (2008) examined the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, a panel study administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The sample was a nationally representative sample of 12,686 individuals between the ages of 14 and 22 years of age when the participants were first surveyed in 1979. Individuals were surveyed annually through 1994 and then interviewed on a biennial basis through to 2005. F rom the original sample, 60.4% of participants remained in the study. Judge and Livingston (2008) found that women have a more egalitarian orientation than men do (B=-.361, p Kulik (2002) analyzed 232 Israeli retirees aged 58 to 85 years to compare the differences between husbands and wives and their views on marital satisfaction. The results of this comparison suggest that gender may have implications for those couples who are at similar life stages versus those who are not. Participants in the study were asked to complete a 20 minute questionnaire. Research assistants made sure the couples filled out the questionnaire separately. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether there were differences between husbands and wives with respect to marital satisfaction and gender role ideology, power relations, and division of family roles. Wives reported a lower level of marital satisfaction than their husbands F(2,103)=7.45,p In Kulik’s 1999 study of 348 men, 137 were pre-retired (up to 18 months prior to retirement) and 211 had been retired from 2 to 10 years. MANOVA revealed significant differences between pre-retired and retired husbands in gender role ideology (F [2,324] = 6.25, p Several potential explanations for a gendered division of household labor have been posited (Blair Lichter, 1991). One explanation suggests that household responsibilities continue to be shouldered by women because women are socialized to adopt this as part of their identity as a woman. Therefore, many women may discourage help from their husbands because this challenges their self-identity. Recognizing that husbands contribute more to household duties upon retirement (Atchley, 1992), regardless of their wives’ employment status, may suggest a potential source of conflict as men encroach upon what has traditionally been accepted as a â€Å"woman’s domain.† This may be an issue that is more pronounced for individuals in age discrepant relationships who transition into retirement at different times. Although Kuliks (1999; 2001) results do not suggest that age discrepancy may exacerbate potential sources of conflict that couples in age-similar marriages have alread y confronted and resolved, it is important to recognize that no specific data regarding age similarity between partners was provided. Moreover, Kuliks (2001) study focused on Israeli couples who were in dual-earner marriages. As a result, the potential impact of culture may fail to extend to American couples. Kurdek (1998) provides further support for the link between gendered divisions of household labor and gender socialization. Kurdek examined the relation among division of household labor, gender role orientation, and marital satisfaction. The link between gender role orientation and division of household labor were consistent with Kulik’s (1999; 2001) findings. Although the women in Kulik’s sample shouldered more of the household responsibilities than men, the division of household labor was not significantly related to marital satisfaction. According to Kulik, this may be because an inequitable division of household labor is consistent with traditional views regarding the roles of men and women and is therefore congruent with the expectations of both husbands and wives. Ward’s (1993) study provides additional insight regarding the relation between marital satisfaction and the division of household labor. Unlike Kurdek (1998), Ward’s study provided evidence supporting the link between the division of household labor and marital satisfaction for wives, but not husbands. Ward analyzed the National Survey of Families and Households, which conducted interviews with a national probability sample of 13,017 participants. According to Ward, unequal divisions of household labor are not responsible for gender differences in marital satisfaction. The link to marital satisfaction is based on whether wives consider these labor divisions to be fair. Ward used multivariate analyses to investigate the predictors of perceived fairness in household labor and marital happiness. According to his findings, women participate in household tasks more often than men do (means: women=37, men=15, p=.0001). Perceived fairness of household chores appeared to be rel ated to marital happiness. For women, unfairness to self is related to lower happiness, χ2 (1, N=538) =38.4, p Several studies have linked gender role ideologies to the division of household labor (Kurdek, 1998; Gerson 2004; Mannino Deutsch, 2007; Mickelson, Claffey, Williams 2006; Robinson Hunter, 2008), yet the impact of aging on attitudes toward sex roles remains unclear (Kulik, 1999). Inglehart, Norris, and Welzel (2003) found evidence that younger adults displayed more modern gender role ideologies when compared to older adults. Inglehar, Norris, and Welzel (2003) note that the differences between younger and older couples may reflect differences in socialization related to cohort. As a result, couples who are age discrepant may be more likely to experience conflicts related to the impact of cohort differences on attitudes toward sex roles. However, Burke and Cast (1997) note that newlyweds who have a newborn during the first year of marriage experience changes in gender identity that accompany gender role taking. According to Burke and Cast, gender-role-taking yields more congruency between partners with regard to gender identity. The implications of Burke and Castâ⠂¬â„¢s study indicate that retirement may present the same opportunity for gender role taking among age discrepant marriages that the birth of a child does for newlyweds. These are issues that have yet to be examined among older couples and age discrepant marriages in particular. Researchers have attempted to explore power, decision-making, and relationship satisfaction differences between males and females for years. There appears to be some sex difference in the levels of satisfaction within marriages. For example, there seems to be a difference in relationship satisfaction based on gender roles and ideologies (Mickelson, Claffey, Williams, 2006; Sprecher, 2001). One predictor of relationship satisfaction may be equal participation in household work. Many women perceive the contribution by their partner, however limited, as an expression of love or support (Pina Bengtson, 1993). Similarly, other studies suggest that balanced roles in relation to equal division of household labor (Mickelson, Claffey, Williams, 2006; Rachlin, 1987) and equal contributions to child-rearing (Coltrane, 2000; Dempsey, 2002; Yogman Bragelton, 1986) led to higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Tsang and colleagues (2003) and Marks and colleagues (2001) also concluded that when both spouses were employed full-time, relationship satisfaction was increased (Marks, Huston, Johnson, Macdermid, 2001; Tsang, Harvey, Duncan, Sommer, 2003). REFERENCES Amato, P., Johnson, D., Booth, A., Rogers, S. (2003). Continuity and change in mariatl quarily between 1980 and 2000. Journal of Marriage and the Family , pp. 1-22. Atchely, R. (1993). Retirement and marial satisfaction. In M. Szinovacz, D. Ekerdt, B. Vinick, Families and Retirement (pp. 145-158). Newbury Park, California: Sage. Blair, S., Lichter, D. (1991). Measuring the dividion of household labor. Journal of Family Issues , 12, 91-113. Burke, P., Cast, A. (1997). Stability and change int he gender identieies of newly married couples. Social Psychology Quarterly , 60, 277-290. Chafetz, J.S. (1974). Masculine/feminine or human? An overview of the sociologt of sex roles. Itasca, IL: F.E. Peacock. Chafetz, J.S. (1990). Gender equaily: An intergrated theory of stability and change. Newburry Park, CA: Sage Publications. Gerson, K. (2004). Understanding work and family through a gender lens. Community, Work and Family , 7 (2), 163-178. Grote, N., Clark, M. (2001). Perceiving unfairness in the family: Cause or consequece of marital distress? Journal of Personaility and Social Psychology , 80 (2), pp. 281-293. Henslin, J. (2007). Sociology: A down-to- earth approach (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Inglehart, R., Norris, P., and Welzel, C. (2003). Gender equality and democracy. Comparative Sociology , 1 (3-4), pp. 321-346. Judge, T. A., and Livingston, B. A.. Is the gap more than gender? A longitudinal analysis of gender, gender role orientation, and earnings. Journal of Applied Psychology 93.5 (2008): 994-1012. Web. 2 Apr. 2014. Kulik, L.(1998). The effect of gender and social environment on gender role perceptions and sex identity: A comparative study of kibbutz and urban adolescence in Israel.Journal of Community Psychology, 30(6), 533-548. Kulik, L. (1999, May-June). Continuity and discontinuity in marital life after retirement: Life orientations, gender role ideology, intimacy, and satisfaction. The Journal of Contemporary Human Services , 286-294. Kulik, L.(2001). The impact of men’s and women’s retirement on marital relations: A comparative analysis. Journal of Women and Aging, 13(2), 21-37. Kulik, L.(2002). Marital equality and the quality of long term marriage in later life.Ageing and Society, 22,459-481. Kurdek, L. (1998). The allocation of household labor in gay, lesbian, and heterosexual married couples. In D. Anselmi, A. Law, Questions of gender: Perspectives and paradoxes (pp. 582-591). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill. Mannino, C., Deutsch, F. (2007). Changing the dividion of houselold labor: A negotiated process between partners. Rex Roles , 56, pp. 309-324. Marks, S., Huston, T., Johnson, E., MacDermid, S. (2001). Role balance among white married couples. Journal of Marriage and Family , 63, 1083-1098. Mickelson, K., Claffey, S., Williams, S. (2006). The moderating role of gender and gender role attitudes on the link between spousal support and marital quailty. Rex Roles , 55 (73), 81-91. Offen, K. (1990). Feminism and sexual difference in histroical perpective. In D. Rhode, Theortical perspectives on sexual differences (pp. 13-20). New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Schoen, R., Astone, N., Rothert, K., Standish, N., Kim, Y. (2002). Womens employment, marital happiness, and divorce. Social Forces , 81 (2), 643-663. Tsang, L., Harvey, C., Duncan, K., Sommer, R. (2003). The effect of children on marital happiness: Evidence from a longitudinal sample. Journal of Family and Economic Issues , 24, 5-26. Ward, R. (1993). Marital happiness adn houshold equilty in later life. Journal of Marriage Family , 55, 427-438.