Coming of Age Essay

A coming of age experience can happen any time during one’s life, most often when it is least expected. It is the thread that sews humanity together, a phenomenon, which is undeniable. Society tells us, it is a defining moment in a child’s life, when the world somehow becomes his or her own. Why then is â€Å"Coming of Age† simply relegated to the young? We all experience this phenomenon, from the tender age of four till the ripe old age of ninety-four. It is not an experience based solely on chronological milestones. Coming of age is a defining moment when a person’s wide-eyed nnocence is replaced with something deeper and at times something darker and more sinister, a snapshot in life when one realized the answer rests inside us, not relying completely on God. Consequently, in that way, we are always coming of age, always-losing innocence, gaining understanding, and always discovering new truths about ourselves, emotionally, and intellectually. Coming of age is the act of experiencing a definitive shift in one’s perspective, a greater realization of ones place in the world, and a further understanding of how personal actions and reactions are ntegrally linked. â€Å"That’s not fair† was my signature quotation as a little girl. A life full of Barbie’s, tea parties, and several rounds of Go-Fish card games was very demanding for a five year old. I could only assume the world revolved around which Barbie I wanted to be, what frilly dress I wanted to wear, and my pristine skills of winning every round of Go-Fish. As a little princess, fairness was vital to what made me happy. When I was eight years old, the word â€Å"fair† took on a whole other meaning the day my mom and her best friend, Muffy, took my sister and me to lunch. As we at down at the table, Muffy, the mother of my best friend, Sam, hesitantly twisted the diamond protruding from her gold wedding band. We waited for our lunches in silence, my sister and I only knowing that they had â€Å"something to tell us,† but not knowing what. The silence was unbearable; waiting for something that must have no positive outcome was definitely, as I would term, unfair. After the waitress brought our food, my mom’s voice filled the intolerable silence. Unlike her usual motherly lectures, my mom’s voice seemed Just as excruciating as the previous silence; it was uncertain, unfamiliar, and distant. My mom has always been the woman that I admire and would hope to become. The smiles and love she has given to my sister and me have been unconditional and contagious. At the moment, the slightly tilted frown and the unfulfilled eye contact was not the woman that I knew as my mother. All I wish for was to read her mind, fgure out who she had become so that I could make everything better and change her back to the woman I see myself being one day. Muffy began with her understanding voice, a quality that she and my mother share, â€Å"Emily and Peggy, I can see the concern on your faces and we are here to tell ou that Sam has cancer. He will be undergoing surgery next week and all I ask from you is to be as understanding, mature, and as helpful as possible. I know you are both strong and that it is going to be hard for all of us. My best friend, at eight years old, has cancer. I continued to repeat this in my mind. There was no â€Å"He will be find† or â€Å"Everything will be taken car of. † My mind was running with questions, How long has he had cancer? Will he have to undergo chemo? Will he lose all his hair? But unfair. Two years later Sam went through his third treatment. At this point we were told hat he was not going to make it and at that mo ment, as a young eight year old, I began to understand that life’s trials cannot be won like a game of go-fish. I began to understand that life is not fair because I did not understand why someone so caring and loving like Sam would be put through this. I do wish that fguring these things out at such a young age would not be as tortuous as my best friend getting cancer and passing away. However, for me, maturing at that age is accepting that the world does not revolved around me. That losing in a game of go-fish is not the end of the world and to treasure every day of life.

The Road Not Taken

The poem â€Å"Road Not Take;† by Robert Frost explores decision making as part of a complex nature of human race involving contradictory emotions of fear for unknown future, regret for the possible wrong choice and acceptance and pride in defining an individual. The lack of foresight and fear for choosing wrongly result the hesitance in making choices. The diverged roads symbolises choosing between two decisions. The inverted word order â€Å"long I stood† emphasizes the length of time Frost has taken to try and speculate about the features about each path.However, he fails to comprehend what lays beyond as the second path is â€Å"just as fair† as the first one, revealing the lack of insight contributing to the uncertainty in making decisions. Although the alliteration, â€Å"wanted wear†, hints the second road is not a popular choice, Frost has chosen it to be different, yet his insecurity about the future still makes him doubting his decision with the word choice of â€Å"perhaps†. Although eventually a choice is made, Frost is still unsure his decision and the regret for choosing possibly wrongly.In the title, â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, the word â€Å"not† shows him wandering the result of choosing the well accepted road thus illustrate his regret in choosing the probable harder path. The emotional attachment with â€Å"knowing way leads on to way†, his acknowledges the impossibility to face the same decision again and regret the hardship faced in the unconventional path. The exclamation mark in â€Å"Oh, I kept the first for another day† expresses his desire to have an opportunity to re-choose.After experiencing the fear and regret in making decision, the tone of poem turns and accepted towards end of the poem. The phrase of road â€Å"less travelled by† illustrates his gratification to be different and accept his unique choosing. The enjambment of â€Å"I-/ I took the one less travell ed by† emphasises on â€Å"I†, which demonstrates a sense of pride in being who he is. The poem ends with â€Å"all the difference† reveals his recognition of his less accepted choice defining who he is as an individual.The complex nature of decision making is explored in â€Å"Road Not Taken† thoroughly with effective techniques. Lack of foresight results fear for choosing wrongly and ambivalent decisions. Regrets for making the less chosen road leaves one to wander the result of the widely accepted road. Making decision involves acceptance and pride also as it defines an individual separate from others. Decision making can happen uncountable times in a lifetime and determination and unique thoughts are required no matter which road one chooses. The Road Not Taken A. in pairs ,read the situation below, copy the headings below into your notebooks and make two lists to help you decide what you would do . Your friends are traveling abroad during the vacation and you really want to join them. However , you have been offered a fantastic summer job. You are afraid if you miss this opportunity ,you may not get another one Pros traveling abroad| Pros of taking the job| To have fun| To get money | To visit new places| To be successful| To have close relationship with our friends . | To be more responsible. | To break the routine. | To know new things . | B.What do you usually do when you have a problem or dilemma to solve? Do you follow the steps above? Explain Think of a problem you have solved and tell your partner. Were there any additional steps you used you reach your decision? No, I don't follow the steps, Because I have someone adult that I trust him and talk to him any thing and she will help me . Vocabulary practice:- A. Match the words in A t o their meanings in B. 1. traveler b. someone who goes to places far away 2. equally d. the same 3. doubt e. not sure about something 4. diverge a. divide 5. undergrowth c. plants and bushes . wanted wear g. needed to be walked on 7. wood I. forest 8. make a difference h. change something 9. claim f. demand B. complete the sentences with the words below. Make any necessary changes. 1. The speaker was sorry that he could not take both roads. 2. The traveler could not decide which road to choose. They both looked equally fair. 3. The speaker looked down the road to where it bend in the undergrowth. 4. One way always lead on to another, so the speaker doubt that he would ever come back. 5. In the future, the speaker will be telling about his experience with a fair. A.Describe or draw the scene that the poet describes. One person has a dilemma, he has to choose one road out of two, the choice was risky and adventurous , he choose the less traveled road and he made all differences . B. A nswer the questions. 1. A stanza is a group of lines which form a unit in a poem. Which stanza describes the main idea? Main idea| Stanza | 1. The speaker decides to take the less-traveled road. | 2| 2. The speaker describes his location. | 1| 3. The speaker's decision changed his life. | 4| 4. The speaker doesn't think he will ever try the other road. | 3| 2.What does the poet like about the second road considers? The speaker took the second road that was grassy and wanted wear. 3. Find the lines in the poem that have a similar meaning to each sentence below. a. I wished that I could walk down both road : lines 2. b. I chose the less-traveled road : line 18-19. c. I didn't think I would ever return to try the other road : line14-15. d. I will only know if I made the right decision in the future : lines 17. e. The choice I made affected my whole life: line 20 A. What is the setting of the poem? The place : in the forest( yellow wood) . The Time : Summer/In the morning B.You learned about the thinking skill of problem solving on page 19. What is the speaker's dilemma in the poem and how does he solve it? Complete the graphic organizer below . Use the thinking skill of problem solving to help you . Problem/Dilemma Option 1: The road bends and disappeared in the undergrowth. Option 2 : The road looks â€Å"grassy and wanted wear â€Å". Solution: The speaker choose option (2) because, it is less trodden on and less used. C. Writers often use metaphor, a comparison between two things. For example, â€Å"happiness is a smile†. In the road not taken, the writer describes a fork in the road with two different paths.What are the paths compared to? Explain. The two different paths in the wood are compared to the options we can choose. or ways we can travel ,in life. D. Answer the question. 1. What is the speaker's motive for choosing one way over the other. The speaker choose the road that grassy and wanted wear he choose the road that is less traveled because , he want to be different from others, and he want to have a special life. 2. What kind of person do you think the speaker is ? (For example :conventional, unconventional, spontaneous, deep thinking, boring, adventurous).I think the speaker have a special brain he want to hear life is the best from another people , he is a risky person (adventures). E. Answer the questions. 1. Why doesn't the speaker think he will ever have a chance to walk the other road? What does this tell us about our decisions? The speaker doesn't think that he will have a chance to back to choose the other road , He think that on way lead to another that on think lead to another and should never come back when we choose a decision we should know what to choose . 2. How does the speaker feel when he makes his choice? How do we know this?The speaker was not sure of this decision he was doubt if he should ever come back or not he was confused and we see that in the poem in (line 5). 3. The speaker does not yet kn ow how his choice has affected his life. He says he â€Å"shall be telling this with a sigh / somewhere ages and ages hence†. How does the speaker think he will feel about the choice he made? The speaker says that he will tell about his decision in future with a sigh and that sigh might with a relief for choosing the right decision or with a great to choosing the wrong decision if it was wrong or true , it make a change in his life . . Why do you think the writer called the poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† instead of â€Å"The road Taken†. I think that the writer called the poem â€Å"The road not taken† because, it might be the road that most people don't choose it and he want to different from others so he take the less traveled road. F. A device that poets often use to give structure to their poetry is rhyme, the repetition of sounds at the end of the line. Robert Frost used rhyme in this poem. Which words rhyme? Would,stood,could Both,undergrowth Fair,w here,there Claim,sameLay,day,way Black. back Sigh,I,by Hence,difference A. read the background information. Robert frost (1874-1963) was born in san Francisco , California, but spent most of his life in a rural area of New England in the northeastern part of the United states . the area is know for its hills , woods , farms , and small towns , which frost depicts in his poems Frost Claims that the poem , THE ROAD NOT TAKEN ,(published in 1916) was written about his friend Edward Thomas with whom he walked in the woods in London , where he lived from(1912-15).Frost said that while walking , they would come to different paths , and after choosing one, Thomas would worry ,wondering what they might have massed by not taking the other path. B. Robert Frost is often called a New England poet. How is this reflected in the poem The road Not Taken? Answer the questions. 1. Did you enjoy reading the poem? Why or why not? Yes I enjoy reading the poem if makes my think twice when I want to choo se a hard decision and never come back because one think in life leads to another . And I love the speaker because he have a good brain and A nice ideas and he want to be a best person in his life . . What did you learn from reading the poem ? I learned that taking a different road that people do not take is not bad because, we can discover new things, and make differences. 3. do you think that being aware of the stages of problem solving will help you make better decision and solve problems more easily in the future ? Yes, knowing the stages of solving problems can help me solve problems easily its clear the problem that I can suggest many solutions . The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the pa ssing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost

Abstract paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Abstract - Term Paper Example This doesn’t imply that understanding a speech necessarily means understanding the context in which the speech is delivered. However the author argues that it is impossible to comprehend a speech unless its context and utterance are understood. This is true of both rhetorical and non-rhetorical discourse. The author draws various analogies with a rhetorical situation. He feels that a rhetorical is analogous to a moral action. We call an act moral because it is performed in a certain situation of a certain kind. Similarly, a work is rhetorical because it is the result of a situation of a certain kind. In an imaginary world, there will only be communication as argued world over but no rhetoric. This is because exigencies will not erupt. In our own world, however, rhetorical exigencies are bound to crop up. The video that was provided to me was John Kennedy’s speech on Martin Luther King’ speech. The speech demonstrates the rhetorical situation explained by Bitzer in his article. The speech is a well used example of rhetoric in public relations. Its purpose was to make the audience feel that Americans need not worry about being discriminated on the basis of their religion, ethnic and cultural back ground. The speech is a very well placed example of a rhetorical situation as explained by Bitzer. The context of the situation demanded this speech by John F Kennedy. As explained by Bitzer exigency is a very important constituent of any rhetorical situation. An exigency is considered to be an imperfection and is ear marked by urgency. It is more or less a defeat, an obstacle, something that is waiting to be done and a thing which is other than what is should be. The situation in which Kennedy made the speech was ear-marked by an emergency. Thus is was a fitting response given the circumstances and the background under which the speech was

Violence on Television Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Violence on Television - Essay Example There is no doubt that television has its good side. It can be both entertaining as well as educational. It gives good opportunity for children to learn more about different cultures, and gain exposure to ideas they may never encounter in their own community.Besides, it also gives them a chance to see different places and learn about various aspects on life in different parts of the world. In addition, there are also several motivational programs with positive role models and good moral stories that can influence kids to change their behavior for the better (UMHS n. pag, 2007). However, the concern today is the impact of violence that is projected in the television. Ever since the beginning of television, the effect of TV violence on society has been commonly studied and strongly debated. There are several studies that provide evidence that violence in television can be linked to the real life violence. For instance, a study conducted by four universities and financed by the cable industry found that of nearly 2,700 shows analyzed in a 20 week survey of 23 channels, 57% were said to contain at least some violence (Zoglin 58-61). [1] One of the biggest concerns is the negative effect of television on children. Researchers hypothesize that viewing TV violence can lead to three potentially harmful effects: increased antisocial or aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence (becoming more accepting of violence in real life and less caring about other people's feelings), or increased fear of becoming a victim of violence (Smith and Donnerstein 167-202).12 [2] Television can be a powerful influence in developing value systems and shaping behavior. Unfortunately, much of today's television programming is violent. Children and adolescent concur some of the negative moral influences through TV such as media violence, portrayals of sexual exploitation and attitudes, vulgarity and rudeness, intense and disturbing imagery, passive watching - the "couch potato" syndrome, alcoholism, drug abuse, and other kinds of disturbing activities. For example, the average American child will witness 200,000 violent acts on television by age 18 (Dowshen and Gavin n. pag 2005). These may lead to serious psychological problems. Too much of TV means that children not exercising, reading, socializing, or spending time outside. Children, who view violent events, are also more likely to believe that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them. These could have serious negative influence on the growth and development of the child. A review of scientific literature on media violence provides ample evidences that the connection of media violence to real-life aggressive behavior and violence has been largely exposed (Donnerstein and Linz 271-284). Estimates suggest that as much as 10% to 20% of real-life violence may be a duplication of media violence (Comstock and Strasburger 495-509). National Television Violence Study presented the following after a three years study: nearly two thirds of all programming contains violence; children's shows contain the most violence; portrayals of violence are usually glamorized; and perpetrators often go unpunished (Federman 1998). Violence on television can influence people to commit crimes. There is an increase of juvenile crimes in the world. While television violence is not the only cause of aggressive or violent behavior, researchers believe that it is clearly a significant factor. It is important

Critical Analysis of a Macroeconomics Article Essay

Critical Analysis of a Macroeconomics Article - Essay Example fiscal, monetary and international trade policy) to limit the scale of economic activity within the regenerative and waste assimilative capacities of the ecosphere. The usage of government’s rate of spending through its fiscal policy and its instrument to control money supply through its monetary policy does not provide a viable solution for the dilemma of ecological sustainability. So much so with international trade policy which only enhances the competitiveness of its domestic industries abroad which is not always desirable for the environment. The market cannot be left by itself to let its dynamics correct the inequity and ill effect of having an economy that consumes more than the environment’s regenerative capacity. Such, the article suggested ways to to avoid further ecological degeneration by modifying aggregate private sector spending through cap-and-trade system that will penalize environmentally hazardous activities. It also suggested the idea of a steady sta te economy where growth is commensurate to the environment’s capacity to replenish itself. II. Theoretical Analysis of the Article A. Fiscal Policy – Fiscal Policy is typically used by central government to pump prime the economy through its expenditures. It is used to encourage industry and create jobs during economic downturn funded by its fiscal collection through taxation. The article however acknowledges the fact that the typical function of Fiscal Policy satisfies only economic criteria and not the biophysical criteria of the environment and as such, its typical usage cannot be utilized to remedy the sustainability dilemma of resources. A variation of this Policy Instrument however can be used to limit economic activity that strains the environment. Through cap-and-trade system, it may be able to discourage and limit ecologically straining economic activities by penalizing through reformed taxation those economic activities that depletes our natural resources and pollutes the environment. B. Monetary Policy – Monetary Policy or the government’s instrument to control the supply of money circulating in the economy can neither address ecological degradation. It can encourage private enterprise spending by â€Å"loosening† its interest rates and encourage economic activity which may in fact even be harmful to the environment as it stimulates expansion, which is the biggest threat to ecological degradation. C. External Trade Policy – International Trade Policy merely addresses the international competitivenes of domestic industries to be able to compete in the global market. But with the advent of globalization, government influence in international trade is slowly diminishing that to use this instrument to put limit on the expansionist tendency of the industry to effect diversity conservation is simply not workable. III. Significance of the Analysis A. Society – Initiating a macroeconomic policy that is not ex pansionary will tremendously benefit society in the long-run. Imposing restrictions and/or limit to resource throughput within the environment’s regenerative and waste assimilative capacities will ensure ecological sustainability and availability of resources in the long-run. It will ensure the perpetual availability of resources to provide society’

Animated Sitcom Visual Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Animated Sitcom Visual Arts - Essay Example It goes without saying that many a times, hiding behind the perceived intentions of creating fun, the animated sitcoms do comment on the politically sensitive issues like race, gender and age in a very thought provoking and unsettling manner. The animated sitcoms do mostly afford to challenge or disturb the social status quos, because the society mostly perceives them as being something created to be inherently funny and ridiculous. No wonder, if something is being perceived as being quintessentially funny and ridiculous, the nonconventional social comments and observations made by such a genre are more than often forgiven, because of being taken as something light and imaginary. It goes without saying that the animated sitcoms realized the complete extent of poetic license they carry over a period of time, through much trial and experimentation. If one analyzes the animated sitcoms in a historical context, one simply cannot fail observing the fact that the families found in the anim ated sitcoms have gradually graduated from being normal, to funny, to being outright subversive. The animation aspect of these sitcoms allows the artists to portray even the most socially horrifying and sensitive aspects of life in a way that appears and sounds less offensive to the viewers. Certainly, the controversy that the animated sitcoms are able to dilute and mitigate in their peculiar format is something that perhaps even the most popular of live action shows cannot get away with. However, the more serious connoisseurs of animated sitcoms do know that the comedy inherent in the animated sitcoms is definitely not mindless and flimsy. Actually it is in a way the projection of a visual social commentary which does have the capacity to give way to meaningful discussions and analysis. In fact it would be very relevant to say that in the contemporary societies there exists a space for creativity, which the society cannot allow being traversed by live action and other formats of en tertainment, unless they carry around them a reputation for being abjectly comical and humorous. It is this creative space in the contemporary society which the animated sitcoms manage to wriggle through without any risk or danger, because they qualify the requisite of being perceived as being funny and comical. It is for this very reason that the animated sitcoms are allowed to challenge the most sacrosanct of social, political and economic ideologies and views. The viewers do not even expect or even allow the live action sitcoms to do so, because they believe that the events taking place in these sitcoms are accurate depictions of the real life situations. However, when it comes to animated sitcoms, anything is possible. No wonder, most of the writers associated with animated sitcoms are well aware of this immense potential of cartoon characters. That is why they choose animation to get their ideas across. 2) It goes without saying that the concept of cartoon president is indeed b rilliant and very pragmatic to a great extent. Considering the current cultural and political state, the landscape is replete with many socio-political holy cows and taboos. The entire idea of political leadership

Unacceptable governance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unacceptable governance - Research Paper Example In many circumstances refused to assent to laws.â€Å"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.†2. He forbids his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance.A head of state must encourage governors to pass important laws.The king of Great BritainDuring governors meetings, he has always forbidden governors to pass laws.â€Å"He has made it inadmissible for his Governors to legislate on delicate issues unless he assents to it, and even when he permits, he neglects them.†3. He refuses to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people.A good government must derive its powers from the consent of the governed.The King of Great BritainMany people allege that The King of Great Britain passed laws for his own interest.â€Å"He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of districts with high populations unless the populations would not a representation in the Legislature, a right unfat homable to them and only suitable to tyrants.†4. He calls together a legislative body at unusual, uncomfortable, and distant places in order to fatigue members and make them comply with his measures.A common comfortable meeting place for legislators symbolizes good government.The King of Great BritainLiterature provides enough evidence of the King calling meetings at remote places.â€Å"He has assembled legislative bodies surprisingly at unusual places, deplorable, and away from reach to their documented public Record.

Business to Business Marketing & Supply Chain Management Essay

Business to Business Marketing & Supply Chain Management - Essay Example Significantly, the success of an organisation must be pegged on the supply chain as pasrt of the vital elements in the system structure. Observably, supply chain is often regarded as the process of integrating companies and their operations together with regard to the flow of products, services along with other aspects of modern businesses (Ellis, 2010). Basically, the supply chain process entails the contribution of a supplier, distributer along with an instantaneous customer, and this further incorporates the flow of gods and the services of an organisation. In modern business practices, the supply chain retains its critical importance as it is directly associated with the operational wellbeing of the business (Warkentin, 2003). Correspondingly, this particular discussion will primarily deal with analysing the importance as well as the role of supply chain management in the domain of business-to-business marketing. The paper will also conclude some of the major prevailing issues as sociated with the supply chain management with considerations of two different industries, which will include the Textile Manufacturing Industry of China and Chemical Industry in Singapore in a macro prospective. Supply Chain Management (SCM) is one of the most integral processes in the contemporary business environment. It will not be vague to depict that it is one of major elements, which can directly decide upon the success potentials or failure risks of a company, irrespective of its industrial positioning. SCM is often defined as the management of the flow of goods within any particular business context. It primarily involves the movement of materials or finished goods from one domain of the business to the other in a systematic manner, ensuring time effectiveness in each of the stages involved in the supply chain process. The process of supply chain in the modern day business context also involves the

Psychology of Women Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Psychology of Women - Essay Example The first portrayal of bias in the media is seen through the concept of feminism, which is represented by the main character, Margaret Tate. This character is seen as an independent woman from the beginning, and is often referred to as a witch by others in the office. Margaret is recognized as successful and as an editor that is able to help her publishing company reach more success. The feminist perspective and bias that is noted from the beginning is one that shows the independence of the working woman and the way that women who are independent act toward others. For a woman to carry this level of success, compromises of being a woman are made. As the movie continues, this is seen as Margaret reveals that she has given up a social life and marriage for the sake of the business and to be an independent woman. This relates directly to the juxtaposed debates of feminism, which states that working women can’t be housewives and often compromise ideas of femininity for their succe ss. This results as an expectation from society and what is occurring among others in the office. The concept of feminism and independence is one of the most important aspects of this film with the reversal of expectations that begin to occur. This relates directly to the main plot, which shows Margaret asking Andrew to marry her for the sake of her job. Margaret takes the role of a male in her assertiveness and in her proposal to Andrew at the beginning of the film. The media portrays Margaret as the feminist who is independent and who will do anything for the sake of her job while leaving behind her traditional role. This is important for the identity of feminism and the perception of how women take this role in society. However, the media also shows the underlying tone of feminism and how this is an illusion. By the end of the film, Margaret is seen as

Intraorganizational Conflicts Essay Example for Free

Intraorganizational Conflicts Essay In the discourse about the assessment and management of intraorganizational conflict within an organization, Jessica Katz Jameson underscores the various facets of these conflicts. These include the sources of conflict, their characteristics, the management strategies and the desired outcomes. However, of interest here is how the author characterizes the sources of these conflicts. In this presentation, an attempt to unveil the characterization of the sources of conflict without examining the attributes and the form taken by the conflicts is an effort in futility. According to Jameson (1999), conflicts arise when interdependent parties have very unlike and incompatible mindsets and interests. Intraorganizational conflicts take different forms depending on the source Sources of Informal Conflicts. Informal conflicts take the form of informal arguments or differences in points of view and opinions between co-workers, employees and supervisors, between factions within an organization or even interdepartmental Conflicts. Informal conflicts occur mainly due to differing values, beliefs, opinions as well as perception regarding to how work should be accomplished (Jameson 1999). Shapiro and Rosen (as cited in Jameson, 1999) further categorized informal conflicts as those whose sources are relational differences and those that arise from differences in opinions as to how tasks ought to be carried out. Relational differences include personal differences between members of an organization or differences in opinion regarding to leadership style. Task conflict on the hand has to do with differences in matters regarding to authority and/or responsibilities as well as differences in perception and interpretation various issues. Others[1] have utilized words such as subjective conflicts and objective conflicts in trying to categorize various forms of conflicts. Sources of formal conflicts. Formal conflicts are of a different dimension. They are characterized by formal complaints about such issues as: Contravention of human rights within an organization or policy violations. In several instances, formal conflicts result in legal action usually by an employee against an organization. Formal conflicts occur due to issues regarding to dismissal, benefits, absentee policies, safety standards, discrimination, rules and regulations of work and promotions. Employees feel that they are not being treated fairly. Formal conflicts have been a subject of much interest in recent times due to the rising number of costly court cases between the employees and organizations. Question 2. Is it important or necessary in an organization to understand the sources of conflict within an organization, as we have an autocratic structure that can impose a resolution? Understanding the sources of conflict within an organization is important because of the following reasons: a) It can help in unearthing potential conflicts before they happen. Usually conflicts do not just happen but follow a distinct pattern that can be detected by knowledgeable persons. Early detection would allow for action that would ensure that the conflict never gets out of hand. This would result in saving the parties involved time money and misery. b) It assists the disputants, managers and third parties involved in selecting the most suitable method of resolving particular conflicts. An imposed resolution may serve an important purpose in a conflict resolution but may fail to achieve the most satisfying solution for the parties involved. There are differing concerns and interests that form the conflict resolution goals for the parties and these have to be put into consideration when seeking a resolution strategy. Some of these interests include: Cost reduction, timeliness, privacy and confidentiality, fairness, maintaining relations and establishing a precedent. These concerns may not be adequately addressed if a resolution has to come from an autocratic authority with an own interest and concern. c) Autocratic Structure of conflict resolution would be of little use in formal conflicts that are likely to result in litigation. Litigation is an undesired outcome due to the costs incurred by either party (time and money); especially depending on the way the judgment goes. Litigation has served to increase the need for dispute systems within organizations. d)Â   Understanding the sources of conflict within an organization assists in the development of effective organizational conflict management. This creates a conducive work environment and reduces work related stress. This would in turn have a positive effect on employee satisfaction and productivity. Understanding sources of conflict should thus be a goal that is pursued by all members within an organization.

Change Management at Netflix

Change Management at Netflix Organizations That Manage Change Well: Netflix’s Constant Evolution â€Å"The only constant in life is change†, a quote by the philosopher Heraclitus in 400 B.C.E remains true today (Graham, 2007). Whether it be in response to a major event or discovery that shakes an organization’s core function, or simply in accordance to incremental transformations, change is inevitable for all organizations. While some organizations experience the pressures of change more often than others, all organization’s must recognize, anticipate, and plan for external change forces, as well as set forth internal organizational changes to remain relevant and competitive in any given industry or field (Chou, 2011). Leaders of organizations must evaluate the industry in which their organization operates within and apply their findings to anticipate possible major changes to minimize disruption, as well as seek new practices and technologies to increase productivity, effectiveness, and overall performance. The adaptability and willingness to change is a co mpany’s greatest competitive advantage. For all organizations, change is a vital and ongoing process, which if implemented and managed correctly, allows an organization to evolve with modern changes and remain successful within their field. Being adaptable and ready for change is a company’s greatest competitive advantage when operating in today’s the rapid and constantly changing global market (Anderson, 1991). This increased presence of change must be met by highly skilled and organized leaders who use methods and strategies to successfully manage changes and their implications (Chou, 2001). One company that has gained and maintained mass success due to their adaptability and forward-thinking methods is Netflix – United States most popular internet streaming service. With over 109 million users, in over  190 countries around the world, streaming more than 125 million hours of TV shows and movies streaming per day as of 2017, Netflix is the world’s leading internet entertainment subscription streaming service. The streaming service offers users the ability to stream network and original television series, documentaries, and feature films. The service allows members to watch as much as they want, when they want, and where they want – with service access on nearly any  internet-connected  screen. Members are able to play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments (Netflix, 2016). The company was founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in September of 1997 in Scotts Valley, California. The now tenth largest internet company when based on revenue, began as a DVD rental by mail delivery service and has continued to change and adapt its business models and according strategies to external and internal factors ever since its startup (Netflix, 2016). Change has the capacity to better an organization or demise of it. When change is handled and managed successfully, success and growth will result. Netflix’s success, and Blockbuster’s eventual demise are examples of how organizations offering similar products and services can either thrive or fail in the face of external technological and industrial changes. During Netflix’s initial years of operation, both Netflix and Blockbuster offered physical hard copy movie rentals. Blockbuster, which had seamlessly survived the change from VHS to DVD technology, provided its services by means of retail locations where costumers could browse movie options on shelves, make their selection, and pay the initial fee based on various factors such as how recently the film was released, or how many nights the customer wished to rent it for. Originally, Netflix used a similar business model as Blockbuster, basing their services on pay per rental basis, but rather than having retail locations, Netflix customers would go to the company’s website to make their rental selection, that would then be mailed to the customer’s home. However, after a short initial trial of this original method and receiving lackluster response, Netflix introduced a subscription feature to its business model. Subscription members could rent a movie, keep it for however long they wished or return it to rent another for one monthly fee – allowing members to rent as many movies as they wished for one fixed price (Lotz, 2017). The differentiation this created between the two companies’ business models began Netflix’s success in the industry and its domination over its indirect competitors, such as Blockbuster. Blockbuster was heavily dependent on revenues generated from hefty late fees to create a large portion of their revenue as part of their business model. Netflix could charge less for their services, and eliminate late fees from their business model due to their decreased cost of operations. Netflix’s consumer-friendly model of no late fees, low cost and wide media selection overpowered the immediate convenience of going to a corner store to pick up a movie for a night for many consumers (Satel, 2014). By April of 2003, Netflix had reached one million subscribers. Blockbuster launched its response to Netflix’s competitive threat by implementing an online unlimited rental subscription service for the fixed price of $19.99 per month in August of 2004, but by this time Netflix had already established its place and customer base in the market, impeding on Blockbuster’s venture potential (Satel, 2014). Netflix’s initial DVD rental by mail delivery service began stealing market share in the entertainment industry, respectively due to its adaptable business model to fit a niche consumer need. However, Netflix achieved the success that it has today by anticipating and adapting to a major upcoming change that was recognized at the time of its founding. This massive change was the internet and its possibly infinite capabilities. Netflix’s founder, Reed Hastings, stated that he originally dubbed his company the name ‘Netflix’ because even in 1998 he had recognized the potential of the world-wide web. Reed one day he expected, and hoped, that his company would be offering DVD rentals by means of an online streaming service, therefore he wanted to name the company something that complied with its eventual fate (Fortune.com, 2009). Netflix was created at the time of the wide spread adoption of the DVD, founders of the company, Reed and Marc, even tested their initial mailing DVD service idea by mailing a CD-Rom back to themselves because they did not yet own an actual DVD. The founders expected that just like VHS – DVDs would be around for a long time, but anticipated and prepared for the day that they were not. The company’s name and its origin highlight how Netflix as an organization was not only ready for change disruption, but waiting for it from the very beginning. In 2007, Netflix launched the company’s online streaming service. Subscribers were still able to continue mail order DVD rentals, but could also stream a limited number of hours online – all for the fixed monthly subscription price (Huffington Post, 2015). This was the result due to the change of available technology and consumer wants. Just like ten years before when the switch was made from VHS to DVD, the next change was ensuing. This was the adoption and availability of high speed internet and portable computers capable of streaming media. In 2010, Netflix began expanding into the global markets. The company first expanded into Canada, then in 2011 moved into various other countries around the world (Lotz, 2017). Competition quickly ensued, not only were other online steaming services becoming available and more widely utilized, such as Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, but television networks were also beginning to offer online streaming subscription services, as streaming services had enabled consumers to cancel or decrease their cable packages while still enjoying media entertainment, just at a lower cost. To maintain and grow their market share and customer base, Netflix began to produce original and exclusive content in the form of series, movies featuring popular actors, and documentaries. Netflix could produce smash hits for their customers because they created shows based on what their users preferred to watch. By using their own website’s analytics of what their members were watching, for how long, when they stopped watching a series or movie, and more. For example, 70% of media being streamed on Netflix by its’ users are television series (Fortune.com, 2009). These observations helped them to produce highly rated, award winning exclusive series, which helped Netflix to keep their existing members and gain new subscribers. Since online streaming subscriptions have a very low switching cost for users, it was vital that Netflix recognized this potential threat and adapted their practices in accordance (Investopedia, 2016). Although not seamlessly achieved, Netflix has gained and maintained its immense amount of success as an online streaming entertainment subscription service by constantly reinventing itself in accordance to changes in technology, regulation, and consumer wants – all while also creating and pioneering changes within their industry to meet and anticipate the needs of the stakeholder (Management Help, n.d.). This has been achieved by having adaptable and separate business models for each business function, each with their own strategy. These organizational changes would not have successfully occurred without the proper internal implementation, and management of change. Devising the best strategic and tactical plans is essential for success, but cannot be achieved without an in-depth understanding of the human side of change management. This refers to the alignment of the company’s culture, values, behaviors and people to encourage the desired results.   Managing change is a complex, dynamic, and challenging process (Mabey, 1993). It is never a choice between technological or people-oriented solutions, but a combination of both (Bullman, 2000). Effective change has been characterized as unfreezing old behaviors, introducing new ones, and re-freezing the new (Mosca, 2011). Successful organizational change begins at the top. An organization’s leaders and upper management must have a clear and concise understanding of the change that is occurring and be able to clearly articulate it. In times of change and uncertainty, all eyes go to the organization’s leaders for strength and direction.   Leaders must be aligned with one another and moving in the same direction towards the common goal. Next, the case for the change must be clearly laid out. A clear explanation of what changes will occur and why they are necessary must be communicated to every layer within the organization. In times of change, it is essential for all members of the organization to know what is expected of them so that feelings of insecurity and confusion, feelings which can lead to resistance to and denunciation of the change, can be calmed.   A multitude of various factors are associated with failure rates when it comes to succeeding in change management. Even if change is endorsed by management, an ill-conceived implementation plan, lack of commitment from an organization’s leaders, and limited utilization or integration of already existing systems and processes within the organization can lead to the failure to accept and adapt to organizational changes (Mariotti, 1998). Another important aspect of successful change management is knowing the values that matter to the organization and the overall goals the organization wants to achieve. Focusing on reacting to those opportunities for change relevant to overall organizational goals, as opposed to reacting to every invitation for change, helps companies to make smart and practical decisions (Mosca, 2011). Due to globalization and overall resource development, new forces and opportunities for change are occurring more rapidly than ever, it is important to develop responses and proactive actions that align according to an organization’s, or their stakeholder’s needs (Bataldon, 1998). Constant change with a lack of reasoning leads to negative organizational performance, as unnecessary change is a drain on company resources, including financial, and human alike. Large organizations, which employ a high number of employees, will not perform as they become exceedingly bureaucratic. As stated by Steiner, organizations that are known to be bureaucratized and hierarchical are less flexible, and less willing to change, as well as less likely to empower their staff (Steiner, 2001). Organizations will not get full value from their employees if they insist that employees do only what they are told. Therefore, leaders must learn how to manage change, to move forward with successfully. There is no one best way to manage change in an organization. Organizations must introduce approaches to organizational change which matches their specific needs, and requirements (Mosca, 2011) Netflix as an organization has demonstrated their capabilities of successful change management based on their multitude of major changes evident throughout the company’s existence. Netflix has been able to achieve this by their unique and somewhat unprecedented organizational culture. Netflix, although a large organization with nearly five thousand employees (Statista, 2016), is not a typical industrial firm, which is what many of today’s traditional organizational theory and practices are based on, but rather is a creative firm. The difference between the two is substantial – industrial firms thrive on reducing variation, or reducing errors, while creative firms thrive by increasing variation, as stated by the company’s founder and current CEO, Reed Hastings (McCord, 2015). Due to this difference of firm variety, Netflix must create and adhere to different organizational methods relevant to their newer and less common style of business – creative. Netflix’s core culture concept is based on open and honest communication between all levels and in every aspect of the firm’s function. Netflix does not have set vacation policies, rather they encourage employees to decide their own appropriate amount of vacation, when they wish to take it and communicate this to their managers. To encourage employees to utilize this policy, upper management is encouraged to set a precedent by taking vacation time themselves and communicating that to their employees. The CEO even reportedly taking four different week-long vacations in 2015. However, this concept is also protected from abuse by Netflix’s next major culture feature. This is the notion of their compensation method. Results are rewarded, but effort producing no result is not. If an employee, although at one time was extremely valuable and well liked, no longer fits Netflix’s changing needs, they will be given an honest explanation and very generous severance package. Netflix has found that by focusing on building the best team by having the best talent has enabled them to continue to adapt and evolve as a company. Once an employee can no longer benefit the company, they are able to bring in new talent to keep company moving forward. Employees of Netflix understand this concept upon being hired, which is why almost all severed employees are understanding and accepting of their termination. Netflix believes in trusting in the hired talent to complete the given tasks in the best way the talent sees fit. Netflix giving their employees the freedom of autonomy allows for flexibility, and innately eliminates the issues resulting from bureaucratic or hierarchical structure, something that can often arise in a firm of Netflix’s size (Mosca, 2011). Netflix found that by replacing rules with transparency, accountability, and trust, overall productivity and performance improves, and expenses decrease. Netflix believes in hiring good, talented people – letting common sense and acting in the best interest of the company guide employee behavior (McCord, 2015). Due to new technology, regulatory changes, societal or stakeholder expectations, as well as competitors – rule-driven organizations, operating within a rapidly changing industry, are unable to keep up with the constant adaption required to gain or remain successful, losing customers and market share to those organizations that do have the capability to evolve. Netflix maintains its ability to change through its organizational culture concept – freedom and responsibility. The company invests in hiring the best possible talent, and rewards high-performer – weeding out continuous, unimproved low performers. References Graham, D. W. (2007, February 08). Heraclitus. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/heraclitus/ Anderson, P., & Tushman, M. (1991). MANAGING THROUGH CYCLES OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE. Research Technology Management, 34(3), 26-31. Chou, & Zolkiewski. (2011). Managing resource interaction as a means to cope with technological change. Journal of Business Research, Journal of Business Research. Mabey C. Mayon-White. (1993). Managing change. 2nd ed. The Open University: Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd. Davies C, Finlay L, Bullman A. (2000). Changing Practice in health and social care. The Open University: SAGE Publication. Rosenberg, S., & Mosca, J. (2011). Breaking down the barriers to organizational change. International Journal of Management and Information Systems, 15(3), 139. Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2017, from https://ir.netflix.com/ Lotz, A. (2017, October 26). The unique strategy Netflix deployed to reach 90 million worldwide subscribers. Retrieved October 27, 2017, from http://theconversation.com/the-unique-strategy-netflix-deployed-to-reach-90-million-worldwide-subscribers-74885 Mariotti J. (1998). 10 steps to positive change. Ind Week. How Netflix got started. (2009, January 27). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from http://archive.fortune.com/2009/01/27/news/newsmakers/hastings_netflix.fortune/index.htm I. (2016, January 12). Netflix: Porters 5 Forces Analysis. Retrieved October 26, 2017, from http://www.investopedia.com/university/netflix-porters-5-forces-analysis/ Netflix: employee count 2016 | Statistic. Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/587671/netflix-employees/ Organizational Change and Development (Managing Change and Change Management). (n.d.). Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://managementhelp.org/organizationalchange/#anchor61645 McCord, P. (2014). How netflix reinvented HR. Harvard Business Review, 92(1), 71-76. One Huge Reason For Netflixs Success. (2015, March 03). Retrieved October 27, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/netflix-culture-deck-success_n_6763716 Satell, G. (2014, September 21). A Look Back At Why Blockbuster Really Failed And Why It Didnt Have To. Retrieved October 26, 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2014/09/05/a-look-back-at-why-blockbuster-really-failed-and-why-it-didnt-have-to/#2054abeb1d64

How Effective was Athenian Democracy? Essay -- right to vote, minoriti

Plan of Investigation Between the years of 508 BCE and 322 CE, Greece flourished under democracy. However, some question if the flourishing of Athens is due to the democracy that was in place as opposed to other factors relevant in building a successful community. This investigation will examine the effectiveness of Athenian democracy in Greek society. Relevance of Athenian democracy can be seen in foundation of many democracies found worldwide. In this investigation the right to vote, protection of minorities, use of social class, the structure of democracy and how Greek democracy has influenced the world will be addressed. The place investigated will be Greece, specifically the capitol Athens. The effectiveness of Athenian democracy can be seen in social structure, protection of minorities, and right to vote, as well as its structure and influence of other countries around the world. â€Æ' Summary of Evidence Basic- †¢ Democracy literally means â€Å"people-power† †¢ 4th century BC o hundreds of Greek democracies spread over Greece o not a single political entity but a collection of 1,500 separate poleis or 'cities' around the Mediterranean and Black Sea o Those cities that were not democracies were oligarchies†¦ ï‚ § Where power was in the hands of the few richest citizens o Or monarchies †¢ Of the democracies, the oldest, most stable, was Athens Social Structure/Class- †¢ Households o Within the household there would be a land owner o Wife and children of the house owner would come next in the hierarchy o Paid servants o Slaves †¢ â€Å"The foundation of Athenian democracy was the deme , a sort of village ward.† o communities that gave members political identity †¢ The next level of structure was the tribe o 1... ...fornia: University of California Press, 2010. about:newtab. Saxonhouse, Arlene. Free Speech and Democracy in Ancient Athens. 1st ed. Cambrige, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sao Paulo: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Vermeer, Dura. â€Å"Structure and Agency in Modern Greek Education, Photograph.† Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost. Structure and Agency in Modern Greek Education. Accessed April 8, 2014. about:newtab. â€Å"Women’s Political Participation,† July 2013. http://www.iwdc.org/resources/fact_sheet.htm. â€Å"World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras - Athenian Democracy.† Accessed April 8, 2014. http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/586553?terms=Athenian+democracy. â€Å"World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras - Greek Citizenship.† Accessed April 8, 2014. http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/586950?terms=Greek+citizenship.

Essay --

The Pura Principle is one of the most interesting stories written by Junot Diaz. The narrator of the story is Yunior a character that Junot had used in earlier stories. The story is also full of potent language further makes it quite interesting to read. Analysis of the plot it is also evident that the story also flows nicely especially due to the presence of several interesting imagery. Upon reading the story one of the issues that come to the mind of every reader is the question of what was main theme that the writer of the story wanted to convey. In this essay I argue that the writer of the story mainly wanted to bring out theme of conflict that exits in the modern Americans family setting. This essay therefore presents a strong view that the story bring out theme of peace and conflict that every family is subjected to. Right of from the beginning of the story the author first tries to describe the conflict that existed between Yunior and his elder brother Rafa. The author states that Yunior started drinking while he was still in high school. Whenever Rafa came home he does not have time to talk to his brother since he mostly spends time partying and drinking with his friends. Rafa even goes a step further where he comes home with women despite the objection by his mother of bringing women home without her approval. Rafa assumes that whatever advice he is given by his mother he can ignore with no consequences since at times he even goes ahead to spend time with his old girlfriend knowing very well that she is married. In most families peace is assumed to exist whenever the family members are able to sit and enjoy time together. This type of peace is rarely seen in this story since in most cases no one seems to care what th... ...ossible to conclude that the author mainly wanted to show some of the conflicts that exist in the contemporary society. Family conflict is depicted in the story as inevitable but the critical issue is how one deals with such issues. Others can also argue that the story does not have a specific theme since it only consist of a plot and voice of Yunior who is the main character. Lack of specific theme is also related to the fact that the story seems to be too simple. The story can also be seen to lack any specific theme since the author of the story makes several grammatical mistakes in mixing Spanish language with English. In addition the author also incorporates several unprofessional languages in the story that further interfere with any plot of the story. The story can also be seen as to bring out feminist related issues where women are demonstrated as powerless.

Product Red Case Study Essay

Over the years, businesses have evolved to incorporate consumer views in their practices. As a result, consumer power has become an influential force that directs organizational strategies towards ethical practices. Based on the previously mentioned view, an evaluation of Product red’s strategy provides insight on its strengths, weaknesses, and improvements. Product Red Harvard Business School (2009) argues that numerous challenges face various nations. As a result, business organizations should utilize models that contribute to projects that reduce the scourge. Illustratively, the product red strategy inspired business organizations participate in the production and marketing of RED products with an aim of raising funds for AIDS in Africa. This innovative approach of engaging public and private entities in raising funds has enabled the global fund to fight diseases in Africa. Some of the diseases that the global fund targets include AIDs, tuberculosis, and malaria. According to Harvard Business School (2009), RED partners have managed to attract higher revenues since consumers associate the brands with ethical practices. Strategy Analysis Product red business has made significant gains in inspiring organizations to produce commodities whose revenues can be contributed to ethical activities. As a result, an evaluation of the model’s strengths and weaknesses reveals some improvements that should be made to enhance the model’s efficiency. Strengths of the RED Strategy Harrison (2005) argues that Product RED strategy increases the awareness of consumers and shareholders on the application of ethical practices in their organizations. As a result, consumers and shareholders utilize their influences to demand for social, political, and environmental  responsibility. Given the inadequacies in government policy and challenges in the allocation of funds, multinational organizations may place their emphasis on capitalistic goals thus introducing negative aspects to society. Illustratively, the Red strategy has the strength of inspiring partner organizations to protect and facilitate consumer rights. The above-mentioned strength has advanced the course of ethical consumerism thus enhancing social responsibility among entities. In contrast to the traditional charity model, the RED strategy portrays the company as an equal partner with its associates. The above-mentioned strength is confirmed by the increase in profit in organizations that have participated in RED’s activities (In Healey,2013).The innovative approach has encouraged partner organizations to devote their resources in the development of RED’s products, promote the concept of ethical practice in business and generating additional benefits that simultaneously benefit the needy in society. Additionally, the RED strategy enables organizations to produce ethical products at prices that match their non-ethical equivalents. The RED strategy has facilitated the production of cheap products thus reducing economic pressures on consumers. According to Harrison (2005), high prices associated with ethical commodities have been a hindrance to the adoption of ethical goods. Subsequently, the introduction of ethical commodities with prices equiva lent to that of non-ethical goods has enabled the RED strategy to attract the drifter and conventional groups of consumers In Healey (2013) contends that effective public relations are crucial in the adoption of ethical consumerism within a society. Subsequently, the RED strategy employs concepts of the public relations excellence-theory to develop a suitable communication loop between organizations and consumers. As a result, RED strategy develops a strength that is associated with enhanced co-orientation of messages between environmental, consumer and organizational systems. The above-mentioned strength enhances availability of information among consumers thus promoting ethical consumerism. Weaknesses of the RED Strategy The RED strategy has several strengths that have enhanced it adoption in several organizations. However, the strategy has weaknesses that limit its effectiveness hence an evaluation of each weak spot facilitates the development of suitable recommendations. Foremost, the RED strategy has the  weakness of not regulating organizations based on a set of sustainability standards and social wellness. As a result, RED company certifies organizations that participate in un-ethical practices. For instance, Red’s partner Foxconn received certification despite violating labor standards in its companies. These weaknesses have enabled unethical organizations to paint images of socially responsible entities thus covering their misdeeds. According to In Healey (2013), inadequate certification processes have led to â€Å"red washing† of entities. Secondly, lack of transparency in RED’s activities is a weakness that attracts numerous criticisms to the model. The aforementioned view is supported by market research findings that revealed mismatches between advertising investments and amounts raised for charity activities. Illustratively, market research reveals that RED company invested one hundred dollars in marketing and advertisement but generated eighteen million dollars for charity(In Healey, 2013).The lack of transparency attracts criticism on RED’s efficiency and credibility. This weakness may reduce RED’s influence in the long-run since its opponents hold the view that donating directly to the needy is more effective. Thirdly, the RED strategy has a sustainability related weakness due to the randomness and one-time purchase of RED products. Subsequently, the market based approach is af fected by lack of loyalty among consumers hence its ability to cater for ARV needs in Africa may be jeopardized. Improvements on the RED Strategy Several improvements can be made on product RED’s strategy to enhance its effectiveness. In the first case, Product Red should enhance its screening capabilities to ensure that its partners with organizations with good corporate-social responsibility histories. The aforementioned improvement will enable Product RED to enhance consumer trust thus enhancing sustainability it the company’s activities (Harvard Business School, 2009). In the second case, Product RED should enhance its access to financial reports from partner companies. Improved access to financial data will enhance transparency in associate companies since the right percentage is remitted to the global fund. In addition, Product RED should introduce channels that allow direct donations from individuals to affected individuals in Africa. This will increase revenues raised and reduce overhead costs associated with the transfer of funds (Harrison, 2005). In  the third instance, Product RED should collaborate companies that offer exceptional services on a daily basis. This will enable the entity to enhance consumer loyalty thus improving the sustainability RED projects. Additionally, Product RED should certify competitive and innovative partners to attract and retain consumers. This will promote sustainability the generation of funds. Conclusion Ethical consumerism has led to the introduction of innovative concepts in business organizations. One of the innovative models that was introduced by Product Red with an aim of supplementing government activities in the fight against AIDS is the MBS. The market-based system portrays strengths and weaknesses that determine the adoption of the model among business entities. Some of the weaknesses and strengths include reduction of the prices of ethical goods, increased corporate responsibility among entities, lack of transparency and inadequate screening of partner organizations. Conclusively, an evaluation of Product red’s strategy provides insight on its strengths, weaknesses, and improvements. Reference Harrison, R. (2005). The ethical consumer. London [u.a.: Sage. Harvard Business School. 2009. Product (Red) (A). HBS Case No. 9-509-013. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing In Healey, J. (2013). Ethical consumerism.

The Pearl Literary Essay

â€Å"But in the song there was a secret little inner song, hardly perceptible, but always there, sweet and secret and clinging, almost hiding in the counter-melody and this was the song of the pearl that might be, for every shell thrown in the basket might contain a pearl† (Steinbeck 17). This is something that might forever deceive us, because of its ‘sweet' counter-melody. This is the deception of money. It still happens today- people confuse money with power, because in some way, money can lead to power, and it's not always a good thing.Money is not the answer to everything, as it can serve to beguile people, confusing them between what they think they want, and what they really do want or need. In the book ‘The Pearl' by John Steinbeck, Kino became blinded by the outside sheen of the pearl. â€Å"The shell was partly open, for the overhang protected this ancient oyster, and in the lip-like muscle Kino saw a ghostly gleam, and then the shell closed down† (Steinbeck 18).This ‘ghostly gleam' is the power of the pearl, and it started to delude Kino little by little, starting from the point of where he had first seen the pearl to where it had cost him something very dear to him- his son, Coyotito. Kino originally saw the pearl as a practical method to improve his and his family's life, however later, he saw it only as a method of survival, and in the end, Coyotito dies because of this. Only at the end had Kino realized the power of the pearl, but this realization was of no help at the end, as everything was done. Money really is not everything, and in Kino's case, it had caused death.Take the lottery, for instance. Everyone wants to win the lottery- the chance to win it big and be rich, and not have to live tight and counting every single penny. If you hit the jackpot, you could simply live off the interest and not have to worry about a single thing. Now, applying this to ‘The Pearl,' Kino and Juana had basically nothing; t hey lived in a hut that had a dirt floor, and this hut could have been destroyed in one strong gust of wind. Their house would have been blown away, and then what? And it's not only them who live that way. Members of their entire community live just as Kino does, and they are just as content.Their village of La Paz was all pretty much dirt poor, and if even one of its members hit it big, it would represent a huge thing for their entire wellbeing. With the pearl, Kino saw not only wealth, but a healthy and prospering future, especially for Coyotito. It would have also been a big event for the entire village. The thing is, Kino only saw these things through the pearl. What does that mean? It means that he wasn't able to see a happy future for him and his family without the pearl. What does that mean? It means that without the pearl, they were still basically nothing. But Kino's face shone with prophecy. ‘My son will read and open the books, and my son will write and will know wr iting. And my son will make numbers, and these things will make us free because he will know– he will know and through him we will know'† (Steinbeck 26). ‘Through him we will know,' Kino says this, and when he says this, he means that only through Coyotito can they know. Doesn't that represent a LOT for them and the community? What if these things did not in fact come to pass? Then they would have to start over, and live with these times of incognizance playing over and over in their heads.There is a lot hanging on the pearl- it's either all or nothing. That's what the pearl seemed to represent, and in the end, they got nothing. Coyotito was a large part of their life, and what they wanted from the pearl had a lot to do with him. This time, they would have to start over without Coyotito. And also, this would especially hurt Kino. Even if nothing particularly dreadful came to pass, Kino would probably feel horrible about his ignorance and how he got his and his fam ily's hopes up- all for nothing. He would realize how the pearl had deluded him until this moment, and would live in embarrassment for the rest of his life. In the pearl he saw how they were dressed- Juana in a shawl stiff with newness and a new skirt, and from under the long skirt Kino could see that she wore shoes. It was in the pearl- the picture growing there. He himself was dressed in new white clothes, and he carried a new hat- not of straw but of fine black felt- and he too wore shoes- not sandals but shoes that laced. But Coyotito- he was the one- he wore a blue sailor suit from the United States and a little yachting cap such as Kino had seen once when a pleasure boat put into the estuary.All of these things Kino saw in the lucent pearl and he said, ‘We will have new clothes. ‘† (Steinbeck 24). These wishes are material wishes, wanting new clothes, and wanting to be married. To think, the first thing to want to do when you get rich is to get married and ge t new clothes. Doesn't that inform us, the reader, of Kino and Juana's current monetary situation? These things, wanting new clothes, wanting to get married, wanting their son to go to school.. these are all things that he would not be able to do without the pearl, and these are things that most likely all of their village people could not do.And then, near the end, Kino's instincts change rapidly from human like to animal like, living only on his instincts and guts. â€Å"Against the sky in the cave entrance Juana could see that Kino was taking off his white clothes, for dirty and ragged though they were they would show up against the dark night. His own brown skin was better protection for him† (Steinbeck 83). Camouflaging, not exactly something that we would all worry about on a daily basis. The fact that Kino takes what he wears into account against the enemy is something to think about, and it really shows how his instincts change.At this point, survival was the only thi ng he worried about. And lastly, Kino had not taken Juana's warning about the pearl earlier. Juana had seen through the pearl- it had not deceived her. â€Å"Evil faces peered from it into his eyes, and he saw the light of burning. And in the surface of the pearl he saw the frantic eyes of the man in the pool. And in the surface of the pearl he saw Coyotito lying in the little cave with the top of his head shot away. And the pearl was gly; it was gray like a malignant growth. And Kino heard the music of the pearl, distorted and insane† (Steinbeck 89).This shows that only at the end had he realized the actual appearance of the pearl. It had the power to enrich their lives and it also had the power to destroy what was important to them, and Kino had only seen the possible good outcomes of the pearl, and had hence been blinded. And by saying that he had been blinded does not mean that he had lost his sight; rather that everything else had gone over his head, or rather, in one ea r and out the other. He paid no heed to any possible bad outcomes with the pearl, and basically walked around with his eyes closed.We can all relate, but this is what the pearl had done to him, and realizing all of this at the end would not help. Coyotito had died, and there was nothing Kino could do to bring him or anything else back. His ignorance had cost him everything. The quote with which this essay had begun had basically summed up what Kino saw in this pearl- he saw a sweet outer and all of these wonderful prospects that could have come with the pearl, and also how he failed to see the potential risks. The pearl represented money and evil and greed and all of the things that people today still are oblivious to.Monetary troubles back then are still evident now, and Kino made a wrong turn that most, if not all of us had or will take some day. However, our mistakes might not cost so much as Kino's; in return for Kino's wrong turn, he lost his son, Coyotito, and instead gained a lifetime of guilt and regret. He himself changed, and not many of us would say that he changed for the better. In fact, no one can say if he changed for the worse, either. â€Å"And the music of the pearl drifted to a whisper and disappeared† (Steinbeck 90).

Enlightenment Philosophers Essay

John Locke (1632-1704) The British philosopher John Locke was especially known for his liberal, anti-authoritarian theory of the state[->0], his empirical theory of knowledge, his advocacy of religious toleration, and his theory of personal identity. In his own time, he was famous for arguing that the divine right of kings is supported neither by scripture nor by the use of reason. In developing his theory of our duty to obey the state, he attacked the idea that might makes right: Starting from an initial state of nature with no government, police or private property, we humans could discover by careful reasoning that there are natural laws[->1] which suggest that we have natural rights[->2] to our own persons and to our own labor. Eventually we could discover that we should create a social contract[->3] with others, and out of this contract emerges our political obligations and the institution of private. This is how reasoning places limits on the proper use of power by government authorities. Regarding epistemology[->4], Locke disagreed with Descartes[->5]‘ rationalist theory that knowledge is any idea that seems clear and distinct to us. Instead, Locke claimed that knowledge is direct awareness of facts concerning the agreement or disagreement among our ideas. By â€Å"ideas,† he meant mental objects, and by assuming that some of these mental objects represent non-mental objects he inferred that this is why we can have knowledge of a world external to our minds. Although we can know little for certain and must rely on probabilities[->6], he believed it is our God-given obligation to obtain knowledge and not always to acquire our beliefs by accepting the word of authorities[->7] or common superstition. Ideally our beliefs should be held firmly or tentatively depending on whether the evidence is strong or weak. He praised the scientific reasoning of Boyle and Newton as exemplifying this careful formation of beliefs. He said that at birth our mind has no innate ideas; it is blank, a tabula rasa. As our mind gains simple ideas from sensation, it forms complex ideas from these simple ideas by processes of combination, division, generalization and abstraction. Radical for his time, Locke asserted that in order to help children not develop bad habits of thinking, they should be trained to base their beliefs on sound evidence, to learn how to collect this evidence, and to believe less strongly when the evidence is weaker. We all can have knowledge of God[->8]‘s existence by attending to the quality of the evidence available to us, primarily the evidence from miracles[->9]. Our moral obligations, says Locke, are divine commands[->10]. We can learn about those obligations both by God’s revealing them to us and by our natural capacities to discover natural laws. He hoped to find a deductive system[->11] of ethics in analogy to our deductive system of truths of geometry. Regarding personal identity[->12], Locke provided an original argument that our being the same person from one time to another consists neither in our having the same soul nor the same body, but rather the same consciousness. Thomas Hobbes (1588 -1679): Moral and Political Philosophy The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes is best known for his political thought, and deservedly so. His vision of the world is strikingly original and still relevant to contemporary politics. His main concern is the problem of social and political order: how human beings can live together in peace and avoid the danger and fear of civil conflict. He poses stark alternatives: we should give our obedience to an unaccountable sovereign (a person or group empowered to decide every social and political issue). Otherwise what awaits us is a â€Å"state of nature† that closely resembles civil war – a situation of universal insecurity, where all have reason to fear violent death and where rewarding human cooperation is all but impossible. His most famous work is Leviathan, a classic of English prose (1651; a slightly altered Latin edition appeared in 1668). Leviathan expands on the argument of De Cive, mostly in terms of its huge second half that deals with questions of religion. One controversy has dominated interpretations of Hobbes. Does he see human beings as purely self-interested or egoistic[->13]? Several passages support such a reading, leading some to think that his political conclusions can be avoided if we adopt a more realistic picture of human nature. However, most scholars now accept that Hobbes himself had a much more complex view of human motivation. A major theme below will be why the problems he poses cannot be avoided simply by taking a less â€Å"selfish† view of human nature. Hobbes’s moral thought is difficult to disentangle from his politics. On his view, what we ought to do depends greatly on the situation in which we find ourselves. Where political authority is lacking (as in his famous natural condition of mankind[->14]), our fundamental right seems to be to save our skins, by whatever means we think fit. Where political authority exists, our duty seems to be quite straightforward: to obey those in power. But we can usefully separate the ethics from the politics if we follow Hobbes’s own division. For him ethics is concerned with human nature, while political philosophy deals with what happens when human beings interact. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712—1778) Jean-Jacques Rousseau was one of the most influential thinkers during the Enlightenment in eighteenth century Europe. His first major philosophical work, A Discourse on the Sciences and Arts, was the winning response to an essay contest conducted by the Academy of Dijon in 1750. In this work, Rousseau argues that the progression of the sciences and arts has caused the corruption of virtue and morality. This discourse won Rousseau fame and recognition, and it laid much of the philosophical groundwork for a second, longer work, The Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. The second discourse did not win the Academy’s prize, but like the first, it was widely read and further solidified Rousseau’s place as a significant intellectual figure. The central claim of the work is that human beings are basically good by nature, but were corrupted by the complex historical events that resulted in present day civil society. Rousseau’s praise of nature is a theme that continues throughout his later works as well, the most significant of which include his comprehensive work on the philosophy of education, the Emile, and his major work on political philosophy, The Social Contract: both published in 1762. These works caused great controversy in France and were immediately banned by Paris authorities. Rousseau fled France and settled in Switzerland, but he continued to find difficulties with authorities and quarrel with friends. The end of Rousseau’s life was marked in large part by his growing paranoia and his continued attempts to justify his life and his work. This is especially evident in his later books, The Confessions, The Reveries of the Solitary Walker, and Rousseau: Judge of Jean-Jacques. Rousseau greatly influenced Immanuel Kant’s work on ethics. His novel Julie or the New Heloise impacted the late eighteenth century’s Romantic Naturalism movement, and his political ide als were championed by leaders of the French Revolution. The Social Contract is, like the Discourse on Political Economy, a work that is more philosophically constructive than either of the first two Discourses. Furthermore, the language used in the first and second Discourses is crafted in such a way as to make them appealing to the public, whereas the tone of the Social Contract is not nearly as eloquent and romantic. Another more obvious difference is that the Social Contract was not nearly as well-received; it was immediately banned by Paris authorities. And although the first two Discourses were, at the time of their publication, very popular, they are not philosophically systematic. The Social Contract, by contrast, is quite systematic and outlines how a government could exist in such a way that it protects the equality and character of its citizens. But although Rousseau’s project is different in scope in the Social Contract than it was in the first two Discourses, it would be a mistake to say that there is no philosophical c onnection between them. For the earlier works discuss the problems in civil society as well as the historical progression that has led to them. The Discourse on the Sciences and Arts claims that society has become such that no emphasis is put on the importance of virtue and morality. The Discourse on the Origin of Inequality traces the history of human beings from the pure state of nature through the institution of a specious social contract that results in present day civil society. The Social Contract does not deny any of these criticisms. In fact, chapter one begins with one of Rousseau’s most famous quotes, which echoes the claims of his earlier works: â€Å"Man was/is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.† (Social Contract, Vol. IV, p. 131). But unlike the first two Discourses, the Social Contract looks forward, and explores the potential for moving from the specious social contract to a legitimate one. Voltaire (1694-1778) Voltaire (real name Franà §ois-Marie Arouet) (1694 – 1778) was a French philosopher and writer of the Age of Enlightenment[->15]. His intelligence, wit and style made him one of France’s greatest writers and philosophers, despite the controversy he attracted. He was an outspoken supporter of social reform (including the defense of civil liberties, freedom of religion and free trade), despite the strict censorship laws and harsh penalties of the period, and made use of his satirical works to criticize Catholic dogma and the French institutions of his day. Along with John Locke[->16], Thomas Hobbes[->17] and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, his works and ideas influenced important thinkers of both the American and French Revolutions. He was a prolific writer, and produced works in almost every literary form (plays, poetry, novels, essays, historical and scientific works, over 21,000 letters and over two thousand books and pamphlets). As his best-known work, Candideis a satirical examination on numerous themes like religion, philosophy, and government, written in the mordant wit and skepticism that Voltaire employs in so many of his works. Translated to numerous languages and adapted to the stage and screen, Voltaire’s opus continues to be widely read over two centuries later. Voltaire certainly gained enough real life experience to garner a cynical attitude towards established dogmatic institutions that repressed the individual during his lifetime. Why does so much evil exist, seeing that everything is formed by a God whom all theists are agreed in naming â€Å"good?† (â€Å"Why?† Philosophical Dictionary, 1764). In his later years Voltaire championed the rights of victims of religious, cultural, and political persecution, sharing many of the same views as Jean Jacques Rousseau[->18] (1712-1778) Charles- de Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)Montesquieu was a French[->19] social commentator and political thinker[->20] who lived during the Enlightenment[->21]. He is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers[->22], taken for granted in modern discussions of government[->23] and implemented in many constitutions[->24] throughout the world. Montesquieu’s most influential work divided French society into three classes (or trias politica, a term he coined): the monarchy[->25], the aristocracy[->26], and the commons[->27]. Montesquieu saw two types of governmental power existing: the sovereign[->28] and the administrative. The administrative powers were the executive[->29], the legislative[->30], and the judicial[->31]. These should be separate from and dependent upon each other so that the influence of any one power would not be able to exceed that of the other two, either singly or in combination. This was a radical idea because it completely eliminated the three Estates[->32] structure of the French Monarchy: the clergy[->33], the aristocracy, and the people at large represented by the Estates-General[->34], thereby erasing the last vestige of a feudalistic[->35] structure.Likewise, there were three main forms of government, each supported by a social â€Å"principle†: monarchies[->36] (free governments headed by a hereditary figure, e.g. king, queen, emperor), which rely on the principle of honor; republics[->37] (free governments headed by popularly elected leaders), which rely on the principle of virtue; and despotisms[->38] (enslaved governments headed by dictators[->39]), which rely on fear. The free governments are dependent on fragile constitutional arrangements. Montesquieu devotes four chapters of The Spirit of the Laws to a discussion of England, a contemporary free government, where liberty was sustained by a balance of powers. Montesquieu worried that in France the intermediate powers (i.e., the nobility) which moderated the power of the prince were being eroded. These ideas of the control of power were often used in the thinking of Maximilien de Robespierre[->40].Montesquieu was somewhat ahead of his time in advocating major reform of slavery in The Spirit of the Laws[->41]. As part of his advocacy he presented a satirical hypothetical list of arguments for slavery[->42], which has been open to contextomy[->43]. However, like many of his generation, Montesquieu also held a number of views that might today be judged controversial. He firmly accepted the role of a hereditary aristocracy and the value of primogeniture[->44], and while he endorsed the idea that a woman could head a state, he held that she could not be effective as the head of a family.|| Thomas Jefferson (1741-1826) Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia in 1743 and died on July 4, 1826, t the same day as John[->45] Adams, his life long associate and friend. Their e relationship illustrates the dichotomy that was Thomas Jefferson. He a was the author of the Declaration of Independence, a Secretary of State, a an envoy to France, the third president of the United States, a founder of t the Democratic-Republican party, the anti-federalists party. Baron Charles de Montesquieu’s views on the separation of powers, and t the protection for the rights of the citizenry influenced Jefferson. He believed in the virtues of â€Å"checks and balances† in the formation of the national government, its secured rights and protection for the people. While his views of humanity were more idealistic than those of Madison, they were in agreement for different reasons, for controlling a strong central government. Jefferson, however, opted more for states rights as a means of protection for America’s citizen, an attitude that exemplified his anti-Federalist views. His political thinking was in some respects Newtonian, and he saw social systems as analogous to physical systems. Under this philosophy, love takes the place in the social world that gravity does in the physical world, so that all people are naturally attracted to each other, and it is dependence that corrupts this attraction and results in political problems. Wood argues that, though the phrase â€Å"all men are created equal† was a clichà © in the late 18th century, Jefferson took it further than most. Jefferson held that not only are all men created equal, but they remain equal throughout their lives, equally capable of this attractive love, and that it is their level of dependence that make them unequal in practice. Thus, removing all this corrupting dependence would make all men equal in practice. Thus, Jefferson idealized a future relatively devoid of dependence, in particular those caused by banking or royal influences. Jefferson’s concepts of democracy were rooted in The Enlightenment[->46]. He envisioned democracy an expression of society as a whole, calling for national self-determination, cultural uniformity, and based upon the education of the all the people. The emphasis on uniformity allowed no opportunity for a multiracial republic in which some groups were not fully assimilated into the identical republican values William Blackstone (1723-1780) Blackstone was the great Eighteenth Century English legal scholar whose philosophy and writings were infused with Judeo-Christian principles. The Ten Commandments are at the heart of Blackstone’s philosophy. Blackstone taught that man is created by God and granted fundamental rights by God. Man’s law must be based on God’s law. Our Founding Fathers referred to Blackstone more than to any other English or American authority. Blackstone’s great work, Commentaries on the Laws of England, was basic to the U. S. Constitution. This work has sold more copies in America than in England and was a basic textbook of America’s early lawyers. It was only in the mid-Twentieth Century that American law, being re-written by the U. S. Supreme Court, repudiated Blackstone. An attack on Blackstone is an attack on the U. S. Constitution and our nation’s Judeo-Christian foundations. Blackstone’s Commentaries draws on standard authorities from Bracton onwar d, especially Matthew Hale’s Analysis of the Law, but it is far more accessible. Book I, â€Å"Rights of Persons,† deals with government, church, corporations, and individuals; Book II, â€Å"Rights of Things,† with property, especially land; Book III, â€Å"Private Wrongs,† with torts; and Book IV, â€Å"Public Wrongs,† with crime and punishment. An immediate success—contemporary readers included George III, Burke, Edmund[->47], Charles James Fox, and legions of lawyers and laymen—it went through eight British editions in his lifetime and fifteen more by 1854, as well as numerous abridgements. The standard legal textbook for a century, it helped establish law as a university subject. The first of many American editions appeared in 1771-72, and it was translated into French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. Though outdated in some particulars, Blackstone remains widely read. Though systematic and thorough, Blackstone was conservative and provincial. He argued that the king could do no wrong, though he regarded parliament as essential and endorsed the separation of powers. He was convinced of the superiority of English common law, though his knowledge of civil law was limited (what he knew came from Burlamaqui, Jean-Jacques[->48], Grotius, Montesquieu, Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de[->49], and Pufendorf). His constitutional theory drew upon John Locke and Montesquieu, but he was not an Enlightenment creature. He had numerous critics: Priestley, Joseph[->50] objected to his comments on religious dissenters and most famously, Bentham, Jeremy[->51] denounced his views on the sovereignty of government, as did John Austin later. Other critics included Boswell, James[->52], Gibbon, Edward[->53], and Johnson, Samuel[->54].

JetBlue †Start from Scratch

One of JetBlue’s top priorities is its workforce. Managing this sector of the company is very essential in order for them to achieve their goals. Human resource management is responsible for how people are treated in organizations. It is accountable for bringing people into the organization, guiding them perform their work, compensating them for their labors, and solving problems that arise. There are seven management functions of a human resources (HR) department these are staffing, performance appraisals, compensation and benefits, training and development, employee and labor relations, safety and health, and human resource research. Equal Employment Opportunity Laws Employment law is a broad area encompassing all areas of the employer/employee relationship except the negotiation process covered by labor law and collective bargaining. Employment law is governed by thousands of federal and state statutes, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions. Some of the topics included in employment law include: †¢ Collective Bargaining †¢ Employment Discrimination †¢ Unemployment Compensation †¢ Pensions †¢ Workplace Safety †¢ Worker's Compensation (US Legal Definitions) The hiring practices of JetBlue shows their compliance to the following equal employment opportunity laws: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Second the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA), which protects men and women who perform substantially equal work in the same establishment from sex-based wage discrimination. Third is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibited employers from discriminating against individuals who were 40 to 65 years old. As the paper progresses, it can be determined how these laws impact the hiring practices of JetBlue. Recruitment Recruitment is the process of attracting individuals on a timely basis, in sufficient number, and with appropriate qualification, to apply for jobs with an organization. (Mondy, 2008, p. 126) Both the job description and the job specification are useful tools for the staffing process, someone or some event within the organization usually concludes a need to hire a new employee. In large organizations, an employee requisition must be submitted to the HR department that specifies the job title, the department, and the date the employee is needed. From that point, the job description can be referenced for specific job associated qualifications to present more detail when advertising the position either internally, externally, or both the HR department should not only attract qualified applicants through job postings or other forms of advertising, but it also assists in selecting candidates' resumes and bringing those with the proper qualifications in for an interview. The final decision in choosing the candidate will probably be the line manager's, assuming all Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requirements are met. Other continuing staffing responsibilities entail planning for new or changing positions and evaluating current job analyses and job descriptions to ensure that they accurately reflect the current position. Internal Recruitment Human-resource planning is the first step in effective human-resource management as it involves forecasting the human-resource needs of the organization and planning certain useful and important steps that the organization must take in order to meet those human resource needs that will contribute a high percentage for its overall success as human-resource planning should be connected to the organization’s strategic objectives and mission. (Butensky and Harari, 1983) Anne Rhoades, Executive Vice President for People of JetBlue, started her portion of the orientation program by describing the three things that she believed all employees had to do if they were to be successful with JetBlue: 1. They had to show up and be production 2. They had to be safe, which meant no alcohol or drugs 3. They had to be customer-oriented. Anne Rhoades, also developed a customized human resource management approach that adapted jobs pay and benefit packages to distinct needs of different employee groups, but was deliberated to guarantee overall equity in treatment. Some employee groups were concerned about current compensation while others worried about retirement. Employees will not receive the same package. In Rhoades’ view, conventional HR departments often do what makes their lives easier, not what the employees necessarily want. The objective at JetBlue was to provide customized pay and benefit packages that met or exceeded the industry standard. There are no probationary periods because benefits started from day one, which Rhoades found probationary period associated with unions because it is actually demeaning for the employees. Benefits for full time employees included medical benefits and personal time off relatively than the conventional holidays with double pay for those who worked on the holidays. These customized employment packages gave JetBlue the able to attract and keep good employees and became JetBlue Internal recruitment. Happy employee would tell others in the industry. An example of the can be seen in the internal recruitment of pilots, because JetBlue cover the cost of the seven weeks of pilot training for qualification on the A320 airbus at a cost of roughly $30,000, by word of mouth this traveled to other pilot in the industry, and there would apply of the position at JetBlue (Gittle & O’Rielly 2001) External Recruitment In the beginning David Neeleman, the founder of JetBlue, recruited his management team from the veterans of the industry who were looking for a chance to start from scratch and â€Å"do it right†. His record of success in the industry and the funding he had, able Neeleman to recruit some of the industry’s top management talent, namely Ann Rhoades, JetBlue executive vice president of human resources. Most of their job vacancies are filled by recruiting people from outside the company or those workers from another firm or organization, people who have never worked before, or people who are unemployed. The reservation agents were recruited from ads in the Salt Lake City Newspaper. From the ad in the Salt Lake City Newspaper JetBlue has a waiting list of 2,500 interested applicants. In order to attract potential employees outside the company, the customized employment packages Personnel Selection In an interview with a mechanic, he was asked to think of a time that â€Å"integrity† was an issue in his previous employment, he answered as a junior mechanic that he got a plum job at major airline, he was pressured to confirm an aircraft for an international flight, even though it was not in complete compliance. He then declined to â€Å"sign-off† on the airplane and the flight was delayed, which caused annoyance to the management. The mechanic was afterward let go and that reflects the displeasure of his superiors, but he was hired by JetBlue despite of the story, because he was able to prove that he manifested the value of integrity. At another interview scenario, wherein a pilot was asked to talked about a time he or she had a customer request which is in conflict with the policies of the company and what actions he/she had taken, but with an answer that reflects arrogance, the potential hiring of the pilot was refused, mainly because JetBlue is not only looking for skills but a great deal for character and attitude. Performance Appraisal Another function of the human resource management comes in when a talented employee is brought into an organization and it is creating an environment that will motivate and reward commendable performance. One way to evaluate performance is through a formal review on a periodic basis, generally annually, known as a performance appraisal or performance evaluation. Line managers are usually the ones who conduct the appraisals because line managers are in daily contact with the employees and can best measure performance. Other evaluators of the employee's performance can include subordinates, peers, group, and self, or a combination of one or more (Mondy and Noe, 2008 p. 250). To influence employees' performance, they should be aware of how and why the company exists and to know the company's aspirations. The employees should show-up and be productive, they had to be safe, meaning they should not be under the influence of neither alcohol nor drugs and they should also be customer-related and as the company grow, they should have more formal trainings and development processes for the employees. Employee attitudes are the final factor that determines productivity and may well have the strongest effect on the productivity of the organization. Because employees are the means by which the organization's goals are attained, they compel a company's success or failure. Employees' abilities and motivation are as important as their educational levels. To some degree, workers' efficiency is also accustomed by their political, social, personal, and religious beliefs, factors which can be deepened either positively or negatively by management practices and policies. 360-Degree Feedback. Methods of performance appraisal that involves evaluation input from multiple levels within the firm as well as external sources. Multiple raters makes the process more legally defensible. (Mondy, 2008, p. 253) Moving away from traditional feedback system where only a single manager or supervisor evaluates an individual based on their overall perspective of performance, and instead seeks input on specific competencies from several people who have a working relationship with the individual being assessed; JetBlue makes use of the 360-degree feedback evaluation as a performance appraisal method. This method provides objective, well-rounded views, expressed by a number of colleagues, Increases involvement of people at all levels of the organization, direct reports and peers, rather than managers/supervisors are better to judge some skills, such as leadership, increases understanding of the behaviors required to improve both individual and organizational effectiveness, individuals can better manage their own performance and careers, evaluators are able to respond confidentially and anonymously, feedback can provide organizational value, allowing the company to identify needs and set goals for organizational development and internal training. JetBlue being sensitive to communication within the firm, adopts the 360-degree feedback evaluation, the management ensures having ‘one-on-one' conversations at least once a quarter in their 20 locations. The supervisor is considered to be an important component of communicating with the front-line, from this view, JetBlue formed the Tiger Teams which would initiate communication to solve problems that a raised in any area of the company. They referred their employees as â€Å"crew member† and the supervisors as â€Å"coaches† being sensitive to the power of language. JetBlue is able to unite its people as a team, wherein everyone communicates and participates to solve a problem, instead of blaming someone and not doing anything at all, from this point, JetBlue will be able to assess which employees are proactive and receptive when it comes to problem solving, they can measure the employees’ aptitude in order to determine who deserves appraisal on their work performance. Financial Compensation Financial compensation for employees can be determined by having high consideration to the following factors: productivity associated with employee performance, employees’ flexibility in responding to company’s internal and external changes, and the level of their organizational competencies and on their perceived value at a particular given time. These three factors can be effective use in the performance appraisal as these set the criteria in evaluating the employees. Compensation can be a catch-22 because an employee's performance can be subjective by compensation and benefits, and vice versa. In the ideal circumstances, employees feel they are paid what they are worth, are rewarded with sufficient benefits, and receive some intrinsic satisfaction. Compensation should be legal and ethical, adequate, motivating, fair and equitable, cost-effective, and able to grant employment security (Mondy, 2008, p 314). Discretionary Employee Benefits The law requires some benefits, but organizations voluntarily provide numerous other benefits such as: Paid Vacation There are no U. S. laws that require employers to offer vacation pay. Whether an employer offers vacation time off with or without pay is strictly voluntary for employers, but many offer it as a benefit to attract and keep employees. If employers do offer vacation pay, the terms regarding an employee's rights to it is governed by the individual employer's policies or employment contracts. Some states have laws requiring an employer to offer any accrued vacation pay when employment ends. However, failure to follow an employer's guidelines regarding termination of employment, such as giving notice, may deny the employee's right to accrued vacation pay. (us legal definition) Sick Pay and personal days Sick leave and personal days are a form of employment benefit in the form of paid time off for illness or to deal with a personal/private matter. Since nearly everyone occasionally needs such time off, all businesses should have a clear policy established regarding sick leave and personal days. A sick day is fairly self-explanatory and can be used for everything from a common cold to a more serious illness that could require hospitalization or even surgery. Personal days can cover things like the illness of a child, a death in the family, jury duty, military obligations, or religious holidays. Most companies also allow vacation time for employees in addition to their set amount of sick leave and personal days. (US legal definition) Education Assistance Educational Assistance is employment benefit in form of reimbursement of Educational courses tuition and/or books that are completed with a grade of â€Å"C† or above. (Mondy, 2008, p 326) JetBlue Discretionary Benefits. JetBlue offers different compensations; along with it are the benefits which include medical coverage, holiday pays, pay for extra working hours without any limitation from any company probations. For JetBlue to craft an esprit de corps that was fun for crew members and customers. This means staying focused on people and keeping the company union free. Anne Rhoades agreed, highlighting that a team environment depends on not having big distinctions between the line and management and work rules. The most important element in managing the company’s human resource is caring. JetBlue wants to care about their people from end to end. It is real and not just pretending. It does not mean there need to stay forever, and it does not mean to give equal training to all. The workforce is the organization's greatest assets; without them, everyday business functions such as managing cash flow, making business transactions, communicating through all forms of media, and dealing with customers could not be completed. The employees and the potential they possess drive an organization. Today's organizations are constantly changing. Organizational change impacts not only the business but also its employees. In order to maximize organizational efficiency, human potential individuals' capabilities, time, and talents must be managed. Human resource management works to ensure that employees are able to meet the organization's goals. JetBlue makes use of a very unique way of managing their human resource. They are indeed unconventional and exceptional in hiring and compensating employees. It is evident enough to conclude that their human resource management is indeed effective and efficient because within less than 10 years of existing in the airline industry, they were able to make a name, because of their success and they are able to have sustained growth along the years all because of having a productive environment for their well-motivated employees. It is also clearly evident that JetBlue is socially responsible when it comes to hiring people, because they are able to provide equal employment opportunities for diverse groups of employees, ranging from those who want short term to long term employment, from students, to graduates and to those who are working home-based who may want to have extra income for their households, JetBlue offers excellent compensations and benefits.