Enron Ethics Essay

This article tries to show how the company’s culture had profound effects on the ethics of its employee? And particularly in this case: how did Enron lose both its economical and ethical status? This question makes the Enron case interesting to us as business ethicists. Enron ethics means that business ethics is a question of organizational â€Å"deep† culture rather than of cultural artifacts like ethics codes, ethics officers and the like. BackgroundAt the beginning Enron faced a number of financially difficulty years. In 1988, the deregulation of the electrical power market took effect and Enron redefined its business to energy broker and got a thriving company. The company became a â€Å"matchmaker† in the power industry, bringing buyers and sellers together. Enron embraced a culture that rewarded â€Å"cleverness†. Pushing the limits was considered a survival skill; the motto of the CEO Jeffry Skilling was â€Å"Do it right, do it now and do it better†. This culture admires innovation and unchecked ambition and publicly punishes poor performance can produce big return in the short term. However, in the long run, achieving additional value by constantly â€Å"upping the ante† becomes harder and harder. A lot of smoke and mirrorsWith Enron’s spectacular success, the business community rewarded Enron for its cleverness and Enron’s executives felt driven by this reputation to sustain the explosive growth of the late 1990s, even when they logically knew that it was not possible. In order to indicate that the company was not as successful as it appeared, Enron entered into a deceiving web of partnerships and employed increasingly questionable accounting methods to maintain its investment-grade status. PartnershipsTo push the value envelope, Enron created â€Å"special purpose vehicles† (SPV), pseudo-partnerships that allowed the company to sell assets and â€Å"create† earnings that artificially enhanced its bottom line. Enron exaggerated earnings by recognizing gains on the sale of assets to SPVs. An example is the partnership with Blockbuster which was intended to provide movies to homes directly over phones lines. In this case Enron recorded $ 110.9 million in profits prematurely, even if these profits were never realized as the partnership after only a 1,000-home pilot. Therefore booking  earnings before they are realized were rather â€Å"early† than wrong. The culture at Enron was quickly eroding the ethical boundaries of its employees. Keeping debt off the balance sheetTo avoid that a highly leveraged balance sheet would threaten its credit rating, Enron parked some of its debt on the balance sheet of its SPVs and kept hidden from analysts and investors. This can be read as another example of ethical erosion, but Enron’s decision makers saw the shuffling of debt rather as a timing issue and not as an ethical one. Partnerships at â€Å"arm’s length†Enron enlisted help from its outside accountants and its attorneys to guarantee that the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) did not consider its partnerships as Enron subsidiaries. Enron crafted relationships that looked (legally) like partnerships, although they were (in practice) subsidiaries. A closer look at the partnerships would have revealed that the outside investments came from companies that were owned by Enron. Conflicts of interestEnron officials obviously had close ties with its partnerships. For example, the CFO war partial owner of two of the most important partnerships. The culture of cleverness at Enron started as a pursuit of excellence that devolved into the appearance of excellence as executives worked to develop clever ways of preserving Enron’s infallible faà §ade of success; for the good of the company, Enron’s executives also began to bend the rules for personal again. Once a culture’s ethical boundaries are breached thresholds of more extreme ethical compromises become lower. The self-reinforcing decline of EnronThe sum of incremental ethical transgressions produced the business catastrophe. As partnerships began to fail with increasing regularity, Enron was liable for millions of dollars it had not anticipated losing. The financial implosionThe partnerships that once boosted earnings and allowed Enron to prosper became the misplaced card that caused the Enron  house to collapse. The very results Enron had sought to prevent – falling stock prices, lack of consumer and financial market confidence – came about as a direct result of decisions that had been driven by Enron’s culture. The Enron case of ethical failure consists of more than a series of questionable business dealings. Enron employees, who had been encouraged to invest heavily in the company, found themselves unable to remove and salvage their investments. The company culture of individualism, innovation, and aggressive cleverness left Enron without compassionate, responsible leadership. Leadership mechanisms and organizational culture at EnronLeadership is the critical component of the organization’s culture because leaders can create, reinforce or change the organization’s culture. According to Schein (1985) there are five primary mechanisms that a leader can use to influence an organization’s culture: attention, reaction to crises, role modelling, allocation of rewards, criteria of selection and dismissal. AttentionIf the leaders of the organizations focus on the bottom line, employees believe that financial success is the leading value to consider. Enron executives’ attention was clearly focused on profits, power, greed and influence; â€Å"Profits at all costs†. As Stern has suggested, if the organization’s leaders seem to care only about the short-term bottom line, employees quickly get the message too. Reaction to crisesSchein asserts, that a crisis tests what the leader values and brings these values to the surface. With each impending crisis, leaders have an opportunity to communicate throughout the organization what the company’s values are. Enron was facing a crisis of how to sustain a phenomenal growth rate. Leaders reacted by defending a culture that valued profitability, even when it was at the expense of everything else. The mantra at Enron seems to be that ethical wrongdoing is to be hidden at any cost; deny, play the dupe, claim ignorance, lie, quit. It appears that the truth and its consequences have been a part of the Enron culture. Role modeling (how leaders behave)Actions speak louder than words –  therefore- modeling behaviour is a very powerful tool that leaders have to develop and influence corporate culture. Employees observe the behaviour of leaders to find out what is valued in the organization. Perhaps, this was the most significant shortcoming of Enron executives. Enron’s leaders’ primary message about their values was sent through their own actions. They broke the law as they concentrated on financial measures and used of the creative partnerships. It also sent a message to employees that full and complete disclosure is not a requirement, or even recommended. If the company achieved short-term benefits by hiding information, it was acceptable. The leadership of Enron almost certainly dictated the company’s outcome through their own actions by providing perfect conditions for unethical behaviour. Just as the destiny of individuals is determined by personal character, the destiny of an organization is determined by the character of its leadership. Allocation of rewardsThe behaviour of people rewarded with pay increases or promotions signals to others what is necessary to succeed in an organization. To ensure that values are accepted, leaders should reward behaviour that is consistent with the values. Enron’s reward system established a â€Å"win-at-all-costs† focus. The company’s leadership promoted ant retained only those employees that produced consistently, with little regard to ethics. â€Å"The moral of this story is break the rule, you can cheat, you can lie, but as long as you make money, it’s all right†. The company’s compensation structure contributed to an unethical work culture, too – by promoting self-interest above any other interest. Enron’s reward system rewarded individuals who embraced Enron’s aggressive, individualistic culture and were based on short-term profits and financial measures. Criteria of selection and dismissal (how leaders hire end fire employees)The selection of newcomers to an organization is a powerful way of how a leader reinforces culture. Leaders often unconsciously look for individuals who are similar to current organizational members in terms of values and assumptions. This tends to perpetuate the culture because the new employees typically hold similar values. The CIO of Enron (Skilling) perpetuated a focus on short-term transactional endeavours from the very beginning by  hiring employees that embodied the beliefs that he was trying to instil: aggressiveness, greed, a will to win at all costs, and an appreciation for circumventing the rules. The way a company fires an employee and the rationale behind the firing also communicate the culture. Some company deal with poor performers by trying to find them a place within the organization where they can perform better and make a contribution. At Enron, fifteen to twenty percent of producers were let go or fired after a formal evaluation process each year. Final comments and suggestions for future work†Consequences of unethical or illegal actions are not usually realized until much later when the act is committed†. Enron’s culture is a good example of groupthink where individuals feel extreme pressure not to express any real strong arguments against any co-workers’ action. Employee were loyal in an ambiguous sense of the term, they wanted to be seen as part of the star team and to partake in the benefits that that honor entailed. Two of the most important lessons to learn from the Enron culture history is that bad top management morality can be a sufficient condition for creating a self-destructive ethical climate and that a well-filled CSR (corporate social responsibility) and business ethics toolbox can neither stop nor compensate for such processes. Enron is a case of deceiving corporate citizenship and of surface or faà §ade ethics. A typology with moral cultures can be draft with two dimensions: ethicalness of an organization culture and presence of business ethical tools of artifacts (ethics officers, codes of ethics, value statement). Enron looks at first sight like â€Å"type I†, like a classical business ethics case, with a typical mix of â€Å"amorality† and â€Å"immorality†. But the thesis of the authors is that Enron is an at least as good illustration of â€Å"type II†, of window-dressing ethics, with talking instead of walking, ethics as rhetoric. While â€Å"type II† looks modern, â€Å"type III† looks like the old-fashioned type of moral business ethics, CSR, marketing and public relations were invented with collective moral conscience as consistent label and content, perhaps additionally communicating moral humbleness, with a  touch of British understatement. â€Å"Type IV† refers to a moral role business culture in the age of marketing and public relations, with walking the talk, with showing and confessing openly its collective moral conscience. Bibliography: http://www.springerlink.com/content/p712j1555807774r/ Enron Ethics (Or: Culture Matters More than Codes) – Ronald R. Sims, Johannes Brinkmann

“Optimal Versus Naive Diversification: How Inefficient Is the 1/N Portfolio Strategy” †a Critique

â€Å"Optimal Versus Naive Diversification: How Inefficient Is The 1/N Portfolio Strategy† – A Critique Title: The title of the paper â€Å"Optimal Versus Naive Diversification: How Inefficient Is The 1/N Portfolio Strategy† has been reasonably well phrased.However, it can be argued that the title is a little misleading as the principal objective of the paper is to test how efficient different optimal diversification strategies are using the 1/N portfolio strategy as the benchmark and not to try and elucidate the merits of the 1/N strategy, which the authors are certainly neither advocating for practical purposes nor seemingly seeking to foster greater intellectual attention on the simplistic strategy. The title could have simply been â€Å"How Efficient Really Are Today’s ‘Optimal’ Diversification Strategies? But, care has to be taken before coming to the above conclusion that the authors might have appreciably so, intentionally used the tit le they have in order to attract further attention to their paper by stressing the obvious irony and possible iconoclasm in their conclusions. Abstract: The abstract has been very well written. It captures the essence of the study and conveys the crux of it lucidly to the reader. However, it would have augured better to start the abstract by stating the objective of the study in addition to it being mentioned in the text of the article just as the authors have.That way, the abstract would have had greater clarity. Motivation: The inherent motivation behind the study is laudable and the implied motivation derived from the conclusion is obvious. However, the motivation itself has unfortunately not been sufficiently expressed. Apart from a one-sentence objective, nothing else has been explicitly written about why the study was undertaken. There is one other sentence, which could be construed as the motivation. But, the authors themselves have not given the sentence the same attribute. The sentence itself is a reference to a revious study that found that many investors used the 1/N diversification strategy ignoring several other sophisticated theoretical models and is stated to only justify their usage of the 1/N diversification strategy as the benchmark. It could have been elaborated upon with additional related facts and further evidence supported by literature. Also, a separate paragraph with a heading called â€Å"Motivation† would be desirable to the readers. Introduction: The topic covered by the article has been adequately introduced. The brief description of the various asset allocation models and how they are related to each other is commendable.The introduction has also carefully introduced the methodology, the observations and the results and the conclusions in a logical and concise manner such that readers might understand the study by just reading this part. However, the literature on the Bayesian and non-Bayesian approaches has only been brief ly mentioned in one paragraph. Considering how significant the contribution of the stated articles to the current study might be, it would have only been fitting to include a section called ‘Literature Review’ elaborating on them substantially more than the authors have.That way, they could have been able to make a clearer connection on how the previous studies relate to the motivation and methodology of their study. However, it should be noted that word limits might have been a constraint. In addition, the introduction must be a definite section that is called ‘Introduction’. Methodology: The authors have adopted a robust methodology to evaluate the performance of the diversification strategies discussed. They have been explained in great detail with sufficient appendices in an easily understandable format.There is not much scope for improvement in the methodology and the authors must be greatly appreciated for it. Data: The data has been obtained from hig hly reliable sources, thereby implying that there is hardly any margin for error in the data. No bias or subjectivity is evident. The data has been properly classified and well presented. Results: With well-defined methodology and credible sources, the results of the study are factually accurate even though it can be argued that conclusions from the same are a function of their interpretation just as in every other study. However, there is a drawback concerning the same.The authors have only limited themselves to comparing the performance of models of optimal asset allocation that consider moments of asset returns and not other characteristics of the assets. The authors could have included a section within the discussion of their results in which they could have compared their results with that of other similar studies, even if they involved the analysis of fewer diversification strategies, and sought to establish a reasoning behind how the possible differences between the results o f the studies might be related to variations in their respective methodologies or data.They could have also sought to describe how their study and the underlying methodology have helped overcome previous voids in relevant literature. It might have even been advisable to express why their study is more accurate and hence superior to the others if they did think so. In case the study was known, to their knowledge to be unprecedented and unrelated to any comparative study of portfolio diversification strategies, it should have been explicitly stated as the reason why the above-said was not done.But, it has to be noted that the authors have indeed done the above-said, but only with respect to two of their important assumptions, i. e. , Brandt et al (2007)’s approach to constructing the optimal portfolio using cross-sectional characteristics of equity returns and the dynamic asset allocation models of Campbell and Viciera (1999; 2001) and Campbell et al (2003). Conclusions: The co nclusions of the study are definitely iconoclastic and have huge repercussions for the research community.It points out how inefficient the numerous theoretical models that have been developed on portfolio diversification are clearly indicates that an enormous amount of research has to be undertaken to address this serious shortcoming. The conclusions have been expressed concisely and the limitations of the study have been stated. Their recommendation on the direction for further research is well thought out and justified by their findings and is hence highly commendable.

Agriculture and Desertification Essay

The world’s drylands, contrary to popular misconceptions of being barren unproductive land, contain some of the most valuable and vital ecosystems on the planet. These dryland environments have surprising diversity and resiliency, supporting over two billion people, approximately thirty-five percent of the global population (UNEP, 2003). In fact, approximately seventy percent of Africans depend directly on drylands for their daily livelihood (UNEP, 2003). However, these precious and crucial areas are at a crossroad, endangered and threatened by the devastating process of desertification. There are over one hundred definitions for the term ? desertification’, however the most widely used and current definition is as follows: desertification refers to the land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions due to human activities and climate variations, often leading to the permanent loss of soil productivity and the thinning out of the vegetative cover (UNCCD, 2003). It is important to note that desertification is not the expansion and contraction of deserts or hyper-arid territories, which grow and decrease both naturally and cyclically. French ecologist Louis Lavauden first used the term desertification in 1927 and French botanist Andre Aubreville, when witnessing the land degradation occurring in North and West Africa in 1949 popularized this term (Dregne, 242). The causes of desertification include overgrazing, overcultivation, deforestation and poor irrigation practices. Climatic variations, such as changes in wind speed, precipitation and temperature can influence or increase desertification rates, but they are not catalysts to the process- it is the exploitative actions of humans that trigger desertification (Glantz, 146). The most exploited area historically has been Africa. In the Sahel (transition zone between the Sahara and the Savanna) of West Africa during the period of 1968 to 1973, desertification was a main cause of the deaths of over 100,000 people and 12 million cattle, as well as the disruption of social organizations from villages to the national level (USGS, 1997). As a result of the catastrophic devastation in the Sahel, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 1977, where an agreement was reached to eradicate desertification by the year 2000. Obviously this goal was not achieved. Countries and organizations, notably in the industrialized world, have been unwilling to provide significant and sufficient financial and economic aid to countries most impacted by this issue (Mainguet, 2003). Consequently, desertification is out of control, threatening the sustainability of the world’s environment, disrupting social structures and well-being, and impairing economic growth. This crisis reaches beyond the local, directly affected communities, impacting and jeopardizing world stability. Environmentally, desertification reduces the world’s freshwater reserves due to water over consumption and irrigation mismanagement, decreases genetic diversity through soil erosion and plant destruction, and also accelerates the carbon exchange process by damaging carbon ? sinks’. Socially, desertification causes population displacement as people search for better living conditions, often leading to conflicts and wars. Another social consequence is a dramatic reduction in the world’s food supply due to the depletion of vital dryland vegetation and a decline in crop yields. Desertification is also linked to a number of health issues such as malnutrition, as clean water and sufficient food resources are extremely scarce. Economically, income potential is lost because land is unproductive, and monetary funds are devoted towards combating desertification, compromising economic growth and development. Crisis management becomes more important than achieving economic goals. Furthermore, increasing levels of poverty have resulted due to dire economic conditions. The international body must devote more time, resources and energy to find effective and long-term solutions that will benefit not only directly-affected areas, but the world at large. The devastating environmental, social and economic ramifications of desertification must be addressed immediately, cooperatively and without hesitation, before the window of opportunity is lost. Desertification has created and encouraged a number of major environmental problems, and has endangered the sustainability of a diverse and clean global environment. Through the use of poor irrigation practices and exploitative human actions for profit, water has been over consumed and desertification has occurred near areas surrounding fresh water supplies, reducing or depleting these reserves. In the desertification process, the shorelines and the aquatic land and soil becomes eroded, salinized and degraded. Thus, feeder rivers decline in quantity and supply, river flow rates decrease and ultimately freshwater reserves are polluted and/or reduced. The reduction of river flow rates and the lowering of groundwater levels leads to the â€Å"silting up of estuaries, the encroachment of salt water into water tables, and the pollution of water by suspended particles and salination† (FAO, 2003). These problems are particularly evident in the Aral Sea in Asia, which at one point was the fourth largest lake in the world (Aral Sea Homepage, 2002). During the Soviet era in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the communist central planners had little regard for water conservation, and over consumed this resource. In order to meet the demand for agricultural irrigation the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) â€Å"diverted water from rivers that flowed into the Aral Sea† (Pacific Island Travel: Desertification, 1999). These exploitative actions dropped water levels by one-third because feeder rivers could no longer replenish the large lake, as illustrated in Appendix 1 (Pacific Island Travel: Desertification, 1999). Not only has the shorelines of the Aral Sea declined, but Lake Chad in Africa has followed a similar fate. Desertification in the Lake Chad region has dropped water levels far below the average dry season amount of â€Å"10,000 square kilometers to only 839 square kilometers† (Earth Crash Earth Spirit, 2001). The reduction of water levels in Lake Chad and the Aral Sea decreases their ability to moderate the local climate, resulting in more extreme variations in temperature and precipitation. Therefore, local ecosystems are disrupted and even destroyed, as the climate becomes more continental in nature, and vital water supplies are scarce or depleted. Desertification reduces the biodiversity and genetic diversity of dryland ecosystems, impairing the sustainability of plants, animals and even humans in these regions. As a consequence of desertification, the soil of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas becomes eroded, resulting in unproductive and literally useless land. This disrupts the habitats and food sources for many organisms, making sustainable life in these areas very difficult (FAO, 2003). Furthermore, because of freshwater and food scarcity, the life expectancy and actual existence for many species is threatened. This grave consequence was evident in the western African country of Mauritania, where the desertification process, from 1970 to 1980, â€Å"killed approximately 15,000 people and over 500,000 various plants and animals were eradicated† (CIESIN, 2003). Unfortunately, as the severity of desertification escalates in countries like Mauritania, it becomes extremely difficult to maintain biologically diverse ecosystems needed to support the lives of plants, animals and humans. Through the ecological destruction and imbalance caused by desertification, the carbon exchange process is accelerated. Dryland vegetation and soil are crucial storage devices for carbon, and contain â€Å"practically half the total quantity of carbon† (FAO, 2003). Once these elements thin out or become unproductive due to desertification, carbon is released into the atmosphere. It is estimated that for every hectare of dryland vegetation or soil that is depleted or unusable, 30 tonnes of carbon is no longer stored and is released into the atmosphere (FAO, 2003). This elevation of atmospheric carbon contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Desertification also has major social consequences, disrupting the social fabric and standard of living for many traditional and Native peoples. On a global level, it threatens the stability and health of a growing population. In the desertification process land is degraded, making it extremely difficult to maintain a successful career and livelihood. Consequently, individuals are forced to relocate to areas with more livable conditions and stronger economic opportunities. This population displacement is evident in the migration of Mexicans to the United States: â€Å"Some 70 percent of all land in Mexico is vulnerable to desertification, one reason why some 900,000 Mexicans leave home each year in search of a better life as migrant workers in the United States† (Environment News Service, 2003). However, in the developing countries of Africa and Asia, impoverished individuals have no option but to become refugees, abandoning their previous livelihoods and simply struggling for survival. United Nations Secretary Kofi Annan stated that in sub-Saharan Africa, â€Å"the number of environmental refugees [refugees due to environmental issues like desertification] is expected to rise to 25 million in the next 20 years. † (Environment News Service, 2003). These refugee movements and population displacement have often caused political and social unrest, and even wars. As a result of desertification, countries fight for control of the scarce natural resources, since previous deposits are depleted or unusable (UNCCD, 2003). The strong, positive correlation between desertification and armed conflict is illustrated in Appendix 2. The population displacement, refugee movements and relationship to wars make desertification devastating to the social security of individuals in affected regions. Desertification has caused a crisis in the world’s food supply, creating concern over the sustainability of an increasing population. Dryland areas are home to some of the most important crops and â€Å"genetic strains of cultivated plants which form the basis of the food and health of the world’s population† (FAO, 2003). Some of these products include cereal crops, oil seeds, grain legumes and root crops. In drylands affected by desertification, land that was once agriculturally viable can no longer be used, as it is essentially a wasteland. Even if agriculture is feasible, the nutrient poor soil makes it extremely difficult to grow a large quantity of a certain crop. This has crippled the food supply, at a time when its sustainability is already in question. According to the United Nations: â€Å"a nutritionally adequate diet for the world’s growing population implies tripling food production over the next 50 years under favourable conditions. If desertification is not stopped and reversed, food yields in many affected areas will decline† (UNCCD, 2003). Thus, desertification creates uncertainty as to the adequacy of the world’s food production, endangering the supportability of a growing population. There is a strong, positive correlation between desertification and serious health concerns and diseases. The increasing rate of desertified areas has created a crisis in the world’s food and water supplies. As a result, food and water are extremely scarce, and â€Å"malnutrition, starvation and ultimately famine will result from desertification† (UNCCD, 2003). This has prompted concern and anxiety within the World Health Organization stating, â€Å"we [the WHO] is becoming increasingly worried with the consequences of desertification, such as malnutrition and famine† (WHO Denmark, 2003). Desertification is also indirectly linked to many severe epidemics, notably in Africa. The drying of water sources due to desertification forces people to use heavily polluted water, leading to disastrous health problems. According to the World Health Organization, â€Å"desertification and droughts can increase water-related diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and diarrhoeal diseases† (WHO Denmark, 2003). Recent research and studies have also suggested that malaria incidences have escalated significantly in desertified areas. The strong, positive correlation between malaria and desertification is depicted in Appendix 3. Furthermore, soil erosion and land degradation has resulted in the creation of dust storms and poor air quality. This has had a very negative toll on human health and â€Å"results in mental stress, eye infections, respiratory illnesses and allergies† (UNCCD, 2003). Therefore, desertification is strongly associated with dust storms, poor air quality, malnutrition, famine, and epidemics, all of which are enormously hazardous to human health. In an attempt to combat and rehabilitate desertified land, precious economic funds are required and exhausted. Consequently, resources are drained, resulting in the weakening of local economies and the compromising of national development goals. As the desertification process continues, attention and money is spent on crisis management, not on growth and development. Due to the depletion of natural resources, desertification contributes to decreased income levels and productivity losses. This is specifically true in agricultural regions and severely stunts economic growth. The worldwide cost of desertification, expressed as income foregone amounts to approximately $11 billion for irrigated land, $8 billion for rainfed cropland, and $23 billion for rangeland, for a total cost of $42 billion (CIESIN, 2003). This value may not seem astronomical for developed countries like Canada, Britain and the United States, but for nations in the developing world, these figures are devastating. According to an unpublished World Bank study, â€Å"the depletion of natural resources causing income loss in one Sahelian country was equivalent to 20% of its Gross Domestic Product† (UNCCD, 2003). Desertification has thus crippled present earnings as well as income potential in the future, hurting not only individuals but also entire economies. In an effort to improve future conditions, developing countries devote significant amounts of their limited monetary resources to combating and rehabilitating land affected by desertification, severely impeding their economic growth. Land rehabilitation costs are those incurred for stopping further degradation and to restore the land to something approaching its original condition. Unfortunately, this requires a significant amount of investment that could have been used for economic development, as opposed to just repairing land. On a per hectare basis, it is estimated that â€Å"a cost of $2,000 is needed to improve irrigated land, $400 for rainfed cropland, and $40 for rangeland† (CIESIN, 2003). To people living in the developing world, these costs consume much, if not all of their incomes, obviously crippling their careers and livelihoods. Although there is the potential to repair and rehabilitate almost all land affected by desertification only â€Å"52 per cent (1,860 million hectares) can pay back the cost of rehabilitation† (CIESIN, 2003). Thus, many farmers and individuals reclaim land, but because of huge overriding costs, they actually lose money as productivity remains stagnant. Therefore, limited monetary funds are spent towards crisis management, sacrificing national development and economic growth. Desertification is directly linked to the mass poverty occurring in the developing world. Individuals consistently endure an impoverished lifestyle because income potential is foregone, and resources are devoted towards rehabilitation, therefore scarce economic funds are depleted. United Nations Secretary Kofi Anna states: â€Å"Because the poor often farm degraded land, desertification is both a cause and consequence to poverty? Fighting desertification must be an integral part of our wider efforts to eradicate poverty† (Environment News Service, 2003). If the desertification process continues to grow exponentially, mass poverty will also increase both in size and in severity. Thus, in order to address poverty, desertification must be contained and controlled. Currently, desertification affects over 250 million people and a third of the earth’s land surface (4 billion hectares) (UNCCD, 2003). In addition, the livelihoods of over one billion people in over 100 countries are indirectly threatened (UNCCD, 2003), as shown in the map in Appendix 4. It is estimated that in the next 50 years, another billion people will fall victim to the wrath of desertification and its related environmental, social, and economic ramifications (CIESIN, 2003). The depletion and contamination of fresh water sources, the reduction in biodiversity, and the acceleration of the carbon cycle make desertification devastating to the sustainability of the environment. Socially, desertification forces people to migrate which may eventually lead to wars or conflicts, creates a major catastrophe for the world’s food supply, and is scientifically correlated to major health concerns, even epidemics such as malaria. The economic status of developing countries impacted by the desertification process is jeopardized as high levels of income are foregone, and resources are devoted towards rehabilitation, not towards growth and development. Furthermore, poverty in African and Asian nations has grown exponentially due to this process, creating humanitarian and economic crises. The world’s future is at stake, and it is imperative that the global community acts now. Desertification is a preventable process, but requires a coordinated approach involving effort from the local, national and global communities. Local and national governments must implement methods of soil and water conservation, and utilize traditional agricultural systems that support positive environmental strategies. The industrialized world must supply the economic and technological aid necessary for these conservation techniques (UNCCD, 2003). Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology is a modern technique that can be effectively used in combating desertification. GPS satellites can actually pinpoint and locate areas vulnerable or prone to desertification, acting as excellent early warning signs. This allows governments to implement various techniques and policies to prevent damage done by desertification. As former United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated in a letter to governors on February 26, 1937, â€Å"a nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself† (Dingle, 2003). The battle to combat desertification is a war that can be lost, but must be won. Now is the time to win the fight before this glimmer of hope disappears. Appendix 1: Time-Series Photos of the Aral Sea Source: Aral Sea Homepage, 2002 These pictures were taken using LANDSAT TM satellite technology. The reddish shade represents the vegetation around the Aral Sea. The northern part of the image is the shoreline of the sea. Notice how in 1979 the shoreline is quite large, while in 1989 it is non-existent, illustrating the decreasing water levels. What is also striking is the white shade on the satellite photo from 1989. This represents an artificial saltpan, caused by desertification and desiccation. Appendix 2: World Map of Armed Conflicts and Desertification Source: CIESIN, 2003 Most of the armed conflicts occurring from 1989-97 are in highly desertified areas. Thus, there is a strong positive correlation between desertification and armed conflict. Appendix 3: Map of Desertification Vulnerability and Malaria Risk in Africa For both maps, red represents the highest severity, followed by orange, yellow, green and lastly white. In desertified areas, much of the population is at risk of malaria, thus there is a strong, positive correlation between desertification and malaria. Appendix 4: World Map of Desertification Vulnerability Source: CIESIN, 2003 Works Cited Aral Sea Homepage. â€Å"Aral Sea Region: Kyzylorda Oblast, Kazakhstan. † 2002. . CIESIN: Center for Earth Science Information Network. â€Å"Global Desertification Dimensions and Costs. † 29 July 2003. . DEWA: Divisions of Warning and Assessment, United Nations. â€Å"Desertification and Drought Identification. † 2002. . Dingle, Carol, et al. â€Å"Franklin D. Roosevelt Quotations. † 2003. . Dregne, H. E. , et al. Desertification of Arid Lands. New York: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1983.

Possible Change of Teachers Attitudes throughout their Career Research Paper

Possible Change of Teachers Attitudes throughout their Career - Research Paper Example Freedman & Carver (2007) iterate that personally-held values and beliefs of the teacher have significant influence on in-class teaching practices. Hall (2005) supports this notion, opining that it is the personal beliefs of teachers that â€Å"inform their professional attitudes and conduct in the classroom.† There is, then, an undeniable link between personal value systems and the evolution of teaching style over time which could, theoretically, have significant impact on the decision to, initially, seek a career as a high school teacher. According to Morris & Maisto (2005), the complexities associated with teaching require a self-actualized individual that finds significant psycho-social rewards for promoting higher learning and educational development in students. Under most models of psychology and sociology, self-actualization is the state of emotional being in which an individual actively seeks to pursue their maximum utility and the pinnacle of their abilities gained on ce self-confidence and self-esteem have been developed within the individual. When a high school teacher first lands their position, they often seek to break the proverbial mold of teaching by attempting to create unique and differentiated classroom content and teaching styles. Filled with fresh ideas, the teacher seeks to create a sense of personal belonging with teaching peers and with students which influences initial teaching styles. Teachers will often seek out alliances with other teaching facilitators and administrators in an educational scenario referred to as communities of practice, a collection of skilled individuals that collaborate to promote learning about a specific skill or practice (Wenger, 2005). However, it is not long into career where such activities will often meet with centralized hierarchies of control where bureaucracy and budget issues prevent effective facilitation of these communities of practice. Many teachers will attempt to create more contemporary and innovative curriculum content, using assistive technologies to facilitate modern learning concepts and principles (Bausch & Hasselbring, 2004). Other teachers in an effort to establish a positive name for themselves in the academic environment attempt experiential learning curriculum, a form of hands-on learning to facilitate a genuine and innovative learning experience (Merriam, Caffarella & Baumgartner, 2007). However, what is unclear is whether these preliminary and initial needs and values remain constant throughout the evolution of the teaching career. A Qualitative Study To determine what impacts attitudes of high school teachers early in career and throughout the evolution of practice, it was necessary to conduct a small-scale qualitative study utilizing a small sample of high school teachers as participants. Qualitative research was the most viable and reliable methodology for this study as measuring complex attitudes in a range of psycho-social principles cannot accurately be measured statistically. It was necessary to conduct semi-structured interviews with currently practicing high school

ULMS 536 Week 10 Workshop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ULMS 536 Week 10 Workshop - Essay Example Most importantly, the organizational direction can only be understood by an effective communication. Suffice to say that communication binds an organization. Communication also affects other aspect of the organization such as change management, risk management and conflict resolution because they involve people who dependent towards communication. Communication is the medium to relay the greater objectives of the organization and the enabler that makes team and organization function effectively and efficiently. Such, the intended change should be communicated as an enabler that would link the organization as a whole to work as a team towards the common organizational goal that responds to the new business reality that compelled change. Change is part of organizational life. Change happens not because management wanted it but because of business imperative. Organizations that cannot adapt to change will perish in the competition. Factors like the external and internal environment precipitates the need for change and the organization has to respond to remain viable and competitive as a business entity. According to Murthy in his book Change Management, change is â€Å"to make or become different, give or begin to have a different form, dissatisfaction with old and belief in the new† (2007: 7). Thus, human resource in an organization must accept change as part of organizational realities and able to adapt to it effectively. Risk management is the identification, analysis, avoidance, mitigation, control and acceptance of uncertainties that may have inimical effects to the organization. The strategic components of risk management involve the avoidance of risk, implementation of risk management tools to reduce the impact of the risk or reduce the probability of the risk and the acceptance that there is always a risk in an organization. Risk management makes the organization resilient to risks brought by change,

Democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Democracy - Essay Example Mostly the leader is on a self-satisfaction role. Second, an oligarchy which is a form of rule whereby authority is vested to individuals of the same family on the grounds of economic or financial might. Under modern classification there exist a number of different types of regimes as suggested by Tilly (2007). These are: First dictatorship which is a regime under the principle, one country, one state, one ruler. A single individual has all the powers with no other individual or body to challenge his powers. There exists a single political party under such leadership. The merit of such leadership is that decision making process is fast because the stage of consulting is not there or is minimal. The disadvantage is the oppression of people’s opinions and misuse of power by the dictator. Dictatorship is mostly encouraged when there is obsequiousness by the public on a certain leader or ignorance on the part of the electorate on another form of leadership. The electorate should b e sensitized on different leadership styles and many parties should be given a platform for their formation so as to give the public diverse ideologies to choose from. Second, democracy is basically ruled by the people, by the people and for the people. The advantages of such rule are that priority is given to the needs of the people. Leaders are chosen by the people and work on their demands. Many political parties with divergent ideologies strengthen democracy whilst one party system weakens it. The existence of many political parties increases the cost of selling the party's ideology to the people and the election process. Federalism This is basically the principle of giving powers to diverse bodies and such like institutions. These bodies have the capacity to govern independently. The central government strictly deals with authority in security as well as alien policy though these bodies can have worldwide responsibilities. Federalism emerged due to the desire to avoid centraliz ed rule. The scholars associated with federalism pushed for autonomy and diversity in administration, policy making and resource use. They disagreed on the arrangement of having a single unit possessing all this authority. Federalism thus takes away excess powers from a single unit to avoid misuse and inefficiency and distributes it to other units. In most cases this encourages growth. Federalism should be more encouraged especially in states where power seems to be given to a single institution or ruler. Such a situation has made it very easy for there to be a misuse of authority or oppression of the minorities. One of the institutions that could be easily used to allocate powers to different institutions and check these powers is the judiciary. It translates according to the constitution what powers each and every body should posses thus promoting federalism. In most instances parliaments, if given too much power, discourages federalism. This is when it makes bills and without muc h consideration to what the public desires passes this bill into law. Equal Opportunity Equal opportunity means the scraping off of those legislations that would probably bring about discriminations. These might be in the political field, economic or social. In the past political undertakings were strictly reserved for men. They occupied policy-making offices as well as implementation and administration. Women never got the chance to have a say. In a society that has equal chance ideologies; several factors must be visible in the guidelines guiding such equal chance policy. First there must be the range into which policies made pertain to. Second the deeds to be explored must be laid out. Third ways of putting into operation the guidelines as well as those in charge Last

Justifying the Japanese Internment Camps Term Paper

Justifying the Japanese Internment Camps - Term Paper Example This led to the decision of all the Japanese immigrants being relocated to internment camps. This move by the USA was justifiable, as it would help curb any violent acts from Japan, and enhance safety in USA. However, this was also considered as a prejudice toward Asians, since the same sanctions were not taken against immigrants of other rivals such as Germany, and therefore, this is unjustifiable (Welgny 23). This paper will use literature review to address this issue from two points of view, before taking a stand in the conclusion. The Japanese immigrants were put in internment camps not because they were guilty of crime, but because their country had become one of the USA’s enemies during the period of the Second World War. The USA therefore, considered these Japanese people in America as a threat to its national security. During this period, most Japanese people in America had occupied the area in the west coast of America. They worked hard to sustain their families. They had bought land, gotten an education, and had become citizens of America, who participated in voting during American elections. Problems rose after their country of origin attacked the USA. This had their land taken away from them, and them sent to internment camps, to avoid further attacks in the USA from Japan. ... In this order, there were the instructions about relocating close to 1110,000 American Japanese people to the ten internment camps that were available. When the Japanese were taken to the internment camps, they lost their rights as American citizens, as most of them were legally settled in America. This also separated them from the things and people they loved. The camps were fenced, with block arrangements inside. In each block, there were more than ten barracks, a recreational hall, and one mess hall. This also included car storage and repair area, canteens, hospitals, schools, a post office, a library, among others (Welgny 47). Apart from being alienated from the wider society, the Japanese Americans were exposed to many hardships in the internment camps. Since most of the camps were located in desert places, the Japanese people had difficulties dealing with the extreme unbearable temperatures in the camps. For instance, during summer periods, the temperatures could reach 100 degr ees and more. On the other hand, winter periods had extremely low temperatures, going as low as negative 30 degrees in some of the camps. Meals in these camps were served in meager portions. Most of the food was grown in the camps, including vegetables and fruits. In addition, the people bred livestock in the camps, which was also a source of food. Due to insufficient provision of healthcare in the camps, most Japanese people died when they got sick. The psychological stress that most of them were experiencing also contributed to the deaths of Japanese people in the camps. Aggressive military guards sometimes harassed the people, killing those who showed signs of resistance to their orders (Heinrichs 31).

MEASURES OF THE ECONOMY- U.S. International Trade In Goods And Research Paper

MEASURES OF THE ECONOMY- U.S. International Trade In Goods And Services - Research Paper Example To calculate the gross domestic product, one adds the components of the economy which include the measure of all the goods and services produced in that nation. Most of the goods and services produced in a nation are purchased locally by consumers. This makes the largest component and most stable of the economy as it is the consumer spending (C) in the United States (Brezine 168). Obtaining of consumer spending is by adding together non-durable for instance foods and durable for instance automobiles goods. The services will include mechanic, barber and medical services. The next component is the investments made by industries and businesses (I). When calculating the GPD, investment refers to purchases made by the industries in new production facilities or also the processes of buying new capital and putting it into use e.g. building of new factories, buying of a new truck and purchasing new software (Mankiw 201). In essence, this means that the factories reproduce as they buy new goods and services that will lead to production of more goods and services. The next component for calculating the GDP is calculating the net export which is the difference between all values of exports and the values of all imports. Exports are the goods and services that are produced internally in a nation but are sold to the foreigners. Imports are services and goods that have been produced by foreigners but are sold domestically (Mankiw 203). If the exports of a certain year exceed the imports then the GPD will increase, and if this is the opposite, the GPD will decrease. The final component used is the government expenditure. The government buys goods and services using the tax money. The goods and services purchases are a measure of the goods and services produced. Examples of government expenditure will include hiring of the civil servants and construction of roads and public buildings (Sugimoto 225). Government expenditure does not incorporate any transfer payments such

Ethics & the War on Terror Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethics & the War on Terror - Assignment Example Basing on this it would be inappropriate to accord them the rights stipulated in the Geneva meeting as they are a threat to the society. Secret prisons such as the Guantanamo Bay are important in curbing terrorism. Terrorists are often scared by the thought of being taken to such prisons which have negative qualities and where only high profile law breakers are taken (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 2014). The chances of escaping such harsh conditions alive are negligible and so that acts as a negative motivation to discourage the acts of terrorism. On the other hand such prisons may not be the best as the United States may not be so certain that the criminals will be accorded the right punishment as per their actions. Chances of escape are also increased. Responding to the student’s post on the Patriot Act that allows the government to access one’s texts, emails and chat messages, I concur with the argument that is presented that this is right since only the criminals have anything to hide in such conversations. This trend should therefore be upheld to address the cases of terrorisms and discourage it. The conversations often contain leading information to the criminals hide outs and their ill

Adding fish to your diet, Sea Salt Vs. Table Salt, Love red meat, Essay

Adding fish to your diet, Sea Salt Vs. Table Salt, Love red meat, Dietary Saturated Fat and Cardiovascular Health,Functional Foods and Their Colorful Components - Essay Example It is very important to know about foods which contain excessive fats and which once consumed will harm our body. Internet is available at our disposal but there are still many people who do not know much about what to eat and what not to eat. More often than not they get tempted when they see tasty food being sold and they immediately buy it and consume it without even thinking about the consequences. Great looking food may taste well but at the end of the day it harms our body and after a certain point our body is bound to develop severe problems. The article talks about the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and how these deadly diseases can be avoided. This particular article must be read by everyone so that they become aware of what should be consumed and what should not be. The love red meat article succinctly presents the level of cholesterol in red meat and whether one should consume it and in what quantity should red meat should be taken in. These are some really important questions which the article answers really well. Not many people know that red meat can help them a lot, it can prevent heart diseases and keep one really fit and healthy but one must remember that it must be taken in the right quantity. No one wants people going overboard and consuming red meat in high quantities. It is really important these days to strike a right balance between things; one must cut down on excessive fat it can have serious ramifications. Nuts and fish can be superseded by a little bit of red meat and it will work out really well should this happen. It is very important to live a healthy lifestyle because health always comes first. I was quite startled upon reading this article because I did not know that red meat was good for our hearts, I have started suggesting red meat to my friends. Eating red meat in a controlled fashion is really healthy. So many people die of heart diseases why don’t we prevent what can be prevented? Heart

Connecting assets and choosing your community Research Paper

Connecting assets and choosing your community - Research Paper Example Firstly, research findings indicate that sedentary lifestyles predispose children to obesity (Ogden et al., 2014). As such, open spaces and play areas are critical to increasing physical activity. Secondly, effective obesity prevention initiatives require a multidisciplinary approach by various healthcare professions (Saxe, 2011). Therefore, healthcare expertise will bring together physicians, psychologists, dieticians and other support staff. Thirdly, high-calorie foods contribute largely to the risks of childhood obesity. High-calorie foods are more appealing to low-income houses because they are less expensive (Ogden et al., 2014). Consequently, holistic and sustainable food policies will increase access to both affordable and healthy foods. In the same vein, the policies will also increase opportunities for physical activity. For example, the city planning department can formulate policies that will require residential developers to provide playgrounds and gym facilities. Fourthly, childhood obesity predisposes children to the risk of chronic diseases, which include Type 2 diabetes and blood pressure (Ogden et al., 2014). Diagnostic tools for blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes will ensure early diagnosis and management. Furthermore, Body Mass Index (BMI) charts will be necessary to identify the risk level among children. Finally, health education is a critical nursing intervention in the sense that it gives individuals greater control over their health and well-being (Saxe, 2011). Conference facilities are thus required to educate parents and family members about healthy lifestyles. One partner does not own the identified assets. Accordingly, the nursing plan will incorporate assets from different partners. Potential partners will include the mayor of the city, health providers within the community, community-based organizations, religious leaders, and parents. All theses

Sexual Harrrasment Policy Essay Example for Free

Sexual Harrrasment Policy Essay Abstract Sexual harassment is any behavior that is unwelcomed by an employee or affects the dignity or work performance of any employee at work. Sexual harassment can be unwelcome sexual advances, disparaging or insulting remarks, verbal or physical conduct of an improper nature. This paper is based on research of different company’s harassment policy by team members to access the basic components of sexual harassment policy and complain procedure and how effective it is according to the EEOC. Findings indicated that most of the company’s sexual harassment and complain policy is in according to the EEOC. The results were that one of the company’s policies was found to be rather vague and the other results were that the policy and complain procedure was clear and thorough. Finally, this paper will outline the basic elements on sexual harassment policies of different companies and what they contain. Sexual Harassment Policy 3 Sexual harassment is any behavior that is unwanted by an employee or affects the dignity or work performance of any employee at work. Sexual harassment is illegal and wrongful. Sexual harassment should be prohibited in the workplace. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as â€Å" unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, submission to or rejections of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual or such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment. † If an individual performs any form of conduct that will interfere with an employee’s job performance or create a hostile environment should be illegal and unaccepted in the workplace. Employers should maintain a safe and healthy work environment for their employees. The company is to maintain a work environment free of all forms of harassment and insist all employees be treated with dignity, respect, and courtesy. There are a lot of sexual harassment policies that are located on the different websites, and on employee’s information board. The policy should be accessible to all employees to view at any time. If an employee cannot find their company’s sexual harassment policy, they can contact their HR Director for a copy of the policy. And your supervisor or your manager can, also, help you to locate your company’s sexual harassment policy. The sexual harassment policy for most of the companies that were researched met the basic components as listed by the EEOC. In the state of California, they are very strict when it comes Sexual Harassment Policy 4 to sexual harassment and you could be fired and could have charges brought up on you. One of the companies’s maintained a zero tolerance policy for both sexual harassment and for retaliation. And the company prohibits retaliation against anyone for reporting discriminating activity, registering a complaint pursuant to the policy, assisting in making discrimination complaint or cooperating in an investigation. Another company protects the rights and confidentiality of the employee that has filed harassment claims and is resolved in a timely manner. This company also has complaint procedures to resolve complaints at the lowest levels and when they are advised of complain the company deems resolution and follows the appropriate steps and action to resolve complaint. Employers are legally obligated to take steps to prevent discrimination and harassment and to investigate and act quickly if a complaint is made (England, 2012). But, one company’s policy wasn’t very detailed, it only detailed that sexual harassment will not be tolerated against employees. And the company’s policy did not contain the steps that one need to file a complaint, the company did not give a clear definition and didn’t guarantee the confidentiality of the victim. It is the managers and supervisors responsibility to adhere to, implement and enforce the policies that their company have in place to prevent harassment in the workplace. In one of the company’s policy it stated that the managers and supervisors have as one of their responsibilities is to promote a harassment-free environment. So, at this company their policy is being enforced. Sexual harassment policy should be communicated in the workplace at least once a year through proper training. And during these training sessions, you should train employees on what sexual harassment is and what rights they have as employees. And promote to them that they have a right to a safe, healthy workplace free of sexual harassment. And companies should make Sexual Harassment Policy 5 sure that this policy is explained by HR upon being hired. As an HR professional, these policies should be displayed in a visual area where employees may view. HR can have team meetings with the managers reinforcing the importance of these policies that they need to implement at their workplace and review the company’s complaint procedure and encourage employees to use it. Sexual harassment is any behavior that is unwanted by an employee or affects the dignity or work performance of nay employee should not be prohibited in the workplace. Sexual Harassment Policy 6 References: Brady, B. (206) Practical Human Resources Tips, News Advice. HR Daily Advisor England, Deboah C. (2012) Preventing Employment Discrimination and Sexual Harassment. Johnson, David R (2013). An Employees Guide to Preventing Sexual Harassment Claims. Pg. 3 www. eeoc. gov/policy Sexual Harassment Policy 1 Sexual Harassment Policy 2 Abstract Sexual harassment is any behavior that is unwelcomed by an employee or affects the dignity or work performance of any employee at work. Sexual harassment can be unwelcome sexual advances, disparaging or insulting remarks, verbal or physical conduct of an improper nature. This paper is based on research of different company’s harassment policy by team members to access the basic components of sexual harassment policy and complain procedure and how effective it is according to the EEOC. Findings indicated that most of the company’s sexual harassment and complain policy is in according to the EEOC. The results were that one of the company’s policies was found to be rather vague and the other results were that the policy and complain procedure was clear and thorough. Finally, this paper will outline the basic elements on sexual harassment policies of different companies and what they contain. Sexual Harassment Policy 3 Sexual harassment is any behavior that is unwanted by an employee or affects the dignity or work performance of any employee at work. Sexual harassment is illegal and wrongful. Sexual harassment should be prohibited in the workplace. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as â€Å" unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, submission to or rejections of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual or such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment. † If an individual performs any form of conduct that will interfere with an employee’s job performance or create a hostile environment should be illegal and unaccepted in the workplace. Employers should maintain a safe and healthy work environment for their employees. The company is to maintain a work environment free of all forms of harassment and insist all employees be treated with dignity, respect, and courtesy. There are a lot of sexual harassment policies that are located on the different websites, and on employee’s information board. The policy should be accessible to all employees to view at any time. If an employee cannot find their company’s sexual harassment policy, they can contact their HR Director for a copy of the policy. And your supervisor or your manager can, also, help you to locate your company’s sexual harassment policy. The sexual harassment policy for most of the companies that were researched met the basic components as listed by the EEOC. In the state of California, they are very strict when it comes Sexual Harassment Policy 4 to sexual harassment and you could be fired and could have charges brought up on you. One of the companies’s maintained a zero tolerance policy for both sexual harassment and for retaliation. And the company prohibits retaliation against anyone for reporting discriminating activity, registering a complaint pursuant to the policy, assisting in making discrimination complaint or cooperating in an investigation. Another company protects the rights and confidentiality of the employee that has filed harassment claims and is resolved in a timely manner. This company also has complaint procedures to resolve complaints at the lowest levels and when they are advised of complain the company deems resolution and follows the appropriate steps and action to resolve complaint. Employers are legally obligated to take steps to prevent discrimination and harassment and to investigate and act quickly if a complaint is made (England, 2012). But, one company’s policy wasn’t very detailed, it only detailed that sexual harassment will not be tolerated against employees. And the company’s policy did not contain the steps that one need to file a complaint, the company did not give a clear definition and didn’t guarantee the confidentiality of the victim. It is the managers and supervisors responsibility to adhere to, implement and enforce the policies that their company have in place to prevent harassment in the workplace. In one of the company’s policy it stated that the managers and supervisors have as one of their responsibilities is to promote a harassment-free environment. So, at this company their policy is being enforced. Sexual harassment policy should be communicated in the workplace at least once a year through proper training. And during these training sessions, you should train employees on what sexual harassment is and what rights they have as employees. And promote to them that they have a right to a safe, healthy workplace free of sexual harassment. And companies should make Sexual Harassment Policy 5 sure that this policy is explained by HR upon being hired. As an HR professional, these policies should be displayed in a visual area where employees may view. HR can have team meetings with the managers reinforcing the importance of these policies that they need to implement at their workplace and review the company’s complaint procedure and encourage employees to use it. Sexual harassment is any behavior that is unwanted by an employee or affects the dignity or work performance of nay employee should not be prohibited in the workplace. Sexual Harassment Policy 6 References:

Five Forces Analysis: Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Five Forces Analysis: Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Industry The tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry is defined, not in terms of the production of special types of goods and services, but in terms of the circumstances at which goods and services are consumed. Hence, the sale of a particular good or service to a tourist is tourist expenditure. As a result of this difference in concept, this industry overlaps the usual classification of the industries defined according to the goods or services they produce (Luck Lancaster, 2003) This research paper analyzes the tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry basing on the economic analysis tools by Porter, Porter (1980) proposed that firms benefit from the understanding of the forces which drive competition and the profitability in their industry, and he specifies that all firms should explicitly formulate a kind of competitor strategy. (Matthews, 2000) in order to understand the competition, a very competitive analysis should be undertaken. The Porters model is also referred to as the five forces competitive analysis. Generally the tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry has a unique business environment which affects all the competitors. According to Porter, five macro factors that influence the industry can be identified in relation to competition; (1) The bargaining power of the customers (buyers). This force shows the strength in the bargaining position, particularly the price, which the buyers have over their suppliers. (2) The bargaining power of the suppliers. The Suppliers, including the employees, influences the attractiveness and the profitability of the sector by increasing the prices (or the wages) thereby increasing the industrial costs and reducing the profit margins. Powerful suppliers are the organizations which control the supply of goods and services to the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry. (3) The threat from the new entrants. The threat from the new entrants is dependent upon the barriers to entry into the industry. This is based on the ability to generate the econom ies of scale and experience, the opportunities for the product differentiation, the amount of capital which is required to buy into the industry, and access the distribution channels. In the tourism, Leisure and Hospitality, there are low barriers to the entry in most sectors. (4) The threat of the substitutes. The Substitute industries which provide the competing product with offers that perform the same function. The Continual advancement in the technology keeps on changing the potential threat from the substitute products. For instance, the rapid development of the video-conferencing is a substitute product for the hotel meetings. Introduction The Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry is an identifiable and nationally important industry. This industry involves a wide cross section of the component activities which includes the provision of the transportation, accommodation, recreation, food, and the related services .Tourism refers to the provision of the transportation, accommodation, recreation, food, and the related services both for the domestic and the overseas travelers. It involves travelling for all purposes, including recreational and business. Hospitality and tourism are certainly two of the most widely used words in the fields of hotels, restaurants, travel, and related areas. Leisure is a sector that is growing rapidly, with the regular shows and events hosted regularly. Leisure is recognized as the essential factor which contributes to the demand for the tourism and recreation.( Kotler, Keller, 2006). Leisure is an important factor which contributes to supply. It is therefore the anticipation of leisure which is the operational demand factor, whereas the use of leisure is a factor of supply. The Leisure time is the fundamental resource that is input and consumed in the tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry. The leisure/entertainment events have created employment for thousands of people in a diverse range of roles. This is a multidimensional sector which provides a variety of services in the areas that include the corporate events such as the product launches, press conferences, corporate meetings and the conferences, the marketing programs; road shows and the grand opening events i.e special corporate hospitality events like the concerts, award cere monies, film premieres, launch/release parties, the fashion shows, commercial events, private events such as the weddings and other parties. The industry also includes fields such as the exhibitions, conferences and the seminars as well as the live music and the sporting events. This research paper analyzes and links the tourism, leisure and Hospitality industry through the provision of the creative, technical and the logistical insights. Methodology This research employed a web based survey in gathering data on the industrial analysis. I analyzed several theories that act as the strategic tools for analysis. The instrument was divided into two parts; The Descriptive Analysis, which describes the tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industrial analysis basing on Porters model of analysis. The Critical Analysis, which assesses the extent to which various factors identified by Porter influence the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry. The contexts for the study were based on the distinctive nature of the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry. Information was collected in the process of evaluation of the influences of the fundamental factors that determine the profitability: Industry structure, that determines the profitability of the average competitor and sustainable competitive advantage that allows a firm to outperform the average competitor (Porter, 1979). Analysis of selected industry This paper examines the five forces which impact competitiveness within and thus the profitability of a competitor in the Tourism, Leisure and the Hospitality industry. From the guidance provided in the Five Factor Model recommendations are made to enhance and refine this industry. Porters Five Factor Model The five forces that impact on the competitiveness which are outlined in the Porters 1980 work are: the barriers to entry, threat of substitutes, the bargaining power of the buyers and sellers, and the rivalry among existing competitors. In considering these factors in light of the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry, the theory provides the best means for analysis. According to Porter each of the above factors has a difference in relevance or impacts differently on the businesses so they are presented below in order of impact. Porter (1980) indicated that the most important determinant of a marketplaces profit potential is the intrinsic power of the buyers and the sellers. Threat of Substitute Goods In the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry there is usually higher chances to start a new business and progress successfully. The firms appear in all price ranges, with variations in the levels of service and the amenities. The constant challenge will always be to get the customers to choose your services over the competitor. With the technological advancements the internet makes the overall market to be more efficient while expanding the size of the potential market and creating the new substitution threats. Given the potency of this industry a superb strategic plan is vital. The threat is that another firm chain may erode the customer base with a newly formulated internet approach or the marketing campaign. According to Porter the development of a value chain process analysis, supported by the collaborative event management, the structuring and sharing of the customer focused value chain data, powerfully enhances the performance of the value chains and of the electronic commerce. Bargaining Power of Buyers Business persons choosing a firm for business in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry are the savvy consumers and they are at par with the changes in the ability of their consumers. It has become very simple for the consumers to go online and survey on the best firm that offers great services. They no longer need the assistance from the travel agents, the corporate travel consultants or the middle men of any kind to determine where they will get their services. Porters model predicts the ability of the buyers bargaining power to elimination the intermediaries. The Tourists who are the major consumers in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry are more and more capable of making use of the technological advancements in the means of communication such as the internet to increase their bargaining power thereby creating the fulfillment of Porters model. Due to the increased bargaining power of the consumers, they are finding internet businesses websites which will negotiate or discover the bargains for them. These processes shifts the bargaining power to the end user as it had been predicted by the Porter model and these buyer freedom reduces the cost of switching so that the loyalty to a single firm is a thing of the past unless the particular firm uses its one time opportunity when the customer sticks to the firm it deeply impress other customers with a very unique and valuable differentiator. The Rivalry among existing competitors The rivalry amongst the competitors in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry is fierce. When the potential customers learn about a hotel on line, the internet reduces the differences amongst the competitors. Business people tend to seek the best prices for the best experience and the tendency is to reduce the prices to a competitive level. This industry covers wide area so the market is widened which increases the number of the competitors. For example, someone who wants to spend the day in the historic site can easily choose a tourist firm in the nearby town if the amenities or the prices are low. The Variable and fixed costs can be different in the areas which are more expensive to live. Barriers to Entry The initial investments in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry creates quite a barrier to the entry but certain barriers to entering the tourism market are reduced by the internet. The presence on many efficient communication channels reduces the upstart marketing costs somewhat, and gives the new competitors the access to the potential suppliers and the resources. Even a starter in the industry can use the channels of large chains to understand the key marketing concepts and the lures for the customers. A vital barrier is the differentiation. A firm that can successfully differential itself by the location, service, amenities or other quality has the greatest potential to attract and keep the clients. Another barrier to entry into business in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry would be the expertise. Unfortunately, in a mobile society employees can leave one firm chain to work in another and they take that expertise in terms of the training given or the experience with them. It is in the areas of expertise and of differentiation that a firm can make the greatest impacts on its clients and thereby on the bottom line. Many established tourism, leisure and Hospitality companies have the synergies between their established business and business channels. Bargaining power of the suppliers This is not a substantial threat in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry it can have the impacts especially in the area of the suppliers. The employees to the firms are the major suppliers, the bargaining power of the labor supply is higher when there are fewer people to fill service section of the industry, and the firms can attract excellent staff and create a chance for providing excellent and exceptional experiences to their clientele. As part of their strategy all the firm chains should have section employee recruitment. The other supplies that are needed by hotels are also easier to attain through internet channels whether originated by the supplier or by the hotel chain. With their products in the greater demand by greater numbers of the firms the suppliers gain more measure of power by competition for their offerings. Findings about the industry All of the firms in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry can benefit from Porters model of analysis because of the applications that produce greater value in the value chain, the industry is dominated by a few large companies. They have the greatest market shares and in most cases they influence the structure and shaping of the industry. The firms planning sector can benefit from analysis. They usually aim at making the profit and are usually commercial companies. When they fail to make a profit over a long period of time they are likely to cease trading. These include the parks, restaurants, tour operators and the travel agents. The Human resources can be managed by the analysis as part of the overall strategy as well as the provision for self service personnel and benefits, Value can be increased by standardizing the firms across multiple locations, forming knowledge directories, and allowing real time access to the resources by the consumers. , every firm could benefit by controlling and forecasting systems with suppliers as explained by Porter. These improvements can also lead to greater profitability (Porter, 1980) Each type of firm needs to identify its unique strengths and the target market and align its strategy to support their identity, the firms chains choose to be low cost, or to command the premium price. Distinguishing a firm from the competition becomes vital. This can easily be enhanced by porters model, through the superior inputs, through better training of the staff as part of the supplier or through the better management. Differentiation adds value which makes it hard to maintain the distinctive strategic positions of a firm because it eases change to best practices and it improves the operational effectiveness. These distinctions make the business more profitable. The firms in the Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality industry are fragmented. Therefore there is need for a strategy which makes it easier for consumers from far and wider areas to learn about the firms or to order for the services, the consumers must still access the services. It more likely for the profitability to be there for when process is easy to transact and complete. Porter points out similar examples within the industries. Dealing directly is great for the firms. Other than travel agencies who arranged hotel stays the tourism business has always been a face to face business and this normally sustains the economic value of the transactions. For all of the firms chains the porters model complements rather than cannibalizing the established ways of doing business. Hence it becomes a link in the value chain. Conclusion Whether a firm or its chain is well established or brand new, the underlying forces of competition will include: the threat of substitution, bargaining power of the buyers, the intensity of rivalry among competitors, the barriers to entry for new competitors, and the bargaining power of the suppliers helps to determine the profitability shapes its internet presence. When combined, these factors determine the economic value and even the survival. The porters model of industrial analysis provides the opportunities for the companies to communicate and establish the unique or distinctive positions for the businesses. In the case of tourism firms this is crucial. The Porters five factor model helps to understand the rise of new ideas and the business firms in the context of the bargaining power of the Buyers. It helps in the understanding of what factors drives the businesses to differentiate themselves. It also helps in explaining why the labor may have greater bargaining power in the firms under the tourism industry; Porters concept of the Bargaining power of Suppliers determines the strength of the industry. In reviewing the strategies of firm chains, differentiation is the key component. Some firms have chosen to differentiate by location and by very luxurious experience. Others have differentiated themselves by standardization means and by the price. The firms strategies must align with their business strategy in order to produce the desired profitability; Porters model leads the way of outlining the issues and the dangers which are inherent in each force. In this paper, the recommendations for successful industrial analysis are made based on Porters model and the implementation of its suggestions could ensure a greater or continued profitability at the time planning and the structuring. This includes not only the customer interaction but also the applications in a variety of areas such as supply chain, the financial and Human Resources to increase the value chain. For the final analysis, however, Porter makes it clear that the model can add value when it is used in conjunction with other good business strategies. Should Schools Have a Uniform Policy? Should Schools Have a Uniform Policy? Aj Romero Mr.Dewalt Should school dress codes be enforced in public and private schools? Personally, I believe they shouldnt be allowed. Telling students what and what not to wear takes away our right to self expression, freedom to follow our free will, and our freedom of choices. We all have a right to express individuality and show our true selves. There shouldnt be a rule that takes away personal style. Its the people that decide what to wear as a show of personality and style, not the school. Having a school uniform to reduce problems of violating the school dress code, reduces our individual right to liberty and self expression. If it were up to me, I would stand up in front of the school board or maybe even try to organize a student strike against it. Liberty, the act of   following ones own free will; freedom of choices, and self determination. The people have the right to choose what we want to wear to school, and we automatically show our personality whether other people like it or not. Also, school uniforms can be very expensive, limit the students choices (procon.org) . A lot of school uniforms are uncomfortable to most students and rather than reducing bullying, they can cause more bullying. In 1999, a study conducted by experts showed an increase in bullying incidents by as much as 12% after the implementation of uniform wearing. (listland.com). Domestic tranquility; having peace in the U.S., harmony among people and states. There are many people in the world who have a common interest in different styles and brands. When people share common interests, they become closer friends. They stand out together. When school uniforms are enforced, those close relationships fade and the teen community is bland. These uniforms can also affect ones self image. Students who are not required to wear uniforms demonstrated high self-perception scores. That means those students have a better view of self image compared to those who wear a school uniform (listland.com). Many schools use school uniforms as discipline to control behavior and promote conventional gendered dress. The general welfare, the well being of the people; basic needs met; health and prosperity, security; comfort and happiness. The students of America should at least feel comfortable in what they wear to school, and should be happy to wear what they want. If you were to ask a student who wears a school uniform, they will most likely tell you they are boring not just because of their colors, but also for the patterns, often in plaid or checkered. (listland.com). There is not a single child that actually enjoys wearing the same uniform day after day to school. For one, they are very uncomfortable; two, they are boring, and three; they are just disliked in general. Although school uniforms are very much disliked, they do show respect, a sense of belonging to a school, and also shows were all in this together (listland.com). The biggest thing a child, teen, and anybody needs to learn, is the ability to have and show respect to one another. A uniform shows a sense of pride and belonging to a school. When other people see the kids wearing them, they envision unity. If you asked an adult instead of a child, they may tell you they are indeed for school uniforms because they show unity and pride. Another thing about the uniforms, they keep students focused on education rather than clothing (thegaurdian.com) If it were up to me, I would do anything I could to organize a school strike against the application of school uniforms. I would also stand in front of the school board and state my opinion on why they shouldnt be used. There is only so much a single person can do to stop something but if a group of students did something, the effect would be momentous School uniforms show conformity rather than individuality. The uniform itself will potentially cost more than your traditional clothing. Even if school uniforms were enforced, the students should have a choice in what the uniform looks like. We as Americans and U.S citizens have a right to expression and that right is taken from us with the use of said uniforms. Forcing students to wear something they dont want to causes discomfort, and can be detrimental to adult development. Growing up is more important than being in discomfort. Works Cited 1. Learningin21. Learningin21. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016. 2. @ListLand. Top 10 Reasons School Uniforms Should Be Banned. Top 10 Lists ListLandcom. N.p., 2016. Web. 02 Oct. 2016. 3. Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms? School Uniforms ProCon.org. ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016. 4. Whats the Point of School Uniforms? The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2016.

Changes in brand image of Toyota

Changes in brand image of Toyota Toyota is one of the top car brands from Japan. They have been one of the biggest automakers in the world. They have been producing automobile for the past 60 years. They have put their brand in the spotlight and they have achieved the consumers trust on their products and brand. Toyota has been profitable from their first creation. Their brand has been well known and used by consumers worldwide. Their quality of product has never disappointed their customers. Their brand image has been built on the safety and reliability of their cars. 2.0 Brakes Malfunction and Sticky Pedal Accelerators In the previous years, Toyota has encountered issues that are similar to year 2009 but in year 2009 they have to announce to their stakeholders that they are calling a major call back on their new hybrid cars Toyota Prius. It is a fully hybrid electric medium build car that has good qualities as it is environmental friendly but it has a big problem. The problems are that the car brakes failed to work the accelerator pedals got stuck. Toyotas taking a huge hit at the moment in terms of their brand image, Mr. Champion said. In January, the problems of sticky accelerator pedals reached almost to 4.5 million vehicles and in November, as many as 5.5 million vehicles with accelerator pedals that could become trapped by the floor mat were called back. Toyota Prius have started been sold in the year 2004 throughout year 2009. These model years are affected by these problems of brake malfunction and the sticky accelerator issue. Toyota has also made a mistake to their stakeholders by not responding to the issue soon enough before the news spreads out to the public. Their Board of Directors should have take action before more complaints are filed. 2.1 Employees The employees that are affected by this issue are the one responsible for assembling and installing the brakes to the vehicle. Their quality check department employees are to be blamed in this matter due to their careless checking. The repairing works begin as soon as the shipments of the parts reached the dealerships. Employees will take at least 25 minutes to completing each repair work. One of the service managers Dave Davis says that Its going to be chaotic, but were doing the best we can. If I have customers until 9 oclock at night, thats how late Ill stay open. This statement proves that employees have to work long hours to finish up the repair works. For the employees that are working in the assembly line, they are under pressured by having to come up with a more dependable fix as soon as possible because the longer they take to find a dependable fix, the longer the assembly line will be idle, the higher the cost of Toyota will be. When the assembly line is idle means that other processes are put on hold, there will be no new car sales probably until Toyota fixes the damaged they have caused to their own company. 2.2 Customers The customers are the people that affected the most due to this mishap. They are at risk of losing their lives when the breaks of their vehicle fail to function as they should. Toyota was aware of the complaints in Japan about the braking problems on their Prius. In the United States, the complaints on the Prius brakes are building up as well. An accident was reported in Japan, suspected to be linked to the brakes not functioning. According to the Japanese Transport Ministry, the accident injured two people as the Prius they were driving crashed into another car head on. (CBSNews Business) 2.4 Shareholders Their shareholders are affected by this issue because they have invested in Toyota for the project of the Prius. When this problem arises their stock prices will fall. Their dividends are automatically affected by this issue. Toyota stocks falls drastically in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, falling 5 percent to 3,230 yen ($35) after dropping 5.7 percent the previous day. When the U.S. call backs were announced in the media, 22 percent of their stocks are lost. 3.0 Importance of Dilemmas After this issue is out in the public, Toyota has admitted to the press that their hybrid car has problems. They have made a major call back of the vehicle globally. As many as 4.5 million units were called back. Toyota is making a decision what any other auto manufacturer would do in this kind of situation. They send out letters to the affected car owners that need to send their vehicle for the call backs. The Toyotas technicians are working hard and working long hours to deal with the high volume repair jobs that are occurring. If the Toyota does not realize how important this issue will affect their company, they will have to suspend the sales of the new car of the affected models that are still at their dealers lots and the new car production will also be temporarily stopped. They must know that this issue is big. 3.1 Employees The production plant in Alabama is shutting down for three months in order to cut the inventory levels but no full time workers were let go. Instead, the part time workers were let go and their overtime were cut. During the three months shut down, Toyota came up with a training, cost cutting and improvement plan for their employees. Jim Bolte the President of a plant in Alabama, United States says that When we made our initial announcement about our non-production time and told our team members that they would not lose their jobs, we could see that many of them maybe didnt believe usà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. He also added Now they know that when we say things we really mean them. (Reuters) 3.2 Customers After the occurrence issue, Toyota provides free transportation for their customers in the United States to the dealers for repairs that involved in the call backs. They provide this free transportation to those who refuse to drive their call back vehicle to the dealership and also reimbursement for the Toyota owners. At the dealer, they provide a rental car or a pickup and return car at the dealership. They provide a fast service on the repair works and they also give reimbursement to their dealers for the cost of compliance. (Bloomberg Business Week) 3.3 Shareholders The Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda bowed and apologized to Toyotas shareholders for causing the biggest global call backs of their vehicles. It was the first time the president of Toyota faces the shareholders since the companys reputation was damaged due to the call backs issue. He says that the company is doing their best to improve their quality control and he is thankful to the shareholders for their support. He adds We believe our most important task is to regain customers trust. (Autos on msnbc.com) 3.4 Theory Toyota should know look into the utilitarianism theory. This theory has been used since the eighteenth and nineteenth century philosophy but the idea of this theory is still applicable in the twenty-first century. This theory explains that we should make a decision by considering the consequences of our actions. It means that we should act in ways that produce better out come than the alternative we are considering. In principle it is also known as maximizing the overall good or the greatest good for the greatest number (Hartman P. L. and DesJardins J. 2008). A decision that fulfils all these terms is the right decision to be made ethically. Therefore, Toyota has to figure out what is the best thing to do for the sake of their stakeholders. Thus, by making the right decision they are able to regain their stakeholders trust towards their company. Toyota can use this theory not just to make decision for their current issues but also they can refer it if there is any issue occurred in t he future because it balanced the good over bad for those who are affected (Shaw H. W. and Barry V. 1998). 4.0 Our Principe Toyota believe that theres no best only better. They will keep on getting better for the future. That is why they put their brand message Moving Forward. This message proves how passionate they are for innovation and discovering new ideas and technology. They know that no matter how successful they may get, there will always be new challenges that awaits them in the future. They are focused on the future of the company and their brand. They will not stop pursuing for excellence as they are dedicated to Kaizen which means continuous improvement. By implementing this in their hearts, they are able to give what their customer values the most out of them which are their quality, durability and reliability of the vehicle that they have produced. Even though, currently Toyota is facing some issues on their quality and reliability, they still hold strong on what they believe in which is Kaizen. They are trying their best to regain what they have almost lost from their stakeholders. (Toyota Corporate info) 5.0 Recommendation