The Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations

The Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, a novel released in 1861 about social criticism, is a story of a young boy named Pip who was in struggle to find his fortune or to be successful rather than to be confined on being a common man of his time. The novel was set in the mid-nineteenth century and took place in the town of Kent and London, England. Using the first person point of view, Pip, the protagonist in the novel talked about his childhood in the first few chapters of the book, describing his life, the first encounter with the convict who will soon changed his fortune in the following chapters.He also mentioned the development of his fascination and later on love for Estella, who was trained to break a man’s heart. Unlike the traditional the traditional novels and story structure, the novel of Dickens does not contain a particular antagonist, rather, he visualized some people who will affect the existence of Pip. He made several characters who took charge of the antagonism in the novel in the person of Magwitch, Estella, Orlick, Miss Havisham, Compeyson and Bentley Drummle. They will cause some of Pip’s misfortune and struggles.Magwitch, Miss Havisham and Estella, in the end of the novel redeemed themselves and reconciled with Pip (Dickens, n. pag). The novel housed many symbols which were explained through the actions of the characters. The clocks which were stopped in the house of Miss Havisham symbolize her attempt to stop time while the other objects like handcuffs, convicts, file and chains stands for guilt and innocence. Joe, the husband of Pip’s sister is the conscience and loyalty. These symbols helped the protagonist to further develop his character (Philips & Cheng, n.pag).In mixed tones of cheerfulness, dramatic and sympathetic storytelling, Pip showed what his life was all about, what happened to him and what happened to his desire of being trained as a gentleman in the world wherein common people weren’t en ough to be respected and treated fairly. Although the novel talked about several crimes and dealt with such criminality, these made Pip a person of much desire. The novel ended when they failed to help Magwitch escape from being imprisoned, following his death.Miss Havisham was redeemed in the end while Estella and Pip were reconciled with each other. Pip had reconciliation with Joe also and the story ended with Pip and Estella walked hand in hand and promised never to part again (Dickens, n. pag). It is quite interesting that Charles Dickens’ worked on two endings for this novel. The natural writer have a fix idea or story in mind thus, any criticism will not prevent him from publishing what he does like. In this case, Charles Dickens was influenced by what the people might think of the novel.Instead of giving the readers a tragic and sad ending, he ventured into following the suggestion of his good friend Edward Bulwer to give a happy ending so that he people will be happy with what happened between the characters. While his critics thought that the ending published was less of reality, the people who embraced the happy ending the original ending was too harsh and thought that their past is actually a bridge for them to be together in the end of the novel. They pointed out that their experiences would lead them into mutual development and soon will help both to realize that they were in love with each other (Philips & Cheng, n.pag).The second ending were Estella and Pip reconciled and walked away holding hands was the one published because of Dickens’ desire to somehow please his readers while the original ending was left hanging and was not used to justify the ending of the story. Like the critics of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, I go in favor with them that the ending used was not appropriate and that it does depict reality. It is quite impossible that after what happened between him and Estella, he would remain to love her desp ite of her being that girl who broke his heart.The original ending is far more considerate and realistic in the sense that in life, it is quite impossible to retain the love you feel for the person after going through so many troubles somehow caused by the same person. Also, the difference in their status and the way they were raised is a very big factor why they should not be brought back together. The way that Estella judged Pip because of his status and the fact that he is just a common person, is enough evidence that the two will not be compatible with one another.In the end, their reunion and reconciliation with each other did not give a better look of reality and it also did not simply give a better justification with the fallen expectations which Pip had. The ending also foreshadowed the main idea of having a fair and equal ending. It also shows that those people who have hurt us can be given a chance to hurt us more for the second time. Although I don’t really critici ze the ending of the novel, I would just want to give an opinion regarding the reality that the book should have.Although it was an autobiography fiction, it should still have a touch of reality in it so that it will be more convincing. Analyzing the background of both Pip and Estella, there was really no hint that the latter will fall in love with the former and that their common pasts of being deceive and fooled does not justify the reason that they became compatible with it. In the end, whether it was a bad ending or a favored ending, the novel brought realization and many teachings to the readers thus, it opens the mind of a person and it somehow touches the heart of someone who gives too much attention of their life expectations.

Poetry and Worldly Wealth Essay

Andrew Lang describes the truth about money and what it meant to people in the 1800s and 1900s. He uses repetition to clearly explain his ideas. Lang believes that money could either be good or it could be evil, I guess it all depends in how you use it and appreciate it. The people in this poem are priests, soldiers, captains etc. The main idea is about how some and most people only do things for money. The â€Å"Ballad of Worldly Wealth,† is a depiction of how money can bring pride and corruption into our society. The form of this poem is a ballad. A ballad’s contents include 3 stanzas, at least 8 lines in each stanza, and a refrain (a repeated phrase at the end point of a poem) a refrain in example of the Ballad of Worldly Wealth is â€Å"Youth, and health, and Paradise† The author used artificial imagery to characterize money as both a staple in society, and as the icon of the world’s power and corruption. There is several rhetoric patterns found in the poem. The rhyme pattern is an End rhyme. Poems with end rhyme are those whose last word of every line ends with a word that rhymes, for example: â€Å"While the tides shall ebb and (flow); Money maketh Evil (show)† Flow and show are two separate words, however both have rhyming sounds. Also displayed is parallel construction, a sentence, idea or clause that is presented with an opposing idea. In this statement, â€Å"Money moves the merchants all, While the tides shall ebb and flow; Money maketh Evil show, Like the Good, and Truth like lies† it can be seen that the opposition is of that money is what makes the world go round. However money also creates greed, and makes the people see the money as a good thing, when really it’s all a lie.

A Portrait of the City of Mumbai

City that never sleeps. Iambi, capital of Maharajah's and financial capital of India, home to Plywood film industry and home to people from all over the country. The local language spoken here is Amaranth but English and Hindi are also spoken fluently. So a new visitor will not have much trouble.Temperature varies throughout he year. March- June is summer months with temperature reaching almost degree . June- October monsoon season with rain in full force. November to February is mainly winter months but being a coastal city the winters are mild here and pleasant weather. The Places to see here are the : colonial architecture from the Victorian times , the Gateway of India, the Cathartic Shiva Terminus building, the Hajji all mosque , film city . The famous Tag Mall hotel is located Just opposite the Gateway of India.The Iambi University buildings and the High Court are also excellent examples of colonial architecture in the city. Nehru science center and Nehru planetarium are very g ood place to visit as they have museum and planetary views shown at both centers Iambi has a few beaches, at Juju, Psychopath, Marvel. In addition to this, Iambi is also known for its own lip-smacking pap abaci, belle purr and kebabs. Iambi is a shopper's delight with bargain buys, exclusive boutiques, ethnic markets and mini bazaars.The Iambi city also has a flourishing cultural life. Being the seat of the Indian (Hindi) film industry, Iambi stages regular performances in music, dance and drama. The Hindi film industry, also known as Plywood, produces the largest number of films in the world. Iambi caters to the needs of almost all sections through sporting activities, nightclubs, pubs, theaters, beaches, shopping Malls and restaurants. Old and new, rich and poor, classical and modern- Iambi is truly a melting pot! A Portrait of the City of Iambi By Misunderstanding

Communicating the Truth about Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Communicating the Truth about Smoking - Essay Example To this end, a pile of body bags are used to represent a number of people who die daily in the United States. In addition to that, the A.L.F, have used dolls with writings on them that educate people about the dangers of smoking. Furthermore, they have created printed advertisements educating teens about smoking. The second step pertains to the medium of transmission. In effect, the ALF has used several medium of transmission to convey their message. This evident in the visual medium that depicts the advertisement of body bags representing a number of deaths. It was a part of innovative television campaign. Moreover, the ALF used written channels through printed advertisements for sensitizing the teens on smoking. In addition to that, they used audio channel by sponsoring a radio show by the name truth-fm. The third step involved the decoding process. To this end, the receiver translates the message to make sense. This step of communication occurred when the teens understood the adverts. Moreover, the high school girl, Katie confessed that smoking appeared to be reserved for adults and was forbidden among teens. The last step of the communication process was related to feedback. Evidently, it is the response from the receiver to the sender. Consequently, it occurred in the process of teaching teens about smoking. Evidently, the A.L.F Chief Executive Officer testified that after one year of the campaign, 75 percent of the teens were in a capacity to accurately describe at least one of the adverts. Moreover, 90 percent of the teens said the adverts were convincing. Therefore, through this feedback it was evident that the teens responded well to the campaign against smoking. against smoking. 2. Show how ALF is using oral, written, electronic, and nonverbal communication The ALF has used several media to convey their message. This was through oral, written, non-verbal communication and electronics. Foremost, they have used television and radio as a form of electronics media. This was whereby they sponsored a hip-hop radio show known as truth- fm. Moreover, electronic media were evident in the production of television commercials that showed dozens of crawling baby dolls with a message on their shirts. In addition to that, ALF reached teens through the internet website that attracts over 8000 people daily. As non-verbal media, the ALF used body bags to show the number of daily deaths that occurred in the United States. Moreover, written media were evident when ALF printed adverts for publications meant for teens. In addition to that, they used oral communication by conducting grassroots activities whereby the youths orally convinced peer youths about the d angers of smoking. Furthermore, they organized concerts which were attended by millions of people. 3. In your opinion, why is ALF successful when other organizations sending the same basic message are not? Is there anything ALF could do to increase its effectiveness? The ALF has been successful because of how they innovatively packaged their message in a manner that the teens could associate with it. Moreover, the teens felt like the truth campaign was in sync with their emotional feelings. Evidently, they saw it as a reason to rebel against authority as a way to assert their independence. However, it is

The role of the school principals in the care of gifted students Dissertation

The role of the school principals in the care of gifted students - Dissertation Example Now, there are many ways of assessing how children perform, interact with their learning and solve different problems, beyond just reading and writing, to find out who is gifted (Murray, 1994). The definition of giftedness according to Marland report (1972) as cited in Klein, et. al (2007, p. 574) is "Gifted and talented are those ... with demonstrated achievement and/or potential ability in ... (a) general intellectual ability, (b) specific academic aptitude, (c) creative or productive thinking, (d) leadership ability, (e) visual and performing arts, and (f) psychomotor ability.† This definition now include skills which are not easily manifested, and to successfully and credibly label someone as â€Å"gifted† many processes are necessary than mere parental observation. Research indicates that the gifted individuals form a diverse group and it is not something which can be associated with a single trait. The giftedness of a child is associated with the psychological well -being of a gifted child, the matching of his skills with education provided, and the personal characteristics of the child, for example, his life situations, his nature and/or self-perceptions (Niehart 1999, p. 15). 1.1 Context Saudi Arabia puts a premium on education based on their belief that one’s principal duty in life is to acquire intellectual and spiritual perfection in his thinking, perceptions and belief (Gulen 2004, p. 202). Hence, the Ministry of Education was established in 1953. It sets overall standards for the country’s educational system and assumes responsibility for policy making and planning curriculum, teacher and superintendent training and special education (Al-Hamdan, n.d., p. 2). The system consists of twelve years. The educational ladder begins with six years of elementary school, three years of intermediate school and three years of high school. The educational aim of schools is to develop students’ different skills, abilities and crea tivity (Al-Hamdan, n.d., p. 3). Gifted education is incorporated in the system stemming from two administrative branches in the Ministry of Education that are tasked to identify and serve the gifted. They consist of four units namely the programs unit; the planning, coordination and training unit; the identification unit and the administrative communication unit. Special programs are provided for the identified gifted students. These include Thursday programs, summer programs and enrichment programs for the gifted within the school day (Al-Hamdan, n.d., p. 3). As stated by Aljoghaiman (2007) one example of enrichment programs is the one developed for elementary schools. Programs include teacher training for gifted students so specialized programs can be effectively implemented through appropriate teaching methods for the enhancement of gifted abilities in all areas. One example is the grouping of gifted students for a period of time during the school day when they engage in activiti es while passing through four levels of the program. â€Å"The first level concentrated on preparation and it included basic thinking skills, such as brain storming, some of the skills in the CoRT Program for Thinking, and Scamper Strategy. The second level included teaching the Creative Problem Solving Program. The third level consisted of the Future Problem Solving Program, and in the fourth and last level, gifted students went through the research program: a comprehensive program of self regulated learning that included different thinking skills. This program

Humanitarian Intervention and the Right to Protect Essay

Humanitarian Intervention and the Right to Protect - Essay Example The inviolability of the principle of sovereignty stood as a formidable obstacle to the entrance of other nations into sovereign territories for the purposes of humanitarian intervention. Even though sovereignty was an obstacle to humanitarian intervention, world leaders began to argue that intervention was a moral duty and responsibility. For the purposes of enforcing a right to intervention for humanitarian purposes, Canada founded the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty. In 2001, the Commission published a report which openly supported, not just the right of the international community to intervene in instance of humanitarian crisis but which explicitly stated that the international community had a responsibility to protect population from the consequences of such crisis. In the 2005 World Summit in New York, the responsibility to protect was put to the vote and 192 UN member states voted in its favour. The responsibility to protect, also known as R2P, passed into international law. The responsibility to protect is, ostensibly, limited in scope to humanitarian intervention. Within the context of the stated, nations, under the UN umbrella, have the right to enter into a sovereign territory for the purposes of saving lives. ... Objections China, as have several other non-Western nations including Russia, has objected to R2P. China's objection, similar to that of other nations, is partially predicated on the assumption that the R2P doctrine is a strategy for the advancement of the West's politico-cultural and economic agenda upon non-Western nations. This means that R2P is interpreted as an excuse for the intervention in the affairs of sovereign nations. The very notion of humanitarian causes and intervention on the basis of humanitarian principles leaves the door wide upon to foreign intervention in any number of situations, according to China's argument and, ultimately, will constrain the powers of sovereign states. Another of China's arguments against R2P is that it is directly at odds with the doctrine of sovereignty and, indeed, legitimizes the violation of state sovereignty. Within the context of the stated causes, China has expressed fundamental and unwavering objection to R2P. Burma Burma suffered a cyclone of massive proportions which left tens of thousands dead and entire parts of the country devastated. While the death tool has been estimated at over 80,000, fears have been expressed that it is much greater than that. Furthermore, the country's military junta, which has displayed a completed incapability of dealing with the problem and, indeed, does not have the resources to, has been actively rejecting foreign help and aid. As long as it maintains its stance on the disallowance of foreign humanitarian workers into the country, the death tool will continue to rise. France has recently proposed entrance into Burma under R2P. The doctrine maintains that nations have the responsibility to protect populations in instances of humanitarian crisis,

Managing Operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managing Operations - Essay Example The paper will therefore analyze the production strategy the managers should choose based on the total cost minimization objective as well as summarizing the information about the aggregate plan to be shared with the supply chain partners. Production strategy based on the Total Cost Minimization The total cost minimization normally occurs at appoint when the marginal cost (MC) curve cuts the average total cost (ATC) curve at its minimum point. This therefore means that, at the minimum point, marginal cost (MC) should be equals to the Average Cost (AC). In most cases, the decision problems are usually molded as being a cost-minimization problem, and therefore, in every network, models usually have a minimization objective. The reasoning behind this is that, in particular, the decision situations never influences the income, hence minimizing costs will increase the opportunities of maximizing the profit (Shim & Siegel, 2002). The production manager should choose on pricing-based as a p roduction strategy to help in making decision based on the total cost minimization. When managers use price-based strategy, the products are usually planned according to cost-plus pricing, value-based pricing as well as target-return pricing. All these are set in such a way that the new product in the market has a competitive advantage over other similar products. Therefore, when there is no overtime for employees, managers have to make sure that the time spent by those employees is compensated for as opposed to when they work on normal hours (Media, 2010). Aggregate Plan The aggregate forecasts of the tank loads for several flavors should be shared to various supply chain partners. The forecast contains the intended tank load production every month from May through September. The company’s production capacity every month is also very important information for the suppliers. The company’s maximum tank loads production in a particular month is 60 tank loads, in May the forecast is 50 tank loads, in June it is 60, in July 70, in August 90, September 80 and finally October 70.There are several months where the forecasted production in a month exceeds the company’s ability these are the months of July, August September and October. Therefore this information on the extra tank loads that the company needs is very crucial supply chain partners. This is because from the information they will get to know of any extra tank loads that the company might require in a particular month and therefore their services might be required. This will give them a chance to offer the company their services in terms of producing the extra tank loads that they have forecasted and yet they are not in a position as a company to produce (Shim & Siegel, 2002). The other Very important information that the supply chains need is the amount of money that is set aside by the company as cost of subcontracting as well as overtime production by various supply chains. Subcontr acting and over production by the suppliers who are available is $1600 and $1800 per tank load. Therefore with this information any supply chain that intends to supply the extra trainloads can be in a position to set a price for their tank loads. They will ensure that they come up with prices that will give them a chance to be chosen as the preferred supplier for the extra tank loads. They also need to know the cost of holding tank loads in a month as well as backordering if made by the company. This will help them make a

International accountancy standards Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International accountancy standards - Essay Example Policies and frameworks have been developed in efforts to accommodate the entire human race into a more domesticated environment even while in a separate geographical orientation. Such ways through which the world has become integrated is through economic unions and integrations, through these, the world trade has been compressed onto a more unified unit in matters of trade, commerce, politics and social cultural divide among many others. Moreover, the emerging trends in financial operations are pointing out towards the same direction of globalization. More efforts by individual persons or nations are exerted towards harnessing global trade and relations in one global perspective. Though variations are persistent within the structures of governments and individual companies, there have persistently risen the needs to unify the systems through which the global players operate. International accounting standards stand to provide avenues through which trading organizations and the natio ns would converge through application of more unifying methods. This paper therefore is intended to analyze the arguments by many proponents of a more unified world through the use of common language and a standard financial reporting system. These are the main hindrances that have in the past been seen to water down the efforts of global advocacy for a unified globe. Language barrier in financial matters and accounting field has all through stood a block to these efforts. Accounting platforms vary by the common measuring unit and thus the efforts to interpret financial records have always been troublesome by the fact that different organizations or states use varying currencies. However, this has not been so hard for the economic blocks such as the European Union who uses a common currency, the euro. People are divided along language inclinations and people are found to identify themselves through cultural lines, language affiliation and the geographical identity. However, in the a dvent of the current global advancement in technology, these barriers are easily getting eroded and more unification result from the common use of technology. Nevertheless, countries and regions stand distinct on, matters of financial reporting as well as financial language. Technology has done relatively little to address unification of languages. This is the reason for the proponents of a common language in financial reporting to advance the proposition. Common international financial reporting standards are meant to drive the world to uniform global standards of accounting (Centre for Audit Quality, 2009, 1-7). IASB (International Accounting and Standard Board) is the overall body that is mandated to oversee the accounting policies and implementations thereof. Constituted in 2001, the body designs policy frameworks that run the accounting field as pertains to financial reporting in the world. According to the report by Centre for Audit Quality (2009), IRFS has been adopted and ac cepted in many countries since 2001. This is seen to be a positive step towards realization of a more unified system of accounting in the world. However, close analysis requires thorough scrutiny on feasibility of the adoption of this common standard of accounting among organization in different countries. Nations ascribed to the standards operate the different sectors of their economies by the international standards of ac

The Role of Public Opinion in the Downfall of Policies The 1990 Poll Essay

The Role of Public Opinion in the Downfall of Policies The 1990 Poll Tax and the First Employment Contract 2006 - Essay Example The following discussion will explore the theory behind the rights assertion of citizens in reaction to unfair laws and policy reforms of the government, which is becoming very important to the validation of public policy. It is then going to consider the problems that the Conservative Government experienced with the Poll Tax in the 1990s and the French Government in respect to the First Employment Contract 2006. In this section it will illustrate how public opinion doomed these policies to the scrapheap. Carney has proposed that pressure groups have embarked on using the legal system for alternative methods than just setting precedent or using judicial review for ulterior motives than questioning the rule of law. This has occurred because the present legal system does not provide sufficient protection for the environment and he considers three theories of how pressure groups use the legal system which are; as a surrogate political process (Sax); adjunct to the political process; and rights assertion (Dworkin and Rawls). The following section will consider; each of these theories; the application that Carney proposes; and whether the theories of empowerment and grassroots movements provides any insight into providing environmental rights as sufficient access to justice against unfair public policy. The Surrogate Political Process theory argues that courts are completely independent from the political and as Sax argues that it is the only method of social reform that is not possible in the political arena of lobbying and the competing of interests.1 This is the radical form of the argument; however there is a more traditional line of argument as illustrated by Carney: The ability to operate as a surrogate political process the courts must have values which promote a different agenda to that which is being promoted by the traditional political process, and have the ability to ensure that these values are ultimately accepted in the traditional political process.2 The problem with this argument for the political/legal process is that it is not viable in the English Legal System, because of parliamentary sovereignty and the unwritten constitution because the English courts do not have the power to quash laws that are inconsistent with the constitution. In France, however, this is a possibility therefore extreme public reaction as to the First Employment Contract 2006 can result in the laws being quashed by the Courts. Therefore the government before losing in the courts in jurisdictions, such as France, will retract their public policy because of the ultimate failure of the policy due to the unfairness to the public. Adjunct to Political Process: This thesis recognizes the limitations of the court's ability to effect significant social change by itself - rather litigation is seen as another campaign tool - or in the words of David Robinson3 an arrow in the quiver. As a campaign tool litigation can serve a number of purposes. It may if successful legitimize the goal [of the Pressure Group] It may

Gender identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Gender identity - Essay Example The paper shall also take into account the role of the media and social stereotypes along with the role that different cultures play in the establishment of gender identities. Gender identity refers to the roles of masculinity or femininity that are assigned to individuals on the basis of certain markers, in a certain society. This may vary from one culture to another and no fixed definition exists in society. These identities change over time as well and not just spatially. For instance the Victorian models of femininity have changed a lot and English women no longer abide by the codes of conduct that women in Jane Austen’s novels scrupulously followed. This, however, has certain similarities to the conduct expected of women of countries that were colonized by England. Apart from pointing to the fluid nature of gender identities, this phenomenon also points to the fact that gender identities are influenced by a The sexual orientation of a person decides the partner that he or she may wish to enter into sexual intercourse with. The politics of sexual orientation, however, does not end with producing effects on the choice of a partner though. Desire and gender identities are closely linked and both affect the other. Judith Butler talks of this in her work, Undoing Gender, where she talks of how unconventional sexual orientations affect the conventional definitions of masculinity and femininity that are set by the society, thus offering a challenge to the conventional hierarchies in society (Butler, 2003). Both heterosexuality and homosexuality can offer challenges to oppressive heteronormative social setups; however, homosexual orientations have great effectiveness in challenging the social unit that is the most important factor in the perpetuation of heteronormative societies: the family. Homosexual units offer possibilities to the parties involved to redefine the nature of conjugal relatio nships and to restructure the society. How

Deming Case Study Essay Example for Free

Deming Case Study Essay 1Introduction 1.1Microsoft Background Microsoft Corporation is a multinational computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices. Its most profitable products are the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software. Microsoft was co-founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975.Microsoft rose to dominate the home computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by the Windows line of operating systems. One of Microsofts original mission was a computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software. The company also markets both computer hardware products such as the Microsoft mouse and the Microsoft Natural keyboard, as well as home entertainment products such as the Xbox, Xbox 360, Zune and MSN TV. 1.2The Aim Of Report The aim of the report is to do an analysis on Microsoft corporation on how the Deming’s 14 point would impact the Company Performance. It will focus on: * Company existing practice  * Qualitative degree of Conformance against the 14 points 2.Quality Chain Reaction 3.The 14 Deming’s Point 1st Point Create Constancy of purpose toward improvement of product and service Plan for quality for the beginning for long-term commitment by continuously provides top quality product or even exceeding it. The organization should always predict and prepare for the any future challenges that are to come. Microsoft is currently applying this practice in their Organization. In the 1980 they come up with MS-DOS the earlier version of their Operating System which evolves to Window 95.Here is where the window-line operating system keeps on evolving until year 2012 with the introduction of Window 8.Every operating system it comes with an improvement. Since the emergence of Apple in the PC industry Microsoft now are having a stiff competition in the area where they used to be dominating since 1980’s. Microsoft needs to maintain this system in order to remain competitive in the PC industry. 2nd Point Adopt the New philosophy. Organization need to implement quality not only to its product but to the whole organization process. Rather than reacting to competitive pressure, an organization should focus on the customer need, what exactly they want. The employee of Microsoft been used to all the benefit working with Microsoft such as high speed internet and tend to forget the outside world doesn’t have the luxury they are experiencing and expect the gadget there are using will have the same impact to the outside world. Problem arises when their product are not well accepted by the public since its unsuitable to them since they are lacking the facility to fully used it, Microsoft need to understand what the people needs first before deciding and producing the product. Produce a product that everyone can use and it needs to be the best product and in good quality. Resource http://www.qbrundage.com/michaelb/pubs/essays/working_at_microsoft.html 3rd point Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality. Deming emphasize that organization need to stop depending on inspection. It is costly and unreliable in the long-run. It function don’t actually improve quality but to find lack of quality. Therefore organizations need to build quality from the beginning of process till its end. Microsoft need to take this into consideration because during Microsoft Surface tablet launching the device crash during its presentation, thus show the incapability’s of its device. If they had implement Quality in the beginning this would had happen. Microsoft should learn from this experience and not depend on inspection during the production. They should ensure any possible problems are eliminated during the production itself from earlier stage by making the sure top quality products are done from every step of the production. 4th point Move toward a single supplier for any one item on a long-term relationship of loyalty and trust. By having lesser supplier, an organization can focus on the quality of their output. Other than price, quality is another priority when looking for a supplier. Microsoft need to motivate supplier to improve on their quality and when they achieve it look at them as a partner in quality rather than a business connection. Software and application developer need to provide the very best service so that Microsoft can depend on them to even produce a good product themselves. 5th Point Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service, to improve quality and productivity and this will lead to decrease in cost. An organization need to continuously improve their system and process. Deming encourage the use of Plan-Do-Check-Act approach to do analysis and find ways of improvement. The Organization should emphasize on training and education so everyone can perform better in their jobs to reduce waste, improve productivity, effectiveness and safety. Currently employee in the RD department is given the freedom to be creative and innovative in creating Product as long is benefiting the organization. In 2010 spend $9.5 billion for research and development. Microsoft wanted to its employee to be able to find new ways to improve their current product and service. This can be done  through training, providing seminar and outsourcing it employee to perform better. 6th point Institute training on the job By providing a consistence training toward the people an organization will be able to reduce variation. By providing training on the job they will be able to build a foundation of common knowledge. This allows the worker to understand their roles. Encourage staff to learn from each other. In some department of Microsoft some employee are lacking the motivation to improve themselves, these employee lack interest to outperform. Microsoft needs to institute training for them in order to improve their capabilities by encouraging them to attend seminar and courses. This would better prepare the Microsoft for any difficulties since these employees will be able to solve the problem with having to consult the top management. This will also improve the quality of their work since they have the knowledge and the expertise to do so. 7th point Institute leadership-Done The aim of leadership is to make supervisor and managers to understand their staff or worker and the process they are using. The leader should not only supervise but also give guidance rather than punishment. A leader should know what needed to make the individual work at their best. Microsoft actually had a touch-screen e-reader developed in 1998, but Bill Gates ignored it because he didn’t like the user interface and didn’t represent Microsoft. The team that developed the reader was told to stop coming up with new ideas and instead work on software for Microsoft Office which is their comfort zone. Only now after touch screen getting so much coverage they start giving it attention. The top management should be encourage those staff who came up with innovation to pursue their invention. If they were to pursue the idea in the beginning, they would be still dominating the gadget industry. 8th point Drive out fear, so that everyone may work effectively for the company By eliminating fear its throw away people worry and concern of making mistake thus making them able to perform at their best. The organization needs to let its people them know the management will not place blame if mistakes occur. Ensure those who are supervising the worker are approachable. Encourage open communication between manager and employee to make them feel comfortable in expressing their problem. An article mentions Bosses at Microsoft screams at employees and blaming them for everything, whether it was their fault or not. This creates fear to employee to be cautious when they are working and even driving them to move out of the company. This will have an impact of the quality productivity. Microsoft needs to establish a friendly relation with its employee to ensure their commitment and motivation to perform at the highest level. High morale employee will produce good productivity and service. Resource http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-is-filled-with-abusive-managers-and-overworked-employees-says-tell-all-book-2012-5?op=1#ixzz25ZMiHdwh 9th point Break down the barrier between departments Each department need to recognize each other department function so they can understand which department depend on which. Rather than Departments trying to compromise, they should focus on collaboration and build a shared vision to achieve this. This would improve teamwork and reduce adversarial relationships. For this point it’s trying to say that there were cases in Microsoft that there are boss of each department at times will be only thinking of their department. Only to maximize the performance of their own department without consulting with other department of how they are progressing. It would impact the outcome of the product. Microsoft need to ensure each department will be able to collaborate with each other to achieve their goal to attain top quality outcome. 10th point Eliminate slogan and target for the work force -Done The management need to let its subordinate what they want and not making them  to guess. An unclear slogan such as â€Å"Excellence in service† confused people which area or what kind of excellence are the organization are pointing at. It would be much clearer if it states â€Å"You Can Do Better If You Try†. An earlier mission statement of Microsoft is A computer on every desk and in every home. This doesn’t really tell a clear intention of Microsoft. Soon after a few year the Mission statement changes to a computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software .This clearly indicates the intention of Microsoft of providing Microsoft application and software to every computer. This would motivate its worker to work on Microsoft software. Microsoft should now make a clearer message rather than specific Slogan to ensure all it employees understood where the Organization goal and what they wanted to achieve. 11th point Eliminate management by Objective The management needs to see how the process is being carried out, not just on achieving its numerical target. Normally an organization production target produces high output but low on quality. Provide them with support and resource so that high qualities of production are achievable. Microsoft has tried this before with the Zune, which was an attempt to compete with iPod. Microsoft Corporation launches the Zune Mp3 player when Apple iPod was in its Prime. This attempt result in failure as Apple product are way better compare to their. Here Microsoft needs to know it not necessary to try to compete with other but focus on the quality which will meet with the consumer preference than they would have a higher chance of success rather than trying to rival its competitors. Resource http://betanews.com/2011/03/14/ipod-didn-t-kill-zune-microsoft-did/ 12th point Remove barrier to pride of workmanship These points concentrate of the people whose doing the work. It means to allow everyone to be proud of their achievement without being compared from one another. Treat all workers with the same treatment to eliminate competition amongst worker for any rewards. â€Å"If you were on a team of 10 people, you walked in the first day knowing that, no matter how good  everyone was, 2 people were going to get a great review, 7 were going to get mediocre reviews, and 1 was going to get a terrible review,† says a former software developer. â€Å"It leads to employees focusing on competing with each other rather than competing with other companies.† This is taken from a former employee of Microsoft, their clearly indicates there are favoritism in Microsoft Top management. This encourages rivalry amongst its own staff. Remove this, and then employee will then be able to focus on their job and produce quality product and service. 13th Point Implement education and Self-Improvement With this point, the management should focus on improving the current skill of its employee. By encouraging them to learn new skill and knowledge it will better prepare them for future challenges and changes In Microsoft Corporation they are lacking the motivation to be more innovative nowadays. They are more concern to preserves their existing product such as extending their office application, Window Operating system and increasing server software window server. Microsoft is not too fond of taking risk into making new product and service. It took them years to come up with Microsoft surface tablet when other developer such as Samsung and Apple’s been doing it for a few years already. They need to implement the 13th point so that its employee will be able to improve their ability and knowledge so that the organization can cope with changes in the future. 14th point Make Transformation everyone’s Job Everyone in the organization have to make changes, the organization will improve overall by having each person in the organization is motivated to produce better quality. To achieve this management will need to make changes in the management principle by applying the Deming’s 14 point into their system. Microsoft needs to analyze each small step and understand how these steps contribute to better quality. Everyone from the lower ranking worker to the top ranking should be able to contribute to their fullest. 4.Conclusion To conclude all Microsoft corporation need to implement the 14 Deming point to ensure its survival in its industry which it previously dominate. For the research done on Microsoft corporation , there are some major area that they need to gives attention too and Deming 14 point will be able to provide a solution if it is to be applied in the proper way. The success of this method will depend on the top management to its lower ranking worker of how well they can adopt to Deming philosophy. 5.Reference Book Mary. Walton (1986) ,The Demings Management Method Dennis F. Kehoe (1997) The Fundamentals Of Quality Management 2nd Edition Website †¢ Hci.com.au (1960) Demings 14 points. [online] Available at: http://www.hci.com.au/hcisite2/articles/deming.htm. [Accessed: 29 August 2012]. †¢ Deming 14 points Philosophy. Available at http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_75.htm. [ Accessed: 27th August 2012]. †¢ Deming’s approach is summed up in his famous 14 points. Available at http://www.1000advices.com/guru/quality_tqm_14points_deming.html. [Accessed: 30th August 2012]. †¢Information of Microsoft available at: http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-server/microsoft-just-like-ibm http://www.about-microsoft.com/ [Accessed:25 August 2012] †¢Information for Microsoft Surface available at: http://psynixis.com/blog/2012/06/surface-the-problem-with-the-microsoft-tablet-vision †¢Information on former employee complain http://betanews.com/2010/02/09/why-former-employees-say-microsoft-can-t-innovate/ [Accessed:25 August 2012] http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-is-filled-with-abusive-managers-and-overworked-employees-says-tell-all-book-2012-5?op=1 [ Accessed:25 August

Race and Ethnicity Essay Example for Free

Race and Ethnicity Essay The list comprised in this article is unfortunately true and eye opening. Many white people are unaware of the natural advantages that are written here. They take it for granted thinking everyone else is also entitled to these rights. Since I am not white, I can clearly see that these are privileges given to whites only. I can even say that I have never experience some of the things written in McIntosh’s list. I disagree with many of these terms. The item on her list that I feel most strongly about is: 10. Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of my financial reliability. People should not relate other’s financial situation based on their skin color. That is very wrong. It has been engraved into people’s minds that all black people are on welfare or food stamps because they don’t work. But that is not true. Just because someone is black does not mean that they are poor and unable to support themselves. If you are judged for walking into a high end store just because of your skin color, that is very unfair. Race and ethnicity does not have anything to do with someone’s financial reliability. Another that I think is unfair is: 12. I can swear, or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race. For the same reason as the previous one, race should not be a factor in the judgment of others. McIntosh sees these are privileges for white only when in fact; it should not be a privilege. Anything written on this list should be given to everyone, regardless of the race. I definitely agree with McIntosh that: whites are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative, and average, and also ideal, so that when we work to benefit others, this is seen as work which will allow â€Å"themâ€Å" to be more like â€Å"us.† The idea of white privilege relates to the themes of white power because it is giving whites an overall advantage in life. White privilege also relates to the themes of white supremacy because it makes them more powerful. Privilege is being of a favored state by birth or luck. If the things stated McIntosh is called privilege, then it is extremely misleading. The idea of white privilege makes them feel confident, comfortable, and oblivious; on the other hand, other groups were likely being made unconfident, uncomfortable, and alienated. White power and white supremacy is all about making white people the most powerful and advantageous, white privilege also supports that.

Reducing The Incidences Of Malnutrition Nursing Essay

Reducing The Incidences Of Malnutrition Nursing Essay -Reducing the incidences of malnutrition that often occurs during admission to hospital has been a priority within the nursing care profession for many years. There have been various explanations for this such as lack of staff, patients not able or are unwilling to admit they require assistance, poor use of assessment tools and care pathways. A key factor in the prevalence of patients presenting with malnourishment is the disturbances patients endure during mealtimes, such as ward rounds, non urgent medical interventions, housekeeping activities and visitors. This essay will explore the incidences of malnutrition, and those who are most at risk and the changes that have been made to reduce such incidences. Change management should be regarded as an ongoing process, which requires good communication, planning, positive leadership and cooperation. This essay will endeavor to explore the change management processes, leadership and team management skills used in the implementation of protected mealtimes. It will explore the negative aspects and problems encountered when implementing a change and the ongoing management skills required to maintain such changes. For many patients admitted to hospital, in particular the elderly, malnutrition is a common occurrence. It is the nurses fundamental duty of care to provide patients with the highest of care possible, a major requirement for any human being to survive and live a healthy life is the intake of a healthy nutritious diet, be that by conventional methods or artificial measures suitable for the patients state of health at that time (Royal College of Nursing 2007). Studies into hospital malnutrition show that as many as four out of ten elderly patients admitted to hospital are already malnourished and as a result of a hospital admission as many as six out of ten elderly patients, become malnourished, their situation worsens and their illness very often escalates (Age Concern 2006; BAPEN 2007). The NHS Improvement Plan (2004) set standards to deal with the increasing incidences of malnutrition within hospital settings; it has become apparent that these examples of good practice recommendatio ns have not been implemented in every hospital in the country, as incidences of malnutrition continue to exist. Davidson and Scholefield (2005) reports that inadequate nutrition can lead to longer hospital stays, impairs the recovery of patients and increases financial costs; several hospitals have indeed planned and implemented changes to reduce such incidences but on the whole have had limited success. The authors found that constant interruptions from drug, rounds, clinical activities and lack of nursing staff being on the ward at mealtimes (due to lunch breaks coinciding with mealtimes) all accounted for patients being provided with very little or on occasion no nutritional intake at any given mealtime. Savage and Scott (2005) does agree with this statement to some extent but argues that it is all to easy to blame nursing staff alone, it is the responsibility of each individual NHS trust to implement managerial changes and policies and ensure that they are monitored, evaluated a nd improved to provide the best care possible for each patient. Mamhidir et al (2007) argues that since the implementation of protected mealtimes in some hospitals there is substantial evidence to suggest that patients, particularly the elderly benefit immensely; patients gained weight, healing time reduced, were discharged earlier and mealtime experiences were a more pleasant experience for patients as well as nursing staff. Mooney (2008) argues that there is evidence to suggest even after hospital trusts have been presented with unarguable evidence that malnutrition is a major problem and a catalyst for longer hospital stays, only 43 percent of those trusts have not yet provided evidence that they have implemented schemes in order to reduce hunger and malnutrition. The Hospital Caterers Association (2004) further comment that mealtimes should not primarily focus on the provision of nutrition, it also makes way for social interaction between patients and carers, they further commen t that in general the quality of the food provided is not the issue, the inability of the patient to be able to feed themselves is far more the worrying issue. Council of Europe (2003) comment that hospitals should be designed to be patient centred, ensuring that the delivery of nutrition is flexible and all deliverance of care is set within a framework; all staff should work together in partnership to ensure that incidences of poor nutrition are dealt with. Repetitive reports of malnourishment is evidence enough to suggest that current practices are no longer working, change is a necessary force to ensure incidences are reduced. It is the responsibility of the leader to ensure this is tackled (Age Concern 2006). Change Management can be described as the process of developing a planned approach to change within an organisation. The objective should be to maximise the collective benefits for all stakeholders involved in the change and minimise the risk of failure implementing the change. Change involves assessment, planning and evaluation; changes in which people are nursed should always be focused on the benefits patients will receive if change is implemented (National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence, 2007). Welford (2006) writes that there are many theories which explore the need for change; the goal should be the provision of the highest quality of care, each individual involved in the delivery of such care should work together, be committed and supportive of each other during times of change. Change within a team which leads to new practices and ideas affects each individual differently; it can be a very daunting task for some and for others it is embraced to allow for personal development and the sharing of knowledge (Murphy 2006). There are many theories which uses steps or phases that can evaluate if a change is needed and if the changes that are implemented work. For the purpose of this essay the author refers to a popular theory developed by Lewin in the 1950s which requires three stages to implement effective change the acceptance and participation of all those involved in the area requiring change. The first phase, commonly referred to as the unfreezing stage of this theory requires the participants to acknowledge the need for change; evidence should be provided to encourage new thinking and beliefs about current practices. Hallpike (2008) writes that there is evidence to suggest that teams can be divided into groups who have their own individual opinion on certain regimes, practices and care deliverance. This can be said for the provision of nutrition to patients. In this particular study the author reports that some team members did not think the re was a problem with the current provision, some were not convinced that changes would be made and others did not have faith in a holistic approach across the team. In this situation it is the responsibility of the team leader to persuade all the team members that the need for change is necessary in order to provide the best service possible, that the whole team work towards a common goal. Welford (2006) discusses the second phase of Lewins theory; describing this stage as the moving stage, allowing individuals to voice their own ideas, experiment with different regimes, it allows time for reflection, to discuss positive or negative findings. Past practices may have seen some team leaders adopt the belief that employees were seen to work better when the leader provided strict job descriptions and a clear plan of what was expected of them; their opinions and ideas were not of value to the overall success of a team. Major (2002) argues that for a leader to adopt such thinking will on ly lead to flaws and a feeling of negativity within a team; the leader should adopt good communication skills and openness to allow for effective team building, positive group dynamics, all working efficiently and productively. Dennis and Morgan (2008) suggests that although change is the responsibility of the service provider, input from the service user is without doubt a valuable tool in assessing if a change is working for the greater good. Feedback, regardless of being positive or negative ascertains if the change has been a positive one. If the new change has a detrimental affect to the service user then the change has been a negative one, this requires a return to the freezing stage to allow the team to make further changes to increase the benefits to the service user. The authors further comment that managers should be seen as advocates for the service user; it should be the responsibility of the manager to challenge team members over poor practice, poor attitudes and resist ance to change for the better. Conflict within a team leads to unrest, a disbelief that change is for the greater good leading to a dysfunctional team. The third phase of Lewins theory can be commonly referred to as the refreezing stage, where new ideas and behaviours become a new or common practice. Pearce (2007) argues that to name this phase as such denotes that the change remains static, leaders should continuously strive to make changes for the better, communication across the whole team allows for individuals points of view to be exposed and discussed; feedback on how a new change is working is necessary in order to achieve the highest levels of quality care. Leadership styles become a key issue when developing, implementing and upholding change. Motivation of staff also plays a key role in the acceptance of change; leaders should demonstrate that they are a good role model, adopt a friendly attitude towards team members, accepting of criticism and be willing to provide positive feedback, when the team endeavour to believe in and implement the change (Darlington 2006). Corkindale (2009) argues that leaders need balance their role within a team to ensure that they do not become too over familiar with individual team members, as this may lead to team members relying too heavily on the leader to make all the decisions and authority may be compromised. Murphy (2006) writes that leaders need to adopt a style of leadership that suits the workforce; a laissez-faire approach can be seen as the leader not taking into account individual team members ideas, work ethics and commitment seriously, it can lead to a team feeling devalued and unorganised. The National Institute for Mental Health (2007) further suggests that leaders who show their commitment, by working alongside their colleagues, adopting and maintaining the changes themselves demonstrates a leader who is at the forefront in the deliverance of quality care. They further suggest that each leader will bring their own set of ethics, life experiences and education to a team, will often adopt their own style of leadership that may be a mixture of several styles moulded to suit the team and the area of practice they are employed to manage. Opportunities for team members to voice their opinions and concerns are invaluable; they are after all the main implementers of the change and wil l have be the first to recognise if the change has gained positive or negative results. The change can only work if leaders allow for reflection, discussion and adaptation of the change to suit each individual involved in the change process. A change that is difficult to implement or maintain will end in failure, this leads a team adopting negative feelings and a resistance to change in the future. Goleman (2000) suggests that to adopt an authoritarian approach, can at times be a positive approach to leadership especially if some team members resist change or there is a need to produce quick results. Goffee and Jones (2000) disagree with this statement and suggest that a good leader is someone who other people want to follow without bullying, threats or the fear of reprisals; they lead by communicating effectively and adopt a style of leadership that allows the team to understand what is expected of them. RCN (2007) writes that the only way malnourishment can be identified and managed effectively is with effective use of recognised screening tools.Perry (2009) argues that in many cases nursing staff are given the means and tools to assess a patient, but many are inadequately trained to understand the findings of the assessment or are unwilling to involve other health professionals in the care of the patient. A multidisciplinary approach to tackle such problems should be used. Protected mealtimes have been proven to be useful to not only the patient but to the whole care team, it allows for assessment in areas such as speech and language, mental health issues and other physical problems which can affect the nutritional intake of individuals. South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (2009) reports that protected mealtimes affects and involves all staff within in the organisation from physiotherapists, domestic staff, maintenance staff through to outside professionals such as social worker s. It involves all areas of clinical practice where patients require nutritional intake, not only for patients who are unable to feed themselves but for those patients who require and deserve a quiet, interruption free period to eat, drink and relax. To maintain and monitor the change process and may require several attempts before the target is reached. takes time and may not always be successful first time. National Patient Safety Agency (2008) states that many clinical staff referred to the implementation of protected mealtimes as a hindrance to their daily routine, but once the benefits for patients as well as the staff members were explained they became more compliant and understanding for the need to change.

The Rebels of Dharma Bums, Takin it to the Streets and New American Po

Rebels of Dharma Bums, Takin' it to the Streets and New American Poetry      Ã‚  Ã‚   You don't need a destination to run away. All you have to know is what you are leaving behind. In the 1960's, young men and women in the United States, especially on the west coast, made a mad dash away from almost two centuries of American tradition. They ran to so many different places that it would be impossible to generalize about their aims and philosophies. What they had in common was the running itself.    America was drowning in materialism. In "A Coney Island of the Mind," Lawrence Ferlinghetti characterized the land of the free and the home of the brave as "a concrete continent spaced with bland billboards illustrating imbecile illusions of happiness" (New American Poetry, ed. Allen, p131).    John Sinclair criticized a country that needed "Eighty-seven different brands of toothpaste" and "Millions of junky automobiles" (Takin' it to the Streets, ed. Bloom, p303). After the novelty of cars and other products wore off, some Americans began to feel that the emphasis on production was changing the character of the country. Economic prosperity had gone to America's head, and in the scramble for profit idealism had been left behind. Kafka is quoted by Richard Brautigan in his novel Trout Fishing in America as having said that "I like the Americans because they are healthy and optimistic." (Takin' it to the Streets, p280) The new generation of Americans, however, was nowhere near optimistic about the future of their country. They saw the land of the free and the home of the brave degenerating into a production line of television sets and plastic gizmos.    The loss of individuality was what many feared. In ... ...ad all the enthusiasm and all the rebelliousness. They were the ones who, according to Ginsberg, "howled on their knees in the subway and were dragged off the roof waving genitals and manuscripts" (p185). However, all their manuscripts said different things. Mainstream America had two hundred years of tradition behind them, and in addition to that they had force of habit and a leader in the form of the United States government. The new generation had only their conviction that a change must take place. But their passion and their flamboyance made people listen up.    Works Cited Allen, Donald, ed. The New American Poetry. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999. Bloom, Alexander and Breines, Wini. Takin' it to the Streets. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1995. Kerouac, Jack. The Dharma Bums. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1986.

Life Goes On in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart :: Things Fall Apart essays

Things Fall Apart and Life Goes On Achebe often centers on the conflicts of man within himself and with his culture. Things Fall Apart is no exception. Achebe’s story is about a strong man, Okonkwo, whose life is dominated by fear and anger. The fear of the main character, Okonkwo, is generated first by fear of failure and then by a fear of the unknown. The unknown in this story is the oncoming of the English into Africa. A religion is brought to the villages, and new ways of thinking arise. Overall, the African village Okonkwo knew and grew up in slowly begins to disappear. Okonkwo is not only afraid for himself but for his entire village. He is afraid that his culture will vanish and be forgotten by the younger generations. Achebe is able to show the reader his intentions at the very beginning of the book by including a quote from W.B. Yeats’ poem "The Second Coming": Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Achebe lets the reader know from the beginning that Nigeria's rich cultural heritage is falling apart and that there will be no happy ending. The life of Okonkwo symbolizes the life and richness of the tribe and village. As the story progresses Okonkwo’s life begins to go downhill and so does that of the village. The story ends with the death of Okonkwo and the death of an entire civilization. The colonials have taken over the village; the children no longer believe in the old ways. Things fall apart and no one wants to put them back together. Life goes on with the invasion of the English, but never will it be the same. Achebe was born and raised in a large village in Nigeria. He was also educated in Nigeria. After a short career in radio, Achebe began to lecture abroad and settled for a while as an English professor at the University of Massachusetts.

The Evolution of Religion Essay -- Philosophy Religion Essays

The Evolution of Religion Near the end of his novel, Darwin's Dangerous Idea, Daniel Dennett questions religion and contends that it was an evolutionary process to keep humans entertained. He says "they [religions] have kept Homo Sapiens civilized enough, for long enough, for us to have learned how to reflect more systematically and accurately on our position of the universe"(519). Dennett's position is a controversial one, and it is difficult to argue because it is such an abstract subject. Religion is associated with free will, and has been part of humans for thousands of years. Is religion as we know it useless now, have we arrived at the point in evolution where it is no longer necessary? Dennett never completely dismisses current religion, but he does not support its perpetuation either. Dennett's view of religion is as function, something that humans need, like opposable thumbs. He claims that religion has become merely about the actions, and that soon they will die out and belong in museums and "zoos". Dennett elaborates this thought, "what,then, of all the glories of our religious traditions? They should certainly be preserved, as should the languages, the art, the costumes the rituals, the monuments"(519). Is this right? Should only the material aspects be saved? Have they served their only purpose. Dennett seems to say that humans no longer need religions, and that since they have existed for so long they are no longer needed, it is their time for extinction. Will religions disappear leaving only the materials and traditions as Dennett seems to suggest they will, or will they evolve, and change to meet our modern world. In Karen Armstrong's History of God she says "for 4,000 years it [the idea of God] has cons... ...sappeared, but they became infused into other religions. The ancient Hellenistic religion became infused into Christianity, and the Sumerian religion was an influence for the writers of the old testament (http://www.comparative-religion.com/ancient/). In that sense the ancient religions continue to exist, they have merely taken a different form. Will the modern religions of today follow a path decreed by Dennett and Armstrong and disappear, or will they merely become influences in the next wave of religion? The major religions today have been in existence for thousands of years, but that does not mean that they will not evolve. As people and culture change, so will the worlds religions. People will always have faith, and humans have not achieved a point in evolution where religion is no longer needed, and it is highly unlikely that it will ever reach that point. The Evolution of Religion Essay -- Philosophy Religion Essays The Evolution of Religion Near the end of his novel, Darwin's Dangerous Idea, Daniel Dennett questions religion and contends that it was an evolutionary process to keep humans entertained. He says "they [religions] have kept Homo Sapiens civilized enough, for long enough, for us to have learned how to reflect more systematically and accurately on our position of the universe"(519). Dennett's position is a controversial one, and it is difficult to argue because it is such an abstract subject. Religion is associated with free will, and has been part of humans for thousands of years. Is religion as we know it useless now, have we arrived at the point in evolution where it is no longer necessary? Dennett never completely dismisses current religion, but he does not support its perpetuation either. Dennett's view of religion is as function, something that humans need, like opposable thumbs. He claims that religion has become merely about the actions, and that soon they will die out and belong in museums and "zoos". Dennett elaborates this thought, "what,then, of all the glories of our religious traditions? They should certainly be preserved, as should the languages, the art, the costumes the rituals, the monuments"(519). Is this right? Should only the material aspects be saved? Have they served their only purpose. Dennett seems to say that humans no longer need religions, and that since they have existed for so long they are no longer needed, it is their time for extinction. Will religions disappear leaving only the materials and traditions as Dennett seems to suggest they will, or will they evolve, and change to meet our modern world. In Karen Armstrong's History of God she says "for 4,000 years it [the idea of God] has cons... ...sappeared, but they became infused into other religions. The ancient Hellenistic religion became infused into Christianity, and the Sumerian religion was an influence for the writers of the old testament (http://www.comparative-religion.com/ancient/). In that sense the ancient religions continue to exist, they have merely taken a different form. Will the modern religions of today follow a path decreed by Dennett and Armstrong and disappear, or will they merely become influences in the next wave of religion? The major religions today have been in existence for thousands of years, but that does not mean that they will not evolve. As people and culture change, so will the worlds religions. People will always have faith, and humans have not achieved a point in evolution where religion is no longer needed, and it is highly unlikely that it will ever reach that point.

Organizing, Researching, and Illustrating your Material Essay

Step 1: Methods Observations: I would observe the individuals in different departments in their own work enviroments to see how they interact with each other and their clients on a day to day basis. I would do this in hopes to see where any and all issues or breakdowns in communication and work procedure and protocols are happening. I hope to have a better understanding of how each department works together after these observations and interviews. Interviews: I will would interview each employee personally, or in groups by department. Whichever I felt would get a better response from the employees. I would plan to explain to them the problems that have been brought to my attention and ask for their input into what they feel the biggest problems are and how they would solve them. Surveys: I would then have them fill out surveys followed by a question and answer session to try to get a personal feel to what is going on. Part 2A: Surveys Employees: Why do you feel some employees have resigned their positions here at Phoenix Advertising in recent months? I hope to find out what employee grievances are and how we as a company can create a better working environment for them. Are we satisfying our clients and what can be done to ensure satisfaction and return business of our clients? I hope to find out if the employees feel they are doing their best for our clients, working to their full ability, what is lacking, and what can be improved. Tell me about yourself and your position here at Phoenix Advertising. Who is the person that you report to when on an assignment? I want to learn what each person  believes their responsibilities are within the company and to whom they report. I also may find some other areas of concerns that have not yet been reported, such as a broken chain of command. 2. Clients: a. What services did you hire Phoenix advertising to do for you? Is there a service you wish we provided or would like to see in the future? Was the price what you expected for the outcome? i. I want to find out exactly what services we are providing most, and what is being offered most. And how our services compare to the prices our clients are paying for them. b. Are you satisfied with the Roanoke Branch staff and the services that have been provided to you on a scale from 0 to 10 (10 being the highest)? i. I want to find out if they are being treated the way they expect to from someone they are essentially paying to work for them. And if they feel like they are they receiving what was promised in their contracts with the company. c. What can we as a company, do better? Would you recommend our services to others? Why or why not? i. I want to know what is most important to our clients and where we need to improve. I also want to find out if our clients would tell others about us, because word of mouth is a great way to gain business, and if it is not I want to know what we can do to change it. Step 2 B: Letter to CEO of Roanoke Branch Phoenix Advertising ATTN: Roanoke Branch 2244 W. 177th Ave Suite 44C Roanoke VA 28135 Phone: (757) 455-2244 Dear Mr. Jonathan Willis: I am writing this letter to inform you that the company president of Phoenix Advertising, Mr. Gregory Forest is sending me to your branch to conduct an investigation into some recent customer complaints we have received. Mr. Forest was concerned after learning that several of our clients from your branch, have complained about the quality, or lack there of, of the work being produced by your advertising department. He is also particularly worried with the news that two of your top, long term, management employees have left the company within the last few months, along with receiving news of several other management and employee issues arising within you branch. For my visit, I am expecting that you to prepare various company documents, such as the company policy manuals you provide for your employees, any production manuals you may have, a list of your hiring and recruitment processes and management approaches, and all other company policies that you may have in place or that you pro vide to your employees. My hopes are that we can sit down together and go over them and try to find a solution to the problems at hand. Please make a copy of all of these available for when I arrive. I would also like to set a time to conduct an interview with some of your newer employees to see how they are being trained and some of your older employees in order to gather their views and opinions of these issues and any concerns they may have, so that we can form a solution to these problems and make your team stronger than ever. Your full support is crucial in resolving these possible problems that are happening in your branch, and more importantly, in coming up with the best solutions to ensure a better future at both your branch and within our company as a whole. I am looking forward to seeing you and your team soon. Thank you for your time and cooperation. Sincerely, Kirstin Krueger VP of Human Resource Management Step 2B – Problems and Illustration Problems: The Phoenix Advertising group is having problems with its employees both in terms of employee work ethic, and in employee morale and motivation. Because of this, a report is needed to find out the economic issues and any managerial issues there may be. Also to look at the relationship of these employees and their management. This report is intended to help the company understand the issues at the Roanoke branch and to find any solutions there may be in order to fix these issues for good. Facts and Causes: Background data: The company that is experiencing the problem is the Roanoke branch of the Phoenix Advertising company, located in Roanoke, Virginia. Phoenix, Advertising is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and has clients that include but are not limited to: banks, insurance companies and retail chains. My job as the Vice President for Human Resources Management at Phoenix Advertising, is to report to the company President. The visit to the Roanoke Branch is to learn the facts and causes of the issues and complaints that have been brought to our attention, and to find the right solutions to the problems and complaints so that these issues do not continue to arise in the future. Relative Information: The problem started when the company President learned that several of our clients have complained of the work performed in the Roanoke, Virginia branch. Every client is very important to the company’s overall success,, as clients are what drive our business. We also learned that two, long term employees and top management people have left the agency in the last few months. There are also other key people in the agency are threatening to leave due to other issues. The company president requires me, to conduct a personal inquiry of the situation. I need to determine and analyze the work condition of the branch. I will interview several, various employees, both new and old to determine the views and opinions of the employees of their  work environment. I will also look at various company documents, manuals, and all employee management training. Impact and Effect: The investigation into the Roanoke Branch of the Phoenix Advertising company showed that they are currently facing problems with both management and employee relations. The Roanoke management problems are significantly affecting their employee performance and work ethic. The overall quality and productivity of the branch is suffering. One of their main problems is the decreasing employee morale and motivation. This was easily observed and shown through the answers I received while conducting my interviews. The employees, both new and old showed a huge decrease in their dedication for their work, which resulted in the decline of the quality of their performance at work and the work they produced. The employees also associated this decline to the fact that they felt dissatisfaction with the services and the performances of their managers and the work environment that they were having to work in. The employees feel stress in their work environment which resulted in an increased rate of the use of sick days and was the main cause of the high employee turnover rate. A lack of or poor communication between the employees and the managers is also another problem raised during the my interviews. Solutions The problems discovered during my investigation have to be resolved, and soon, as this may negatively affect not only the Roanoke branch but Phoenix Advertising as a whole. We need to start by revising the hiring and recruitment process in the branch. Particularly on information relative to work assignments, chain of command, and the rights and privileges of the employees. This solution proposal will hopefully create a clear understanding of the purpose of having an employee, and allowing the superiors to use them accordingly based on their skills set, and responsibilities. As the investigator, I recommend the following solutions: Reducing the overall workload of our full-time employees and adding more  part-time employees to help them out, especially during peak seasons to lower employee tension and to even out the amount of work each individual has to do alone. Establishing a clear communication line between managers and employees. This will allow for a more productive workplace, better collaboration between the clients, artists, helpers and anyone else who is involved in the project. Creating a clearer procedural structure and requirements in future approvals of new clients and contracts, to be able to assure the capabilities of the overall company. By being able to provide a better quality product not just pumping out a higher quantity of products for the Roanoke branch and for the Phoenix Advertising company as a whole.

The Shock of Enslavement

African rulers began enslaving and selling their own people to Europe and other countries long before there was such a large demand for slaves in the early 1600s. Enslavement started out as punishment for crimes, but soon became a booming business for African rulers. English colonists who had a need for cheap labor decided to tap into the slave trade to find affordable plantation workers. Africans were taken against their will, tortured, and dehumanized in preparation for their journey into slavery. Africans of all social ranks ended up on slave ships. Some had been village leaders; some already slaves in Africa, members of chiefs’ families and the educated elite. They were kidnapped, separated from their families, branded like cattle, and made to march in chains to the coast where they would be confined in cages until there were enough of them to fill a ship. The slaves then boarded canoes to be ferried to the ships. Many became desperate and decided to jump overboard and drown rather than be carried off to an unknown destination. The voyage from Africa to North America was a six- to eight-week-long ocean voyage called the Middle Passage. Men were wedged below decks in spaces about 6 feet long, 16 inches wide, and 30 inches high. Women and children were packed even more tightly. The slaves were forced to stay below decks most of the time where the smell of vomit, blood, and other body fluids grew rancid. Some slaves went insane from the cooped up conditions, and hearing shrieks and groans of pain or dying. Others refused to eat. On many voyages, between 5 and 20 percent of the slaves died from disease and other causes. Those who survived the horrifying voyage endured the humiliation of being sold. Buyers generally preferred males and often looked for slaves from certain African ethnic groups, believing that some Africans would work harder than others. The process often involved being looked over for signs of disease, including being poked and prodded. Many terrified Africans thought they were going to be eaten. Being a slave in early American times would have been a horrible way to live. But that seems mild compared to the actual process of becoming a slave and enduring the horrific voyage overseas to America. We can only hope that time has healed some of the pain and suffering caused to all generations and races that have been enslaved throughout the years.Works CitedDavid Goldfield –[et al.]–(2009) The American Journey: a history of the United States, p.68-71 The Wikimedia Foundation (2010) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Passage

A MANAGER’S GUIDE TO GOVERNMENT IN THE MARKET PLACE Essay

A MANAGER’S GUIDE TO GOVERNMENT IN THE MARKET PLACE TABLE OF CONTENTS I.INTRODUCTION II.MARKET FAILURE A.MARKET POWER B.EXTERNALITIES C.PUBLIC GOODS D.INCOMPLETE INFORMATION III.RENT SEEKING IV.GOVERNMENT POLICY A.QUOTAS B.TARIFFS V.CONCLUSION I.INTRODUCTION According to Mr. Michael Bay, author of the Book, â€Å"Managerial Economics and Business Strategy†, they have treated the market as a place where firms and consumers come together to trade goods and services with no intervention from government. But as you are aware, rules and regulations that are passed and enforced by government enter into almost every decision firms and consumers make. As a manager, it is important to understand the regulations passed by government, why such regulations have been passed, and how they affect optimal managerial decisions. We will begin by examining four reasons why free markets may fail to provide the socially efficient quantities of goods: (1) market power, (2) externalities, (3) public goods, and (4) incomplete information. The book analysis includes an overview of government policies designed to alleviate these â€Å"market failures† and an explanation of how the policies affect managerial decisions. The power of politicians to  institute policies that affect the allocation of resources in markets provides those adversely affected with an incentive to engage in lobbying activities. The book will illustrate the underlying reasons for these types of rent-seeking activities. The book will examine how these activities can lead politicians to impose restrictions such as quotas and tariffs in markets affected by international trade. LEARNING OBJECTIVES †¢Identify four sources of market failure †¢Explain why market power reduces social welfare, and identify two types of government policies aimed at reducing deadweight loss. †¢Show why externalities can lead competitive markets to provide socially inefficient quantities of goods and services; explain how government policies, such as the Clean Air Act, can improve resource allocation. †¢Show why competitive markets fail to provide socially efficient levels of public goods; explain how the government can mitigate these inefficiencies. †¢Explain why incomplete information compromises the efficiency of markets, and identify five government policies aimed at mitigating these problems. †¢Explain why government attempts to solve market failures can lead to additional inefficiencies because of â€Å"rent-seeking† activities. †¢Show how government policies in international markets, such as quotas and tariffs, impact the prices and quantities of domestic goods and services. II.MARKET FAILURE Market failure is a concept within economic theory describing when the allocation of goods and services by a free market is not efficient. That is, there exists another conceivable outcome where a market participant may be made better-off without making someone else worse-off. Market failures can be viewed as scenarios where individuals’ pursuit of pure self-interest leads to results that are not efficient – that can be improved upon from the societal point-of-view. The existence of a market failure is often used as a justification for government intervention in a particular market. Economists, especially microeconomists, are often concerned with the causes of correction. Such analysis plays an important role in many types of public  policy decisions and studies. However, some types of government policy interventions, such as taxes, subsidies, bailouts, wage and price controls, and regulations, including attempts to correct market failure, may also lead to an inefficient allocation of resources, sometimes called government failure. HOW IT WORKS / EXAMPLE: Under free market conditions, prices are determined almost exclusively by the forces of supply and demand. Any shift in one of these results in a price change that signals a corresponding shift in the other. Then, the prices return to an equilibrium level. A market failure results when prices cannot achieve equilibrium because of market distortions (for example, minimum wage requirements or price limits on specific goods and services) that restrict economic output. In the other words, government regulations implemented to promote social wellbeing inevitably result in a degree of market failure. MARKET POWER Market power is the ability of a form to profitably raise the market price of a good or service over marginal cost. In perfectly competitive markets, market participants have no market power. A firm with total market power can raise prices without losing any customers to competitors. Market participants that have market power are therefore sometimes referred to as â€Å"price makers†, while those without are sometimes called â€Å"price takers†. Significant market power is when prices exceed marginal cost and long run average cost, so the firm makes economic profits. HOW IT WORKS / EXAMPLE: The macroeconomics concept of perfect competition assumes that no one producer can set a price for the whole market. Among companies that produce similar goods and services, all have varying levels of market power, but none are sufficient to effect a sustainable price change. In other words, all producers must compete based on a collective market price. A monopoly is the best example of a company with substantial market power. With little or no competition, a monopoly can, for example, raise market prices by reducing its level of output. ï  ®Market power is the ability of a firm to set P > MC. ï  ®Firms with market power produce socially inefficient output levels. ïÆ'ËœToo little output ïÆ'ËœPrice exceeds MC ïÆ'ËœDeadweight loss ïÆ'ËœDollar value of society’s welfare loss ANTITRUST POLICY An antitrust policy is designed to affect competition. The general goal behind such a policy is to keep markets open and competitive. These regulations are used by different governments around the world although the laws often vary. Broadly speaking, antitrust law seek to wrong competitor businesses from anti competitive practices. The goals of antitrust policy is to (1) To eliminate deadweight loss of monopoly and promote social welfare and (2) Make it illegal for managers to pursue strategies that foster monopoly power. PRICE REGULATIONS Government oversight or direct government control over the price charged in a market, especially by a firm with market control. Price regulation is most commonly used for public utilities characterized as natural monopolies. If allowed to maximize profit restrained, the price charged would exceed marginal cost and production would be inefficient. However, because such firms, as public utilities, produce output that is deemed essential or critical for the public, government steps in to regulate or control the price. The two most common methods of price regulation are marginal-cost pricing and average-cost pricing. Graphical presentation of Marginal-Cost Pricing: EXTERNALITIES An externalities is a cost or benefit which results from an activity or transaction and which results from an activity or transaction and which affects an otherwise uninvolved party who did not choose to incur that cost or benefit. For example, manufacturing activities which cause air pollution impose health and clean-up costs on the whole society, while the neighbors  of an individual who chooses to fire-proof his home may benefit from a reduced risk of a fire spreading to their own house. If external cost exist, such pollution, the producer may choose to produce more of the product than would be produced if he were required to pay all associated environmental costs. If there are external benefits, such as in public safety, less of the good may be produced than would be the case if the producer were to receive payment for the external benefits to others. For the purpose of these statements, overall cost and benefit to society is defined as the sum of the imputed monetary value of benefits and costs to all parties involved. Thus, it is said that, for good with externalities, unregulated market prices do not reflect the full social costs or benefit of the transaction. Government regulations may induce the socially efficient level of output by forcing firms to internalize pollution costs. Example of this is the Clean Air Act of 1970. EXAMPLES OF EXTERNALITIES A negative externality is an action of a product on consumers that imposes a negative effect on a third party; it is â€Å"social cost†. ïÆ'ËœAir pollution – from burning fossil fuels causes damages to crops, (historic) buildings and public health. ïÆ'ËœAnthropogenic climate change – is attributed to greenhouse gas emissions from burning oil, gas and coal. ïÆ'ËœWater pollution – by industries that adds effluent which harms, animals and human. ïÆ'ËœNoise pollution – which may be is mentally and psychologically disruptive. ïÆ'ËœSystem risk – describe the risks to the overall economy arising from the risks which the banking system takes. Socially Efficient Equilibrium: Internal and External Costs PUBLIC GOODS In economics, a public good is a good that is both non-excludable and non-rivalrous in that individuals cannot be effectively excluded from use and where use by one individual does not reduce availability to others.[1] Examples of public goods include fresh air, knowledge, lighthouses, national defense, flood control systems and street lighting. Public goods that are available everywhere are sometimes referred to as global public goods. Many public goods may at times be subject to excessive use resulting in  negative externalities affecting all users; for example air pollution and traffic congestion. Public goods problems are often closely related to the â€Å"free-rider† problem, in which people not paying for the good may continue to access it, or the tragedy of the commons, where consumption of a shared resource by individuals acting in their individual and immediate self-interest diminishes or even destroys the original resource. Thus, the good may be under-produced, overused or degraded.[2] Public goods may also become subject to restrictions on access and may then be considered to be club goods or private goods; exclusion mechanisms include copyright, patents, congestion pricing, and pay television. Uncoordinated markets driven by self-interested parties may be unable to provide these goods. There is a good deal of debate and literature on how to measure the significance of public goods problems in an economy, and to identify the best remedies. Graphical presentation of Public Goods: ïÆ'ËœNonrival: A good which when consumed by one person does not preclude other people from also consuming the good. †¢Example: Radio signals, national defense ïÆ'ËœNonexclusionary: No one is excluded from consuming the good once it is provided. †¢Example: Clean air ïÆ'˜â€Å"Free Rider† Problem – Individuals have little incentive to buy a public good because of their nonrival & nonexclusionary nature. Public goods provide a very important example of market failure, in which market-like behavior of individual gain-seeking does not produce efficient results. The production of public goods results in positive externalities which are not remunerated. If private organizations don’t reap all the benefits of a public good which they have produced, their incentives to produce it voluntarily might be insufficient. Consumers can take advantage of public goods without contributing sufficiently to their creation. This is called the free rider problem, or occasionally, the â€Å"easy rider problem† (because consumers’ contributions will be small but non-zero). If too many consumers decide to ‘free-ride’, private costs exceed private benefits and the  incentive to provide the good or service through the market disappears. The market thus fails to provide a good or service for which there is a need. The free rider problem depends on a conception of the human being as homo economicus: purely rational and also purely selfish—extremely individualistic, considering only those benefits and costs that directly affect him or her. Public goods give such a person an incentive to be a free rider. For example, consider national defense, a standard example of a pure public good. Suppose homo economicus thinks about exerting some extra effort to defend the nation. The benefits to the individual of this effort would be very low, since the benefits would be distributed among all of the millions of other people in the country. There is also a very high possibility that he or she could get injured or killed during the course of his or her military service. INCOMPLETE INFORMATION For markets to function efficiently, participants must have reasonably good information about things such as prices, quality, available technologies, and the risks associated with working in certain jobs or consuming certain products. When participants in the market have incomplete information about such things, the result will be inefficiencies in input usage and in firms’ output. †¢Participants in a market that have incomplete information about prices, quality, technology, or risks may be inefficient. †¢The Government serves as a provider of information to combat the inefficiencies caused by incomplete and/or asymmetric information. Government Policies Designed to Mitigate Incomplete Information †¢OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) – the regulations are carried out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). One of the more severe causes of market failure is asymmetric information, a situation where some market participants have better information than others †¢SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) †¢Certification – Another policy government uses to disseminate information and reduce asymmetric information is the certification of skills and/or authenticity. The purpose of certification is to centralize the cost of gathering information. †¢Truth in lending – Regulation Z and TLSA require that all creditors comply with the act. A creditor is defined as anyone who loans money subject to a finance charge, where the money is to be paid back in four or more installments. A creditor must also be the person to whom the original obligation is payable. TLSA has some exemptions regarding the types of loans covered, the most notable being business, agricultural, and commercial loans. †¢Truth in advertising – This advantage may give firms an incentive to make false claims about the merits of their products to capitalize on consumers’ lack of information. †¢Contract enforcement – Another way government solves the problems of asymmetric information is through contract enforcement. For example, suppose your boss â€Å"promised† you payment for labor services at the end of the month. After you have worked for a month, your boss refuses to pay you—in effect gaining a month’s worth of your labor for free. III.RENT SEEKING Rent seeking is an attempt to obtain economic rent by manipulating the social or political environment in which economic activities occur, rather than by creating new wealth. A simple definition of rent seeking is spending resources in order to gain by increasing one’s share of existing wealth, instead of trying to create wealth. †¢Government policies will generally benefit some parties at the expense of others. †¢Lobbyists spend large sums of money in an attempt to affect these policies. †¢This process is known as rent-seeking. An Example: Seeking Monopoly Rights †¢Firm’s monetary incentive to lobby for monopoly rights: A †¢Consumers’ monetary incentive to lobby against monopoly: A+B. †¢Firm’s incentive is smaller than consumers’ incentives. †¢But, consumers’ incentives are spread among many different individuals. †¢As a result, firms often succeed in their lobbying efforts. IV.GOVERNMENT POLICY Sometimes rent seeking manifests itself in the form of government involvement in international markets. Such policies usually take the form of tariffs or quotas that are designed to benefit specific firms and workers at the expense of others. In this section, we will examine how government tariff and quota policies affect managerial decisions. QUOTA ïÆ'ËœLimit on the number of units of a product that a foreign competitor can bring into the country. ïÆ'ËœReduces competition, thus resulting in higher prices, lower consumer surplus, and higher profits for domestic firms. TARIFF ïÆ'ËœLump sum tariff: a fixed fee paid by foreign firms to enter the domestic market. ïÆ'ËœExcise tariff: a per unit fee on each imported product. †¢Causes a shift in the MC curve by the amount of the tariff which in turn decreases the supply of all foreign firms. V.CONCLUSION ïÆ'ËœMarket power, externalities, public goods, and incomplete information create a potential role for government in the marketplace. ïÆ'ËœGovernment’s presence creates rent-seeking incentives, which may undermine its ability to improve matters.