Discussion Question Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 21

Discussion Question - Assignment Example Southern people feared that the North would gain strength and push abolition of slavery. The regional conflict between the North and South affected the political environment. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 saw the Northerners getting from the Union and formed a new slave state called Missouri while Maine became a slavery-free territory. The stands of North and South on slavery also influenced the compromise of 1850 that gave rise to doctrine of states’ rights (Brands, Breen, Williams & Gross, 2012). Both divisions were pushing for a state that would have equal leaders from slave and Free states. However, the compromise led to a bigger conflict that divided the two regions even further than in the beginning. Anti-slavery call inspired Abraham Lincoln rise to presidency. The North backed his candidacy because his victory would automatically impose their will on South. The Southern states did not have him on the ballot, but he won and brought moderate rule on slavery. The Southern states believed that Lincoln was against them. However, Lincoln did not have plans of violating doctrine of states’ rights in a bid to deal with the tension between the North and the

Currently Ethical Issue in Business Research Paper

Currently Ethical Issue in Business - Research Paper Example This has mainly emanated from the absence of transparency, consistency; accountability, coupled with institutional weaknesses within judicial and legislative systems have been a primary cause of corruption within companies. The paper explores ethical challenges associated with corruption and bribery in business. Business ethics has overtime attracted significant interest partly owing to the perception of crude capital tendencies, which elevate the making of profits relative to ethical making of such profits. The realization of corporate goals and objectives necessitates that business managers design relevant policies and strategies, which enable them to attain the set objectives and cope with the overriding business environment. Nevertheless, some of the corporate policies may offend ethical sensibilities (Trevino & Nelson, 2011). Background Corruption is a complex phenomenon covering a wide range of and its origin lies deep within political and bureaucratic institutions. Although, t he costs of corruption may differ and systemic corruption may be accompanied by sound economic performance, studies on corruption demonstrates that corruption is bad for development. Bribery represents one of the core tools of corruption and can be employed by businesses as a mode of â€Å"buying† things availed by governments or other entities such as contracts, government incentives, lower taxes, legal outcomes, and licenses (Myint, 2000). Ordinary business practices when abused can be construed as corrupt payments. Bribery and corruption in companies limits competition, corrupts the society, and damages innovation. In most cases, â€Å"corrupt† and â€Å"illicit† can be employed interchangeably, which implies that corrupt behavior contravenes a principle of legality; nevertheless, not all illegal behavior is corrupt and not all corrupt behavior can be deemed as illegal (Kochan & Goodyear, 2011). Transparency International differentiates forms of corruption by motive, whereby corruption behaviors injurious to the firm can be labeled as dysfunctional corruption while that beneficial to the firm can be labeled as functional corruption (Myint, 2000). Such a distinction is relevant when discussing international business and corruption given that some acts such as bribes and kickbacks may enable the firm to operate profitably, especially in the short-term (Loughman & Sibery, 2012). Discussion The World Bank estimates that close to 0.5% of GDP is lost via corruption each year. Bribery is mode common form of corruption, which creates a leeway where organized crime can flourish, corroding of trust in institutions, and undermining the rule of and democratic practices. Corruption can be highlighted as endemic within emerging economies causing chaos in economic development. In recent years, there has been a surge in high-profile cases of corporate corruption and bribery, which have given rise to colossal fines for companies engaged in corruption su rpassing $ 1 billion and increasing diplomatic tensions between countries. In response to increasing incidences on corruption, the U.S. Justice Department has increased prosecutions of alleged acts of foreign bribery by U.S. corporations. For instance, in 2009, over 120 companies were under investigation representing a stark contrast from what was happening in the previous years. Recent trends toward vibrant enforcement of

When I was a Certified Nursing Assist Essay Example for Free

When I was a Certified Nursing Assist Essay I first wanted to be a Certified Nursing Assist (CNA) at the age 16. I had to do community service for Graffiti. I was given a job as an activity assistant at a nursing home. I enjoyed it so much! The people there are so much fun to work with. The best part about it was being able to help them read the paper, play bingo, or whatever they wanted to do. Once a lady and her sister were pushing chairs down the hallway and I asked â€Å"what are you doing?† They told me they were taking a train ride to see their father for his birthday. It made me feel sad because I had to explain to them that they were going the wrong way, so I helped them back to their room. Once there, I explained to them that they lived here at the nursing home and were not going anywhere. It was at that moment, I wanted to really be in the nursing field to be able to make a positive impression on someone else’s life. I have found that being passionate and having empathy are some important traits to have as a CNA you it help you understand better as to why they might feel some different emotions in the new environment. Since residents have many nurses taking care of them it can make them feel anxious, sad, or depressed. Being responsible by using your gait belt can ensure safety or resident and yourself. A typical day for a CNA would start at 6 am. We would report to the charge nurse and get a report. Then, about 6:15, one would prepare a linen cart for their hall. Between 6:30-8, we start getting residents up and showered and bathed. We answer call lights between residents when we have time, as we’re taking residents to and from breakfast. As residents are coming back from breakfast, we are laying some down or changing them. CNA’s take a 15 min break around 9:15. After our break, we come back and answer call lights, take residents to therapy or activities, and do vitals or weigh the resident for the day. We continue to toilet people and give showers to those that did not get showered before breakfast. By 10:30 most CNA’s take a 30 min lunch. We come back at 11 to get people up that are in bed and change those who need to be changed; by noon all resident should be at lunch. At 12:30 the residents should be coming back from lunch. We would toilet those that want to stay up and take them to afternoon activities. And lay down ones that need to be laid down then answer call lights. CNA’s take their last 15 min break around 1:15 When we come back at 1:30 everyone should be taken care of. Then, we check our rooms to ensure safety and make sure everyone has been changed and toileted. At 2pm, we should be finishing up and giving reports to the next CNA and charting for the day. By 2:30 you should be ready to go home. In 2011, I worked at a nursing home. I cared for individuals who had Alzheimer, who had injuries that required Occupational Therapy, who permanently resided there. When we first get to work, we would report to the Registered Nurse (R.N) and then get our supplies ready for our shift. Afterwards, we would prepare clothes and help one get dressed for the day. After one was dressed and beds were made, we would go to the cafeteria and have breakfast. There would be individuals who needed assistance eating and drinking so we would find someone who needed help. Once breakfast was done, we would help everyone get back to their rooms and assist with restroom breaks, change and get them relaxed, or take them to the next activity. I would get my 10-12 residents vitals and report it to the R.N. on my hall. At 11:30, it’s lunch time, so we get everyone to the cafeteria and assist as needed. Between the 8 hour shifts, we give showers to the residents. We sometimes use a Hoyer lift and always wear our gait belt to help us lift the resident to ensure safety. It is very cumbersome to work as a CNA. The people are so sweet and we have the best of times! After lunch, we continue activities and showers. After the CNA’s take a break, we come back, and check our residents and change them. At the end of the day we clean our area and report back to the R.N. There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages to being a CNA. First, being patient with the resident is important because they are delicate. Since most of the residents are older in age, they cannot move as fast and their skin gets thinner with age and disease. Making sure you have ample time with each resident is a MUST! If you don’t make time then you could hurt someone or yourself. Another advantage to being a CNA is the pay, normally one is paid at least $10 an hour or more if you are part time nurse (PRN) or as needed you could get paid as much as 1 5-20 and hr. Stability is important because you really get to know your job and you’ll be the best to your ability. Working in the nursing field you have lots of job opportunities to meet and get to know people. Most places offer benefits for you and your family. Such as health, dental, and other benefits as well. Some disadvantages to working as a CNA, are standing on your feet for long periods of time and lifting pe ople all day. It can cause you to have back aches and swollen ankles. Dealing with death is another disadvantage because you really get to know your residents and it is like having a close friend die. It can take a toll on one. Family can be difficult as well. Being that some family members have taken care of their loved one, they have a schedule and like it to be kept but when the environment changes things seem to change. One last disadvantage I’d like to add, is nursing homes and hospitals are always understaffed which means a lot of overtime and pressure on one person so try your best to stay focused and not to take it out on your residents. Given that I have extensive experience in the medical field, I have found that you can make an awesome CNA if you listen to your charge nurse and follow all policies and regulations that are in your scope of nurse assist practice. If you are not sure of something, ask your Director of nursing (DON). The residents look to CNA’s as Angels of Mercy, so try your absolute best to always put them first. Have respect and show consideration of their belongings.You would not want someone coming to your house and going through your belongings or mistreating you.

Product Success Is Not A Reliable Indicator Business Essay

Product Success Is Not A Reliable Indicator Business Essay The report highlights the importance of different factors that contribute to the success of a company and strengthens its foundation. It draws insight on product success that is given an important consideration in terms of companys future growth and revenue generation. It is an essential pre-requisite for a companys strength. It contribution is vital towards the success of a company but it is not considered as a reliable indicator as various other factors play a greater and crucial role in determining companys strength. The strength of a company lies in those indicators which have the power to govern change and sustain its competitive advantage in the long run. There are various indicators which have been changing with the course of time and changing needs of business environment. These indicators are viewed different by various scholars. Thus, enriching there interaction in a company. The term reliability is the measure of consistency of different indicators that are devised in a company structure to overcome competitive threats and have a grab on opportunities. It can be correlated to business acumen and its knowledge. A great deal of business success depends on generating new knowledge and on having the capabilities to react quickly and intelligently to this new knowledge . . . (Richard Rumelt, 1996). The products of a company play a significant role in generation of revenue but the essential indicators are the factors leading to the creation of the product in accordance with the market demand and consumer needs. The firm specific knowledge plays a crucial role in exploiting the available resources to have a competitive advantage and contribute to companys strength. An essential feature of strategy or more specifically innovation strategy should be directed towards accumulation of such firm specific knowledge. Ives et al. (1998), for instance, trace the history of knowledge management back to the ancient Sumerian civilization where cuneiform archives served to record knowledge for future generations. Modern management tends to focus on controlling, centralising and standardising knowledge which reduces the marginal cost of knowledge by economies of scale. It is argued whether knowledge management represents an extension or departure from these tendencies. The conversion of tacit into explicit knowledge and storing it is lined up with such tendencies. The new technology integrates knowledge in the organisation. It opens up new opportunities for knowledge creation and transfer beyond the more traditional means of face-to-face interaction, mentoring, job rotation and staff development (Alavi and Leidner, 1997). IBMs Larry Prusak says, knowledge is both an asset and a process of acting knowledgeable. Knowledge management is the process of continually managing knowledge of all kinds to meet existing and emerging needs, to identify and exploit existing and acquired knowledge assets and to develop new opportunities (Quintas et al., 1997). The knowledge management programmes have coheren ce across a number of dimensions, including organisational structure and culture, people aspects, process and technology (Quintas et al., 1997 p387). Harry Scarbrough (1998) points that managing knowledge is not easy as it are often sticky and tacit. It cant be extracted from its context. He raises human relation issues such as staff will resist being treated as a moveable asset. It is further argued that knowledge itself appears in a number of different guises according to context: intellectual capital (e.g. Bontis, 1998; Roos et al, 1998); knowledge assets (Boisot, 1998; Teece, 1998); workplace and organisational capital (Adler and Cole, 1993; Argyris, 1992). The formulation of an innovation strategy having the ability to cope up with an external environment that is considered to be complex and ever changing, with consequent uncertainty about present and future advancements in technology, competition challenges and market demands may prove to strengthen companys business tactics in the long run. It is argued that the distinction between approaches i.e. choice and implementation breaks down when firms decision are made in complex and fast changing environments. The rational approach to innovative strategies dominance is believed to be less effective than the incremental approach which lays emphasis on changing needs in the light of new information, learning and understanding that is consciously obtained. The nature of the competitive threats and opportunities that emerge from advances in technology rightly stress the importance of developing and protecting firm-specific technology in order to enable firms to enable themselves against the c ompetition (Porter, 1980). It is argued that Porters approach underestimates the power of technology to change the course of the competion by transforming industrial structures and overestimates the organisational competencies to exploit them. It is very difficult (but not impossible e.g. the case of Nokia) for a manufacturing traditional textiles to have an innovation strategy to develop and make computers (Patel, P. and Pavitt, K., 1998). The product success is not a reliable indicator because when the product enters the market its reliability and validity depends on the market forces and competition and both of them are based on uncertainties. A firms technological innovation requires complementary assets to produce and deliver new products and services. Prior commercialisation activities require and enable firms to build such complementarities (Teece, 1986b). New products and processes can either enhance or destroy the value of such assets (Tushman et al., 1986). For example: IBMs direct sales increased with the development of computers, while disk brakes were rendered useless as auto industries invested in drum brakes. Further ample evidences are available for a given type of competence (e.g. quality) which can be supported or manufactured by different routines and combination of skills. Garvin (1998) and Clark and Fujimoto (1991) studies both indicate that there was no one formula for achieving either high quality or high product development process. There is a firm competition between firms on the basis of product design, quality, process efficiency and other attributes. It is pointed that firms are constantly seeking to create new combination, and rivals are continuously attempting to improve their competencies or to imitate the competence of their most qualified competitors (Schumpeter, 1934). Such processes drive the destruction of product creativity. The focus is on the dynamic capabilities of firms which provides a coherent framework to integrate existing and empirical knowledge, and facilitate prescription (Teece, D. and Pisano,G., 1994). What depicts the strength of a company in global market is not its products success but demonstration of firms timely responsiveness and rapid and flexible product innovation, integration of management capabilities to effectively coordinate and redeploy internal and external competences. It is offered as an emerging paradigm of a business firm. It tries to facilitate a prescription by integration of existing conceptual and empirical knowledge. It is an indicator which provides competitive advantage to firm rooted in their high performance routines, processes and continued by history. They are built as they cant be brought from a market place. The very essence of capabilities/competencies is that they cant be readily assembled through markets (Teece, 1982, 1986a; Kogut and Zander, 1992). Resear chers (Doz and Shuen, 1989; Mody, 1990) have pointed that collaboration and partnership can be vehicles for new organisational learning, helping firms to recognize dysfunctional routines, and preventing strategic blind spots. This concept of dynamic capabilities opens the door to inter-organisational learning. Leonard Barton (1992) finds that the organisational core capabilities can easily create core rigidities. That is, opportunity for learning will be close in to previous activities and thus will be transaction and production specific (Teece, 1988). Porter (1980) describes two market strategies: innovation leadership and innovation followership. The initial one is concerned with those firms which attempt to introduce a new product to gain a technological lead and temporary monopoly profits whereas the latter tries to initiate the market pioneer by reverse engineering. It is argued that the survival and growth in the firms succeed or fail in their innovations, whether offensive or defensive. For a firm to survive and grow in competition, it must be capable of adapting its technologically based strategy to this competition. The introduction of a new product in any industry poses a threat to older products and processes by turning them obsolete or uneconomic. It has been inferred that core competencies play a vital role in companys strength. Managers will be judged on their ability to identify, cultivate and exploit the core competencies that make growth possible (Hamel and Prahalad, 1994).In the long run competitiveness derives from an ability to build at lower cost and more speedily than competitors, the core competencies that spawn unanticipated products. The real sources of competitive advantage are to be found in managements ability to consolidate corporate wide technologies and production skills into competencies that empower individual businesses to adapt quickly to changing opportunities(Hamel and Prahalad, 1994). The validity of this statement still holds its firm position in the mainstay thinking of todays firms. Core competence leads to the harmonisation of a number of related skills which starts building up an intelligent organisation. The competence base should be strong and should be managed properly. It should not be overlo oked. The core product of a company is the crux of an end product.For example: Cannon has 84% share in laser printer engines but miniscule laser printer share.It has built its core competence in engines rather than printers through continuous feedback from customers. It has been able to manage low risk, low cost and reduction in lead time by focusing on its competencies. In conclusion, a well-crafted strategy can lead a company to be a pioneer firm in the market if it possesses the ability to convert intellectual leadership into market leadership and be ahead of their rivals. The foresight of the rising opportunities plays a vital role in gaining a competitive advantage. Core competence and dynamic capabilities holds the key to exploit opportunities and are intriguing assets which are built with time. By getting hold of such opportunities a company can capture royalties, market reputation, customer lock-in, vast distribution network and set or define rules for other companies to compete, as Sony did in portable audio products and Intel has done in microprocessors. The key to innovation is stability.The focus of a company should be on organisational stewardship and stability rather than short-term profit fixation which can be gained from the success of one product.

The Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal Essay

The Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal During the 1930's, America witnessed a breakdown of the Democratic and free enterprise system as the US fell into the worst depression in history. The economic depression that beset the United States and other countries was unique in its severity and its consequences. At the depth of the depression, in 1933, one American worker in every four was out of a job. The great industrial slump continued throughout the 1930's, shaking the foundations of Western capitalism. The New Deal describes the program of US president Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1939 of relief, recovery, and reform. These new policies aimed to solve the economic problems created by the depression of the 1930's. When Roosevelt was nominated, he said, "I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people." The New Deal included federal action of unprecedented scope to stimulate industrial recovery, assist victims of the Depression, guarantee minimum living standards, and prevent future economic crises. Many economic, political, and social factors lead up to the New Deal. Staggering statistics, like a 25% unemployment rate, and the fact that 20% of NYC school children were under weight and malnourished, made it clear immediate action was necessary. In the first two years, the New Deal was concerned mainly with relief, setting up shelters and soup kitchens to feed the millions of unemployed. However as time progressed, the focus shifted towards recovery. In order to accomplish this monumental task, several agencies were created. The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was the keystone of the early new deal program launched by Roosevelt. It was created... ... After the law was passed, wages began to rise as the economy turned to war production. Wages and prices continued to rise, and the original minimum wage ceased to be relevant. However, this new law still excluded millions of working people, as did social security. However, a severe recession led many people to turn against New Deal policies. In addition, World War II erupted in September 1939. Causing an enormous growth in the economy as war goods were once again in great demand. No major New Deal legislation was enacted after 1938. The Depression was a devastating event in America, and by regulating banks and the stock market the New Deal eliminated the dubious financial practices that had helped precipitate the Great Depression. However, Roosevelt's chief fiscal tool, deficit spending, proved to be ineffective in averting downturns in the economy.

A Defining Moment In High School Athletics Essay -- Personal Narrative

A Defining Moment In High School Athletics I was a part of something my senior year that not many High School students will ever experience. It is one of those things that I will tell my grand kids about in years to come. The 2002 Fort Defiance Wrestling Team had a winning season with a perfect record. Our accomplishments as a team and as individuals will be in the records books at Fort Defiance High School, Virginia. Students athletes who play sports in school have dreams for their and themselves. One of these dreams is being exceptional enough to make it to the trophy case. We made it! The hard work, long practices, and discipline within the sport and us paid off. We were the first wrestling at Fort Defiance to have a perfect season. The wrestling started training for the perfect season the first Monday after Labor Day it was the 9th of September 2002. The day was very hot and muggy. The temperature outside was about 95 degrees. We all knew that practice was going to be to very tough. We were going to regret not working out all summer. Since wrestling the team camp had been about two months earlier, and that was the last time we had trained. We knew that we were going to pay a huge price for not listing to our coach and staying in shape. The first couple of weeks were tougher than I imagined. The training went on for the next two months until the season started. Most people looked forward to the end of the school day when it is time t go home. However that was not the case for me during wrestling season. My fun was just starting. Everyday we ran two miles to start with, then a couple of sprints. Then we would go into the wrestling room and stretch do run downs, which is were you do 15 push-ups then 15 sit-ups then 1... ... a wrestler, its not for all people you either love it or u hate there is no in between, the sport is too hard to just do it for fun. Wrestling demands many things from a person and would not be a sport for everybody. There have been many times that I have questioned myself in the sport. It’s not only the physical aspect that is hard it is the mental aspect as well. Situations like not eating when you come home from practice so you can make weight. It’s waking up two hours before school starts so you can run to make weight. It’s believing in yourself when no one else does. It is a deep desire from within to be the best that you can be. My Wrestling experience in high school has shaped my life and made me the person I’m today. Being a wrestler is tough, but I’m thankful I had the experience. The lessons that I learned and the friendships made will carry though life.

Micro Economics Essay

When external costs are present, the market equilibrium use of natural resources is inefficient because the social benefit is less than the social cost. Positive externalities or external benefits impose a positive effect on the third party. Eg: Vaccinations provide a direct benefit to the patient and a spillover effect to the other people. MMR vaccination is given to patients to prevent them from contracting the disease Source: Business Economics Slides The demand curve (D1) depicts the price patients are willing to spend on the MMR vaccination to receive the benefit of a reduced probability of infection. Supply curve S reflects the quantities of shots suppliers offer for sale at different price levels. An equilibrium point E1 the market fails to achieve an efficient allocation of resources. MMR vaccination has a spillover effect which will benefit society by reducing the likelihood of spreading the diseases. D2 reflects the new demand curve which includes the external benefit to non-consumers with efficient equilibrium E2. At this point suppliers devote greater resources to the immunization avoiding under allocation of resources. Negative externalities or external cost impose a negative effect on the third party. Eg: Offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in severe negative externalities such pollution. Source: Business Economics slides The demand curve D1and supply curve S1 reflect the market equilibrium which is inefficient since it fails to acknowledge the negative externalities produced. The absence of the cost of oil spills in the price of offshore oil means that firms produce more output than socially desirable. Includes the cost of oil spills the equilibrium price rises to P2 and the quantity becomes Q2. E2 reflects the full cost including the environmental cost associated with the activity. (b) Why does a good or service become a public good or service? (2. 5 marks) A product or service that an individual can consume without reducing its availability to another individual which can be collectively consumed from which no one is excluded. National security, sewer systems and public parks are all examples of public goods. Explain why each of the following examples are either public goods or services, or private goods or services? (? mark each correct classification and ? marks for each reason). Item Public/ Private Explanation A privately owned enginerring and material research laboratory undertaking contractual research on weapons development; Private The nature of the organisation being a private entitty which charges a fee for its services and the fact that two critierias of non excludability and non-rivalrous are not satisfied. The quaranteen service; Public Pure public service since it can be collectively consumed and its non excludability making it avaible to every citizen. A toll road originally financed through government debt Semi Public Fee is charged for usage therfore does not satidfy the non excludability criteria, however was financed through the government. Courses offerred by a fee charging privately owned teaching institution that receives some government funding Semi Public Price charged indicates its not acessable to everyone however recives government funding offering a reduced rate to the students.