Budget Deficit - 1183 Words

Budget Deficit For many decades, there has been a concern for the deficit within the United States. Many politicians, authors, newscasters, and citizens have expressed their distress in order to resolve or control the issue. Keynesian economic theory states that running a budget deficit is okay, as long as the deficit is not exorbitantly large and is not carried for a long period of time. Even though many experts agree with this notion, having a deficit at all is important to the present and future economic stability of a country. For the most part, the uncontrolled increases in spending and reckless tax cuts in the past have damaged the federal budget, which the White House and Congress have allowed to occur. President Bush has†¦show more content†¦However, after the economy has recovered, the deficit becomes a problem. In the event that the current deficit is not handled properly, the country will begin to see the weakening of the production of goods and services, in turn forcing w ages to decrease. Interest rates will rise, which will make it harder for households and businesses to acquire loans. These factors will increase the strain on the American public and unfortunately lower the ability of the government to intervene, due to the already high deficit. In addition, interest obligations of the federal government are slated to grow from $155 billion in 2004 to $514 billion in 2014, or by $359 billion. These extra costs are the result of both rising interest rates and increased borrowing by the federal government. In order to sustain the economic power and prosperity that the United States has created, major change must be implemented by government leaders, not by career politicians. When a budget is in deficit there are only two ways, other than faster growth in the economy, to bring it into balance. Spending must be cut or revenue increased. Obviously, cutting spending to many of the current governmental programs is difficult because they have already been implemented and deemed necessary. Increasing taxes is also a difficult issue for politicians to handle and for the public to accept. There needs to be a healthy mix of these two options that keeps the economy powerful, whileShow MoreRelatedThe Federal Budget Deficit662 Words   |  3 Pages The federal budget deficit it is an excess government spending on state revenues. And public debt is an aggregate amount of government debt, which is composed of outstanding loans and unpaid interest thereon. U.S. federal expenditures is approximately around 3.5-4 trillion dollars, which includes: defense – $700b, social security – $700b, Medicare and Medicaid – $450b, Interest – $200b, other assistance such as food stamps, unemployment, housing, EITC - $180b, and other non-defense - $600bRead MoreFederal Budget Deficit1343 Words   |  6 PagesExcessive Borrowing: Our Federal Government s Budget Deficit Maria comes home one day earlier than usual. Her family, two daughters of age five and eight and a stay-at-home husband, is surprised to see her so early and unexpectedly. The tired look on her face reveals the experience she had at work. She brings out a sluggish smile as her daughters rush up to greet her with their warm embraces, reminding her of the happiness they constantly provide but also saddened by their questionable futureRead More budget deficit Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pagesmess.quot; Famous last words heard from the mouths of many different politicians when talking about the national debt and the budget deficit. Our debt is currently $4.41 trillion and we have a budget deficit of around $300 billion and growing. Our government now estimates that by the year 2002 the debt will be $6.507 Trillion. While our politicians talk of balancing the budget, not one of them has proposed a feasible plan to start paying down the debt. In the early days of our government debt was c onsideredRead MoreThe Budget Deficit For Fiscal Year1019 Words   |  5 Pagespayments on all the money borrowed from other countries. Budget deficits, budget surplus, national debt, deficit spending all have pros and cons. The federal government collects fees, taxes and certain revenues every year while spending in other fields. Deficits happen when total expenditures in a fiscal year outweigh the total revenues, when this happens; the government borrows money from foreign countries to pay the difference. The budget deficit for fiscal year (Oct 1 2015- Sept 30, 2016) is projectedRead MoreBudget Deficits and the Economic Growth1943 Words   |  8 PagesBudget Deficits and Economic Growth Joey Willoughby ECO 203 Principles of Macroeconomics Instructor: Nathan Rondeau 6/27/2011 Budget Deficits and Economic Growth Economists generally agree that high budget deficits today will result in the reduction of the growth rate of the economy in the future. The United States budgetary situation has disintegrated significantly since 2001, when the CBO ( Congressional Budget OfficeRead MoreFederal Budget Deficit And The National Debt1524 Words   |  7 Pages These two graphs are dealing with the federal budget deficit and the national debt and just how diverse they are from the time differences with both begging approximately in the 2001’s and making their way to 2013. Different types of numbers, but the relationship between the Federal budget deficit and the national debt is by how the Deficit deals with taking the difference of what the U.S. government gets in from taxes or other revenues calling these receipts, but on top of that the amount of moneyRead MoreThe Federal Budget Deficit And The National Debt747 Words   |  3 PagesAlvarado ECON 2301.SY2 The Federal Budget Deficit and the National Debt The United States national debt is large. The U.S. Debt-to-GDP ratio has grown to over 60 percent in recent years. We are more than $15 trillion in debt. In this paper I will address the federal budget, the United States debt, and the resulting impacts on society in several sectors. In our textbook, â€Å"Principles of Macroeconomics,† the relationship between debt and deficit is described. A deficit is a shortfall in revenue for aRead MoreBudget Deficit And Its Effect On The National Debt1403 Words   |  6 Pagesthe past 60 years has Britain s budget been in surplus, most recently in 2001-2002. A budget surplus occurs when tax revenue is greater than government spending and interest payments. Therefore, the government can use the surplus revenue to pay off the national debt. The budget deficit is the annual amount the government has to borrow to meet the shortfall between current receipts (tax) and government spending, for example by the end of 2009-10 our annual deficit was  £170.8 billion. The argumentRead MoreBudget Deficit Is The Amount Of Federal Money2047 Words   |  9 Pages1) Budget Deficit Def: It is the amount of federal money spent each year that is more than the federal income, so that the federal expenditure is greater than the federal revenue. CE: In 2016, the Congressional Budget Office faintly decreased the estimation of the government’s budget deficit by $10 billion from the original $534 billion for the fiscal year of 2016. 2) Expenditures Def: It is the amount of federal money or revenue that is spent, especially on social programs like social securityRead MoreNational Debt and Budget Deficit Essay652 Words   |  3 Pagesimportantly budget deficits and the national debt. Given all of the talk, one may come to think that budget deficits and the national debt are one in the same. While the two do go hand-in-hand, it is important to understand that they are two separate things. InvestorWords.com defines a budget deficit as the amount by which a government, company, or individuals spending exceeds its income over a particular period of time. To remain within the limits of one’s income would create a budget surplus;

Goals in Conflict Essay - 1285 Words

Wilmot and Hocker have stated in the Seventh Edition of Interpersonal Conflict that â€Å"[c]onflict is more than a disagreement; it is when people believe that another interferes with their interests and goals† (p. 62). When considering conflict, interests and goals are considered the same thing. There are four general types of interests and goals which are topic or content, relational, identity (or facework), and process; these together are easily remembered by using the acronym TRIP(Wilmot, 2007. p.63). To better describe and explain these types of goals, the following personal conflict will be used. The Crossen Family consists of five members, the mother (myself), the husband (William), and the three female children (Brittney, Kerra, and†¦show more content†¦p.65). In conflicts relational goals need to be realized and managed because they are the center of all conflicts (Wilmot, 2007. p.67) but they are not easily recognized internally or externally, and they are interpreted differently by each party (Wilmot, 2007. p.67). In the reviewed conflict, the parents feel that the children are becoming more independent, and do not care what the parents think or need. The children believe that the parents do not consider the things that are important to the children to be important. Basically, each seems to seek the respect from the other units. The way that each will react throughout the conflict will express how that person believes the other is thinking about them. They will react to an image that they have created of the other person that probably is not accurate (Wilm ot, 2007. p.69). Because relationship goals are not easily determined, these goals will escalate. Identity or face-saving goals consider who a person is in the interaction. The focus includes how identity of self is protected or repaired throughout the conflict. Although this goal continues throughout the conflict, it will be more prominent at certain times of conflicts (Wilmot, 2007. p.69). Maintaining self-identity and face-saving can be very open and obvious. In the described conflict I toldShow MoreRelatedConflict Resolution Strategies Essay1444 Words   |  6 PagesConflict Resolution Strategies Conflict has long been viewed as negative, and is usually associated with things as trivial as an argument to something as extreme as war, and is seldom seen as beneficial. In the team environment however, conflict can be very beneficial if recognized early and managed properly and can enhance team performance as well as relationships between team members. Conflict is inevitable as humans interact, because not everyone shares the same beliefs, values, opinions, levelRead MoreBusiness Plan979 Words   |  4 PagesCHAPTER15 CONFLICT AND NEGOTIATION IN ORGANIZATION Conflict- is a process resulting in the perceptions of two parties that they are working in opposition to each other in ways that result in feelings of discomfort and animosity. COMMON FORMS OF CONFLICT Task Conflict – refers to conflict regarding the goals and content of the work. Process Conflict – occurs when the parties agree on the goals and content of work but disagree on how to achieve the goals and actually do the work. RelationshipRead MoreManaging Conflict And Organizational Change924 Words   |  4 PagesManaging conflict and the importance of a vision/mission in an organization are two important topics in our course of Leadership and Organizational Change. In this paper we tried to analyze the connection between these two important aspects of leadership. Our analysis and our interviews of leaders have supported and amplified what we have learnt in class. As we have seen during this course, working in a team can often lead to conflicts. In particular there are three types of conflicts that we describedRead MoreCommon Forms And Causes Of Conflict1473 Words   |  6 PagesConflict is part of life and very common occurrence in the organization due to different point of view among individual. Common forms and causes of conflict are task, process, relationship, legal and interpersonal conflicts. â€Å"People’s reactions to conflict dramatically affect how a situation is addressed and resolved. Tone, attitude, disposition, the nature of the relationship, and even communication styles will impact the outcome of a confrontation.† (Atchison, 2013, para. 1). People’s commonRead MoreConflict Between Conflict And Conflict1461 Words   |  6 PagesConflict is generally considered a typical part of human interactions and is not in itself essentially damaging. Rather, it is how conflict is managed that determines whether or not the outcomes are going to be constructive or damaging (Deutsch, 2006). Thus, conflict management, the method of managing a dispute and associated conflicts, is very important in producing satisfactory or disappointing outcomes. It is therefore vitally important to know your conflict management style, along with itsRead MoreConflict Is Human Nature?1724 Words   |  7 PagesConflict is human nature; it practically unavoidable. Whether it is at home or in the professional world, we as individuals must communicate or interact on a daily basis by some shape or form with other individuals in order to get anything accomplished. One employee alone does not or could not make an organization successful. In reality, these constant interactions are more than likely going to lead to some type of conflict at one point or another in our lives. Griffin and Moorhead define conflictRead MoreTRIP Essay1183 Words   |  5 Pages TRIP Essay Conflict Resolution Who Do We Hire? Participants: John, Jim (the Director), Laura, Karl, Keith and Celeste Setting: Mental health center Situation: An opening for a full-time therapist has been created by one of the staff therapists quitting. Questions 1. Name at least one topic (T) issue, one relational (R) issue, one identity (I) issue, and one process (P) issue of this conflict. T Issue = The most obvious topic issue during this conflict is the need to fill the positionRead MoreHandling Conflicts1020 Words   |  5 PagesConflict Handling Styles Josephus J. Ellie (2012) Generally speaking, conflicts are relevant to any human existence. What is worthy of note is how these conflicts, when they occur, are managed or handled, because they would mean so much for the success or failure of the organization. For example, if an organization is to achieve its objective, it must be willing and able to handle conflicts in a functional manner. Organizational conflicts are the discords that arise when the goals, interestRead MoreDiversity and Avoiding Conflict in Project Team1415 Words   |  6 PagesDiversity and Avoiding Conflict PM/582 Executive Summary Understanding the organizations diversity, and successfully identify and handle conflict within a team environment is necessary to the success of all projects. The project leader must have the appropriate skill set to successfully understand how to lead diverse teams and identify, lead conflict in a positive manner and communicate appropriately to our customers. We want to ensure that our customers are receiving whatRead MoreConflict Is A Multidimensional Concept With Both Detrimental And Beneficial Effects964 Words   |  4 PagesConflict Conflict can be explained as a multidimensional concept with both detrimental and beneficial effects. Most explanation settles on conflict as a process involving two or more individuals, where a person perceives the opposition of the other. The nursing occupation is one that is centered on collaborative relations with both coworkers and patients. The situation requires individuals to work closely with others with varying backgrounds or cultures. Individuals can embrace diverse values, hypothetically

Mahatma Gandhi Research Paper Free Essays

Aroused by the massacre of Amritsar in 1919, Gandhi devoted his life to gaining India’s independence from Great Britain. As the dominant figure used his persuasive philosophy of non-violent confrontation, he inspired political activists with many persuasions throughout the world (Andrews 23). Not only was Mahatma Gandhi a great peacemaker, but also his work to achieve freedom and equality for all people was greatly acknowledged. We will write a custom essay sample on Mahatma Gandhi Research Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Gandhi’s unconventional style of leadership gained him the love of a country and eventually enabled him to lead the independence movement in India. Mohandas Gandhi, later called Mahatma Gandhi, was born on October 2,1869 in Porbandar, which is the present day state of Gujarat, India (Andrews 17). He grew up in a very controlled family that had an alliance with the family ruling Kathiawad. He was engaged to two other women who both died, then he eventually married Kasturba at the age of 13. Gandhi sailed to England to attend University College in London to study law (Kamat’s Potpourri). In 1891, he was able to practice in the British bar. Gandhi went back to India and tried to authorize a law practice in Bombay, with very little achievement. Two years later, an Indian firm with curiosity in South Africa had an office in Durban where Gandhi was commissioned as legal advisor. This is where he lived for twenty years once he began his job doing labor on the sugar estates in South Africa (Moreorless). As soon as he arrived in Durban, he found himself being treated as if he was not human. The Africans forbade fundamental individual rights and political rights from the Indian immigrants. This conduct resulted in Gandhi’s outburst in fury towards the African’s reactions to Indian immigrants to South Africa. He then began a civil right’s campaign, which resulted in the development of his passive resistance policy, which eventually inspired thousands. The Union of South Africa government adjusted Gandhi’s demands, which included recognition of Indian marriages and abolition of the poll tax (Kamat’s Potpourri). When this man saw how terrible people were being treated because of diversity he said, â€Å"†There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever,† (Gold 231). By saying that, he meant that no one should worry about where hey stand in society or how they are judged because in God’s eyes everyone is perfect and everyone is equal therefore, no one who has any faith in God should be worrying about their so called â€Å"imperfections. † This great man struggled to gain the important rights for all Indians, and this is where it all began. Once Gandhi’ s mission in South Africa was complete, he returned to India and became involved in the home ruling movement. He was concerned with excessive land tax and discrimination, so he organized protests by peasants, farmers, and urban laborers to help them stand tall and fight for what they deserved (Gold 57). During World War I, Gandhi had an active part in recruiting campaigns by launching his new movement of non-violent resistance to Great Britain (Byers 202). When Parliament passed the Rowlatt Acts in 1919, Satyagraha, which means insistence on truth, spread throughout India, recruiting millions of followers. British soldiers massacred Indians at Amritsar as a demonstration against the Rowlatt Acts. In 1920 the British government failed to make peace, which resulted in Gandhi organizing a campaign of non-cooperation (Andrews 103). There was chaos in India as the public office resigned, courts were boycotted, and children were taken out of schools. Sitting Indians, who ignored police officers when told to move, even if they got beaten, blocked the streets. Gandhi was arrested, but the British soon were forced to free him. India’s economic independence was made of Gandhi’s Swaraj (self governing) movement. Because of this, India boycotted all British goods and British industrialists were left in extreme poverty across India. To save the country, Gandhi brought back cottage industries. He started to symbolize the return of simple village life by using a spinning wheel. â€Å"Gandhi became the international symbol of a free India. He lived a spiritual and ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and meditation,† (Andrews 126). He refused material possessions, and wore the lowest-class clothing and supported himself on only vegetables, fruits, and goat’s milk. Fellow Indians looked at him as a God-like force, often referring to him as Mahatma (which means great-souled). Gandhi’s ahimsa (idea of nonviolence), was essentially the way of life in the Hindu religion. Since India followed Gandhi’s ahimsa with such support, Britain would soon understand that violence is useless in this country and leave. In 1921, Gandhi received complete leadership from the Indian National Congress, the group that started the movement for nationhood. But, the Indian population could not understand why the whole world wasn’t practicing and showing the ahimsa (Kamat’s Potpurri). Because of this, many armed revolts broke out against the British. Gandhi eventually admitted that his campaign was a failure, and quickly tried to end it. Gandhi was then seized and imprisoned by the British government in 1922. He was released in 1924, and distanced himself from being involved in any politics and instead focused on getting the Indian community closer (Gold 149). Unavoidably, he was brought back into the political forces. In 1930, a new campaign of civil disobedience was called to the Indian population saying they should refuse to pay taxes, especially on salt (Moreorless). The campaign was the famous march to the sea, where thousands of Indians followed Gandhi from Ahmedabad to the Arabian Sea, and made salt by evaporating sea-water. Gandhi was again arrested, but released in 1931 as he stopped the campaign. In 1932, Gandhi started new civil-disobedience campaigns against the British. Since he was arrested twice, the Mahatma fasted for long periods many times. These fasts were very useful against the British because revolts would have broken out if Gandhi had died. In September 1932, while in jail, Gandhi performed a â€Å"fast unto death† in order to help the Hindu Untouchables. (Byers 202). The British considered the Untouchables as a separate part of the Indian government and tolerated their injustice. Although Gandhi was a member of the upper caste, he strongly believed in removing this unjust caste system. In 1934 Gandhi resigned from politics, being replaced by Jawaharlal Nehru. Gandhi continued teaching ahimsa and traveled across India. He was known for his dedication and political power. Since he was viewed with such great esteem, the British had to wait for Gandhi’s approval to limit the home rule in 1935. In 1939 he returned to politics and designed his first act manipulate the ruler of the state of Rajkot to change his autocratic rule (Moreorless). The colonial government had to intervene because the fast caused commotion across the country. When World War II broke out, the Congress party and Gandhi refused to support Britain in the war unless they were given complete independence. The British refused their proposal. When Japan entered the war, Gandhi still refused to allow India to fight in the war. He was imprisoned in 1942 but was freed after two years due to his bad health (Kamat’s Potpourri). By 1944 the British agreed to allow Indian independence only if the two nationalist groups, the Muslim League and the Congress party, resolved their issues (Andrews 178). Gandhi was strongly against the dividing of India but in the end had to agree, hoping that peace would be accomplished after the demand for Muslim separation was achieved. India and Pakistan split to two separate states when India gained its independence in 1947. Gandhi begged Hindus and Muslims to live together peacefully during the riots. Mahatma fasted until the riots stopped (Moreorless). He also fasted successfully on January 13, 1948, to bring about peace, but twelve days after that fast ended he was assassinated by a Hindu on his way to an evening prayer (Byers 203). Gandhi’s death was a worldwide devastation that left the population in shock. In the United Nations there was a day set aside to mourn for Gandhi and remember his acts of nonviolence for eternity. All countries sent their apologies and reassured that he would never be forgotten. The teachings of nonviolent movements were inspired in other countries, as well as the U. S. A. â€Å"under the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and in South Africa under Nelson Mandela,† (Moreorless). Gandhi was the most inspirational leader in the twentieth century because of his unique tactics of protesting and making peace worldwide. The most persuasive ways of accomplishing change in social issues came from his idea of civil disobedience and nonviolence, which advised freedom movements around the globe (Moreorless). This political leader and peacemaker will always be remembered as a successful man who impacted many to be non-violent. This accomplishment is a great achievement because without this concept India may still have been fighting for independence. Gandhi said, â€Å"The† (Moreorless) and that is what Gandhi chose to do. By doing favors for other people he was able to find out who he was, he found out he was the Mahatma because he truly did have a great soul. How to cite Mahatma Gandhi Research Paper, Essays

Cost Accounting Foundations and Evolutions

Question: Measuring relevant costs and revenues while taking decision on replacement of equipment and outsourcing of work is important. Discuss the same. Answer: What is relevant cost and how is it directly proportionate to the revenues is what all organizations focus at while taking crucial financial decisions. Relevant cost basically points at the amount of cash outflow that will take place to generate the adequate amount of revenue. There are various situations where costs are to be incurred so as to be able to derive forecasted revenues. Two decision making situations such as decision on replacement of an equipment and outsourcing decisions requires detailed brainstorming in relation to the relevant costs to be incurred and how much revenues will such a decision generate. Replacing an equipment is a strategic decision which any organization takes as it effects its ongoing process of manufacture and also replacing a fixed asset involves huge costs of purchase, installation and implementation. These costs have to be incurred after due analysis of the amount of revenues it will generate and how would it help to increase the productivity of the concern by reducing the cost of production. The main aim for replacement of any equipment is basically to ensure that the cost of production reduces significantly so that profits increases and the quality of production can also improve. Further the present machine which is to be replaced also is of significant value (Hafeezm, 2012). The cost that would be incurred in maintaining it if is more than the revenues that the firm generates then the same should be replaced and the cost incurred is considered to be relevant in nature. Further such a cost is considered to e relevant as in this competitive world new methodol ogies of production are always given priority and customers are more attracted towards such organizations who are better equipped and always updated with the latest technology. Also equipments after working for its estimated life will not yield much replacement value. Thus such losses are avoided by selling those old equipments well on time so as to be able to get better resale value of the equipments. Thus decision with regards replacement of an equipment requires the organizations to have a thorough analysis of how would such a replacement affect its costs and revenues. How would it help to increase the productivity of the concern and also increase revenues by adding more customers, reducing the cost of production thus increasing profits and market share simultaneously. Better branding is also possible if the production process is modernized and well equipped. (Drury 2008) Another very important decision that affects the cost-revenue model for any concern is the make or buy decision. This is one such area which requires brain racking at a micro level. The costs to be incurred while producing a product indigenously or buying it from other manufacturers is a crucial decision as the revenue generation will vary depending upon the decision taken. Its not possible for any organization to produce all its raw materials internally and so they will have to outsource some part of it (Kinney, Raiborn, 2009). If producing a product would cost virtually the same if produced within the organization then it is always better to outsource the product so that the organization can then focus on producing or generating those products which are design specific and cannot be outsourced. Such type of cost is relevant as it helps to reduce the burden of the organization to a great extent. The top management can then deploy there human capital somewhere else and derive maximu m revenues from the costs they have incurred(Boyd, 2015). Further if a comparative analysis is done for producing or outsourcing of a product which can be outsourced easily, one will notice that then the costs incurred for its production is irrelevant and avoidable. The company can negotiate better with the outsourcing agencies and save on time as well as human capital costs. Further the revenues will be generated faster also as the other company is required to supply goods on time and if not the company is liable to claim compensation also which it would not be able to do in case of in house production. Further if in future the said product is not required it can easily stop the purchase from the market but the same would not be possible in case of in house production (Simplestudies.com, 2015). Thus a decision regarding incurring of the costs with regards procurement of goods should be taken only after a detailed cost analysis is done between buy versus make costs. As these would affect the revenues also. The costs are relevant only if it enables to generate adequate amount of revenues as desired. Therefore what cost is relevant and how much revenue would it help to generate is a decision to be taken after considering all the pros and cons. Replacement of an equipment should be done taking into consideration the replacement costs, the technological advancements and how would it enable to increase the revenues of the organization. Thus all decisions come with their own pros and cons which should be studied in detail and weighed accordingly before arriving at a decision. References: Boyd, K., 2015, To Outsource or Not to Outsource : a Cost Accounting Decision, Cost accounting for Dummies, viewed on 19th July 2016, https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/to-outsource-or-not-to-outsource-a-cost-accounting.html Drury, C., 2008, Management and cost accounting, Pat Bond: Italy Simplestudies.com, 2015, Make or Buy Decisions, viewed on 19th July 2016, https://simplestudies.com/make-or-buy-decisions.html Hafeezm, 2012, Managerial Accounting Decision Making : Relevant Costs and Benefits , viewed on 19th July 2016, https://hubpages.com/education/Managerial-Accounting-Decision-Making-Relevant-Costs-Benefits Kinney, M.R., Raiborn, C.A., 2009, Cost Accounting : Foundations and Evolutions, Thomson: Sputh Western

Porphyria the Vampire Disease Essay Example

Porphyria: the Vampire Disease Paper Rachael McAlister AP II Extra Credit Paper J. Kamykowski 29 – November 2011 Porphyria: The Vampire Disease Porphyrias are a hereditary group of disorders in which heme is not properly made. There are many different forms of this disorder, with porphyria cutanea tarda being the most common type. Remember what happens to Edward Cullen from the Twilight series when he gets out in the sun? Yea, me neither. But in classic movies and early folklore, vampires were commonly depicted as having purplish, ruddy colored bloated skin. Fictional vampires are also known to fear the sunlight because the sun could damage their delicate skin or they could start sparkling. Porphyria has these same symptoms, minus the sparkling skin, which is why it is nicknamed The Vampire Disease. The process of making heme is a multi-step process. Porphyrins are made during this process. People with porphyria lack certain enzymes which causes buildups of porphyrins in the body. It usually attacks the nervous system or skin or both. When exposed to sunlight, a person with cutaneous porphyria can develop blisters, itching, scaring, and swelling of the skin. Porphyria in the nervous system is call acute porphyria. Symptoms of acute porphyria include: chest or abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. Certain medications, sunlight, smoking, alcohol, stress, or infections can trigger attacks with acute porphyria. An attack can include muscle numbness or tingling, paralysis, cramping, and personality and mental changes. With many forms of porphyria, a person may experience red urine. Porphyria is a rare disease. All the forms of the disease together affect less than 200,000 people in the US. We will write a custom essay sample on Porphyria: the Vampire Disease specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Porphyria: the Vampire Disease specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Porphyria: the Vampire Disease specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The most common form, porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), affects around 1 in 10,000 people, while only six reported cases of ALAD-deficiency porphyria have been documented. Erythropoietic protophyria is the most common form among children. Acute Prophyrias seem to occur more often in northern European countries such as Sweden and the United Kingdom. Hereditary coproporphyria is reported most often in Europe and North America. Variegate porphyria is most common in the Afrikaner population of South Africa. Symptoms usually don’t manifest until later in adulthood. Most of the time porphyria is inherited. It is caused from a mutation in one or more of the following genes: ALAD, ALHS2, CPOX, FECH, HMBS, PPOX, UROD, and UROS. These genes provide instructions on how to produce the enzymes needed to make heme. 20% of cases are related to mutations in the UROD gene. Some types are inherited in an autosomal dominate pattern. This means that one copy of the gene in each cell is mutated. This increases the risk of developing signs and symptoms of the disease. Other forms are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning that both copies of the gene in each cell is mutated. Most often, the parents do not show any signs or symptoms when this is the case. Erythropoietic protophyria has an X linked dominate pattern of inheritance. Males may experience more severe symptoms of the disease than women. One of the main treatment options is the avoid the sun. A patient should quit smoking and drinking alcohol not only to aid in the benefit of their porphyria, but for overall health. Therapeutic phlebotomy may be used to improve heme production. Hematin may be administered intravenously in the event of a sudden acute attack. Pain medication, propranolol, and sedatives may also be used in this situation. Other treatment may include: Beta-carotene supplements, chloroquine, and fluids and glucose to boost carbohydrate levels. A high carbohydrate diet is recommended for patients with porphyria. Panhematin ® is the only available heme therapy treatment in the US. It is administered via a large central line or port. It is used to correct heme deficiency in the liver and repress the production of porphyrin precursors. Next time you are watching Dracula, pay close attention to his skin. His purplish, easily bruised or injured skin closely resembles the skin of someone with porphyrin. These people have to limit their time in the sun or they will blister. Sometimes they can experience problems breathing or chest pains. This disease, nicknamed The Vampire Disease, is rare but very painful for those that suffer from it. Works Cited Porphyria. † NCBI. gov. U. S. National Library of Medicine, 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. â€Å"Porphyria. † MedlinePlus. U. S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Nov. 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. â€Å"Porphyria. † Genetics Home Reference. U. S. National Library of Medicine, July 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. American Porphyria Foundation, 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. Sassa, Shigeru. â€Å"Modern Diagnosis and Management of the Porphyrias. † Brittish Journal of Haematology 135. 3 (2006): 281-292. Academic Search Elite. Web. 29-Nov. 2011

Free Essays on Environmental Inequalities

Andrew Hurley, in â€Å"Environmental Inequalities,† seems to be answering the same question throughout his telling of class, race, and industrial pollution in Gary, Indiana. From 1945- 1980 there were three distinct groups in Gary. There were the middle-class made up of white doctors, lawyers and management, the working class composed of semiskilled workers earning a moderate pay, and African Americans generally working the jobs that white workers did not want. Wage earnings gradually declined from the middle-class down to African American workers. Throughout this reading Hurley continually answers the question of how industrialization in Gary shaped human activity through pay and pollution, and in turn how humans shaped their environment. Starting with the middle-class citizens of Gary, Indiana, Hurley tells how they are identified by fresh air, beautiful landscapes and space. Hurley says, â€Å"Through the 1970’s, the preservation of suburban amenities would remain the driving force behind middle-class opposition to industrial pollution† (Hurley, 47). The relatively high income of the middle-class, although it varied greatly depending on occupation, allowed for families to move into suburban areas. With the combination of greater pay and efficient transportation, Gary was able to decentralize. This resulted in the primarily white middle-class moving a few miles outside of the downtown area, having more space and concentrating more on health issues. This was also made possible through government programs that further solidified the line between middle-class and working-class citizens. The Federal Housing Authority lowered initial down payments and extending repayment schedules. However, these types of mortgages were not allotted to low-income, inner-city neighborhoods because they were too risky. This was not the case for all Gary residents. â€Å"Even by the 1970’s, Gary remained a predominantly working-class community with almost ... Free Essays on Environmental Inequalities Free Essays on Environmental Inequalities Andrew Hurley, in â€Å"Environmental Inequalities,† seems to be answering the same question throughout his telling of class, race, and industrial pollution in Gary, Indiana. From 1945- 1980 there were three distinct groups in Gary. There were the middle-class made up of white doctors, lawyers and management, the working class composed of semiskilled workers earning a moderate pay, and African Americans generally working the jobs that white workers did not want. Wage earnings gradually declined from the middle-class down to African American workers. Throughout this reading Hurley continually answers the question of how industrialization in Gary shaped human activity through pay and pollution, and in turn how humans shaped their environment. Starting with the middle-class citizens of Gary, Indiana, Hurley tells how they are identified by fresh air, beautiful landscapes and space. Hurley says, â€Å"Through the 1970’s, the preservation of suburban amenities would remain the driving force behind middle-class opposition to industrial pollution† (Hurley, 47). The relatively high income of the middle-class, although it varied greatly depending on occupation, allowed for families to move into suburban areas. With the combination of greater pay and efficient transportation, Gary was able to decentralize. This resulted in the primarily white middle-class moving a few miles outside of the downtown area, having more space and concentrating more on health issues. This was also made possible through government programs that further solidified the line between middle-class and working-class citizens. The Federal Housing Authority lowered initial down payments and extending repayment schedules. However, these types of mortgages were not allotted to low-income, inner-city neighborhoods because they were too risky. This was not the case for all Gary residents. â€Å"Even by the 1970’s, Gary remained a predominantly working-class community with almost ...

Protestant Reformation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Protestant Reformation - Essay Example This belief gave immense power to the priests and the Pope, who was the highest titled priest of the world. The priests used that power of intercession to ensure the growth and prosperity of the 'church' to the detriment, many times, of the citizenry that made that immense power and wealth possible. Many times, the arrogance and power that were wielded by these priests caused an environment of resentment among the people that were supposedly being served. Not only was this power a continuing slap in the community's face, but salvation was also for sale! In order to raise funds for more and more elegant buildings and to support the avaricious appetites of the clergy individuals were told that the only way to be "saved" was by literally paying for your sins. An individual at that time may have to do a few "hail Mary's" but in order to ensure salvation, silver and gold coins given into the hands of the local monasteries was by far and away a more viable option. This air of resentment and anger had been simmering for decades and along with the 'salvation for sale environment" was part of the problem according to Luther's eyes.

Literature review Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Literature review - Research Paper Example Studies where there was no MRSA screening were also excluded because these studies did not offer the information needed to address the major goal of this review. In addition, studies where MRSA infection was not confirmed by microbiologic techniques were excluded because this review was designed to study only patients that were confirmed to carry the infection after both screening and microbiologic techniques. Based on the findings from the cases in the literature, the broad problem was that too many patients are transmitting Methicillin resistant Staph aureus in ICU. Specifically, the literature aimed to provide evidence for the question, â€Å"Would the high transmission rate decrease if screening in adult patients was conducted upon admittance to the ICU unit as opposed to not screening?† This problem is important to pursue because it affected patient outcomes including the length of stay and complications from other illnesses. This problem also had a potential impact on th e quality of treatment due to overcrowding and understaffing. The costs were also affected since the hospital was forced to use more money for testing, medicine, and housing patients. Finally, the access to needed medications was limited, and ordering caused further delays. For the purposes of this study, the patients in each case study were limited to adults who were admitted to the ICU section. Children were not included in any of the studies regarding MRSA, and patients in other sections of the facility were also excluded. The following review placed eleven case studies into discussion, focusing on the interventions, comparisons, and outcomes of the studies. Each study included a report on the interventions used for that study, with interesting results from each case study. Clancy, Grepler, Wilson, Douglas, Johnson, and Price (2006), used swab samples which were obtained upon admission to ICUs and weekly thereafter patients who tested positive from nasal or clinical specimens wer e placed in contact isolation, even after readmission DNA fragments were analyzed for similarity of banding PFGE patterns. Dalla Valle, Pasca, De Vitis, Marzani, Emmi, and Marone (2009), also gathered swab samples, although they obtained the samples upon admission and twice-weekly thereafter. Patients who screened positive received isolation and/or antibiotic or colonization therapy. Honda, Krauss, Coopersmith, Kollef, Richmond, Fraser, and Warren (2010), conducted nasal screening, and had the patients who screened positive had contact precautions implemented with no antibiotic or colonization therapy. Clancy and Dalla Valle would have probably described Honda’s practice as irresponsible since antibiotics were not administered and patients were not relocated to a secluded area. This made the study ineffective, because there was no way to prevent the spread of MRSA between patients in the ICU. Other case studies that used the swab method included Lucet, Paoletti, Lolom, Paugam -Burtz, Trouillet, Timsit, Deblangy, Andremont, and Regnier (2005) used nasal swabs to obtain within 24 hours at admission and weekly thereafter. Although once a week was a consistent testing window, the case study probably would have generated far stronger results if testing had been conducted at lease twice a week. Contact precautions were implemented in MRSA positive patients. Another method used to determine MRSA was the standard culture method. Cunningham, Jenks, Northwood,

Positive and negative aspects of e-business for traditional retailing Essay

Positive and negative aspects of e-business for traditional retailing and whole-selling organisations - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that e-business or e-commerce is a significant trend in today’s business environment which is fundamentally facilitating change in the method of conducting commercial activities. E-business provides exceptional opportunities for retail and wholesale organisations by helping to overcome the geographic limitations. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can mainly benefit from e-business through collecting valuable information easily, promoting themselves through the internet and serving consumers in new markets with comparatively little cost than traditional business practices. E-business refers utilisation of information and communication technology (ICT) in the business environment which comprises knowledge and data exchange, web advertisements, online ordering and real–time delivery information among others. E-business implementation makes retail and wholesale organisations to rearrange the business procedures and to distribute goods and services more competently and effectually. However, despite rapid and sustained development of e-business several retail stores and wholesale organisations are still in the investment and brand development stage and have not utilised the benefits properly. E-businesses usually concentrate on the visual appearance and ease of use of their portals as a primary way for enlarging the customer base. The impact of e-business on retail stores and wholesale organisations is determined by the level to which they match the present retailing as a substitute channel or swaps existing networks. Environmental forces such as demographical, cultural, lifestyle, fashions, economic and political pressures and other commercial expansions impact the future possibility and practice of e-business in retail and whole-sale organisations. E-business is simply an enabler which results in retail or wholesale procedure innovation, where the products and the goods remain same. E-business acts as a re placement network which has resulted in fundamental alterations in shopping practices (Burt & Sparks, 2003). Positive Impact

Professional Development Of Teachers Education Essay

Professional Development Of Teachers Education Essay This study is to examine the role of leadership in teacher professional development in Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Klang Valley. The specific variables that will be investigated include teachers perceptions of teacher professional development; teachers expectations as well as the principals role in facilitating teacher professional development. Developments in leadership will lead to changes in the ways teachers work. These will subsequently increase the need to review teacher professional development. The purpose of this research is to establish how the dual of the principal and the teachers manifests itself in professional development. This research will be significant as it will examine the voices of teachers on how leadership contributes to teacher professional development. The research will be conducted using qualitative methodology. It will be based on a case study of two Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Klang Valley. Data will be collected using questionna ires and follow up interviews which will be administered to elicit responses from principals, deputy principals and teachers in both schools. The findings will reveal the need for teachers in Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Klang Valley to engage more in teacher professional development programmes in order for them to have a better understanding of the concept. This study will also demonstrate if teacher professional development should be the core work of both the principals and teachers in order to create a learning environment in their schools so that both can develop professionally. Based on the results obtained in this study, we will determine if Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Klang Valley need more awareness in teacher professional development and how it will influence the leadership. Keywords: Leadership, Principals, Teachers, Teacher Professional Development, Teaching and Learning INTRODUCTION The purpose of this proposed qualitative study is to help principals of Chinese Independent Schools in Selangor and their supervisors understand the interaction of leadership capacity and distributed leadership practices as they relate to professional development within a school. The study will capture leadership practices in an effort to reveal how the practices impact on the professional development of the teachers. The overall question under consideration is: How do schools and school leaders understand capacity building while using that process to build and/or sustain a culture for professional learning? The intention is to understand more about systems that promote professional development and as a result contribute towards school development. The role of the principal in facilitating the development of organizational learning and capacity building via professional development related to instruction, student achievement, leadership roles, inquiry, teacher engagement, vision, goal setting, shared norms and values will be examined using case study methodology. Interviews, open-ended survey results, focus groups, and documents as well as environmental observations will be analyzed to reveal the role of the principal in this context. The case studies will examine the behaviors, actions, and interactions of principals and teachers within schools where leadership and professional development is considered to be in place through formal and informal structures established at the district and building level. All of the principals in the study are from the Chinese Independent Secondary Schools in Selangor. Qualitative research is proposed in order to examine and articulate practices related to school leadership and professional deve lopment. Four case studies are proposed to help inform established and new principals embrace the paradox of leadership with purpose as well as an understanding that each story needs to be told in order to meet the obligation of building knowledge as part of a schools culture. Teachers are the main resources of an education system. They have important roles and responsibilities to exercise in the teaching profession and to mould students in accordance with the changing social needs. Therefore, professional development needs of teachers constantly change and develop along with the changing expectations regarding the quality of education, the changing social needs, technological changes and the effect of technology on learning, the change in student population, and the transforming paradigms in learning and teaching. Professional development of teachers is a must for school improvement and educational change. It is useful not only for teachers, but also for students, school administrators, parents, families and colleagues. Thus, it can be considered as both an individual and social implementation. In other words, investment on teachers is an investment on individuals whose consequences are directly reflected in the society as well. Professional development involves teachers acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes addressing improvements in education. It compensates the lack of education in pre-service training with the help of regular in-service training. Therefore, it can be considered as a process which starts in pre-service training and goes on with in-service training till the end of the profession. Teachers professional development is generally defined as activities such as seminars and set-courses which aim at training teachers through in-service training (Odabasi Kabakci, 2007). It is also defined as any kind of teaching-training activity to meet teachers needs that is necessary for their professional growth and development (Seferoglu, 2001). According to a broader definition, professional development consists of processes and activities designed to enhance the professional knowledge, skills and attitudes of teachers so that they can improve the learning of students. Therefore, professional development is a process that is intentional, ongoing and systemic (Guskey, 2000). The purpose of any professional development program is to inform and change teacher behavior as a result of new information. To achieve this purpose, educators spend countless hours on professional development activities, learning to use new instructional strategies or materials (Barnett, 2003) since the   professional development of teachers must be an on-going process of refining skills, inquiring into practice, and developing new methods.Professional development leads to knowledge acquisition on the one hand and update of current knowledge and skills on the other. In this respect, the advantages of professional development can be listed as follows (Librera et al., 2004). Professional development: Ø   ameliorates the field of application, Ø   helps teachers and students meet their individual or mutual needs by providing them with the opportunities to reflect on their personal experiences, applications and research, Ø   orientates professional experiences of high quality in schools, Ø   contributes to educational policies in heightening standards, Ø   helps teachers understand and explain ICTs. Most countries in the world consider teacher training as a crucial subject, and so does Turkey. Teacher training has several qualitative and quantitative insufficiencies in several countries. Regardless of the quantitative adequacy of teachers, professional development of teachers remains one of the most glaring problems of teacher training. Pre-service teachers still have the chance to develop themselves since they are still within an educational institution as learners. However, in-service teachers might find themselves abandoned as they have started working and hence feel deprived of constant mentoring and guidance. The only solution to sustain lifelong learning in Turkey is to provide in-service teachers with constant support through regular and effective professional development activities

Inaccurate Portrayal of the Dinosaur Face :: Anthropology Essays Paleontology Papers

Inaccurate Portrayal of the Dinosaur Face As time goes on, Paleontologists discover more and more fossil remains, and with that more and more information about dinosaurs. Yet even with the great deal of fossils that have been discovered in the past century, scientists are still forced to make educated guesses about certain dinosaur behaviors, traits, and appearance. Dr. Lawrence Witmer’s recent research addresses this issue. Dr. Witmer argues that the fleshy nostril of dinosaurs lies in a different place than has been assumed and portrayed for over the last one hundred years. Dr. Witmer’s discovery was published in the August issue of Science magazine in 2001 and may change how we envision dinosaurs forever. Movies like â€Å"Jurassic Park† and the BBC’s â€Å"Walking with Dinosaurs† portray dinosaurs with fleshy nostrils which lie very high on their head. Not only in popular media is this true but in sculptures, kids’ books and scholarly journals. How could so many scientists have been wrong for so long? Very easily. When a dinosaur fossil is discovered it has an extremely large nasal cavity in its skull, sometimes several feet in length. Since flesh does not preserve all too well over the course of millions of years, paleontologists have been forced to make an educated guess as to where the fleshy nostril lies within the larger nasal cavity. Since the 1880’s scientists assumed that the nostril existed near the top of the head. The reason for this is that when sauropods (long necked dinosaurs) were discovered, it was thought that they must live under water in order to avoid crushing themselves under their own weight. This would explain their long necks. It would also follow that the fleshy nostril would be near the top of the head so the creatures could breathe easily while their bodies were under water. Even after it was realized these dinosaurs did not live under the water, the idea that the fleshy nostril existed near the top of the head persisted. The idea was also spread to most other dinosaurs that were discovered thereafter. Perhaps you have noticed this in a drawing or movie, that Tyrannosaurus Rex’s large nostrils do not lie in the front of his face but instead halfway up his head. Witmer believes his years of research with his â€Å"DinoNose† project prove that dinosaurs’ fleshy nostrils actually exist on the front end of the nasal cavity instead of the back end as was once believed.

Crime Against Women in Ncr Essay

The Delhi-NCR region has thrown up numerous such instances of police apathy in rape cases. When asked to explain the rising instances of rape, the cops have invariably blamed the women, an array of extraneous factors or resorted to specious arguments instead of looking inwards and focusing on police reforms. The most disturbing aspect of this is the rank misogyny that underlies it. Crime against National Capital Region is alarming. Usually every day a single case of rape is reported in every city area of India. So it is wrong to say NCR alone. But The National Capital Region has become a hub for rapes and sexual assaults. In 2010, as many as 414 rape cases were reported in Delhi, the highest among 35 major cities in the country. At least three women were raped or molested in the national capital. A total of 128 cases of molestations and rapes were reported from Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad in the first 45 days of the year. Delhi/NCR Often been called the rape capital of India. Why is Delhi India’s most dangerous city for women? May be because Chaotic growth, bad policing and a judicial system close to collapse. Recently A 23-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and gang-raped in a moving car by a neighbor and his friends in Noida A woman was gang raped by five youths, who also thrashed her boyfriend in Kamla Nehru Nagar in Ghaziabad.  A 14-year old girl was raped by a neighbor in Mehrauli in south Delhi. And The 23-year-old Girl, who worked at a pub in a mall in Gurgaon, had alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a group of six men. In view of gang rape incidents recently in Gurgaon Police tells women Don’t work after 8pm: Deputy Commissioner P. C. Meena has issued many Do’s and Don’ts to women to avoid eve-teasing and molestation. What tops his list is the criteria that women should not be out in the public after 8 PM. As per to his orders, now shopping mall and pub owners and those running shops and commercial establishments have been asked to not to keep women employees on duty beyond 8 in the evening. If women employees are detained on duty after that, it should be with the permission of the Labour department. Instead of implementing stringent laws to curb the few rapists out there, the Gurgaon Police decided to uproot all the women from their work places by 8’o clock in the evening. This curfew clearly reflects the authority’s attitude towards women. There is an obvious attempt to restrain women’s freedom, but apart from that legitimizing 8 PM as the standard time for women to be out of the public areas has rather put them in more danger. Instead of ensuring for safety for women, the Gurgaon police have imposed limitations on them. He said women employee are deputed on duty during the night shift, that is, after 8PM, her safe transportation from her home to place of duty and vice versa will be the responsibility of the employer who will have to keep a daily record of the vehicle used, its registration number, time of departure, name of driver who is entrusted the task of picking up or dropping the women employees. Meena made it worse by stating that if these instructions were not followed, then case will be registered against the pub and mall owner as well. What the Gurgaon police seems to have did is giving a free pass to the rapists to do their thing post 8 in the night. Any woman now who is out after the official curfew of 8 would do nothing but ‘invite’ men to sexually harass her. The police forces have shed their responsibilities of making Gurgaon safer by playing the classic card of holding the women responsible for being raped. Who are responsible for all this Our society is deeply gendered Apart from physical abuses, psychological violence against women in the form of social insults, coercion in family, eve teasing in streets and public transports on daily basis is not less humiliating, On the reason behind such violence against women, he says that violent behavior against women does not erupt all of a sudden. Men and women undergo different process of socialization. Men take up gendered roles that by themselves involve domination and control, where as women are assigned roles that involve submission.†Moreover, women are portrayed as an inferior sex which is the reason why many go for female infanticide, rape, molestation.IN rape cases, where the victim does not come out and report due to fear of humiliation, social stigma etc. laws not strong enough One can ask that why such incidental are taking place? Doesn’t the govt have enough laws to stop such atrocities? Isn’t the society is not mature enough to deal with such things. Combined with a judicial system on the point of collapse, where cases routinely take years to be processed, and an almost total lack of modern forensic capability on the part of investigators, it is easy to see why the stringent rape laws are not a major deterrent. â€Å"Government needs to contemplate devising three-prong policy. Drastic change in our legal system, strengthening law enforcement agencies to deliver quicker results have to be backed by social reforms and investment in social sector.† he further added. Our Policing: One main reason behind the crime against women in NCR is Lack of Police personnel. We don’t have sufficient police personnel to tackle the criminals. About Half number of police personnel are deputed in the service of our minister. The other reason is the thinking of our police, A great number of policemen believe that what a woman wears is one of the reasons for rape. They say â€Å"do rapes really happen†? Many policemen are not even sure. Recognition of a crime as heinous as rape is something the police in the NCR do not appear to have come to terms with. Some of the Statement of our Policemen which shows their thinking. . Many cops think that it is ok to judge the victim of rape and blame them rather than dealing with the crime. But, what about the numerous 2 year olds who are raped? what about the young school girls who are raped? what did THEY do to bring it on themselves? So it’s time the police wake up and make public spaces safe for women. Ways to reduce Crime Against Women Changing the outlook of the society is the best way. But it is a very long process. For immediate results girls have to believe that they are still living in a very conservative society. The place where they are living or their friend circle is not their society. One has to consider the whole area / city where they are moving to reach their off/ college as a society and then judge it. Girls should act accordingly. I do believe that precaution is always better than cure. women should take as much precautions as they can specially when they are moving alone using a public transport or a two wheeler. Following steps Should be taken : 1. Police and Government Sensitivity: State agencies should stop ‘blaming the victim’ and shift the responsibility onto the state agencies mandated to protect women’s rights. They should refrain at all times from making any gender-insensitive statements and character assault of women. Strict actions should be taken against such statements be made in the public sphere. We demand respect and dignity of all women. 2. Monitoring: CCTV’s in rape prone areas in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon. CCTV Should also be installed in parking, the place from where the women employees boarded the vehicle, there so that it can be ascertained that the woman was not lifted forcibly. 3. Increase in deployment of police: Immediate and sustainable preventive mechanisms should be designed and adopted in the National Capital Territory Region, which can act as a deterrent to future such incidents. This should also include, increasing the frequency of the patrolling of the PCR vans and increased traffic vigilance in all areas 4. Sexual assault prevention and redressal policy: The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for sexual assault cases should be drafted with immediate effect and ensure that support from relevant other service providers (government & non-government) be effectively implemented in every case thereon. The SOPs should also ensure strict adherence for procedures to be followed and address any violations with strict actions thereon. Immediate actions against relevant police personnel on dereliction of duty should be made mandatory. Fast Track Courts on cases of Sexual Assault for immediate redressal and effective justice delivery to be ensured. 5. Women’s help lines: Emergency numbers like 1901 should be monitored by women – which makes it easier for the victim to explain her problem/situation. Victim’s privacy should be respected. These numbers should be advertised through posters and billboards in all three cities. 6. Workplace safety: The Government must ensure procedures for accountability in all workplace to follow strict safety mechanism. 7. Awareness: The state needs to campaign against sexual harassment – public messaging on women’s rights, shift male perspective of women, display hotlines and safety procedures all over the city. 8. Girls should Avoid Dangerous Situations: * Be aware of surroundings. Knowing where you are and who is around you may help you to find a way to get out of a bad situation. * Try to avoid isolated areas. It is more difficult to get help if no one is around. * Walk with purpose. Even if you don’t know where you are going, act like you do. * Trust your instincts. If a situation or location feels unsafe or uncomfortable, it probably isn’t the best place to be. * Make sure your cell phone is with you and charged and that you have cab money. * Try to think of an escape route. How would you try to get out of the room? Where are the doors? Windows? Are there people around who might be able to help you? Is there an emergency phone nearby? * If you and/or the other person have been drinking, you can say that you would rather wait until you both have your full judgment before doing anything you may regret later. Conclusion: The city being one of the most important metros of India should have been much secured for its citizens. However the main causes behind the increased crime rate in Delhi/NCR are the lack of awareness of its residents, careless approach of Delhi Police and indifference of Delhi chief minister who is herself a lady. Delhi police can put an end on the crime incidents by responding more promptly and sensibly to each and every case reported at the police stations. Also political intervention in criminal incidents should be strictly cut off to ensure the city’s safety and security.

Life and Art of Charles Demuth, Precisionist Painter

Life and Art of Charles Demuth, Precisionist Painter Charles Demuth (November 8, 1883 – October 23, 1935) was an American Modernist painter best known for his use of watercolor to portray the industrial and natural landscapes of his Pennsylvania hometown. His paintings emerged out of the abstract Cubist style and ultimately led to a new movement called Precisionism. Fast Facts: Charles Demuth Occupation: Artist (painter)Known For: Abstract Cubist style and involvement in the Precisionist movementBorn:  November  8, 1883 in Lancaster, PennsylvaniaDied:  October  23, 1935  in Lancaster, PennsylvaniaEducation: Franklin Marshall College and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Selected Paintings: My Egypt (1927);  I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold (1928);  Roofs and Steeple (1921) Early Years and Training Demuth was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, whose urban landscape and emerging industrial setting served as an inspiration for several of his paintings. Demuth was ill and often bedridden as a child. During those times, his mother kept him entertained by providing him with watercolor supplies, thus giving the young Demuth his start in the arts. He eventually portrayed the agricultural portraits he knew best: flowers, fruit and vegetables. Demuth graduated from Franklin Marshall Academy, which later become Franklin Marshall College, in Lancaster. He also studied at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia and in the arts scenes of New York, Provincetown, and Bermuda. He socialized with and was photographed by Alfred Stieglitz, who was working at the time to organize exhibits of modernist art for his American Place Gallery in New York. Demuth spent time studying art in Paris, where he was part of the avant garde scene. His contemporaries included  Georgia OKeeffe, Marcel DuChamp, Marsden Hartley and Alfred Steiglitz. Painting in His Own Backyard Though he traveled to and was influence by exotic locales, Demuth painted most of his art in the second-story studio of his Lancaster home, which overlooked a garden. In the painting My Egypt (1927), Demuth depicted a grain elevator, a massive structure used to store the harvest, next to row house rooftops. Both structures are common in the rich agriculture economy and historic urban setting of Lancaster County. Like many of his contemporaries in the arts, Demuth was fascinated with Americas landscape, which was being altered at the hands of industrialism. He saw firsthand the smokestacks and water towers in cities such as Philadelphia, New York and Paris. He painted those skylines and contrasted them with grain elevators that were common in his hometown. The Precisionist Style The movement to which Demuth belonged, Precisionism, stressed visual order and clarity in the visual arts and combined those facets with a celebration of technology and expression of speed through dynamic compositions, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Demuth and his fellow Precisionists painted distinctly American landscapes in an intentional move to distance themselves from European artists. Demuths most famous work is a 1928 oil painting called I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold, which has been described as a masterpiece of the Precisionism movement. The painting was inspired by the poem The Great Figure by William Carlos Williams. Williams, who had met Demuth at Philadelphias Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, wrote the famous poem after watching a fire engine speed by on a Manhattan street. Demuth tried to capture the following lines in his painting: Among the rainand lightsI saw the figure 5in goldon a redfiretruckmovingtenseunheededto gong clangssiren howlsand wheels rumblingthrough the dark city I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold, as well as other Demuth paintings, served as an influence on commercial artists who later designed movie posters and book covers. Later Life and Legacy Demuth was diagnosed with diabetes at a relatively young age, and the condition made him weak before he turned 40. He spent his final years confined to his mothers home in Lancaster, away from his fellow artists working in Paris, and died at age 51. Demuth made a significant impact on the art world with the development of the Precisionist movement. His emphasis on geometrical forms  and industrial  subject matter came to exemplify the ideals of Precisionism. Sources Further Reading Johnson, Ken. â€Å"Chimneys and Towers: Charles Demuths Late Paintings of Lancaster - Art - Review.† The New York Times, The New York Times, 27 Feb. 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/arts/design/27demu.html.Murphy, Jessica. â€Å"Precisionism.† In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. metmuseum.org/toah/hd/prec/hd_prec.htmSmith, Roberta. â€Å"Precisionism And a Few Of Its Friends.† The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Dec. 1994, www.nytimes.com/1994/12/11/arts/art-view-precisionism-and-a-few-of-its-friends.html?ftay.

Free Essays on Education Or Certification

EDUCATION OR CERTIFICATION? Hands-on experience. Without it, your chances for obtaining any worthwhile technology position are bound to be rather slim, even with a degree! For decades Universities have been the default location for higher learning. At the same time, the increasing demand and use of technology has created a need for the specialized training and courses that aren’t found at traditional universities, but through certification or technical schools. College does a great job of exposing you to different aspects of the Information Technology (IT) field, but no real specialized instruction. On the other hand, certification focuses on specific skills but doesn’t leave much room for a variety of career choices due to a limited knowledge base. The purpose of colleges of technology (certification schools) is to conduct in-depth learning in specialized disciplines and to develop student's abilities necessary for employment. Colleges of technology, unlike universities or junior colleges, admit the graduates of lower secondary schools. The purpose of universities, as the centers of advanced learning, is to provide students with wide-ranging knowledge and to conduct in-depth teaching and research in specialized academic disciplines. The term of study is usually four years. Upon completion, graduates are awarded a bachelors degree. Due to the effects of the economy and the expanding IT field, many companies are demanding a little more than just a degree. So which better prepares students for the world of work; Universities or Tech Schools? To answer that question we first need to know what information technology is composed of. Information Technology is the field of careers that deals with the accumulation, storage, management, and retrieval of data. Beyond that, it also involves the development of the hardware and software that handle this massive data accumulation and storage. As you see, it can be subdivided into... Free Essays on Education Or Certification Free Essays on Education Or Certification EDUCATION OR CERTIFICATION? Hands-on experience. Without it, your chances for obtaining any worthwhile technology position are bound to be rather slim, even with a degree! For decades Universities have been the default location for higher learning. At the same time, the increasing demand and use of technology has created a need for the specialized training and courses that aren’t found at traditional universities, but through certification or technical schools. College does a great job of exposing you to different aspects of the Information Technology (IT) field, but no real specialized instruction. On the other hand, certification focuses on specific skills but doesn’t leave much room for a variety of career choices due to a limited knowledge base. The purpose of colleges of technology (certification schools) is to conduct in-depth learning in specialized disciplines and to develop student's abilities necessary for employment. Colleges of technology, unlike universities or junior colleges, admit the graduates of lower secondary schools. The purpose of universities, as the centers of advanced learning, is to provide students with wide-ranging knowledge and to conduct in-depth teaching and research in specialized academic disciplines. The term of study is usually four years. Upon completion, graduates are awarded a bachelors degree. Due to the effects of the economy and the expanding IT field, many companies are demanding a little more than just a degree. So which better prepares students for the world of work; Universities or Tech Schools? To answer that question we first need to know what information technology is composed of. Information Technology is the field of careers that deals with the accumulation, storage, management, and retrieval of data. Beyond that, it also involves the development of the hardware and software that handle this massive data accumulation and storage. As you see, it can be subdivided into...

Ethical filter worksheet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical filter worksheet - Essay Example It is not easy to live with what is meager and sometimes having to think of a surplus liability. What could be a life in comfort will be earning surplus income saving every 10% from every income without difficulty. Confidence is very important, but often, research proved to be helpful in making personal or organizational decisions. However, in instances where immediate decisions must be made, there is nothing better that a manager who have more than enough courage to show self-esteem. 1. Sometimes we face choices when we have little time, and possibly no preparation. What are the advantages to role-playing those situations in advance What is your action plan to avoid falling into ethical traps MacAdams (1998) stated that R. H. Morrison recognized determination and firmness of purpose as the optimal ingredient to every victory. I am an advocate to the same concept, and this is how I avoid falling into ethical traps.

Comment each essay alone by itself Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Comment each alone by itself - Essay Example The section "benefits of knowing your cash position" does not clearly highlight the benefits. It only gives the three main areas of a cash flow statement. Although these areas do indirectly highlight the benefits of knowing your cash position, perhaps mentioning a few other benefits would have added further clarity. The following benefit, for instance, could have been added: Companies that know their cash position well are in a much better situation to provide their stakeholders with better information that they need to assess the financial well being of the company. This in turn maybe important when a company is trying to obtain a loan and needs to provide its cash position to the lender. Similarly, other stakeholders such as investors, stockholders, customers, etc. may also require this information. No example is mentioned when explaining the third area of the cash flow statement: Cash from financing activities. The Microsoft example should be extended to clarify this section of the cash flow statement as well. This essay does not completely explain how cash is the life blood of any business. The importance of cash and preparing cash flow statements has only been inadequately explained in the beginning. The word "life-blood" has not been emphasized. In other words, the writer has only explained how cash can aid businesses and help different forms of business better predict their cash needs and perform their tasks well. However, the writer has failed to illustrate that before helping businesses, more important is the fact that cash is a necessity- a source of survival for businesses and they not only need cash to help them do their tasks better but they need cash to survive-it's a "have cash or die" situation. I believe highlighting this point is essential considering the topic of this essay requires an explanation of how cash is the life blood of any business. The conclusion only mentions the importance of cash flow statements and not cash in general even though the tag line of the topic only mentions cash. There is no mention of cash flow statement in the tag line. Although cash flow statements ultimately boil down to the importance of cash, mentioning the importance of cash in general and not specifically cash flow statements would have been more appropriate.Essay 3 (Nadrah): Although the essay starts with a quotation, the writer directly jumps off to explaining cash flow statements. Perhaps explaining one or two lines about the importance of cash in general and cash being the life blood of any business would have been more appropriate. The essay mentions a very strong point: " all the three statements above, when integrated, are required to make and support interrelated financial decisions." This point has been explained and elaborated extremely well and could not have been done with any more perfection. There are some concepts that have not been explained too well. Consider, for instance, the concept of free cash flow hypothesis. The writer only states that "According to the free cash flow hypothesis, managers may choose to expand operations because their incentives are not aligned with firm value maximization." This explanation is not by itself

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A historical and critical analysis of an entrepreneurial venture - Essay Example Starting a business is an exciting venture; however, it involves certain steps and stages in development. Therefore, in my paper, I would like to make a historical and critical analysis of an entrepreneurial venture; I will further construct my case study based on Amazon.com and analyze how the company has started and how it has developed, including the stages of venturing that I have identified, as well as problems it has struggled with and the business model that it has used according to a specific time frame and economic context. The founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos, had the vision of building a place where people can find and discover anything they want to buy online at the lowest price possible. Now, before going any further into analyzing the way Jeff Bezos materialized this idea, I would like to look at one of Professor William Sahlman2’s lectures at Stanford and single out the fact that he stated that entrepreneurship is â€Å"about a way of managing that is focused on opportunity pursuit, future orientation and relentless execution regardless of the resources one actually possesses† (Academic Earth). ... Even though he did not have very extensive knowledge about the Internet, he decided to take the risk, because, as a true entrepreneur, he managed to grasp profit opportunities. This way, Jeff Bezos entered the universe of e-commerce and started his entrepreneurial venture with no previous trading experience. However, he did understand that the Internet was the one place that had the necessary means to help him accomplish his vision, since on the Internet one is able to develop a business that would be able to compete with other bigger businesses, by reaching customers which prefer the convenience of buying online. Jeff Bezos decided to start the company in Seattle because he believed that here he would find most of the technical professionals he needed. This way, Amazon.com was founded in Seattle, in 1994 and the company went online in 1995. The beginnings of the business were very humble: operating from a garage, Amazon.com benefited from a total investment of 1 million dollars, mon ey which came from Jeff Bezos’s personal funds, as well as loans from family and former co-workers. At that time, Amazon.com was selling only books online and the main strategy was to save money while honoring first orders from the customers: in order to cut operational costs, Bezos â€Å"built desks, bookcases, and other office furniture out of old doors and pieces of used lumber. To help supply electricity, he used power cables to bring electricity from the house to the garage. Once a customer placed an order, the staff would immediately request the title from one of their book suppliers. Everyone took turns packing books for shipment.† ( Encyclopedia of Business, 2nd ed.). The company struggled indeed with costs and expenses and

Effects of Technology on the Hr Function Essay Example for Free

Effects of Technology on the Hr Function Essay Critically analyse the ways in which the increasing application of technology at work have an effect upon the HR function. The use of technology within HRM has grown considerably within recent years with the majority of large organisations now using technology of some form within their HR function (CIPD, 2005). As HR becomes increasingly reliant on technology it is important to assess its effect upon the HR function. Firstly, consideration will be given to definition of terms along with a description of the uses of technology within the HR function. Next the change in the structure of the HR profession that has developed alongside the emerging and growing use of technology will be addressed. The goals of the use of technology which have been afforded a significant amount of attention within the literature will then be outlined along with consideration of the realisation of these goals. In addition, the effect of shared service centres, which make significant use of technology, upon the role of HR practitioners will be addressed in conjunction with the views of HR practitioners themselves. Whilst little attention has been given to the situating of the use of technology in HR within a wider sociological perspective in the academic literature, an attempt will be made to consider the effect of technology upon HR within such a debate. Finally, conclusions will be drawn as to the impact of the use of technology upon the HR function. It is firstly important to consider what is meant by the use of technology within the HR function. The term e-HRM is frequently used to refer to the use of technology within the HR function. The use of e-HRM varies enormously within organisations and may be used for different purposes (Parry et al. 2007). The term Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is also used to refer to any system that helps an organisation to â€Å"acquire, store, manipulate, analyse, retrieve and distribute information about an organisation’s human resources† (Tannenbaum, 1990, p.28). However, the use of technology within HR is broader than the use of HRIS and may encompass manager and employee self-service, the use of staff intranets and e-enabled processes such and recruitment and performance management amongst others (Reilly, 2012). It is acknowledged that some current research focuses on the more recent developments in web-based technology, collectively referred to as social media technologies or Web 2.0 (see Reddington, 2012). However, the use of Web 2.0 is outwith the focus of this discussion. HRIS was originally used for standardising the gathering of information about and for employees (Kovach et al. 2002). However, the use of HRIS has subsequently developed and is now used more broadly for purposes such as recruitment and selection, learning and development, administration of flexible benefits and performance appraisal (Grensing-Pophal, 2001) or to manage HR and employee information across the whole employment cycle (Parry et al. 2007). Technology has also been increasingly associated with supporting integrated call centres, shared service centres and the use of manager and employee self-service (CIPD, 2007). There is a great emphasis in the literature about the potential goals of e-HRM (Marler, 2009; Ruel, Bondarouk and Looise, 2004). However, there has been less emphasis on whether these goals have been realised in reality (Parry and Tyson, 2011; Strohmeier, 2007). Alongside the development and increasing use of technology is the development and changing role of the HR function itself. Traditionally the HR function has been seen as being a largely administrative function, focussed on administrative processes such as the maintenance of employee and payroll records (CIPD, 2007). It would appear that in its search for identity and the resulting proposed need for transformation of the function (Ulrich, 1997), HR has made use of technology to attempt to facilitate this transformation (Shirvastava and Shaw, 2003). Ulrich (1997) has argued that HRM should become a strategic business partner, in addition to performing roles as administrative expert, change agent and employee champion. It has been suggested that the use of technology within the HR function may create the opportunity for HR to become more strategic by freeing up time through the automation of many administrative tasks (Parry et al. 2007). The provision of accurate and detailed information available through the use of HRIS could also enable HR practitioners to engage in a more strategic role as such data could be used to inform managerial decisions. The move to new service delivery models of HR and the development of technology can be seen as interdependent as without increasingly sophisticated technology the various elements of HR service delivery may not be as effective (Reddington, 2012). Drivers for introduction of technology can be described as being operational, relational or transformational (Kettley and O’ Reilly, 2003; Snell, Stueber and Lepak, 2002) Operational goals can be described as having a focus on reducing the administrative burden of HR and cost effectiveness, whilst enhancing the accuracy of data; relational goals relate to improving services for internal customers due to reported low levels of satisfaction with the HR function (Kyprianou, 2008) and transformational goals address the strategic aims of the business (Lepak and Snell, 1998; Martin et al. 2008). These drivers of e-HRM can be seen as addressing either transactional or transformational goals (Martin et al. 2008). Transactional goals relate to operational efficiencies or improved service delivery. There is talk of liberating HR through technology (Shirvastava and Shaw 2003) although this strong statement is qualified by the requirement that it informates as opposed to automates HR proc esses. The distinction between automating and informating is made by Zuboff (1988) whereby automating relates to increasing efficiency through computerising work processes and procedures with decreasing dependence on human skills. In contrast, informating refers to increasing effectiveness through acquiring information by using information technology and using that information to create new knowledge. Automating could be seen as relating to addressing operational goals whereas informating could potentially address the relational and transformational goals through provision of information to inform decisions and strategy. Despite the attention to the promise of technology in transforming the HR function, much less attention has been given to the impact of technology on the HR function and whether or not the highly prized strategic orientation of HR has been achieved (Lepak and Snell, 1998, Shrivastava and Shaw, 2003). Studies that relate to whether e-HRM is achieving its operational goals provide some mixed results (Strohmeier, 2007). In practice it would appear that HRIS is having a slightly better (but not statistically significant) impact in areas of information processing, for example improving the speed that information is available and the quality of the information available than in economic terms, such as reducing headcount, lowering operational costs and improving productivity and profitability (CIPD, 2005). However, within this survey, in a third of cases the reduction in administrative burden was less than was to be expected. Stronger support for the operational impact of e-HRM comes from analysis of 10 case studies by Parry et al. (2007) which showed that technology can lead to faster and more efficient processes, greater accuracy and consistency as well as a reduction in costs. A number of other studies also provide some evidence of the impact of technology on operational efficiency ( Marler, 2009; Ruel, Bondarouk and Looise, 2004; Ruta, 2005). However, it may be that some caution needs to be exercised in drawing conclusions on the impact of e-HRM in this area as it may be that the efficiencies achieved within the HR function are simply moved elsewhere within the organisation as the responsibility for some tasks is moved from HR to line managers or employees (Ruel, Bondarouk and Looise, 2004). There is some positive evidence for the relational impact of e-HRM, notably improvements in HR service delivery achieved through the increased accuracy of data or by simplification of processes (Gardener, Lepak and Bartol, 2003). However, the relational impact of e-HRM appears to have been granted little attention in the literature (Strohmeir, 2007). Whether technology has led to a transformational impact on the HR function appears even less clear than the impact it has had on transactional processes. Despite the identification by many organisations of transformational drivers being important in the adoption of e-HR (Watson Wyatt, 2002; Yeung and Brockbank, 1995) it would seem that the issue of whether e-HRM supports a transformation of the HR function into a strategic business partner is only â€Å"parenthetically addressed† (Strohmeir, 2007, p.28). Indeed, Bondarouk and Ruel (2009, p.508) state â€Å"organisations are definitely silent about whether their HR departments become more strategic with e-HRM†. Where evidence is presented it is contradictory in nature. It would seem that in some cases technology has not led to a more strategic orientation of the HR function and has been used mainly for automating operational processes (Burbach and Dundon, 2005; Dery, Grant and Wiblen, 2009; Kinnie and Arthurs, 1993; Tansley et al. 2001). Indeed, Broderick and Boudreau (1992) found that most organisations have only used technology to support a narrow range of administrativ e decisions, resulting in efficiencies in managing information but that the potential competitive advantage of technology has not been exploited. In contrast, other studies have offered some evidence that e-HRM has supported the strategic integration of HR with business strategy (Olivas-Lujan, Ramirez and Zapata-Cantu, 2007; Ruel, Bondarouk and Looise, 2004; Teo, Soon and Fedric, 2001) More recent research has provided some anecdotal evidence for a move towards a more strategic role (Parry and Tyson, 2011) although the evidence supporting the transformational impact compared with the operational and relational appeared to be the weakest. It would appear that there is far greater attention in the literature to the potential for e-HRM to have an impact in the three areas outlined above than there is accorded to the actual outcomes (Shrivastava and Shaw, 2003; Strohmeir, 2007). The reorganisation of the HR function and the introduction of shared service centres appears to have had an impact on numbers of on-site HR staff and a reduction in the number of HR staff to employees (Francis and Keegan, 2006). The operation of such shared service centres relies on technology that is characterised by formalisation, routinisation and centralisation resulting in an impact on staffing of such centres, which require specialised but generally low level HR administrators (Martin and Reddington, 2009). Research that addresses the issue of how HR practitioners have viewed the increasing use of technology appears to be limited to date. There is evidence that some practitioners may view the use of technology and an associated increase in the use of shared service centres cautiously because it has resulted in a reduction of face-to-face relationships, which is often the reason individuals cite for choosing a career in HR (Francis and Keegan, 2006). Martin and Reddington (2009) suggest that the significant role of technology within shared service centres will lead to a lowering of the status of those employed in such environments especially when compared to the status of HR business partners. It is arg ued that there is a risk of deskilling within the administrative function of HR and that staff may be confined to more routine tasks where they had previously had a wider role (Reilly, 2000). It is also suggested that within shared service centres different skills may be required and staff may be employed who have customer service skills but who do not necessarily have a background in HR as technical knowledge can be learned whereas the right attitudes may be harder to learn (Parry et al. 2007; Reilly, 2000). In addition to this, there is evidence that suggests that there a perception amongst HR practitioners of an increasing distance between those at the top and bottom of the career ladder and that people from outwith the HR function are â€Å"parachuting† into the top jobs (Francis and Keegan, 2006). This effect could possibly be explained by the requirement of new areas of expertise, such as technical, consultancy and project management skills (Parry and Tyson, 2011), which may require developing within HR practitioners and could possibly result in recruiting from outside the profession. Indeed a number of reports emphasise the skills of HR staff as a significant barrier to transformation of the HR function (see Reilly, 2012). The debate on the use of technology within HRM can also be situated within a wider sociological perspective. Whilst the sociological literature appears to focus mainly on the use of technology within manufacturing environments or of computerisation in general as opposed to within the HR function an attempt to situate the effect of technology upon HR could be made in terms of attempting to assess the effect upon the organisation of the function and the impact on the level of skills required. The attempts to understand the impact of technology upon the organisation of work have resulted in divergent views. The debate focuses mainly on two opposing views. The managerialist and essentially optimistic perspective associated with writers such as Blauner (1964) argues that the application of technology will render obsolete routine and more manual jobs and create more skilled and complex opportunities resulting in an overall effect of â€Å"upskilling†, along with organisations characterised by decentralised structures, reduction in hierarchy, increased worker autonomy and a prevalence of knowledge workers (for example, Attewell, 1992; Piore and Sabel, 1984) Such analysis suggests that in the earlier phases of industrialisation advances in technology tended to reduce skills and devalue work but that more recent technological developments have had the opposite effect. Examination of the increasing use of technology and its impact on skills levels has provided some evidence for a raising of skills levels (Daniel, 1987, Gaillie, 1991) In contrast, labour process theorists have argued that technological changes have a degrading effect on work and result in â€Å"deskilling† of the labour process and reduced worker autonomy, with a centralised, neo-Taylorist form of organisation, with separation of conception from execution (for example, Braverman, 1974; Zimbalist, 1979). The issues of the expansion of non-manual work and the apparent rising skills levels as suggested by formal skills gradings are not inconsistent with the labour process perspective (Gaillie, 1991) who argues that non-manual work has undergone a major transformation, r esulting in work that is increasingly routinized and mechanised (supported by the increase in office automation). From such a perspective non-manual workers are no longer accorded their relatively privileged position and are now accorded a similar level of skills as manual workers. Support for the process of deskilling can be found in many analyses of the effects of computerised technology (Meiksins, 1994) Analysis of the experience of employees within the call centre environment emphasises the process of deskilling (Desai, 2010) which is described by Taylor and Bain (1999, p.109) as a situation of â€Å"an assembly-line in the head†. The impacts of such call centre roles are often high turnover rates and high levels of absence (Ackroyd, Gordon-Dseagu and Fairhurst, 2006) and the effect on employees is outlined by Rose and Wright (2005, pp.156-157): â€Å"low skilled call centre jobs allied with high levels of technological and management controls do not contribute towards employee well-being and satisfaction† This account of the impact of technology resonates with the description above of shared service centres whose result has been the deskilling of the administrative function of HR and the recruitment of those who do not have a background in HR (Martin and Reddington, 2009; Reilly, 2000). However, whilst it could be argued that a labour process perspective accounts for the effects of technology on some aspects of the HR function, it does not address the effect on the function as a whole as it does not appear to account for the strategic end of the spectrum, where it seems that business partner roles are accorded status and prestige along with substantially increased salaries (Francis and Reddington, 2006). The role of business partners cannot easily be reconciled with the notion of deskilling. There has been a tendency to view the classification of either upskilling or deskilling as too simplistic and some writers have moved away from this conceptualisation of work by postulating that instead there is an increasing polarisation of the workforce in terms of skill level with at one end, highly skilled workers with high levels of autonomy and at the other end a lower skilled sector characterised by an intensification of work through deskilling and management control (Edw ards, 1979), who can be dispensed if surplus to requirements (Berger and Piore, 1981). This polarisation of the workplace appears to be a better reflection of the changing HR function with the autonomous business partner role, with the accompanying perception of a high level of skill and status at one end of the spectrum and at the opposite end, the shared service centre roles characterised by routine and deskilling. In relation to professional work, there is some argument that professionals have not been adversely affected by computerisation and continue to be accorded high status and prestige (Friedson, 1984, 1986). In contrast, it is argued that technology may have differing effects on professionals, depending on the relative status of the profession and on the status of individuals within the profession (Burris, 1998). It is argued that alongside polarisation of the workplace, there tends to be poorer career prospects for non-expert workers (Baran, 1987; Hodson, 1988) with higher level posts being filled from outwith the organisation (Hodson, 1988; Burris 1983,a,b) This issue within HR is highlighted by Reilly (2000) who suggests that there may be less opportunity for career development if lower level staff do not build the experience that they would gain in more generalist roles in traditional HR functions. As stated earlier, there also appears to be a perception that the higher status business partner roles are at least sometimes being filled not just from outwith the organisation but from outwith the HR profession (Francis and Reddington, 2006). Whilst the issue of the impact of technology upon the HR function appears to have been given little attention within research (Lepak and Snell, 1998; Shrivastava and Shaw, 2003) it would seem that what discussion there has been relates mainly to the promise of technology in transforming the HR function and facilitating a more strategic orientation. The reality of the impact of technology in achieving an impact in operational, relational and transformational areas is much less clear although evidence would suggest that the greatest impact is in achieving operational efficiencies. Alongside the development of the use of technology has been the reorganisation of the HR function. Although there has been little attempt to consider the impact of technology from a sociological perspective, it can be argued that the increasing use of technology, which has been used to support the shared service centre model may be resulting in a deskilling of an element of the HR profession and reducing career development paths for some practitioners. In addition, there appears to be a change in skills viewed as necessary within this function, with a focus on customer service skills as opposed to specialist HR knowledge. In contrast, although the evidence for a transformational impact of technology upon HR is weaker and more contradictory, there would appear to be a perception of a higher status role in the business partner, with accordingly higher remuneration, thus demonstrating a polarisation of the HR function in terms of both skills and status. However, this reorganisation of the HR function and the development of a more strategic orientation, which it is argued can be facilitated by the increasing use of technology, although being seen as having an upskilling effect on those in a more strategic role could be argued as achieving the opposite effect if the result is recruiting from outwith the profession. This could leave HR professionals in a precarious position in terms of career and skill development, which could at least in part be attributed to the effect of technology as without increasingly sophisticated technology the new models of service delivery may not be possible or at least may not be as effective. Whilst, a lack of academic attention to the actual impact of technology on the HR function requires that caution is exercised in drawing conclusions, the tendency to focus on the potential impact of technology could be followed in suggesting that the potential of technology in facilitating the move to a transformation of the HR function may be to tend towards a degradation of the HR profession, with low skilled staff employed in shared service centres and more highly skilled and valued business partners being recruited from outwith the HR profession. However, without significant further research in the area, in particular on the impact of technology and the accompanying change in service delivery models upon the career paths and development opportunities for HR practitioners, this conclusion remains just a potential. References Ackroyd, K., Gordon-Dseagu, V. and Fairhurst, P. (2006) â€Å"Well-being and call centres†, Institute of Employment Studies, Brighton [online]. Available at: http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/pdflibrary/mp69.pdf (Accessed 21st November 2012) Attewell, P. (1992) â€Å"Skill and occupational changes in U.S. manufacturing† in Technology and the future of work, P.S. Adler, New York, Oxford University Press. Baran, B. (1987) â€Å"The technological transformation of white collar work†, in Computer chips and paper clips, vol 2, H. Hartmaan, ed., Washington DC, National Academy Press. Berger, S. and Piore, M. (1981) Dualism and discontinuity in industrial societies, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Blauner, R. (1964) Alienation and freedom, Chicago, IL, University Chicago Press Bondarouk, T.V. and Ruel, H.J.M. (2009) â€Å"Electronic human resource management: challenges in the digital era†, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20 (3), pp. 505-514. [online]. Available at: http://ezproxy.napier.ac.uk:2343/doi/pdf/10.1080/09585190802707235 (Accessed 10th November 2012) Braverman, H. 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