Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Period - 1740 Words

Beowulf The original poem, Beowulf, goes back to the Anglo-Saxon period in c. 650 and c.1100. Authors translated Beowulf many times in the Anglo-Saxon period to present day. It displays how a hero should be in the real world. He helps the people in the village and slays monsters. Everyone in the village looks up to him as he acts as if he were a role model. Beowulf, the protagonist in the translated Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, is a hero of his village, stands for bravery, strong will, and nobleness. In addition, the poem relates to Christianity and God in many ways. The original poet of Beowulf is anonymous in 1000 A.D and Seamus Heaney translated the poem. Most scholars have placed the anonymous poet north of the Thames in Anglian kingdoms in the early or middle 8th century (Alexander 1488). Beowulf is the first major poem in English Literature (Gardner 14). Seamus Heaney was born on a farm, April 13, 1939 in Mossbawn, Ireland (Heaney 1122-3). Heaney crossed the border to Southern Ir eland to concentrate on writing (Heaney 1122-3). He died on August 30th, 2013 because he had complications with a stroke. Beowulf was written in a time called Anglo-Saxon, or Old English. At one time, the country we now call England, was under Roman Rule (â€Å"Anglo-Saxon†). After withdrawal of Roman forces in the 5th century, Germanic tribes called Angles, Saxons, and Jutes claimed areas and established competing kingdoms (â€Å"Anglo-Saxon†). Bishop Gregory of Tours records King Hygelac as dyingShow MoreRelatedComparing Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Period1292 Words   |  6 PagesRealism in Beowulf In the old English Anglo-Saxon writings, many heroes were given fanciful characteristics. For example, Beowulf was depicted with an immense amount of strength that people today could not achieve. Nowadays, the recreation of old fiction is very common. However, when fiction from the eighth century is recreated to fit our modern time, the characters are seen to resemble our human features, skills, and ways of thinking. Eighth-century writing is not as rational as our entertainmentRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Period1300 Words   |  6 PagesRealism in Beowulf In the old English Anglo Saxon writings, many heroes were given fancil characteristics. For example, Beowulf was depicted with an immense amount of strength that people today could not achieve. Nowadays, the recreation of old fiction is very common. However, when fiction from the eighth century is recreated to fit our modern time, the characters are seen to resemble our human features, skills, and ways of thinking. Eighth century writing is not as rational as our entertainmentRead MoreBeowulf : The Epic Poem From The Anglo Saxon Period950 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf, the longest epic poem from the Anglo-Saxon period, has a protagonist named Beowulf. A hero of the Geats and forthcoming king, the title character comes to the aid of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, whose kingdom was under attack by a monster known as Grendel. Both are great kings, wise and noble, but what truly makes a king great? Is it the accolades or honors that one receives or does it go beyond that? Two different cultures, two different men, but two great kings; Beowulf was describedRead MoreComparing Beowulf, The Wanderer, And The 13th Warrior1731 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is an epic hero? Or better yet an epic hero in Anglo Saxon culture. I believe there is more to being a hero than just being strong or intelligent. An epic hero in my eyes is oneself who comes to portray the beliefs of the society in which the tale/story is depicted. A few great examples of the Anglo Saxon epic hero are the literary characters in Beowulf, The Wanderer, and The 13th Warrior. These are all outstanding examples of Anglo-Saxon epic heroes because they all came to show the evidentRead MoreBeliefs In Beowulf : The Values Of Old English Literature904 Words   |  4 PagesAnglo-Saxon Values The characters and events in Anglo-Saxon literature go far beyond their original purposes, sharing the groups values and beliefs with the world. Values help form the constructs that create a rigid society. Traits like these can be found in a number of instances across time, but none greater than the Anglo-Saxon period. Beowulf is just one example of how Anglo-Saxon literature contains many of their values and beliefs. This folk epic is known as one of the most important worksRead MoreAngloSaxon Literature Essay632 Words   |  3 Pagesthroughout the Anglo-Saxon Period (449-1066), we see that many of their narratives, stories were simply passed down orally due to the lack of education prior to the era of Christianity. During the Anglo- Saxon Era literature initially began to be written down by the monks of the Christian Monasteries. The Anglo-Saxons contributed many details to human nature. The Anglo-Saxons named our modern day weekdays after Greek Gods. Heroism within an epic p oem was often present during this period. Epic poetryRead MoreAnglo Saxon Culture as Reflected in Beowulf Essay943 Words   |  4 PagesAnglo Saxon Culture as reflected in Beowulf Every culture has its own set of beliefs values and customs. Cultural beliefs, values, and assumptions are directly and indirectly acquired throughout a lifetime. A culture is the sum of a group’s way of life and this is no different with the ancient Anglo Saxon culture. Cultures usually have distinct figures that reflect their culture as a whole. The importance of religion, values, and heroes are reflected a great deal in the epic poem of BeowulfRead MoreThe Anglo Saxon Era Of Rich History And Reflected Literature1486 Words   |  6 PagesThe Anglo Saxon Era of Rich History and Reflected Literature The Anglo Saxon Period began in 449 and ended in 1066 AD. This was a time of Viking conquering other nations, patriotism, and Pagan to Christian religious conversion. There are only few recorded authors of this era as a result of literary works such as Beowulf, Wife’s Lament, and The Seafarer being passed down orally through generations of time. The literature serves as a reflection of this ancient time rather than having an impact on thisRead MoreEssay about Epic of Beowulf1017 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf The Anglo-Saxon Culture as Illustrated in Beowulf Beowulf is an epic poem, which takes place in ancient Denmark and Geatland and describes the adventures of Beowulf, a Geat hero. Through their heroes, epic poems usually describe the traditions and beliefs of a certain culture. An Anglo-Saxon author wrote Beowulf about the Danes and Geats. The Anglo-Saxon’s had similar beliefs to that of the Dane and Geat’s, so the poem gives us some idea of what the Anglo-Saxon culture was like.Read MoreEpic Poetry and Beowulf Pg1086 Words   |  5 Pages In the epic poem, Beowulf, the reader can see distinct Anglo-Saxon political, economic, and religious values in the actions of the characters and the things happening around them. Wealth in the Anglo-Saxon society, as seen in Beowulf, was used as a means of reparations, rewards, and political standings. One can also tell that the Anglo-Saxons where in a state of limbo between Christian and Pagan beliefs because of the ideas expressed by the hero and his colleagues in Beowulf. The po litical standings

Henrys Daughters Essay - 1301 Words

Engineering Ethics Questions 1 2: The film Henry’s daughters covers a wide range of ethical issues that can be experienced in and out of the work environment. The following are a list of ethical issues witnessed in this film in order of importance (highest to lowest). 1. The sexual harassment issue experienced by Julie from her co-worker, as well as the â€Å"ogling† she faced 2. Henry using favors to influence decision-making to benefit himself without consideration of external parties involved, including both his daughters. He should be thinking as a father first and foremost rather than a businessman. 3. Intellectual property sharing issues between family and friends- Laura and Julie, as they live together, do not avoid†¦show more content†¦This creates an ethical issue as there isn’t an even playing field in relation to the competition. Other ethical issues surrounding Henry exist as well. Conflicts of interest present as both Henry’s daughters are engineers and are working on opposing teams for the competition. One daughter is on GUIDEME’s team while the other is on Outocar. Henry knows the competition is rigged and that one of his daughters will get shortchanged. Henry also helped Jeff’s son (Jeff is in charge of the competition) get into an engineering school on a full ride with his contacts. This is a conflict of interest as Jeff is on one of the teams for the competition. Henry informed Jeff that he has the opportunity to be the national technical liaison for GUIDEME. With this, Jeff would be able to retire with full benefits, as well as pension while working with GUIDEME. Finally, Laura and Henry were having a conversation, during which Laura mentioned that she though OUTOCAR deserved to win the competition. during a conversation between Henry and Laura, she mentioned that OUTOCAR should win the competition. Upon hearing this, Henry tried to influence her to change her decision to GUIDEME for his personal interests. ii. First and foremost, Henry’s actions are illegal- taking prize money for a competition that was not fairly won is highly unethical. Also, Henry should realize that there isShow MoreRelatedThe Cost of Prohibiting an Individual from Pursuing Their Own Good Life?756 Words   |  3 Pagesfor attempting to govern the path his daughters took to their good lives. Henry has three daughters, all of which he tries to control, in his attempt to control them he also prohibits them from pursuing the good life. Maggie, Henry’s eldest daughter wanted to get married however, he says â€Å"you’re pasting the marrying age†.â €  You’re a proper old maid, Maggie, if there ever was one† (Brighthouse, Act I). In an attempt to keep his own good life by keeping his daughter to work for him, Henry actually beginsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Daughter Of Time 1605 Words   |  7 PagesJosephine Tey’s Daughter of Time is a story that gives the reader a role in being a detective, filling in Sherlock Holmes s shoes but with a twist. Within the first few chapters we meet Alan Grant, a famous inspector from England s Scotland Yard. He is confined in a hospital after sustaining an injury, leaving him immensely bored during his recovery there. Where he would trace and map out ceiling cracks for hours; after awhile he became acquainted with the nurses that would come in and out of hisRead MoreMemory Keepers Daughter Literary Analysis Essay1375 Words   |  6 PagesIn the book â€Å"The Memory Keepers Daughter† by Kim Edwards a doctor and his wife have twins and the first child is a heal thy boy but then the second child that comes out is a little girl with the signs of down syndrome and he asks his Nurse to take the baby away to an institution while he tells his wife the baby girl died. Through out the entire book it is a struggle for Dr. Henrys wife Norah to have closure with the fact that her baby girl is said to be dead and she never saw her, held her, or caredRead MoreThe Time Traveler s Wife1618 Words   |  7 Pagesand Henry’s final letter. The fictional genetic disorder- Chrono-Displacement Disorder- causes one of the protagonists, Henry, to temporarily displace in the past or present, specifically events that hold great emotional value to him. Therefore, Henry time-travels to Clare once they have fallen in love. In 1977, Henry was thirty-six and Clare is six. In their first meeting, Henry immediately declares he is her husband, and that she cannot tell her parents about him or else. Despite Henry’s commonRead MoreHenry VIII and his contribution to the English Reformation1511 Words   |  7 PagesHenry VIII, the notorious King of England, had an exceptionally significant influence on English history. The importance of Henrys eminent reign is typically overshadowed by his six wives, but to discover its true essence one must breach the barriers yielded by the many fallacies concerning his overly publicized liaisons. Although to many he is remembered solely for his hedonistic life style, his malicious attitudes, and of course his six wives, Henry was well-educated and an adept ruler. He exudedRead MoreEleanor Of Aquitaine And The Middle Ages1352 Words   |  6 PagesFrance, queen of England, and led a crusade to the holy land. Not to mention, Eleanor is also honored for her famous court of love. Born in modern day Southern France in 1122, Eleanor de Guyenne, also known as Eleanor of Aquitaine, was the eldest daughter of William X, tenth Duke of Aquitaine and Aenor of Chatellerault. She was brought up in one of England’s most cultured courts and was enthralled with riding and hunting. She was thoroughly versed in literature, philosophy, and several languages.Read MoreEssay on The Realistic Objectives of Henry VIIs Foreign Policy1280 Words   |  6 PagesThe Realistic Objectives of Henry VIIs Foreign Policy According to the source, Henrys objectives were to ensure the security of his country and dynasty and to avoid foreign military intervention i.e. build up good relationships with neighbouring foreign powers. I also think that trade and prestige came into his objectives. Trade was important to him as it ensured the power of his country and, again, was important to Englands relationship with foreign powers. AlsoRead MoreReview Of Regarding Henry 1392 Words   |  6 Pagesarrogant version. The communication disorder that is portrayed in this film was aphasia in adults. According to our book, Aphasia is a loss of language due to a stroke, head trauma or another type of brain damage. (Tanner, 2003). As a result, from Henry’s gunshot accident to his brain, he was put into a childlike state of mind due to is receptive and expressive abilities. Henry becomes fully aphasic, specifically Broca’s Aphasic, which a person with Broca’s Aphasia has choppy and non-fluent speechRead MoreThe Challenges to Henry VII Security Between 1487 and the end of 14991466 Words   |  6 Pagesthrone. To what extent was the success he dealt with them differs although the overriding answer is that by the end of his reign he had secured his throne and set up a dynasty, with all challengers removed. Lambert Simnel challenged Henry’s security when Richard Symonds passed him off as Warwick. Simnel was taken to Ireland, which had become the centre of Yorkist plotting. Margaret of Burgundy provided money and an army of 2000 mercenaries. They landed in Ireland in May 1487Read More The Life of Queen Elizabeth I Essay824 Words   |  4 PagesElizabeths mother. King Henry wanted a son, but received a daughter, instead, from his second wife. Before Elizabeths third birthday, Henry had her mother beheaded on charges of adultery and treason. Elizabeth was brought up in a separate household at Hatfield (not known). King Henrys third wife gave birth to a son. This boy was named Edward. Edward was declared first in line for King Henrys throne, while Mary (Daughter of Henrys first wife) was declared second, and Elizabeth was declared

Reading Report Free Essays

From my experiences reading novels, dramas, poetry, and short stories, I think the purpose of fiction is to entertain; to provoke thought. I think students study fiction because it is very entertaining, and can teach many different lessons. People read fiction stones because it lets them get lost In a story that’s not theirs. We will write a custom essay sample on Reading Report or any similar topic only for you Order Now I believe people tell stones to express their Imagination and thoughts. B. A â€Å"take away† value I have learned from this concentration on fiction would be many life lessons. I feel Like the fiction stones we read In school relate to us somehow, and teach us lessons. They also teach us different vocabulary terms and how to use them. Reading stories Like Romeo and Juliet and Lice’s Adventures In Wonderland also let us experience different types of literature. II. Nonfiction A. My English II class this year studied three very different examples of nonfiction. 1. The World Geography Textbook- Our geography textbook has a professional tone. The organization of the textbook had headers and sections, which makes finding the information you need easier to find. The purpose of this nonfiction is to inform. 2. The Burden of Womanhood- 3. MASS- This personal memoir about WIN has a serious, melancholy tone. The organization of this book is set up like a story, with pictures. I believe the purpose of MASS is to not only to inform about the events during WI, but to also entertain. B. Studying nonfiction in classes, such as an English II class, would be very beneficial. There are so many different values gained from studying nonfiction, such as how it helps develop critical thinking as well as literary skills, broadens students vocabulary ND world knowledge. Reading Report By theologically read fiction stories because it lets them get lost in a story that’s not theirs. I believe people tell stories to express their imagination and thoughts. B. A â€Å"take away’ value like the fiction stories we read in school relate to us somehow, and teach us lessons. Like Romeo and Juliet and Lice’s Adventures in Wonderland also let us experience A. My English II class this year studied three very different examples of nonfiction. 1 . 3. MASS- This personal memoir about WI has a serious, melancholy tone. How to cite Reading Report, Papers

Study of Gold Nanocluster

Question: Discuss about the Study of Gold Nanocluster? Answer: Study of Gold Nanocluster Introduction Nanomaterials are the materials which are made up of structural elements which have the characteristic dimensions ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm, all properties of these materials are determined on the basis of size and the arrangement of structural elements. There are four main types of nano-structured materials on the basis of dimensions, which are zero, one, two and three dimensional nanomaterials. Zero-dimensional nanomaterials includes nano-clusters and nano dispersions, so we can say that the materials wherenanoparticlesare away from each other or they are not attached with each other. In the 4th century the synthesis of colloidal gold was important due to its property of change of colour depending on the position of light source. In the middle age the gold solutions were highly used for curing the various diseases. In the year 1856, Michael Faraday (Faraday 1857) investigated on the optical properties of gold when he accidentally created a ruby red solution while making gold shee ts on microscope slide. In the 20th century, the research on gold nanoparticles accelerated as it was highly stable and can be easily synthesised. Synthesis The synthesis of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) has several stages. Earlier, the focus was on gas state metal clusters. But as these metal clusters in gas phase were short-lived, the solution-phase synthesis was introduced in 1980. These synthetic methods helped in developing gold nanoclusters with high stability and better physicochemical properties. The synthetic methods were of two types: 1. Atoms to Clusters and 2.Nanoparticles to Clusters. In the first one the gold ions are reduced into zerovalent atoms, and further the AuNCs are formed with nucleation of Au atoms. Gold nanoparticles are easily reduced in comparison to the nanoclusters due to the aggregation of AuNCs. For this we use ligands so that the surface can be modified and helps in stabilising the nanoparticle which also helps in enhancing the fluorescent effect. Therefore, the selection of ligand such as phosphine and thiolate is essential to get the stabilised nanoclusters. The other method for synthesizing the AuNCs is Nan oparticles to Cluster route. In this method the etching of surface atoms of gold nanoparticles is done by ligands such as thiols (Mohammed et al. 2008) and bio macromolecules (e.g., BSA). In this procedure firstly the mixing of surface-stabled gold nanoparticles and etchant which are small molecules or polymers is done and then etching of AuNCs surface with ligand exchange is done which generates AuNCs. This method can improve the fluorescence of AuNCs. In this we have synthesized AuNCs from a solution of HAuCl4.3H2O (Gold Chloride Tri-hydrate ), NaOH(sodium hydroxide), C6H5Na3O7 (sodium citrate) along with distilled water. In a beaker 0.05 gm of gold chloride trihydrate is mixed with 60 ml distilled water. Another solution, by mixing 0.02 gm sodium hydroxide with 110 ml of distilled water. NaOH is added to the solution unless it achieves the pH of 6.6. Now, solution is heated and maintained at 85 C with continuous stirring for about 30 minutes. Sodium Citrate (C6H5Na3O7) solution is prepared by adding 0.07 gm of sodium citrate in 50 ml of distilled water. Heat 20 ml of this solution upto 85 C and then add it to the solution of gold under the condition of continuous stirring. This temperature of this solution is maintained at 85 for about 15 minutes. Here the gold is reduced (Au+3Au) leading to production of nanoparticles and we observe that the there is change in the solutions colour which is pinkish red. Gold in macromolecules the face centred cubic structure (fcc) is observed but as we reduce the particle size the fcc structure also changes in centred - icosahedral structure. Characterisation Various characterisation techniques are carried out to study the properties of gold at nanoscale like High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), X-Ray Diffraction, Infrared Absorption and mechanical indentation. HRTEM The size and symmetry of AuNC were investigated under TEM with a source of electron emission gun. Images were taken at 300 kV keeping the value of current at 10 A. HRTEM observation shows that the surface Au-NP is highly sensitive to the source i.e. electron gun as it shows the creation of some coalescence effect between them.(Casillas et al. 2012) XRD and Infrared Absorption Powdered XRD was carried out, Cu-K rays were passed from the specimen then we found the main reflections at (111), (300), (330) and (421). Broader peak was observed at an angle of 2 = 25. Infrared absorption was done . In the infrared absorption spectrum the peaks are found at 3450 cm -1 which shows the presence of OH and 1650 cm1 which indicates the presence of Chloride . Mechanical Nanoindentation (Volinsky, Moody Gerberich 2004) In this method the mechanic-structural properties are studied. All the values are achieved by using Continuous Stiffness Measurement (CSM) (Li Bhushan 2002).The instrument had a Berkovich diamond indenter whose tip had a very small radius i.e 20 nm, depth limit of the indentor is 35 nm,harmonic displacement of 1 nm at a frequency of 75 Hz is used. For the measurement of elastic modulus, hardness and elastic stiffness, this technique is used. Elastic Stiffness and hardness are determined from the curve of load and displacement. Elastic Modulus is illustrated when the max. Penetration is achieved, so here the CSM technique enables us to measure the elastic stiffness during the countinous application of load instead of just at the initial unloads. CSM is used to study the mechanical properties of thin films, therefore, here the AuNPs are mounted on substrate which are made up of silicon. Mechanical Properties: The increase of 2nm to 6nm in the displacement on penetration of indentor ,the hardness of 1.70 0.03 GPa is obtained, close to the particles in bulk. The graph of elastic modulus is shown in Figure 2, showing average value 100 2.0 GPa which is higher in when compared with macromaterials. Elastic Stiffness can be calculated from this formula: where w is the frequency of excitation, Z0 is the amplitude of displacement, is the phase angle,F0 is amplitude of excitation, Kf is stiffness of load, Ks is stiffness of supporting spring , m is the mass . Figure1. Hardness and function of displacement of AuNCs. Figure 2. Elastic Modulus from CSM nanoindentation. Advantages and Disadvantages Gold nanoparticles are widely used for high-technology applications within the fields of life science and materials science when the size of gold nanoparticles is reduced upto a diameter of 5 nm or less then it can be used as a catalyst. Normally, gold is highly inert material to be used as a catalyst. However, at nanosize, it can act as a catalyst that can do things such as oxidisation of carbon monoxide gas. Au nanoparticles further offer a particular unique set of physical, chemical and photonic properties therefore; these are used in drug delivery to treat various diseases like cancer and tumours (Neutrons reveal 2013). It also has the capability of converting certain wavelength of light into heat. With these advantages it has some limitations also, these nanoparticles are toxic in nature which helps in the treatment but along with that it also destroys some cells of the membrane. The presence of gold nanoparticles reduces the presence of a protein named adiponectin which is invo lved in controlling glucose levels and helps in breakdown of fatty acid to regulate the metabolism of the body. Uses: AuNPs are used as conductors in microprocessor chips. These nanoclusters have the potential to treat tumours as it heat up rapidly. They also have application in the fuel cells which are used for automobiles. Environment Impact: The gold nanoparticles cause bio toxicity as they have the potential to be internalized in the exposed plants (Toxicity and efficacy). There are studies which indicate bioaccumulation of Au through tropic transfers in food chains from exposed plant. These also help in oxidation of the carbon monoxide thus resulting in the purification of the harmful gas. It does not have any harmful effect on the water cycle. References: Casillas, G Palomares-Bez, JP Rodrguez-Lpez, JL Luo, J Ponce, A Esparza, R Velzquez-Salazar, JJ Hurtado-Macias, A Gonzlez-Hernndez, J Jos-Yacaman, M 2012, In situ TEM study of mechanical behaviour of twinned nanoparticles , Philosophical Magazine, vol. 92, pp. 44374453. Faraday,M 1857, The Bakerian Lecture: Experimental Relations of Gold (and Other Metals) to Light, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol.147, pp.145-181. Li, X Bhushan, B 2002, A review of nanoindentation continuous stiffness measurement technique and its applications, Journal of Material Characterisation, vol. 48, pp. 1136. Muhammed, MAH Ramesh, S Sinha, S Pal, SK Pradeep, T 2008, Two distinct fluorescent quantum clusters of gold starting from metallic nanoparticles by pH-dependent ligand etching,Journal of Nano Research, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 333340. Neutrons reveal potential dangers of gold nanoparticles pharmas drug delivery agent of the future, 2013. Available from: https://www.ill.eu/press-and-news/press-room/press-releases/neutrons-reveal-potential-dangers-of-gold-nanoparticles-pharmas-drug-delivery-agent-of-the-future-7062013/ . [9 February 2016]. Toxicity and Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticle Photothermal Therapy in Cancer, Available from: https://nano.cancer.gov/action/programs/platforms/emory.asp . [9 February 2016]. Volinsky, AA Moody, NR Gerberich, WW 2004, Nanoindentation of Au and Pt/Cu thin films at elevated temperatures, Journal of Material Research, vol. 19, pp. 26502657.

Outline and assess the main arguments about the need for global governance Essay Example

Outline and assess the main arguments about the need for global governance Paper Within the past few years global governance is a topic which has been raised quite frequently within discussions, it has been defined as a new, co-operative, though as yet largely unspecified way of running world affairs in response to the changes bought by both globalisation and rapid technological change. This definition of global governance is also agreed upon by Simai (1994) who states it is the maintenance of social order world-wide, in which there is no world government and responsibility rests on no actor alone. 1 On the subject there are many different views for the need for global governance, but there are many arguments which highlight the importance of global governance, one of the main arguments is that global governance would be able to regulate other countries. This is that global governance demands that there is regulation which is beyond the normal parameters of the state. This idea has already been put in practice; examples of this would be the United Nations (UN) an d also the world trade organisation (WTO). These organisations were set up to regulate all of their members, to represent the countries which were in need of assistance, and also to negotiate terms of e. g. trade which would benefit populations or in some cases all of society (the banning of CFCs). Latham agrees with this view as in his opinion State governments are too inefficient and there is need for some degree of order which helps strengthen the argument of the effectiveness of global governance. 2 As global governance would be established to monitor the actions of countries, issues which they would have to scrutinize would be issues such as whether the populations were receiving at the very least their basic human rights; the reason for this is that universal human rights are the basis of social organisation. Violations of these are a threat to peace, and their implementation on a global scale is the obligation of the international community. We will write a custom essay sample on Outline and assess the main arguments about the need for global governance specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Outline and assess the main arguments about the need for global governance specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Outline and assess the main arguments about the need for global governance specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As stated above the WTO is a good example of this as they are a non-discriminatory body whose basic principles are the reciprocity of privileges, open markets, privatization, and liberalization. 3 This can be seen as a justification of the need for governance as if this organisation was not introduced countries would be able to take away both their own population and also other countries basic human rights, or maybe taking advantage of another nations situation which they may presently be in. Instead there would be a set of guidelines which countries would have to comply with, otherwise actions could be taken, e. . sanctions or even a military takeover. Another point which supports the notion of the need for global governance is stated by Reginald Dale who says the argument for global governance is relatively simple, as many of todays problems, such as crime disease, pollution and destabilizing capital flows are not confined to national borders and therefore cannot be solved by indiv idual governments alone. Though individual countries can harm their neighbours, if not the entire world, for instance, by failing to control cyber crime, money laundering or environmental disasters. 4 This point elaborates the view how co-operation is needed from all nations as for example the technology in the UK or the USA would be more advanced then less developed countries such as Indonesia, and so the resources of more developed countries could help combat diseases effecting these populations. At present less developed countries are not receiving the representation which they require to help solve problems or concerns which they may have, as countries such as the UK and the USA (considered rich countries) are disproportionably represented when they attend summits or negotiations on area which concern the global population. If global governance was actually introduced this would not be the case, this has two sides though as it means that though less developed countries would be willing to introduce this theory as it would give them more authority, countries such as the major powers would be less willing to give up their position of authority and so this is one of the reasons why it would be difficult for this notion to be implemented. The last statement elaborates the fact of the control in which these rich countries have on the rest of them, this is why in fact that global governance has to be implemented as there will be a proportionate amount of representation and issues which are effecting the largest amount of people or are evaluated as most important topics are put into the forefront of the agenda, overall causing a fairer and just society. Global governance is directed against a set of global problems. Economic, security, and environmental issues are observed to be in the need of global management and submitted to global mechanisms and institutions. In this view, the outside of global governance consists in any resistance to the global management of the respective issue-areas. Since the initiatives and measures of global governance are meant to produce solutions to the issue-areas at hand, any forces that might challenge the governance effort are treated as undesirable disruptions. 5Though this can be seen as a negative view of global governance, the statement could be also seen in a different light. The reason for this is that though it tells us that anything outside global governance is seen as a resistance, the quote shows us the main principles of global governance and if it was introduced would help cause a kind of security blanket for the members who complied with their regulations. Throughout this essay it has been stated how global governance would act as a type of regulatory body monitoring the actions of the countries, though it would have to monitor regulations such as trade agreements it also can monitor actual leaders/presidents of countries to make sure they are using their influence and power in the most suitable way for the population which they govern, and so global governance can help promote human rights and has the capacity to contribute to that objective. This train of thought is really touching on how global governance can help being a boundary for the political. This view is taken by Konrad Spath who states that global governance takes place after the relevant issues are identified and the course of action is selected. Inside the global governance system, the type of problems and the form of solutions that should guide governance are already identified and are waiting for implementation. Any form of politics is supposed to stay outside, because it would undermine the effective operation of the governance system. In this way, governance becomes somewhat post-political, because it is something that takes place after values are chosen, goals are set and political deliberations have designed the future path to a better world. Because political struggles and contests would be counterproductive to the emerging consensus of global regulation, governance itself has to become a sort of boundary for the political. 6 In conclusion, the main arguments for the need of global governance would be that as individual governments cannot solve all issues by themselves global governance can help to regulate all countries, give protection for human rights and trade agreements similar to that being carried out by organisations like the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Also, global governance would be a boundary for the political and would help less developed countries have more of an input into how the world is run, and ways in which they would be able to improve their populations standard of living. In my point of view I believe that global governance is a relevant theory which should be considered as there would be many benefits for society if it was introduced, in theory it would create a fairer more just society which would benefit everyone. Though in the light of the arguments it seems that global governance is seen as a good idea, yet we dont know whether this would be the case if put in practice, but only time will tell as at present we do not have any real life examples of this theory to compare with.

KKK essays

KKK essays The closely shaved scalp and spouting white-supremacist beliefs are difficult to miss. Indeed, American skinheads have carved out a niche for their radical and very violent approach to what they deem as social and racial injustice, much the same way the Ku Klux Klan has achieved for its members throughout the twentieth century. As the world continues to spiral toward complete and utter eradication, there exists a select sector of the population that refuses to allow this to happen without at least a good fight. American skinheads have long been at the forefront of controversy in their indignation toward racial intolerance. These ordinary citizens believe the very social bureaucracy that it is supposed to protect is deceiving the entire country and even the world. They staunchly support the idea of running headlong into the alleged racial problem, wheeling firearms and taking control, just as much as they believe this to be the only way that white supremacy will ever dominate social thought. "Skinheads have a view of the world; it may be coarse, but it is not empty" (Mousavideh 70). While their efforts are born out of a desire to protect their particular race, American skinheads have been credited with scores of violent offenses, often inappropriately representing their ultimate cause. It is with great respect and dedication to their race that these militants work toward defending the world from negative impact of racial integration; however, in spite of their underlying desire to clean up the social wrongdoing, their actions oftentimes prove detrimental to their quest. Indeed, it can readily be argued that American skinheads are no different than any other militia group when it comes to attempting to assert its myopic opinion upon the general population. "The US states should pass and enforce laws banning private militias, and the federal government should enact backup legislation, to protect us all from unaccountable priva...

Counter Terrorism and Security Management Case Study

Counter Terrorism and Security Management - Case Study Example ck, it precipitated the dramatic reorganization at all levels that resulted in the institutionalization of Homeland Security, thus the formation of the DHS (Bullock, Haddow & Cappola, 2012). It has the following three concepts as the foundation for the comprehensive approach to homeland security. They include customs and exchange, resilience and security. The US and its allies later became embroiled in two very significant wars that pitted Afghanistan and Iraq so as to try and dismember the operations of Osama bin Laden and other terrorist organizations. Conflict ensued when the US military invaded Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan to flush the out terrorist groups. This led to the declaration of Global War on terrorism (Khandagh, 2012). This action blocked the air tube to terror bases of Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The significant step made by the DHS is the disruption of an attempt to detonate Flight 253. However the most significant action was the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden in the year 2011 and other established members of his organization. The government of the U.S.A has too much concentration on terrorism, while natural disasters are taking toll on the safety of the public and economic security. Floods, wildfires, and drought impacted the nation in 2011. This necessitated the DHS to strike partnerships with other partners thu s striking a balance between various hazards and searching for commonalities that exist between the hazard mitigation, response preparedness, and adopting an all-hazards approach to homeland security. Since the 9/11 attack, the DHS has made significant progress in how it responds to a wide range of threats from natural disasters to coordinated attacks. It has attained this through: establishment and improvement of unified incident command system; enhancement of emergency communication and improvement of interoperability; building of biological, radiological, and nuclear preparedness and response measures; private sector preparedness

Human Cancers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Human Cancers - Essay Example The paper describes different types of cancer by human beings. There is one experience which consists of reading about a disease, and another to see the cadavers on display with the vivid details of their disease made transparent to the world as in â€Å"BODIES†¦The Exhibition.† Even the most detailed photos in medical textbooks fail to carry the full impact of disease that the cadavers at â€Å"BODIES†¦The Exhibition† communicate to the crowd. As the majority of the viewers of this display appear to be students and not medical professionals, the information presented and graphic detail of disease offers a preventative message for lifestyle choices that can assist in the national development of anti-cancer initiatives. For this reason, The American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer and Lung Cancer awareness groups have all joined together with â€Å"BODIES†¦The Exhibition† to use the facilities of the displays in alignment with their anti-cancer messag es. Whereas lung cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer are related in some ways to lifestyle choices, there is not always even in these instances a direct relationship between personal mistakes or individual faults and the onset of disease. Rather, deep genetic issues, environmental exposures, immunity, cell regeneration, and old age all combine in ways that continue to elude scientific research to find a cure in the causation of cancer. One effect of the â€Å"BODIES†¦The Exhibition† display should be to encourage participants or viewers to increase their resolve to find a cure for cancer.

GERMAN FILM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

GERMAN FILM - Essay Example These cinematic tones have the ability and potentiality to bolster the negative perceptions or ideologies concerning the ‘others’ of societies. From this perspective, such films have the tendency of confirming, as well as creating ethnic and gender stereotypes. In this essay, the focus is on evaluation of two popular and recent films, which can influence the stereotypes of the Turkish Germans: Gegen die Wand (drama) and Kebab Connections (comedy). These films have been essential in reinforcing and deconstructing the stereotypes existing in Germany of the Turkish Germans. Stereotype refers to the oversimplified, as well as a standardized image under the influence of the special meaning by group members within the commonplace (Ames, 2012). There are various elements of stereotypes with reference to race, gender, ethnicity, and social clique. Like Germans (and each culture, race, and ethnic group), Turkish Germans have the tendency of facing critical judgement in accordance with the existing stereotypes. Nevertheless, as a minority within the context of Germany, Turkish Germans tend to have specific stereotypes, which play critical roles in ostracising them from the majority of Germany. The two films have critical implications in the course of understanding various aspects of stereotypes relating to the Turkish people. In the first instance, the films are essential to the illustration of the existing stereotype relating to patriarchal community and perception among the Turkish Germans. The stereotype attached to the Turkish Germans’ patriarchal structure relates to harsh fathers, who in most cases come out as physically abusive with the intention of expressing their prowess or dominance in comparison to their female counterparts with the society. According to various feminist practitioners and scholars, the social structure relates

Definition Of SME In China

Definition Of SME In China Abstract Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Background A large number of Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) came out in 1980s as China has been moving from a centrally planned system towards a market-oriented economy. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have been involved in the economic reforms. Until the end of 2004, major SOEs rapidly change into small and medium non-SOEs. At the same time, many SMEs sprouted as the implementation of non-SOE promotion policy. Nowadays, Chinese SMEs have increasingly contributed to Chinas economic growth. As recorded until 2007, there are 42,291 medium-sized enterprises and 2,327,969 small enterprises which represent 1.78 percent and 98 percent respectively of the total number of enterprises operating in China. The output value of SMEs contributed at least 60 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) as well as generating more than 82 percent of employment opportunities in China. Since SMEs growth rapidly and pay the critical roles in Chinas economic, in order to improve SMEs performance, the governmen t has provided various ways to support SMEs such as introduced promotion law in 2003, issued a document State Council on Encouraging, Supporting and Guiding the Development of Private and Other Non-Public Owned Economies in 2005 and published the SMEs growth project in 2006. Despite the external support, the internal factor such as human resource management (HRM) has been evolving dramatically in recent years. The Chinese labor market is characterized by a vast pool of poorly qualified personnel, more than 15 per cent of the populations are illiterate and many university graduates lack marketable skills. The shortage of top-class professionals and managers is acute, especially in areas such as accounting, HRM and marketing. Aggravating such shortages is the concentration of professionals in the major coastal cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou (Verburg, 1996). Human Resource Management in China as new as its market economy, with its traditional personnel administrative system undergoing a period of profound change. Besides, HRM in China are different from those in other countries because of different political, economic systems and social and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, HRM in China faces several problems. First, Chinese enterprises in general do not have a systematic approach to HRM that is consistent with their enterprise business strategy. Second, despite the oversupply of labor, many employees are experiencing recruitment and retention problems. Third, there is a lack of an effective system which links long-term motivation and performance with reward. Forth, there is a lack of coherence and continuity in enterprise training. The growth of human capital is obviously lagging behind that of enterprise profit (Pawan, 2004). Hence, this study aims to find out what are the problems about HRM in Chinese SMEs, what are the roles of HRM in SMEs, how is the role of HRM affect employee performance, and extent where this employee performance affect organization performance. 1.1.1 Definition of SME in China With the SME Promotion Law of China effect in 2003, the new definition of SME came out as well. The new guidelines base on the number of employees, revenue and total assets of enterprises. The SME definition in China is quiet complex. Such as the specific criteria about the total assets of enterprises in industrial sector, including mining, manufacturing, electric power, gas, water production and supply and construction. However, in the industries like transportation, wholesale and retail business, and hotels and restaurants, there is no assets requirement. Guidelines for the industrial sector requires SMEs to employ a maximum 2,000 people, and to have an annual revenue not exceeding RMB300 million. Their total assets should not exceed RMB 400 million. Medium-sized enterprises should employ a minimum of 300 people. Their annual revenue and total assets should not exceeding RMB30 million and 40 million respectively. The rest are classified as small enterprises (Details see EXHIBIT 1-1 ). Consequently, an SME in China may be quite large relative to SMEs in other countries. Therefore, this paper mainly focuses on small enterprises (SEs), including the problems of SE, the survey of SEs, and the recommendations about human resource perspective for SEs. EXHIBIT 1-1 The definition of SME in China 1.1.2 Challenges to Chinese SMEs During the twenty-first century, businesses became more than slim; some became anorexic. Cost cutting achieved impressive short-term results. According to some studies, about 50 per cent of the company cost is the employee salary pay. Therefore, in order to cut operation cost, companies start to cut employee salary. Consequently, cutting the pay for the employee caused employee dissatisfaction and left. In China, the serious problem which the organization faces is the shortage of skilled staff to carry out maintenance and repairs or lack of trained employee. Likewise, one of the significant difficulties of SME is the cost of doing business in industrial areas and host towns are high; physical infrastructure is poor; and operational costs are high. 1.2 Research objectives In general, small firms pay less attention to human resource management than their larger counterparts do (Barron et al., 1987; Hornsby and Kuratko, 1990). The available empirical information on HRM within SMEs suggests that smaller firms make less use of high performance HRM practices than larger organizations do (Barron et al., 1987; Homsby and Kuratko, 1990). This is in line with the finding that small organizations are in general more likely to operate in an informal and flexible manner than larger firms are. For instance, Koch and McGrath (1996) find that, normally, firm size is positively related with the incidence of HRM planning and formal training, and with the level of overall HRM sophistication. Westhead and Storey (1997, 1999) find that both managers and employees are less likely to get formal training in a small firm. In a study by Jackson et al., (1989), smaller companies are found to have less formalized performance appraisals, less likelihood of bonuses based on compa ny productivity and less training than larger companies do. Aldrich and Langton (1997) find that larger companies have more formalized recruitment practices. However, firm size is not the only factor in predicting HRM practices. A large heterogeneity exists in the type and formalization of HRM practices found among smaller firms. Thus, this study aims to find out the problems of HRM within Chinese SMEs, to increase our understanding of HRM practices in SMEs and seek out what are the roles of HRM in SMEs. What is more, the impact of HRM practice will be also considered, via the chain of better HRM, better outcomes, to better firm performance, and then to better and more sustainable economic performance in the national economy. As well as what are the challenges for HRM in Chinses SMEs. 1.3 Problem statement The importance of HRM has received much attention in recent years. Some researchers approved that the practive of HRM might lead to better HRM outcomes that can enhance firm performance (Beer, Spector, Lawerence, Mills and Walton 1984; Fombrun, Tichy and Devanna 1984; Guest 1987; 1997; Schuler 1988; 1997). As well as suggest by Boselie et al.,(2001) and Guest (1997), increase usage of high performance HRM practices is generally associated with improved firm performance. Moreover, as MeEvoy (1984) already suggested, HRM practices may be an important cause of small-firm success or failure. However, there has different view of HRM. Some argued that there is a weak link between HRM and performance (Lee and Chee 1996; MacDeffie 1995; Purchell 1995; Dunphy and Stace 1992; Wong et al. 1997). In the recent Chinese economy, what are roles of HRM may contribute to better behavioral outcomes, and thus lead to better enterprise performance? Therefore, this study addressed the following research questions: RQ1: What are the roles of HRM in Chinese SMEs? RQ2: Do the roles of HRM enhance employee performance? If so, which role is the most important? RQ3: To what extent the employee performance affect the organizational performance? RQ4: What are the challenges to HRM in Chinese SMEs? The basic hypothesis is that the roles of HRM improve employee satisfaction. Further, positive employee satisfaction is positively correlated to employee performance. Consequently, positive employee performance is positively correlated to organizational performance.The Structural Equation Model as bellow: Organizational performance Employee performance Employee satisfaction The role of HRM H1: The role of HRM improve employee satisfaction H2: Positive employee satisfaction is positively correlated to employee performance H3: Positive employee performance is positively correlated to organizational performance 1.4 Research motivation How to manage an organizations workforce is a fundamental aspect of each organization, irrespective of its size. Enterprises are faced with the task of recruiting and retaining a suitable workforce. This is not only a challenge for large enterprises, but also for small and medium-sized enterprises. The increasing attention on HRM in SMEs is a comparatively recent phenomenon. HR- researchers have largely ignored the SMEs, even though smaller companies could be fruitful subjects for empirical investigation because their numbers, the growth-rates and not least diversity in the qualitative aspects of management practices. Traditionally, HRM is not being seen as important as other departments like marketing, accounting, operation. There are two reasons for the lack of interest for the HRM in SMEs. Firstly, the managers and/or owners of the SMEs, often ignored personnel, or HR issues like training and development, performance management, employee counseling etc. It seems that the mangers have the view that HRM is unresponsive or not tailorised enough to their needs, and it is considered too costly and activity to carry for a small organization. The lack of appropriateness, expectation of the activities being too bureaucratic, time consuming and the lack of clarity concerning direct effects etc., has resulted in very limited attention to the approach and the techniques associated with it among management (often without any background knowledge on personnel and HR). Earlier studies indicate even traditional personnel activities are rather seldom used in SMEs. Accordingly, with the growth of SMEs in China, and SMEs have increasingly contributed to Chinas economic growth, we need to pay attention to the SMEs performance, or we can say pay attention to HRM in SMEs. As HRM issue always been ignored, especially in SMEs, the researcher attend to do this research to explore the problems regarding HRM within SMEs and the roles of HRM in SMEs as well as the challenges for HRM in Chinese SMEs. 1.5 Scope of research Based on regional distribution (see EXHIBIT 1-2), 68.58 percent of SMEs are located in the east of China, 20.14 percent in the middle of China, 11.28 percent in the west of China. Small enterprises in the top five provinces make up 48.4 percent of all small enterprises. These provinces are all located in the eastern area of China which is Jiangsu, Zhengjiang, Guandong, Shanghai, and Shandong with 11.6 percent, 11 percent, 10.4 percent, 9.9 percent, 8.9 percent, and 7.6 percent of all SEs, respectively. EXHIBIT 1-2 Distribution of registered types of small enterprises (see EXHIBIT 1-3) is as follows: domestic enterprises in mainland China make up 96.1 percent of the total; HK-, Macao- and Taiwan-based enterprises, 2 percent; and foreign enterprises, 1.9 percent. Meanwhile, private enterprises comprise 66.1 percent of all SEs. EXHIBIT 1-3 Chapter 2 Literature review 2.1 Human Resource Management overview (à ¦Ã‚ ¦Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒ ¥Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ µ) HRM is about the management of an organizations workforce. Managing a workforce first of all requires the presence of a workforce, which calls for activities in the fields of recruitment, selection, appraisal and compensation. Next, the workforce must be organized. Tasks and responsibilities must be determined and communicated. To ensure that employees possess required knowledge and skills, training and development activities can be carried out. Such activities may influence the working climate within the organization, and thus employee commitment and job satisfaction. Organizations may also employ activities that directly aim to improve commitment and satisfaction, either because job satisfaction is a goal in itself, or because it is believed to have a positive impact on organizational performance. 2.1.1 Roles of Human Resource Management In the past few years, roles of HR professionals were viewed in terms of transition from operational to strategic, qualitative to quantitative, policing to partnering, short-term to long-term, administrative to consultative, functionally oriented to business oriented, internally focused to externally and customer-focused, reactive to proactive, activity-focused to solutions-focused. However, these transitions are too simplistic. In fact, the roles of HR professionals are in reality, multiple and not single. In order to create value and deliver results, HR professionals must begin not by focusing on the activities or work of HR but by defining the deliverables of that work. Therefore, Dave, (1997) came out the framework of four key roles of HR professional (See EXHIBIT 2-1). The two axes represent the HR professionals focus and activities. Focus ranges from long-term/strategic to short-term/operational. HR professionals must learn to be both strategic and operational, focusing on the long term and short term. Activities rang from managing process (HR tools and systems) to managing people. These two axes delineate four principal HR roles which are: (1) Management of strategic human resources; (2) Management of firm infrastructure; (3) Management of the employee contribution; and (4) management of transformation and change. In other words, the roles of HR professional are strategic partner; administrative expert; employee champion and change agent. Table 2-1 summarizes the deliverables, metaphor and activities the HR professional must perform to fulfill the role. EXHIBIT 2-1 HR Roles in Building a Competitive Organization Table 2-1 Definition of HR roles Management of Strategic Human Resources This role focuses on aligning HR strategies and practices with business strategy which requires that the HR professional works as a strategic partner, helping to ensure the success of business strategies. Translating business strategic into HR practices so that the business can adapt to change, better meet customer demands and achieve financial performance through its more effective execution of strategy. Management of Firm Infrastructure Management an organizational infrastructure is a traditional HR role. This role requires HR professionals design and deliver efficient HR processes for staffing, training, appraising, rewarding, promoting and managing the flow of employees. HR professionals must ensure that these organizational processes are designed and delivered efficiently. Management of Employee Contribution This role indicates that HR professionals involve in the day-to-day problems, concerns and needs of employees. As employee champions, HR professionals need to understand employees needs and ensure that those needs are met, overall employee contribution goes up. Therefore, HR professionals should be active and aggressive in developing human resource, linking employee contributions to the organizations success. Management of Transformation and Change The final role of HR professional is to management transformation and change. Transformation entails fundamental cultural change within the firm. Change refers to the ability of an organization to improve the design and implementation of initiatives and to reduce cycle time in all organizational activities. HR professionals help to indentify and implement processes for change. Ulrich, in conjunction with Brockbank, reformulated the 1997 model in 2005, listing the following roles: Employee advocate focuses on the need of todays employees through listening understanding and empathizing. Human capital developer in the role of managing and developing human capital (individuals and teams), focuses on preparing employees to be successful in the future. Functional expert concerned with HR practices that are central to HR value, acting with insight on the basis of the body of knowledge they process. Some are delivered through administrative efficiency (such as technology or process design), and others through policies, menus and interventions. Necessary to distinguish between the foundation HR practices recruitment, learning and development, rewards, etc and the emerging HR practices such as communications, work process and organization design, and executive leadership development. Strategic partner consists of multiple dimensions: business expert, change agent, strategic HR planner, knowledge manager and consultant, combining them to align HR systems to help accomplish the organizations vision and mission, helping managers to get things done, and disseminating learning across the organization. Leader leading the HR function, collaborating with other functions and providing leadership to them, setting and enhancing the standards for strategic thinking and ensuring corporate governance. 2.1.2 Strategy Human Resource Management There is a growing awareness of the importance of human resources as well as strategy HRM. An integral component of organizing and staffing is SHR, which is becoming more widely recognized as critical to developing and implementing considered responses to profit pressures (Kawalek and wastall, 2005; Lam and Schaunbroeck, 1998; Murphy and Zandvakili, 2005). As a result, .Much attention has been given to SHR in recent years (Ericksen and Dyer, 2005; Martin-Alcazar, Romero-Fernandez, and Sanchez-Gardey, 2005; Richard and Johnson, 2004). Strategy HRM is an approach to making decisions on the intentions and plans of the organization in the shape of the policies, programmes and practices concerning the employment relationship, resourcing, learning and development, performance management, reward, and employee relations. According to Hendary and Pettigrew (1986), strategic HRM has four meanings: 1. The use of planning; 2. A coherent approach to the design and management of personnel systems based on an employment policy and manpower strategy and often underpinned by a philosophy; 3. Matching HRM activities and policies to some explicit business strategy; 4. Seeing the people of the organization as a strategic resource for the achievement of competitive advantage. SHR is concerned with the contributions HR strategies make to organizational effectiveness, and how these contributions are accomplished (Ericksen and Dyer, 2005) and involves designing and implementing a set of internally consistent policies and practices to ensure that an ganizations human capital contributes to overall business objectives (Baird and Heshoulam, 1988; Huselid, Jackson, and Schuler, 1997; Jackson and Schuler, 1995; Richard and Johnson, 2004; Schuler and Jackson, 1987). The idea that HR management systems can play a significant role in creating success for organizations is not new. Porter (1985), for example, argued that HR management practices can help organizations gain competitive advantage by lowering costs, increasing sources of product and service differentiation, or some combination of the two. 2.1.3 Strategy Human resource vs Traditional Human Resource Strategic HR differs from traditional HR in a number of ways: 1. In a traditional approach to HR, the main responsibility for people management programs rests with staff specialists in the corporate HR division. A strategic approach places the responsibility for managing people with the individuals most in contact with them, their respective line managers. 2. Traditional HR focuses its activities on employee relations, ensuring that employees are motivated and productive and that the organization is in compliance with all necessary employment laws. Strategic HR focus to partnerships with internal and external. 3. Transitioning From HR to SHR Although HR has made great strides in becoming more strategic, it has yet to fully achieve an established role as a strategic business partner. SHR expands the traditional role of I i R from bureaucratic to strategic (Leonard, 2002). Due to the tremendous differences between traditional HR perspectives and SHR, it is not shocking that few organizations are successful in transitioning to SHR (Fisher, Schoenfeldt, and Shaw, 2003). For HR to become a strategic business partner, a complete change in mind-set is needed. Table 1 provides a discussion of the key issues or aspects of HR management and examines differences between what is required for traditional and strategic HR. Fundamental Mind-set Lepak and Snell (1998) report that a survey of 1,050 companies indicated that HR professionals devote less than one-third of their time to SHR activities. Instead, their time is spent on traditional activities. (Fisher, Schoenfeldt, and Shaw, 2003; Creen, 2002). In short, the basic mind-set of traditional HR is very transactional in nature-strict focus on these basic activities does not bode well for perceiving HR as strategic. The most frequently cited barriers limiting HR departments to more effectively contribute to their organizations bottom line were HRs strong focus on administration and the inability to directly measure HRs impact on the bottom line (Fegiey, 2006). This may contribute to a perception that HR merely plays an operational role and is not an important strategic partner. Therefore, SHR requires a different mind-set, one that focuses on organizational transformations, as well as transactions. SHR can play a more consultative role in organizations in which HR profess ionals help organizations achieve goals within the larger organizations HR system (Creen, 2002). Additionally, SHR can be more involved in transformations using change management techniques instead of strictly focusing on the transactional activities. SHR can fulfill an important role in change management by helping upper management understand the fear of change and the negative reactions to it, as well as ameliorate anxiety and prepare the work force for change. It appears that some HR professionals recognize this need (cf., Harvey and Dentà ³n, 1999), but it is uncertain if HR is currently prepared to take on such roles. View of Organization Some contend that HR professionals suffer from a lack of vision when it comes to the big picture of the organization {Leonard, 1998). HR management tends to hold a micro view of the organization and HR managers are viewed as somewhat insular, focusing solely on their HR departments and on day to-day operations. In fact, many HR professionals see the HR function as a separate entity and are not involved in finding business solutions{Caudron, 2002). For example, HR planning often takes place separately from the overall strategic planning process and only at set intervals (e.g., annually). Additionally, HR planning is often used as a means of convincing top management to allocate sufficient resources for HR rather than to enhance the organizational performance process (Lam and Schaubroeck, 1998). Although HR planning is important in its own right, even the most sophisticated HR planning processes are ineffective unless done in concert with the organizations overall planning process (Dav id, 2005; Lam and Schaubroeck, 1998). HR should develop a broad and far-reaching vision and understanding of where the organization is headed and how it can help steer the organization in that direction (Leonard, 1998). The importance of the need for a fit between HR strategy and the overall business strategy cannot be over emphasized. HR needs to focus on recruitment alignment, selection, compensation, discipline, training, reward and recognition processes, and leadership development with the strategy and goals of the overall organization. HR must understand the business and make a business case for its decisions, programs, and practices to receive full acceptance at the planning table. Education and Training Another area where HR needs enhancement to become more strategic is in its formal education and training (Meilich, 2005). First, many HR practitioners do not have formal training or education in HR management. Recently, the Society for Human Resource Management surveyed members concerning the strategic nature of HR. Surprisingly, only 35 percent of the respondents indicated that their highest level of education completed involved a concentration in HR (Fegley, 2006). Additionally, many HR professionals do not have business degrees, often reflecting inadequate knowledge of business principles and practices. The survey revealed that only 20 percent of the respondents indicated that their highest degree completed was a B.B.A. or MBA (Fegley, 2006). Consequently, many HR professionals may not have adequate understanding of business concepts that are critical for acceptance as a strategic partner. HR has the potential to positively affea numerous important business activities but HR profe ssionals need to strengthen their knowledge of HR practices and regulations as well as financial knowledge, especially in the areas of business finance, financial planning, and accounting, to do so. While a change concerning HR education and training is needed, traditional HR education should not be abandoned. Rather, its important to develop business-related capabilities to complement the technical HR capabilities that HR professionals already possess. Critical Skills Another potential barrier to strategic HR management is the basic skill set or competencies that traditional HR professionals possess. Like lawyers, HR professionals are trained to be orderly, keep accurate employment records, complete documentation, and protect organizations from litigation (Green, 2002). Although such skills are necessary, many HR professionals mistakenly see this as their only job. Senior managers need HR professionals to serve as problem solvers, conflict managers, coaches, and liaisons with considerable organizational savvy (Green, 2002). HR practitioners must re-examine their existing skills and competencies to meet these new challenges. IIR professionals may look to develop additional skill sets such as critical thinking, strategic planning, project management, organizational analysis, consulting, and change management (Hayton, Cohen, Hume, Kaufman, and Taylor, 2005). This is quite a shift from what is traditionally expected, but it is essential for HR profess ionals who are working to become strategic partners. View of Employees Traditionally, HR views employees as heads or costs to the organization. With traditional HR serving mostly an administrative function, this attitude is somewhat understandable. However, this view is certainly not strategic in nature, and surely will become even more problematic as the United States experiences the labor shortages that are forecasted. The tight labor market of the present and future will make recruiting and retention top priorities in most organizations (Leonard, 1998). Hnder these conditions, the margin for error is small and the costs associated with selecting the wrong employees or losing the right ones is exacerbated. Therefore, it is critical to view employees as extremely valuable sources of produaivity and innovation. Timeframe As previously discussed, traditional HR professionals focus more closely on the transactional aspeas of their jobs. Most of these transaaional functions fulfill immediate needs of the organization and have a near-term deadline. As a result, most traditional HR practitioners are somewhat short-term in their focus. In contrast, SHR requires a long-term focus encompassing both the immediate and future needs of the organization. SHR must anticipate where the company is going to be in five to six years and help organizations understand the impact of changing demographics and expectations of the work force (Leonard, 1998). Process/Outcome Orientation when it comes to the bottom line, many believe HR has generally been out to lunch (Leonard, 1998). Some HR professionals seem more concerned with processes than with results. While issues concerning processes (e.g., employee participation, fairness, due process) are important, IIR must place more emphasis on results and work to understand how internal decisions and actions affect the bottom line. To accomplish this effectively, HR needs to measure the effects of its systems and processes, and demonstrate their impact on the bottom tine to gain equal status in the strategic planning process. Currently, fewer than half of HR departments have an established method to measure the effectiveness of their strategies (Fegley, 2006). Through measurement, HR can help demonstrate its value to the organization while tracking how well the organization is implementing various policies, systems, and initiatives, and ensuring that the desired behaviors and processes support the organizations strateg ic goals (Pfeffer, 1995). Risk HR professionals are typically risk averse, tending to err on the side of caution as they comply with the myriad laws and regulations. HR is often seen as the entity that stops companies from doing the right things (Caudron, 1997) rather than helping companies achieve their goals and objectives. One can argue that extreme caution may be appropriate in some circumstances; however. traditional HR can generalize this approach across its functions. More risk taking is required in todays business environment. Organizations must now respond to change faster and with greater risk while operating in an unpredictable internal and external environment (Briggs and Keogh, 1999). HR practitioners should display a willingness to try new things to meet the challenges of todays global marketplace (Leonard, 2002). Response to Change HR should accept some blame for the stumbling blocks experienced in working to achieve equal status as a strategic business partner. Chief among these problems is the HR professions resistance to change (Leonard, 2002). As a group, HR practitioners have been slow to respond to changes in their jobs and in the business environment. Perhaps the most critical or damaging instance is the slow acceptance of technology. Originally, numerous HR professionals viewed technology as something that would eliminate many of their jobs, rather than enhance their roles and responsibilities. Purthermore, some were reluctant to give up their paper-based processes (Leonard, 2002). This reluctance to accept technology damages the professions image and makes HR slower to react to workplace changes, To become more strategic, HR must accept and respond to changes in the business environment. In addition to ensuring their own viability, HR professionals should show more responsiveness to change in the futur e. HR Systems and Practices Perhaps to simplify and standardize their policies and practices, traditional HR often prefers a one-size fits-a

Trifles by Susan Keating Glaspell Essay -- essays research papers

Trifles by Susan Keating Glaspell Mention the word feminist and most people think of the modern women's movement. Long before the bra burning of the 60’s, however, writers were writing about the lives and concerns of women living in a male dominated society. Susan Glaspell's play, Trifles, was written in 1916, long before the modern women's movement began. Her story reveals, through Glaspell's use of formal literary proprieties, the role that women are expected to play in society, and the harm that it brings not only the women, but the men as well. Character names are important in Trifles. Two characters who are never seen, John and Minnie Wright, provide the inciting incident for the play. The name "Wright" plays off the social stereotype of women seeking" Mr. Right," so they also represent the roles of men and women in the larger society. Minnie's name has a double significance, "Minnie" being "mini" or "minimized," which was descriptive of her relationship w ith John and in general of women's relationship with men. The taking of the husband's name is also important in the story. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are not given first names. The role that society has cast them in is one that is defined by their husbands. Mrs. Peters, who is married to the sheriff, is viewed in those terms, not as an individual. The county attorney even says "for that matter a sheriff's wife is married to the law" (Glaspell ..). Mrs. Peters herself tries to fulfill that role, saying "Mrs. Hale, the law is the law" (Glaspell ..). She tries to reinforce that identity until she is faced with the brutality of what John Wright did to Minnie. She says "I know what stillness is. The law has got to punish crime, Mrs. Hale" (Glaspell ..). The difference is that she is talking about the crime committed against Minnie, not the murder. The best example of the importance of names, especially married names, is the image of Minnie Foster. "I hea r she used to wear pretty clothes and be lively when she was Minnie Foster . . ." Mrs. Hale says (Glaspell..). She talks about Minnie again on page ..: "I wish you'd seen Minnie Foster when she wore a white dress with blue ribbons and stood up there in the choir and sang" (Glaspell..). The image of Minnie Foster is used to show, by contrast, what John Wright ... ...g when she replies to the county attorney's question about the quilt, saying "we call it —knot it, Mr. Henderson" (Glaspell ..). The title, Trifles, is itself a reflection of how men view women. A "trifle" is something that is small, of no consequence. Mr. Hale says that "women are used to worrying over trifles" (Glaspell ..). The irony of the story is that while the men are running around looking for "clues," the women have discovered the key to the mystery among what the men look at as only silly women's work. The feminist agenda of Trifles is not meant to be subtle. Glaspell uses the formal elements in the play to help convey the feminist theme. The title, the character names, and the metaphors all work together to paint not only a picture of Minnie's life with John, but by extension, the lives of all women who live oppressed under male domination. Trifles is not just a reflection, however. It is also a call for women to use their perceived powerlessness as a tool to manipulate the system, and a warning to men that a system where one segment of the population dominates and oppresses another, cannot and will not be tolerated forever.