Social and Politic Influences Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social and Politic Influences Paper - Essay Example These relationships more often than not are shaped by the need to accomplish common goals. Usually, social forces (social influences) emerge in this process and whose consequences either facilitate or impede learning. According to Hirschy and Wilson (2002), these social influences are categorized into role relationships, social status, and structural inequalities. Sociologists often look at how these influences affect people in the classroom in a social setting (Hirschy & Wilson, 2002). Mehan (1998) describes social status in a classroom context as to include the gender, race, age, and social class of the students and the tutor (Hirschy & Wilson, 2002). For instance, students coming from poor family set-ups may often find challenges adjusting to college life compared to their higher status counterparts. According to Gardner, Dean and McKaig (1989), the college environment often reflects the social relationships at different levels i.e. upper-level, middle-level and low level. It is often the case that although students from low-level or disadvantaged backgrounds can grasp tacit rules quickly, they still have a sense of being outsiders. Social influence of role relationships usually come out clearly when assessing the interaction patterns that occur between the tutor and learners and among student peers. Usually in every class, the rules and norms have a huge bearing on the interactions among class participants. According to Hirschy and Wilson (2002), the various norms of discourse determining the patterns of participation. These are those who take part and those who do not. Moreover, it depends on whether one has the drive to disagree with the instructor and other students. In addition, it shows how best to handle conflicts; the types of questions that are acceptable, and how to act appropriately in the classroom. Students often hold an unequal position of power and this, according to Gamaron (2001) often brings a negative influence

Role of US in the Arab-Israel Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Role of US in the Arab-Israel Conflict - Essay Example This essay talks about the Arab-Israel conflict which is one of the main threats to the world peace because of the multi dimensional aspects it covers. A lot of people around the world believed that the current trends of terrorism have its roots in the Arab-Israel conflict. The US foreign policy towards this issue questions by many because of the soft corner it keeps towards Israel. Though the US tried immensely to convince the world that it has taken a neutral policy on this issue, nobody takes this claim seriously. There are several lenses through which one can interpret US policies aimed at the Arab-Israeli conflict like, contrasting national interests, special relationship politics with Israel, bureaucratic politics and individual beliefs. Because of these multi dimensional aspects of the conflict, the reaching of a compromise is extremely difficult. The conflict is filled with regional, religious, political, cultural and communal aspects. It is not easy to address each problem s eparately. For example, Avineri Shlomo wrote that in the post-September 11 context, Israelis hope that the United States-now a victim of massive domestic terrorism-will have more sympathy for them while Palestinians hope that the United States will revive peace talks, and thus solidify Arab support for the war on terrorism. The September 11 attack on the trade center has, in fact, turned out to be a blessing for Israel. It is only after this attack the communal dimensions of terrorism has come to exist.

Research Euromoney market Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Euromoney market - Research Paper Example Eurodollars refers to the U.S. dollars deposited in banks outside the United States or these are dollars deposited in European banks (Globalization Financial Markets, n.d.). The major sources of the Eurodollars include foreign governments, dollar reserves, oil exporting countries, multinational corporations and business executives with excess cash balance deposits outside the U.S. The users of Eurodollars include commercial banks and governments. Globalization Financial Markets n.d. states that, â€Å"many commercial banks have been have been relying mostly on the Eurodollars to make loans to the exporters and importers and domestic companies.† Eurodollars instruments can be categorized into two: Eurodollar deposits, which can be negotiable certificates of deposits with floating interest rates and specified maturity time and time deposits, which have a maturity time of less than a year or Eurodollar loans, which range from $500,000-$100 million. The later also forms the major source of finance of Eurodollars among all other sources of finance. Globalization Financial Markets n.d. states, â€Å"The expansion of Euro dollars is enabled by; private and public depositors keeping their money outside the United States banks and private and public borrowers who take the Euro dollar loans.† London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is one of the world’s widely used benchmark for setting short-term interest rates set by sixteen international member banks. The rates were introduced into the financial markets in the year 1986 after two years of conducting test runs. Today, LIBOR rates published by BBA daily places a rough estimate of about $360 trillion rates of financial instruments globally. LIBOR is important, applauded by many participants of the financial markets because it is inclusive, and considers even the less preferred borrowers of money. Either LIBOR has ability to dilute Fed rate cut effects. The Euro commercial paper is short-term unsecured loan

Epidemiology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Epidemiology - Research Paper Example Technical and financial amenities by developed countries are available for use to prevent resurgence of this infectious disease. The people who do not want to follow preventive education are the most vulnerable to risk factors. To reduce the enormous global burden and long-term goal of better control of this communicable disease, there is a need for international surveillance. The pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for tuberculosis (TB). The person carrying the dormant tuberculosis germs is prone to tuberculosis, if the germs become active and multiply. ‘Latent TB infection’ (O’Donoghue, 2006), is the dormant state of infection in the body. Those with latent infection can easily transfer the disease to another person through contact. Ease of infection of this airborne disease is caused by exposure to infected droplet nuclei. It spreads through activities such as cough, sneeze, laugh, singing, etc. of the disease-carrying person. Approximate estimated figures show that the incidence of TB effects around 33% of world population. Reports show that about nine million people can suffer from tuberculosis disease in a year. Resource-limited countries have the highest prevalence of the disease and because it has not yet been completely uprooted, the chances of outbreak of the disease in other countries including the U.S. cannot be (LoBue, Sizemore, & Castro, 2009). In the â€Å"primary tuberculosis†, the patient can recover completely. This cured person still contains noninfectious, but live mycobacterium. This ‘primary inactive tuberculosis’ could follow one of the three paths in the future. It might remain inactive throughout the life span of the infected person, or it might develop into ‘active tuberculosis’ from its own infection, or the same person might get exposed to new infection called ‘reinfection tuberculosis’ (Jekel, Katz & Elmore, 2001). HIV infected individuals

Russian history, Dr. Zhivago Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Russian history, Dr. Zhivago - Essay Example The discussion about land reform weighs heavily on their minds and takes place on the country estate of an aristocratic patron of the arts. Kolya is described as a future famous writer, and it is important to note the future that Russia and its upper class were soon to face: one in which people like the Zhivago's were to lose their possessions and their status under the new Socialist system. The second chapter elucidates the political implications of the strikes, and the various characters' involvement in them. Madame Guishar is called a member of the aristocracy, but she is dependent on Komarovsky for her well-being and financial stability. Lara feels that she is enslaved by the lawyer, and Yura immediately senses Komarovsky's power over her. The Guishar family is not enmeshed in the political changes taking place, but Lara's association with the young rebels and her family's fear of attack shows the all-encompassing power of the imminent societal changes rumbling below. There is a sense of impending and wide-sweeping transformation taking place, though some feel that the final resolution lies in the czar's manifesto. The connections between all the various plot lines seem to imply that there is no action that is not tied to others, and there is no life that stands independently. At the same time, Pasternak creates the sense that all of the diverse movements leading up to Madame Guishar's attempted suicide exist largely to bring Yura and Lara together. In the fourth chapter, many young characters of the novel find themselves in the throes of World War I, in which Russia suffered heavy casualties. The Russian army was ill equipped to fight on such a large scale, and many soldiers fought without weapons or shoes. The war was devastating, of course, not only to soldiers, but also to Russia at large. By the end of 1915, there were manifold signs that the economy was breaking down under the heightened strain of wartime demand. The main problems were food shortages and rising prices. Inflation rapidly forced down real incomes, and shortages made it difficult to buy even what one could afford. Shortages were especially a problem in the capital, Petrograd (formerly the City of St. Petersburg), where distance from supplies and poor transportation networks made matters particularly bad. Shops closed early or entirely for lack of bread, sugar, meat and other provisions. And lines grew for what remained. It became increasingly difficult both t o afford and to buy food. Not surprisingly, strikes increased steadily from the middle of 1915. And so did crime. But mostly people suffered and endured--scouring the city for food (working-class women in Petrograd reportedly spent about forty hours a week in food lines ), begging, turning to prostitution or crime, tearing down wooden fences to keep stoves heated for warmth, grumbling about the rich, and wondering when and how this would all end. With good reason, government officials responsible for public order worried about how long people's patience would last. The war affects the characters in the novel in different ways. Pasha sees it as an opportunity to escape from his unsatisfactory marriage, Zhivago is called upon to apply his medical skills toward an unsavory task, and Misha finds himself contemplating his own position as a member of the

Principles of Organization and Management Essay

Principles of Organization and Management - Essay Example They have nearly 523 branches spread all across the world. ASDA recently purchased the famous Netto stores for ?778 million, with the sole aim of gaining an upper hand in the UK retail industry. ASDA has faced several problems in the past, to the level of collecting money from various sources including their shareholders to avoid bankruptcy in 1991 and 1993. It has emerged out successfully through various leaps and bounces in the past under the guidance of great leaders like Norman Archie. ASDA’s revival using various principles of organization and management under the leadership of Norman had been studied by various experts all over the world. The paper explores the various strategies used by ASDA to overcome the cultural and economic barriers it faced during its grim past. It also lists the new set of challenges the new COO has to face in today’s highly competitive market and analyzes the scope for ASDA to overcome the new set of challenges. Literary Review ASDA was a t the brim of declaring bankruptcy when Norman Archie came into ASDA as the only applicant for the CEO position of the company. He used various strategies to ensure the company became a successful leader in the retail sector. Within a short span of time, he was able to transform a company at the brink of closing, into a highly successful one. Norman used three strategies reengineering, rewarding and doing it within a given time frame to achieve this impossible feat. Reengineering a company is no easy task. It is simply not enough to patch up the mistakes. The basic structure has to be changed completely by questioning the long time procedures (Hammer & Champy, 1993). Norman did exactly the same to ASDA. The company was highly hierarchical and the upper management used very traditional ways of management. Most of the well paid senior officers were very bureaucratic, preventing any productive changes. He simply did not go about doing the same mistakes other CEO's did. He challenged th e basic structure the company was working. He made every employee in the organization share the vision for reviving ASDA. He never stopped recruitment, treated the low level employees with respect and found out what exactly was lacking in the company. â€Å"The new view is that marketing is the science and art of finding, retaining and growing profitable customers (Kotler , 2008).† Norman reinvented the marketing strategies to increase sales. He understood the core problem in ASDA was it was trying to sell too many things without focus. He streamlined the importance to food and clothing products. His new Spice Girls branded items and marketing during the 1997 Christmas did the much expected trick, increasing their sales considerably. Time is the basic essence. It is an important variable in formulating any strategy and implementing it (Tony Morden). Norman was very clear about what he wanted to achieve at what time interval. Any company would be able to prove its mettle in th e long run. But, its real capability can be measured only when the target is achieved in a given time even under huge pressure. Norman made this magic happen in three short years starting from 1996 – 1999 quite swiftly. "You get more of the behaviour you reward. You don't get what you hope for, ask for, wish for or beg for. You get what you reward." Michael le Boeuf Norman made it a point to involve everyone in the process of reengineering and rewarded each and every behaviour he found useful or appreciable. The employees felt the

WorldCom Essay Example for Free

WorldCom Essay This paper explores the Accounting fraud that took place at WorldCom. Three aspects of the corporate culture are discussed including WorldCom’s harsh top-down management approach, the lack of written rules or a code of conduct, and the inaccessibility of many of WorldCom’s departments. The CEO’s desire to be the #1 stock on Wall Street is also discussed. WorldCom’s inappropriate booking and releasing of accruals is explored and proper accrual accounting procedures are stated. Three aspects of whistleblowing are discussed, including saving a company from a destructive end, facing public reprisal, and potential legal effects. Arthur Andersen is then used to explore the credibility of the Accounting profession when corporate fraud is unveiled. Keywords: WorldCom, fraud, accruals, whistleblowing WorldCom The corporate culture at WorldCom was one that was very loose. Although several factors contributed to the loose and unhealthy environment at WorldCom, one of the greatest downfalls of the corporate culture was the harsh top-down management approach. Employees were advised to do as they were told without questioning management. In addition, CEO Bernard Ebbers and CFO Scott Sullivan dabbled in too many affairs that should have been handled by lower-level management. Too often they ordered overrides of basic procedures that resulted in the downfall of WorldCom. Orders were issued that resulted in the override of accounting procedures. This greatly contributed to the fraud. Another factor that contributed to the unhealthy corporate culture at WorldCom was the fact that no written rules or code of conduct existed. The CEO himself thought it was a waste of time. This paired with the harsh top-down management approach seemed to create a lack of internal control as well. There were no real company rules and managers were completely capable of overriding any rules that may have existed. The inaccessibility of other departments may have contributed to the fraud as well. With so many corporate headquarters, key personnel who may have detected the fraud sooner were not able to confirm that anything wrong was taking place. If a key manager from the finance department in Mississippi, a key manager from the human resources department in Florida, a key manager from the legal department in Washington, D. C. , and a key manager from the network operations department in Texas been together at any point in time, worked together in the same building, or even had the appropriate means to communicate (cell phones were not a hot commodity like they are today and e-mail was just starting to take flight), it is possible that WorldCom could have been saved from its fraudulent end. The CEO’s desire to be the #1 stock on Wall Street was the main source of the fraud. He was so driven to be on top that he ordered managers to engage in inappropriate accounting procedures that included maintaining a certain expense-to-revenue ratio at all costs, releasing accruals, and capitalizing expenses. Furthermore, his top leadership instructed employees about what information could and could not be disclosed with the external auditors. Employees were cursed and threatened if they disclosed anything that was perceived to be a threat to his plan of being the #1 stock on Wall Street. According to Beresford, Katzenbach, and Rogers, Jr. 2003), â€Å"WorldCom manipulated the process of adjusting accruals in three ways. First, in some cases accruals were released without any apparent analysis of whether the Company actually had excess accruals in its accounts. Thus, reported line costs were reduced (and pre-tax income increased) without any proper basis. Second, even when WorldCom had excess accruals, the Company often did not release them in the period in which they were identified. Instead, certain line cost accruals were kept as rainy day funds and released to improve reported results when managers felt they were needed. Third, WorldCom reduced reported line costs by releasing accruals that had been established for other purposes— in violation of the accounting principle that reserves created for one expense type cannot be used to offset another expense† (p. 69). According to Investopedia, â€Å"†¦economic events are recognized by matching revenues to expenses (the matching principle) at the time in which the transaction occurs rather than when payment is made (or received)† (para. 1). Thus, accruals are booked when transactions occur. Accruals are released when either payment is made or when they are evaluated and deemed to be in excess of the actual accrual. Accruals of one type should never be released to offset another type. Accruals should also be released in the period they are identified. While whistleblowing may seem like a relatively easy concept to some, it really is not. The decision between doing the easy thing and doing the right thing usually is not easy. For instance, a person could report fraudulent activity that is taking place within an organization, whether it is due to corruption, misappropriation of assets, financial statement fraud, or another type of fraud. However, such a decision could carry a great price tag. Not only could it lead to the complete destruction of a company, but it could cost other employees their benefits, their retirements, and their jobs. One of the pros of whistleblowing is the fact that a company could be saved from certain destruction, as in the case of WorldCom. It is possible that the sooner fraudulent activity is reported, the less negative the outcome could be. However, whistleblowers are often perceived as tattle tales and snitches and sometimes face public reprisal, as was the case with WorldCom’s Cynthia Cooper. Another downside is the potential legal effects of whistleblowing. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"†¦most whistleblower protection laws provide for limited make whole remedies or damages for employment losses if whistleblower retaliation is proven. However, many whistleblowers report there exists a widespread shoot the messenger mentality by corporations or government agencies accused of misconduct and in some cases whistleblowers have been subjected to criminal prosecution in reprisal for reporting wrongdoing† (Common Reactions section, 4). The consequences of whistleblowing may prove to be steep. The credibility of the Accounting profession is put in jeopardy when corporate fraud is unveiled. As a result of the WorldCom fraud, Arthur Andersen was ordered to cease practicing before the Security and Exchange Commission by August 31, 2002. According to Wikipedia, â€Å"†¦the damage to the Andersen name was so severe that as of 2010[update], it has not returned as a viable business even on a limited scale. There are over 100 civil suits pending against the firm related to its audits of Enron and other companies. In addition, its reputation was so badly tarnished that no company wanted Andersens name on an audit. Even before voluntarily surrendering its right to practice before the SEC, it had many of its state licenses revoked† (Demise section, 1). As stated by Charles Niemeier (2001), â€Å"A loss of confidence can cause even a company with solid core operations to fail. That is because the negative impact of a lack of credibility can be far greater than the sum of the misstatements in the financials† (The Dangers of Smoothing section, 7). References http://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/accrualaccounting.asp http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/wsj/docs/worldcom/bdspcomm60903rpt.pdf http://www.sec.gov/news/speech/spch529.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblower