Control Systems and Quality Management in Relation to Motivation Essay

Control Systems and Quality Management in Relation to Motivation - Essay Example Control systems and quality management incorporates techniques which motivate the behavior of employees in evaluating their performance. Quality control and quality management systems in the healthcare company ensure quality of products and services. They involve a planned and organized approach to monitoring, analyzing and enhancing organizational performance which is a source of motivation. Most healthcare organizations have established continuous quality control and improvement systems for an excellent and constant quality management program as suggested by Shortell and Kaluzny (1997). Healthcare companies should consider that institutions with constant quality control systems desire to adopt positive changes in all aspects of the organization’s activities. Quality management in healthcare companies offers a framework for service delivery and helps hospitals organize their operation to provide quality services. Management control systems aim at bringing commonness of goals and coordination of processes in health care organizations for dysfunctional control systems. The control systems are expected to monitor and regulate the behavior of workers in the organization. For instance, the top management depends on information provided at different management levels to make decisions and to evaluate processes. Management control systems in healthcare organizations are concerned with resource allocation, coordination and motivation of the employees. The control system in management of healthcare organizations applies techniques such as total quality management. Total quality management is an aspect of management which constantly aims at enhancing quality services and management. Every healthcare organization’s management should develop a control system customized to its goals and resources. These control systems relate to motivation of employees in healthcare organizations through different principles as outlined below: Focus in critical points: for in stance, controls are used where failure is a threat and the costs do not exceed a specific amount. This critical point involves all healthcare operations that affect the motivation of workers. Established processes integration which implies that controls in healthcare organizations must work in coordination within various processes in order to motivate the employees for improved performance. Control systems are important in providing information on the organization’s resources including human, financial and physical resources. This is because they are manipulated to improve the use of these resources mostly during strategy implementation Information availability is another important principle that goes toward the motivation of employees through quality management. This can be achieved by ensuring that there are set targets in various processes including deadlines for project completion, priority aspects in services, and cost effectiveness. Comprehensibility is another princip le which implies that motivational controls must be easy and simple for employees to understand Accuracy demands that an effective and motivational control system should offer real information which is useful, consistent, valid and reliable to workers. Economic feasibility is an important control systems motivational aspect as it ensures that control benefits are above the costs. Functional and Dysfunctional Control Systems Functional and dysfunctional control systems are applied in management to combine data collection. The data collected is normally used to determine employee motivation and evaluate their performances. These types of control systems a

Financial Planner Essay Example for Free

Financial Planner Essay Among the many career fields to choose from, Id like to pursue one in the financial planning industry. A financial planners job is diverse and could be in areas like management of cash flow, investment and retirement planning, tax and estate planning, insurance and risk management planning, among others. There are also job opportunities outside personal planning that provides more financial rewards. I believe this job to be interesting, challenging and beneficial to people. This isnt like other jobs wherein youre only there to perform a task sometimes without knowing the end result or the product of your efforts. As a financial planner, a person is able to help other people in more significantly, even in a life-changing manner. Its a fact that many people have great ideas and good intentions regarding their finances, but few have the willpower and the right know-how to execute their plans. Thats where I see myself helping. Id like to see people to be more financially stable and create for themselves a nest egg for their future. People should be aware of financial planning at an early age. The earlier a person starts setting aside part of his income for a financial plan, the more secure is his future going to be. Another reason why Id like to have a career in this field is because I get stimulated when dealing with numbers. Crafting plans after studying pages of figures and mathematical formulas is something that does not daunt me. According to journals and news articles that have been published regarding the financial planning field, the demand for financial planners are rising globally as more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of having tailored financial plans for themselves. Over the years, financial planners have gradually, but consistently, created a niche for themselves in the market. There are several factors that have contributed to the upswing of demand for financial planners. In the earlier years, people were happy with social security benefits and old age Planner 2 pensions provided by the government. But years later, peoples outlook has shifted and the idea of being more comfortable and secure in old age have dominated the minds not just of those who are near retirement but even those who are still relatively young. Awareness among young professionals is seen to continue within the next decade, making it reasonably safe to assume that demand for financial programs and financial planners will continue. Another reason why the financial planning business has risen is caused by uncertainties in the stock markets. People are now opting to seek professional advice, before investing in a particular bond or stock. There is also a growing demand for financial planners outside the personal planning arena. Financial planners have found themselves becoming more and more necessary in banks and other financial institutions. Their expertise is needed in determining risks involved in investment vehicles. The pay scale and benefits that a certified financial planner receives differ from company to company, experience, and type of certification. A person who holds a position in higher management, like a vice president or portfolio manager, will earn a six-digit figure. Likewise, a person whos been a financial planner for more than twenty years will also receive a six-digit salary. Entry-level compensation is often in the range of $30,000 to $40,000. The banking industry and other financial institutions salaries are often higher compared to other industries. For instance, a job posting for a financial advisor in Connecticut offers an annual income of $50,000 to $80,000. Another example is an ad for looking for financial planning director, which offers at least $150,000 annual income. But whats more attractive about being a financial planner is the opportunity to earn more than your basic salary. Commissions and incentives are given for every transaction. A persons overall income is often measured by how well he networks and sells financial products.

The Pandas Thumb -- Stephen Jay Gould Essay -- essays research papers

The Panda’s Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History With a touch of humor, geology, evolutionary theory, biology, cartoon characters and even some references to baseball, The Panda’s Thumb definitely makes excellent reading for people with all types of interests. The old clichà ©, â€Å"Don’t judge a book by its cover,† or in this case, title, holds true for The Panda’s Thumb. Theories concerning adaptations of the panda are only a fraction of the many exciting facts held within the pages of this publication. Gould is able to put what he writes about in words that are easy to understand without compromising the quality of the information. Many questions are raised in this book. Some questions that science just can’t answer at the moment. Time is a major theme in some of the essays in The Panda’s Thumb. I found these essays of utmost interest. Stephen Jay Gould writes as if you were sitting in a chair across from him having an insightful conversation. His essays are written in ways that are down-to-earth, entertaining, and easy to understand. Bits of humor are scattered throughout the book. One passage read, â€Å"The history of any one part of the earth, like the life of a soldier, consists of long periods of boredom and short periods of terror.† These little scraps of humor are placed in the just the right locations. After reading one of his essays concerning bipedalism (walking on two feet) I chuckled at the following statement, â€Å"It is now two in the morning and I’m finished...

Buddhism: A Belief System

A belief system is a form of human spirituality which is accompanied symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural â€Å"god† or savior at the height if it. Belief systems are usually expressed through prayer, rituals, meditation, music and dance, among many other things. It also reflects cultural or ancestral traditions in modern day. My belief follows that of Buddhism or the path of the enlightened one. As a devout Buddhist I am force to refrain from many things. I am not allowed to take what is not given to me this is directed mostly towards thievery of all kinds.Acts of violence are against my beliefs as well lying. Intoxicants that induce loss of mind or foolish behavior such as drugs or alcohol are a sinful substance. These thing shapes the course of my everyday life in all situations in this way my beliefs make up a religious belief system. I personally was born into Buddhism, my parents were also devout Buddhists. My parents taught my daily from birth the B uddhist religion and I faithfully follow it. I believe in its practices wholeheartedly. A practice of Buddhism is karma or, the belief anything you do will be repaid in the same manner.For example if I find a wallet on the ground and turn it in to the police station, I may come upon a positive financial gain in the future. My parents taught of this and many other practices of the Buddhist religion. Being born into Buddhism early life was not easy with so many clear cut rules to abide by however, I have been devout since an early age and do not plan to change my ways in this lifetime. Buddhism: A Belief System 3 There are many more benefits than disadvantages in the Buddhist belief system. A disadvantage would be that fact alcohol cannot be consumed even in a social manner.This can sometimes ruin a small party of friends trying to have a good time. A benefit also comes along with the no alcohol rule which is prevention of alcoholism. This in turn helps me to be a better person and al ways have a clear mind. Another benefit of Buddhism is have a clearly stated no thievery law to abide my in my religion the people around me see me as a more trustworthy person. Finally, karma itself I see as a blessing as long as I do the right thing and treat people the right way then great things will become of me. Tradition plays a major role in the Buddhist belief system.There are various holidays that Buddhists celebrate to recognize special moments or events in history or the present. Such as Visakha Puja which occurs on the full moon of the sixth month around the time of may. It is one of the most important days for Buddhists because it is the day that the Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and died. All three of these special events fell on the exact same day. Visakha Puja is usually celebrated with a sermon during the day and a candle lit celebration to pay respect to the Lord Buddha at night. This only one of many traditions that help shape the Buddhist religio n.Tradition plays a very important if the the most important role in my belief system. Buddhism: A Belief System 4 The role of tradition in general is what makes a religion what it is. Tradition is the coincides with beliefs to make the basis of every religion. Without traditions a beliefs system would be nothing but a set of rules. It also reminds the followers the reason or spirit behind the religion they believe in. Christianity's Christmas or the Jewish Hanukkah is a reminder of the reason their ancestors began to follow their belief system.Holidays like the Cristian and Catholic easter remind of the hardships their ancestors had to go through to believe what they believed in. Traditions are what help us keep our faith in what we believe is true even in the darkest of times. It is very important to be knowledgeable about religions other than your own. For instance something you do or say may be alright within your beliefs but within others may seem crazy or offensive. Religion i s the very thing that drives some people so it's best you respect it. Knowing about other religions is also enlightening for yourself, knowing what other people believe to be true or their practices.It is different to discriminate against someone religion that other tings because religion has no face or color of beliefs. To try and deny someone their beliefs is near inhuman. In conclusion a belief system is that which binds a group of people together as well as a way of life. It is not just religion but our morales as well as our happiness and fear. A belief system is the basis of all mankind because everyone needs to believe in something. Buddhism: A Belief System 5 Buddha Dharma Education Association Incorporated. BuddhaNet. – Worldwide Buddhist Information and Education Network.25 Feb. 2009 . The World Book Encyclopedia. 2007th ed. Vol. 2. Ser. 3. Worldbook inc. , 2001. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 25 Feb. 2009 . â€Å"Your Belief System. † Fringe Wisdom â €“ Spirituality, Love, Food, Nature, and The Art of Being Human. 25 Feb. 2009 . â€Å"The Need for a Belief System †¦ a system of organization for your experiences! † Self Improvement from SelfGrowth. com. 25 Feb. 2009 .

Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse has gained major public attention in the past few decades. Various factors in the recent years have generated a public reaction regarding child sexual abuse, which has become one of the most high-profile crimes. â€Å"At Sifers' jury trial, 14-year-old S. T. testified about Sifers having raped her five years earlier. S. T. described Sifers' disposition the night of the alleged rape as â€Å"upset . . . like he'd been drinking. † RP Vol. I at 24. She recalled Sifers following her into her bedroom, closing the door, and pushing her down on the bed. Sifers then pulled down her pajamas and pushed his penis inside her vagina. Afterwards, he said if she told anybody, he would hurt her, her younger siblings, and her mother. † (State of Washington v. Charles Wayne Sifers) Child sexual abuse — an unwanted, yet common, catch-22 issue that is worldwide and has been for centuries. Each year, well over 300,000 children become victims of this heinous crime against humanity. Child sexual abuse is described as any sexual activity between an adult, adolescent or older child, with a child including such things as fondling of genitals, masturbation, and oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse. It is not solely restricted to physical contact though; such abuse could include non-contact abuse, such as exposure, voyeurism, obscene phone calls, prostitution, and child pornography. The offender can range from a parent, stepparent, sibling, other relative, friend, neighbor, childcare person, teacher, to a stranger. This form of exploitation occurs with children of all ages, in rural, urban and suburban areas and among all ethnic, racial and socioeconomic groups. Since the 1970s, the sexual abuse of children and child molestation has increasingly been recognized as deeply damaging to children and thus unacceptable for society as a whole. While sexual interaction between children and adults has been present throughout history, it has only become the object of significant public attention in recent times. Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened, and the legal procedure for validating an episode is difficult. The long-term emotional and psychological damage of sexual abuse can be devastating to the child. The problem should be identified, and the abuse stopped. That is where child sexual abuse prevention programs come into play. Most child sexual abuse prevention programs focus on teaching children how to lower their risk for becoming a victim of sexual abuse, and increasing their knowledge of potential sexual abuse approaches and encounters. These prevention programs also encourage efficient skills, which can be used in any uncomfortable situation that could lead to sexual abuse. Although child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention programs promote and teach effective skills to use when confronted by an abuser, they do not successfully reduce sexual violence because of the inconsistencies among programs, the lack of knowledge about abusers, and the vulnerability of the victims. CSA prevention programs do not effectively reduce the prevalence of child sexual abuse because there is not a stable foundation of knowledge about the paths that lead to abuse and the abusers themselves. According to Jeffrey J. Haugaard, Ph. D. , Department of Human Development New York State College of Human Ecology at Cornell University, â€Å"Federal and state agencies, and private foundations, have funded little basic research in this area – and thus we have no foundation of knowledge on which to support effective sexual abuse prevention,† (Haugaard). In order to design effective prevention efforts for any problem, an understanding of the development of that problem is crucial. We are better at preventing physical abuse of children rather than the sexual abuse of children, because we have a clearer understanding of how physical abuse develops; this is because of the mass research efforts taken to grasp the subject. If state governments expend more money to fund research regarding abusers and their developmental pathways, then there would be a greater chance of gaining the knowledge necessary to make the programs attest their purpose. Haugaard also stated â€Å"We tend to know more about what does not work in the area of preventing child sexual abuse than we know about what does work† (Haugaard). This ties in with the factor of not having a legitimate amount of research to base prevention programs off from, and, therefore, the programs not achieving deterrence and lessening sexual violence. Our current awareness and perception of the problems involving sexual violence is not enough to effectively interfere and bring it to a stop, or at least attempt to. Moreover, â€Å"Although sexual abuse prevention training programs are well-intentioned efforts to protect children against a loathsome crime, there is no evidence that they work, or even on the margin that these efforts produce more good than harm,† (Neil Gilbert, Chernin Professor of Social Welfare and co-chairman of the Berkeley Child Welfare Research Center). This meaning that without at secure basis of the basic knowledge of abusers, there is no way of telling if these prevention programs are even working. Our present incompetent education will lead us to false accusations and assumptions until we are able to further investigate and study the mind-set of abusers. Some may argue that child sexual abuse prevention programs are effective in preventing child sexual abuse. One of the more positive characteristics and purposes of CSA prevention programs is that they achieve the idea of educating and publicizing effective skills for children to use when dealing with the confrontation of a possible sexual abuser. These components include abuse-specific information, skill-practice activities, parent involvement, and multiple sessions in which children learn skills and have concepts reinforced. The most important skill learned is knowing how to say â€Å"NO! † David Finkelhor, a renowned Professor of Sociology at the University of New Hampshire, organized and performed many studies in relation to child sexual abuse. As stated by Joseph Dake, James Price, and Judy Murnan, in their evaluation of a child abuse prevention curriculum â€Å"Finkelhor conducted a national survey of 2,000 youth aged 10 to 16. They found that children receiving more extensive school-based prevention programs were more knowledgeable about abuse, more likely to report self-protective strategies when threatened, more likely to tell someone after an attempted victimization, and less likely to blame themselves for the abuse. † This means that the prevention programs that children partake in allow them to gain more confidence and feel more conversant when faced with sexual abuse. There is enough data to support the idea that these programs do provide many students with a more confidence and skills to use in a dangerous situation. However, abusers are still out in society, and while education is worthwhile and important, we need to make it physically safer for everyone by providing longer prison terms and more austere consequences for offenders. We want our children safe and hoping they will learn the skills to deal with dangerous criminals is not enough, we need to make it safer for them. An unfortunate example of this can be made with Larry Don McQuay, a habitual and lifelong sexual predator from Texas. In 1995, he confessed to getting away with molesting over 240 children before he was caught for molesting just one boy. The case of Larry Don McQuay seems to epitomize society's continuing inability to deal with those who have incorrigible and unspeakable appetites for children. One obvious permanent solution–capital punishment–is strictly reserved for murder and is likely to remain so. The public remains divided over the merits of the death penalty, child sexual abuse cases are difficult to prove beyond all question of doubt, and most sex offenders are members of or known to the victim's family, making the latter unlikely to call for a death sentence. As a result, there is a push to sentence child molesters to life in prison without parole or place them in secure mental institutions until they are judged not to be a danger to society. In the meantime, however, many offenders receive probation or short prison sentences, and thousands are released from jail and back into society each year. â€Å"(Wetzstein) Releasing predators back into society can increase a child's susceptibility of being abused and scarred for the rest of their life. If the penalties for child sexual violence become more severe, many offenders will be kept away from society for a longer period of time, or even eternity. This is important, because it would create a safer environment for the children and the general public to live in as a whole. Sexual violence encounters and happenings would reduce in number with fewer perpetrators out to cause harm. Education programs, however, are incapable of keeping predators out of society and children out of harms way. With the many forms of unwanted lascivious gestures and exploitation, and the unremitting chance of a child being assaulted, prevention programs are incapable of thwarting, or even minimizing the amount of sexual violence that is imposed on kids. Without a steady understanding of the offenders and their acts of maltreatment, we will not be able to help rid the world of these psychopaths and make the world more protected and secure for our children. â€Å"The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is one of the most vicious crimes conceivable, a violation of mankind's most basic duty to protect the innocent† (James T. Walsh). Society, therefore, must put forth an effort to delve into studying all aspects of the subject, and help protect children from the perpetrators of these vile crimes by strengthening notification requirements for sex offenders and increasing criminal penalties.

Great Critical Essay Topics for You

Great Critical Essay Topics for You Critical Essay Topics (part 2) (you can find Part 1 here) Movies and TV in Critical WritingWrite down all movies about a high school life (at least those that you remember). Select only one movie, which you consider to be the most outstanding example of its genre. Do you think that the movie influenced your development of personality? Critically analyze positive and negative sides of the movie. Do you agree that usually there are many differences between books and movies screened on the same texts? Choose one book and a movie screened on its plot. Did you manage to find many differences? Try to choose newly screened movies for your writing. Do you agree or disagree that filmmakers should pay more attention to the potential audience? Do you think that some scenes should be excluded to reach a wider audience? Can you name some examples, when you would not let your children watch a movie that was shown in a cinema without any restrictions? Do you agree that horror movies influence ones psychological development? Would you let your children watch horror movies without any limits? Provide some examples to prove your opinion. Critically examine the way TV reflects wedding shows. Do you think that emotions of people are mostly fake? Do you think that all reactions are exaggerated? Many people believe that wedding shows should be more down-to-earth since they do not reflect life as it is. Do you agree? Choose one popular TV series based on real-life events. Have you managed to find some far-fetched scenes that would never happen in real life? Would you still proceed watching this TV series? Do you agree that people are manipulated and in real setting, they would act in a completely different manner? Originality in filmmaking becomes extinct. Most of directors and produces are involved in re-making already screened shows to increase their popularity. Do you think that changing an old story instead of producing a new one is a good idea? Do you think that directors and filmmakers gain huge profits for nothing? Introduce some examples and prove your opinion. Can you describe and define a summer movie? What features should it possess? Can you name a couple of incredible summer movies? Write your expectations and preferences while choosing a summer movie. Choose either a comic or a tragic character and try to find it in several movies. Do you think directors show the same hero or heroine differently? Critically discuss decisions, actions, and motivations of the chosen character. Do you think that American society is influenced too much by popular TV series? Choose one series and try to discuss its viewers and followers. Critically analyze its positive and negative impact on the viewers.Can you recall any horror movie that scared you so much? What makes it special? Were all scenes realistic? Try to name a couple of examples that scared you to death and discuss if director reached success in reflecting events. Explore advertising on TV. Do you think that government should impose a strict limit on the amount of advertisements showed by each channel? Do you agree that advertising influences the way children act in a significant way? Use 2-3 ads that are currently streaming on channels. Can you name the worst movie you have ever watched? Why was it so bad? Did you manage to watch it till the end? List a couple of factors that would have resolved the issue. Do you think that this movie was just a waste of time and money? Research the television history. What tendencies were popular in the past and now? Did you manage to find some drastic changes? Do you think that television became more cruel and shows too much thoughtless scenes? Mention your favorite comedy and analyze its scenes to the full. Why do you consider this comedy to be special? What is the subject of laughter? While watching the comedy, did your friends laugh that much? Do you think that ones sense of humor determines much while watching the comedy? Do you think that real-life situations cannot cover events showed in the comedy? Do you think that reality TV shows make a strong impact on peoples lives? Can you name one of such shows? Do you think that people participating in reality shows miss their own life? Critically examine personalities in such shows and predict their possible intentions behind being famous. Do they want to escape their lives? Can you name a vintage movie? Doyou think modern youths will ever watch vintage movies? Being a high school graduate, would you ever consider watching a film with your parents? Name at least one movie that won Oscar. Do you agree that this movie deserves its prize? What unique scenes and characters can you find in the movie? If you were a filmmaker, what kind of movie would you produce? A comedy, drama, thriller, tragedy, detective story, etc.? What would you like to draw attention to in your movie? Critically examine modern tendencies on TV. What would you like to change? Provide a couple of examples with supporting ideas.

Structures and Agency Essays

Structures and Agency Essays Structures and Agency Essay Structures and Agency Essay and emplaced in terms of lifestyle, conditions, etc. Our actions therefore respond to the structures of one kind or another, in which we are situated. Another way of thinking about how structure changes us comes from the 19th century social scientist, Durkheim. An example comes from Durkheims work on suicide, which listed three categories in which suicide could occur: Egoistic: for reasons of self-dissatisfaction or in response to personal emotion. Altruistic: for the good of other people Anomic: because all structures have broken down and life no longer has meaning This shows that even in relation to this extreme decision, the individual does not act without reasons – reasons are taken in response to structures. Durkheims theory of social facts clarifies the relationship between structure and infrastructure. Structures have priority, externality and constrain, in relation to our behaviour. Structuralists reject pluralism: they argue that the atomized actor is the only actor we can know. We can therefore predict life chances according to structures such as class, race and gender. From a structuralist approach we can understand the relevance of the debate to politics. Structuralist Marxists would argue that human action and choice is determined by class. Society is composed of superstructure, what we can call civil society which includes things such as education, the arts and culture and substructure which is constituted of the material and economic base. Marx argued that the substructure defines the superstructure – clearly a structuralist and deterministic view of society and culture. Both levels, according to Marx, are controlled by a ruling class. Men make their own history, but not under circumstances of their own choosing. Marcuse, for example, argues that we do not live in a free society, but a one-dimensional one. There is no freedom, simply reproduction of the views of the ruling class. Similarly, structuralist feminism, of the 1960s, held patriarchy as the key structural influence. The work of Germaine Greer and Kate Millet reflects this. They saw the systematic exclusion and subordination of women from many aspects of the economy and society, and explained the position and behaviour of women through the structures set up by men. There are criticisms of this approach. Firstly, structuralist accounts underestimate the reflexivity and autonomy of human actions. They tend to concentrate on the individuals position in a hierarchy, and do not deal with the ambiguity and ambivalence of human experience. There is a skewed reality at work: they attribute too much power/influence to few structures. Marxists, for example, have been accused by feminists of ignoring gender as a structure. Furthermore, they postulate repetitive patterns of behaviour and therefore cannot explain how changes, for example Glasnost and the abandonment of Communism have occurred. Loyal and Barnes elucidate the key differences between structure and agency. They suggest â€Å"agency stands for ‘the freedom of the contingently acting subject over and against the constraints that are thought to derive from enduring social structures. To the extent that human beings have agency, they may act independently of and in opposition to structural constraints, and/or may (re)constitute social structures through their freely chosen actions. To the extent that they lack agency, human beings are conceived of as automata, following the dictates of social structures and exercising no choice in what they do. That, at any rate, is the commonest way of contrasting agency and structure in the context of what has become known as the structure/agency debate. †5 No current theorists would argue that either agency or structure are completely in control of our behaviour, although much is still influenced by this debate: most people today hold the view that agency and structure are enmeshed together. It is still a debate which informs how we think and research. A consequence of the abandonment of extreme positions is the new prevalence of postmodern thought, for which structure is no longer the complete answer. Stuart Hall, for example, admitted in the 1980s that we are living in new times, not defined by class, as in the Marxist approach of his work. Feminists have also accepted that patriarchy is not the sole reason for womens behaviour. Postmodernism has filled the vacuum. Postmodernism reflects the ambiguity and ambivalence of life, and suggests that structures such as class are discursive, representations of how life occurs, not real life. This is a thread in the work of Baudrillard, Barthes, Foucault and Derrida. Derridas work, for example, foregrounds the play of meaning in his differance which implies defer and differ. The point is that meaning is always deferred: there is never a final truth or fact, and reality is always being rewritten. This radically destabilises the idea of a shared reality, emphasising the elasticity of human experience and the need to look at life processually. Everything is moving, unfixed, unfastened, and there are no underlying fixed structures. Postmodernism also emphasises the need to be tolerant of other peoples viewpoints. It encourages multiculturalism. Another strand is Hybridity theory, which claims that everything is hybrid in some sense: that there is no purity. Consequently, no language or point of view is superior. â€Å"Giddens in the form of what he calls ‘Structuration’ theory has set out to try and transcend the dualism of structure and agency. His basic argument is that, rather than representing different phenomena, they are mutually dependent and internally related. 6 Structure only exists through agency and agents have ‘rules and resources’ between them which will facilitate or constrain their actions. These actions, can lead, in turn, to the reconstitution of the structure, defined as rules and resources, which will, in turn, affect future action. Thus, we have a close interrelationship between structure and agency. Giddens’ metaphor for this is that rather than being dist inct phenomena structure and agency are in fact two sides of the same coin. As such, we have a conception of the mutual constitution of structure and agency. As Taylor argues, â€Å"†¦this conception is the most distinctive feature of ‘Structuration’ theory, yet a feature which serves crucially to undermine the theory as a whole. †7 This approach combines the best of agency and structure approaches the actor is situated, but not clueless. This emphasises reflexivity, and assumes a high degree of self-awareness on the part of the actor, but also allows for the influence of structures and awareness of emplacement. Structuration theory is Giddens attempt to bridge the gap between theories which place emphasis on either structure or agency at the expense of the other. Structuralism represents one extreme on a continuum of theory in which social structures such as class, gender or race are seen as systems which are so pervasive through time and space that people have little or no choice but to operate within them. At the other end of the continuum, there is an emphasis is on the subjective individual, structures are seen as ephemeral; they are relative and secondary to agency. These extremes can be characterized as systems without actors in the case of the former, and actors without systems in the case of the latter. Giddens explains the relation between theses two extremes by offering a theory of structuration that: â€Å"†¦provide[s] an account of human agency which recognizes that human beings are purposive actors, who virtually all the time know what they are doing (under some description) and why. At the same time [as understanding that] the actions of each individual are embedded in social contexts stretching away from his or her activities and which causally influence their nature. 8 Grasping the recursive nature of social practices the duality of structure – is according to Giddens, the key to achieving this. The study of politics largely concerns conceptions of power; ‘who gets what, when and how. ’9 We can understand the role of the state to include controlling and distributing limited resources which determines who benefits, and is included, and who does not benefit and is excluded. Structure and agency can assign responsibility for political actions; it is t he head of state or the political-economic environment that causes events and change? An acknowledgement of the structure agency debate allows us to acknowledge the influence of structures and agents in the political world. The structure agency debate cannot be seen as an approach to political analysis in the same way that rational choice theory might be. However, it is an important way of considering and analysing issues. Let us examine for example, the cause of the Second Gulf War in Iraq. Structure and agency debates will examine this with the approach of; were the actors involved free to make decisions independently of structures and so, as individuals, change the course of history? Or was it a situation in which structure was the predominant factor and the actions of the individuals involved was pre-ordained? From an agency perspective, there are clearly two actors who made key decisions which led to the conflict; George Bush and Saddam Hussein. We can understand that George Bush may have been inclined to go to war as he was simply following in his father’s footsteps, attempting to finish off his father’s unfinished business and trying to consolidate American hegemony. Similarly, we can see that Saddam Hussein was responsible for the conflict by his continued refusal to allow weapons inspectors to sites and his recalcitrance to convince the world that they were not harbouring terrorism and producing weapons of mass destruction. On the structure side of the debate we can see that there were factors of structure; Bush and Hussein were individuals acting in accordance with the structures they themselves may have been unaware of, so that these actors were situated in an environment which meant the course of action was inevitable. Some structural factors that could be considered would be; rising oil prices which, had they continued would have undoubtedly fuelled the recession and increased US domestic stability. Furthermore, instability in the region and the history of Iraqi development of banned weapons and expelled weapons inspectors meant that in a structural sense, there was a sense of inevitability of the conflict. The issue of hegemony could also be regarded as a structuralist consideration as it pervades both economy and culture; it is the field on which the game is played. In providing an explanatory framework for political analysis, postmodernism is largely defunct. Postmodernist accounts of structure and agency reduce it to a discourse in which structure and agency are no more than arbitrary discursive constructs. In the case of war in Iraq we can see that this is a gross oversimplification. However, we can clearly see that these phenomena – Saddam, Bush, oil, terrorism and political stability are very much ‘out there’ with their own characteristics and properties. Structure and agency can produce social effect without being articulated in discourse. Furthermore, Giddens’ rejection of the dualism of structure and agency, regarding it as two sides of the same, replies to the criticism of dualistic constructs. The dialectical approach, and in particular, Giddens’ structuration theory provides a plausible explanation which, as Giddens elucidates, the two sides of the same coin. In the case aforementioned, this constructs a much more plausible explanation which takes into consideration all factors involved. Giddens suggests ‘systems’, in this case, the political climate, influence people’s actions, but in turn, social contexts, or ‘structures’ continue to exist only if they are sustained by people’s repeated actions, for example the actions of Bush and Saddam. â€Å"Giddens concept of the ‘duality of structure’ melds agency and structure into one instead of regarding them as a dualism that consists of two separable albeit connected phenomena; unless and until structure is instantiated it has only virtual existence in the form of memory traces in people’s minds. †10 To conclude, the structure-agency debate is useful insofar as it provides a framework within which to explain social change; and to attribute causation, and this is what Giddens recognises in his two sided coin analogy. Giddens is right that we can only see one side of the coin at a time; this results from our own perceptual limitations when we trying to interpret phenomena. Political theory needs abstraction and over-simplification of the world to enable us to explain phenomena and change; the structure agency debate is one tool to enable us to do this.

Bette Nesmith Graham, Inventor of Liquid Paper

Bette Nesmith Graham, Inventor of Liquid Paper Bette Nesmith Graham (March 23, 1924–May 12, 1980) was the inventor and businesswoman who made a fortune from her invention Liquid Paper, a product which along with its competitors such as Wite-Out, allowed secretaries to quickly correct typing mistakes. Fast Facts: Bette Nesmith Graham Known For: Invention of the correcting fluid known as Liquid PaperBorn: March 23, 1924 in Dallas TexasParents: Christine Duval and Jesse McMurrayDied: May 12, 1980 in Richardson, TexasEducation: Left San Antonios Alamo Heights School at 17Spouse(s): Warren Nesmith (m. 1941, div. 1946); Robert Graham (m. 1962, div. 1975)Children: Michael Nesmith (b. December 30, 1942) Early Life Bette Claire McMurray was born on March 23, 1924 in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of Christine Duval and Jesse McMurray. Her mother owned a knitting store and taught Bette how to paint; her father worked at an auto parts store. Bette attended the Alamo Heights School in San Antonio, Texas until she was 17, at which point she left school to marry her childhood sweetheart and soldier Warren Nesmith. Nesmith went off to World War II and while he was away, she had their only son, Michael Nesmith (later of The Monkees fame). They divorced in 1946. Divorced and with a small child to support, Bette took several odd jobs, eventually learning shorthand and typing. She found employment in 1951 as an executive secretary for the Texas Bank Trust in Dallas. A technological advancement in typewriters from fabric to carbon ribbons and a more sensitive keypad made errors more common and more difficult to correct: erasers that had worked before now smeared the carbon across the paper. Graham sought a better way to correct typing errors, and she remembered that artists painted over their mistakes on canvas, so why couldnt typists simply paint over their mistakes? The Invention of Liquid Paper Bette Nesmith put some tempera water-based paint, colored to match the stationery she used, into a bottle and took her watercolor brush to the office. She used this to surreptitiously correct her typing mistakes, which her boss never noticed. Soon another secretary saw the new invention and asked for some of the correcting fluid. Graham found a green bottle at home, wrote Mistake Out on a label, and gave it to her friend. Soon, all the secretaries in the building were asking for some, too. The Mistake Out Company She continued to refine her recipe in her kitchen laboratory, which was based on a formula for tempura paint she found at the local library, with assistance from a paint company employee and a chemistry teacher at a local school. In 1956, Bette Nesmith started the Mistake Out Company: her son Michael and his friends filled bottles for her customers. Nevertheless, she made little money despite working nights and weekends to fill orders. Bette Nesmith left her typing job at the bank in 1958 when Mistake Out finally began to succeed: her product was featured in office supply magazines, she had a meeting with IBM, and General Electric placed an order for 500 bottles. Although some stories say she was fired from the bank for signing her name with the Mistake Out Company, her own Gihon Foundation biography reports she simply started working part-time then left as the company succeeded. She became a full-time small business owner, applied for a patent, and changed the name to the Liquid Paper Company. Liquid Papers Success She now had time to devote to selling Liquid Paper, and business boomed. At each step along the way, she expanded the business, moving her production out of her kitchen into her backyard, then into a four-room house. In 1962, she married Robert Graham, a frozen-food salesman who then took an increasingly active role in the organization. By 1967, Liquid Paper had grown into a million-dollar business. In 1968, she moved into her own plant and corporate headquarters in Dallas with automated operations and 19 employees. That year, Bette Nesmith Graham sold one million bottles. In 1975, Liquid Paper moved into a 35,000-square-foot international headquarters building in Dallas. The plant had equipment that could produce 500 bottles a minute. That same year, she divorced Robert Graham. In 1976, the Liquid Paper Corporation turned out 25 million bottles, while the company spent $1 million a year on advertising alone.  She had the lions share of a multi-million dollar industry and Bette, now a wealthy woman, established two charitable foundations, the Gihon Foundation in 1976, to collect paintings and other artworks by women, and the Bette Clair McMurray Foundation to support women in need, in 1978. But when she stepped down as chairperson, her ex-husband Robert Graham took over and she found herself on the losing end of a power struggle. She was barred from making corporate decisions, lost access to the premises, and the company changed her formula so she would lose royalties. Death and Legacy Despite increasing health issues, Bette Graham managed to wrest back control of the company and in 1979, Liquid Paper was sold to Gillette for $47.5 million and Bettes royalty rights were restored. Bette Nesmith Graham believed money to be a tool, not a solution to a problem. Her two foundations supported several ways to help women find new ways to earn a living, especially unwed mothers. That included giving shelter and counseling for battered women and college scholarships for mature women. Graham died on May 12, 1980, six months after selling her company. At the time of her death, Bette Graham was planning a building to house the foundations and the art collection including works by Georgia OKeeffe, Mary Cassatt, Helen Frankenthaler, and many other lesser-known artists. She described herself as a feminist who wants freedom for myself and everybody else. Surviving the Paperless Office   In March 2019, Atlantic staff writer David Graham noted that Wite-Out, a competitor to Liquid Paper that was made specifically so the error wouldnt show up when photocopied, is still doing a fairly robust sales business, despite the near disappearance of paper from the modern office. Grahams readers replied with a slew of (non-sinister) uses when computer-generated printing isnt involved: correcting posters, forms, crossword puzzles or Sudoku, file folder tabs, and calendars. One reader pointed out it was more green to fix a printed page than to print it again. But correction fluid is also being used in a wide variety of emergency and temporary fixes for white clothing and nicks in white walls or appliances or floor tiles or French manicures. Its also employed as a functional fluid in arts and crafts from blacksmithing to jewelry to  modeling kits. Liquid Paper numbers werent available to Graham, but most of those uses could apply to it as well.   Sources Baker Jones, Nancy. Graham, Bette Clair McMurray. The Handbook of Texas. Dallas: The Texas State Historical Association, June 15, 2010.Biographical Sketch of Bette Graham. Gihon Foundation.Chow, Andrew R. Overlooked No More: Bette Nesmith Graham, Who Invented Liquid Paper. The New York Times, July 11, 2018.Graham, David A. Who Still Buys Wite-Out, and Why? The Atlantic, March 19, 2019.  Nesmith, Michael. Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff. New York: Crown Archetype, 2017.

Building a Balanced Score Card Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Building a Balanced Score Card - Term Paper Example unt the perspectives of operation, namely financial perspective, customer’s perspective, the company’s internal perspective, and the learning perspective of employees of the company. The Balance scorecard model can be explained from the diagram below. The Balance scorecard of South-West Airlines measures the strategic performance of the company in terms of metrics. Metrics are nothing but means of measurement of actual values of performance against the set target to fulfill the objectives of South-West Airlines. The financial perspective of South-West Airlines takes into account the growth of revenue, the operating profit, financial position of short-term and long-term solvency. The customer’s perspective takes into account the increase of customers, transaction size with the customers and the degree of customer satisfaction. Talking about the internal perspective of South-West Airlines, the main objectives are product improvement, maintenance of market size, ratio of equipments to new equipments, innovation in service, quality of operations and turn-around time. The learning and growth perspective takes into account the training of employees of South-West Airlines, the turnover of its employees, and the compensation for their employees. The objective set under the four perspectives for South-West Airlines in its Balanced scorecard model depends on the mission and vision of South-West Airlines. Mission of South-West Airlines states that the company is dedicated to provide customer sa tisfaction with its high quality of operational efficiency and service quality that would provide a sense of warmth, pride and friendliness in the rights spirits of the company. The goal of the South-West Airlines is aligned with its vision of being the largest player in low-cost market segment. The company plans to achieve this with high utilization of its aircraft and increasing the frequency of flights in the short-interval routes connecting secondary cities and destinations.

Explain Mysticism and how it relates to Christiany Research Paper

Explain Mysticism and how it relates to Christiany - Research Paper Example ............................................. 6. Conclusion............................................................................................................... Thesis Statement: Religion and Mysticism are complimentary in nature, and Christianity has very closer association with Mysticism that stresses the need for prayer and meditation in one’s life. Introduction Mysticism has often been regarded as concept with a deeper level meaning in almost all religions of the world. It is the close association mysticism with religion that very often leads many to consider it as quite equal to some of the religions. But a closer analysis will certainly unveil mysticism as a different perspective from religious teachings. Even a mere observation will be sufficient enough for unearthing this close association and it is identifiable that some of the religions are proclaiming some of the aspects of mysticism. Among the religions that are very much associated with mysticism Christi anity stands to be a supreme one. Many researchers have clearly recognised this close association and have affirmed the closer relationship of Christianity with mysticism. The proximity between Christianity to mysticism had led many to think to supplement one with another. In a closer look one can find out that these two are different even though some apparent similarities are there. The closeness of mysticism and Christianity paves for the analytical study between these two. The proposed study is aimed to explore the close association between Christianity and Mysticism. Various factors concerning both Christianity and Mysticism will be analysed in the paper and specifically, the researcher will endeavour to establish the fact that religion and Mysticism are complimentary. The essay takes note on the relationship of Christian teachings to mysticism and will analyse the major components of mysticism and Christianity through comparative studies intended to expose their relation. There fore, the study proposes the thesis that, religion and Mysticism are complimentary in nature, and Christianity has very closer association with Mysticism that stresses the need for prayer and meditation in one’s life. What is mysticism? Researchers have often been expressed their difficulty in properly defining mysticism. Of course, the word mysticism is originated from Greek culture. Some regard it as quite similar to asking a foolish question like what beauty is. However, different religions attribute different aspects to mysticism. Many have observed it as more difficult to define than socialism and the words of William Ralph Inge makes it crystal clear when he reveals the various attributes of Mysticism. He says, â€Å"Sometimes it [mysticism] is used as an equivalent for symbolism or allegorism, sometimes for theosophy or occult science; and sometimes it merely suggests the mental state of a dreamer, or vague and fantastic opinions about God and the world† (Inge, 16). It clearly indicates the fact that defining mysticism is not easier as one thinks. The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines mysticism as, ‘the belief that knowledge of God and the real truth can be found through prayer and meditation rather than through reason and the senses.’ A more acceptable fact regarding mysticism can be identified with Margaret Smith when she rightly commented thus, â€Å"Mysticism itself represents something much wider than its derivation: it represents a spiritual tendency which is universal, for we find it in

Overthrow History Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Overthrow History Paper - Essay Example Ultimately, the US loses interest in the target countries, allowing corruption or terrorism to flourish. Another pattern we can look at is the history of U.S.A mediation in governments around the world.   Kinzer’s starts with what he notes as the first American intervention in a foreign country, an intervention whose known aim was to collapse that government: the case of Hawaii, 1893. Hawaii was then an autonomous state ruled by a sovereign, Queen Liliuokalani. Kinzer facts the various political and economic motives behind this early example of American military power, or merely the threat of it, being ultimately used to destabilize and ultimate overthrow a foreign power that was not deemed to be complying with U.S. interests. Kinzer is careful to outline the economic imperatives that are so often at the root of political upheavals; in the case of Hawaii, it is white concern in the enormous profits to be made from sugar. The relation among economic and political forces as th ey played out in the case of Hawaii at the end of the 19th century set the pattern, Kinzer argues, for the several interventions that would go after over the next 100 years. Fast-forward to the assault of Iraq in 2003: as Kinzer notes, â€Å"Giant American Corporations stood to make huge profits from this conflict and its aftermath.† Among the main beneficiaries were Halliburton, Bechtel, and the Carlyle Group, all with ties to the Bush management and all major contributors to Bush’s presidential campaigns.   He tells the narration of the bold politicians, spies, military commanders, and commerce executives who took it upon themselves to depose royals, presidents, and prime ministers. He also shows that the U.S.A administration has often pursued these operations with no understanding the countries involved; as a result, many of them have had disastrous long-term effects. In a convincing and offensive history that takes readers to fourteen countries, including Cuba, I ran, South Vietnam, Chile, and Iraq, Kinzer surveys current American history from a new and often startling perspective. Justification for regime changes in places The control that economic power exercises over American foreign policy had grown extremely since the days when determined planters in Hawaii realized that by bringing their islands into the United States, they would be able to send their sugar to markets on the mainland without paying import duties. As the twentieth century progressed, titans of trade and their advocates went a step beyond influencing policy makers; they became the policy makers. The stature who most perfectly embodied this merging of political and economic interests was John Foster Dulles, who spent decades operational for some of the world’s most powerful corporations and then became secretary of state. Dulles ordered the 1953 coup in Iran, which was intended in part to make the Middle East safe for American oil companies. A year later he ordered another coup, in Guatemala, where a nationalist government had challenged the power of United Fruit, a company his old law firm represented. Having marshalled so much public and political support, American corporations found it relatively easy to call upon the military or the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA) to defend their privileges in countries where they ran into trouble. They might not have been able to do so if they and the presidents who cooperated with them

Restorative justice canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Restorative justice canada - Essay Example th the victim and the offenders are actively involved in seeking for solutions to the problem of crime, with the offender being actively involved in seeking for forgiveness, by returning the stolen goods, repairing any property damaged or by conducting community service3. On the other hand, the victim is actively involved in creating forgiveness and then supporting the offender in the reform process. The principle of restorative justice is established on the basis that any crime that is committed by an offender does not only affect the victim, but the society at large4. In this respect, by merely fulfilling the legal needs of the criminal justice system which provides for nothing more than the punishment of the criminals, the society would still be left hurting, because both the offender and the victim have not benefited in the process. However, through the application of the restorative justice principle, the society is the main beneficiary, since both the offender and the victim and reconciled, and the community therefore establishes a platform for all people to live together in harmony, despite the mistakes previously committed5. The restorative justice system in Canada is based on a practical theory of justice, which focuses on crimes as offences against the victim and against the community, as opposed to the focusing on crimes as offences against the state6. The concept of victim-offender encounter was experimented in the 1970s in different Canadian communities, and it proved to be a worth course for establishing peace within the community, thus serving as a productive alternative to the criminal justice system7. Thus, the restorative justice system in Canada is based on three fundamental pillars. First, it is pitched on the aboriginal thought that defines crimes as an offence against the victim and the community, and not the state. This simply requires that a truce should be established between the offender and the victim, because they are components of the

Gender in the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Gender in the Middle East - Essay Example This paper shall now examine the concept of patriarchy as it operates within the family and the state. Specifically it will answer the question: how does patriarchy impact on the women, the family, and the state? Examples in relation to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia will be included in this discussion. First, an overview of the concept of patriarchy will be presented, followed by a discussion on the background of patriarchy in the Middle East. Patriarchy in relation to women and the family in the Middle East shall then be discussed. Patriarchy within the state shall follow such discussion. A conclusion will summarize and provide an overall evaluation of the article. Patriarchy refers to a system wherein the main authority figure is the father in the family, and in the case of social, political, and business organizations, the male leaders1. Within the political context, patriarchy can also refer to the centralized roles held by the ruler of the state over constituents or members. This situation would imply that fathers have full authority over women and children and the women are subordinated to such power2. In the traditional system, this patriarchal application has been seen in the social, legal, and political settings, not just in the Asian culture, but the Western traditional culture as well. Traditionally, leadership is associated with physical strength and males are physiologically built to be stronger than their female counterparts3. Hence, the responsibility of caring for the family and later the state has been burdened on men. The foundations of patriarchy are built on such premise. The Middle East region has traditionally been a patriarchal society. Its larger area, the Mediterranean region has housed three religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam4. At present, Islam is the dominant religion in the Middle East.

Restorative justice canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Restorative justice canada - Essay Example th the victim and the offenders are actively involved in seeking for solutions to the problem of crime, with the offender being actively involved in seeking for forgiveness, by returning the stolen goods, repairing any property damaged or by conducting community service3. On the other hand, the victim is actively involved in creating forgiveness and then supporting the offender in the reform process. The principle of restorative justice is established on the basis that any crime that is committed by an offender does not only affect the victim, but the society at large4. In this respect, by merely fulfilling the legal needs of the criminal justice system which provides for nothing more than the punishment of the criminals, the society would still be left hurting, because both the offender and the victim have not benefited in the process. However, through the application of the restorative justice principle, the society is the main beneficiary, since both the offender and the victim and reconciled, and the community therefore establishes a platform for all people to live together in harmony, despite the mistakes previously committed5. The restorative justice system in Canada is based on a practical theory of justice, which focuses on crimes as offences against the victim and against the community, as opposed to the focusing on crimes as offences against the state6. The concept of victim-offender encounter was experimented in the 1970s in different Canadian communities, and it proved to be a worth course for establishing peace within the community, thus serving as a productive alternative to the criminal justice system7. Thus, the restorative justice system in Canada is based on three fundamental pillars. First, it is pitched on the aboriginal thought that defines crimes as an offence against the victim and the community, and not the state. This simply requires that a truce should be established between the offender and the victim, because they are components of the

Reducing Resistance to Change or Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

Reducing Resistance to Change or Conflict - Essay Example More specifically, seeking to define diversity in such obvious terms is ultimately counterproductive and goes against the very fabric of what diversity is intended to mean. Within such a manner, the future application of this information for this particular student encourages me to attempt to understand diversity from a more nuanced perspective that has traditionally been accepted and/or appreciated. Likewise, an understanding and appreciation that can be evidenced by discussion number two are with regards to the fact that certain barriers continually exist with regards to the diversity that can be appreciated by any group. Whereas it is oftentimes discounted within society that these barriers exist, they nonetheless do and can completely derail the potential of an individual to be taken seriously or to integrate further within the group in question. Within such a level of understanding, it is incumbent upon the leader to seek to promote diversity throughout the culture of the respec tive group/entity in question. Although this may seem as something of an obvious choice, diversity is more often than not viewed as something of a personal decision. Although it is beneficial for the individual to integrate with an understanding of diversity and means by which it can affect their own lives, seeking to promote this level of diversity throughout the culture of the organization and/or entity in question is equally important to engaging the needs of those in question. Furthermore, with regards to the third discussion, it can be stated that cultural intelligence and diversity cannot exist independent of one another. What is meant by this is the fact that cultural intelligence is ultimately required for level of diversity to be exhibited. As a means of applying this in the workplace, or within one’s own life, it must be understood that prior to making any level of decisions one must first consider the unique culture and background of those in question and how such changes and/or discussions might impact upon them in a different manner. Ultimately, this is the core of what multiculturalism represents. Rather than merely being a â€Å"touchy-feely† means of understanding, this approach allows for a heightened sense of realization within the minds of the stakeholders and decision makers of a given group. With regards to applying discussion number four to my own personal and professional life, it must be understood that the leader of any group, or the educator of any class, must be continually aware of the fact that even if the information being presented to this group is uniform, each of the participants will come away with their own unique understanding. Within such a level of analysis, it is necessary to consider some of the possible takeaways that individuals might have from any level of instruction they are given. Seeking to analyze this differentiation and understanding prior to presentation is a highly effective means of seeking to reduce any potential future disconnects that might, to prominence as a result of misunderstood or improperly presented information. Finally, with respect to the article â€Å"Reducing Resistance to Change or Conflict†, it can be said that my future leadership style will necessarily take these factors into consideration.     

Existentialism and Human Nature Essay Example for Free

Existentialism and Human Nature Essay Absolute individuality and absolute freedom: the basis of all existentialist arguments. The existentialists conceptions arise from their held views that since we are all ultimately alone, we have absolute freedom over our nature. Existentialists emphasize the free and conscious self which opponents constantly attack, exclaiming that there is a higher power enabling our consciousness. But are humans so simple? Can things be explained solely on blaming ourselves or another being for our nature? The existentialist generally believes in a sole existence; meaning that we are alone in the world, and that we have no one but ourselves. They also believe in the human beings capacity to feel more than one kind of pain, and that there are three different levels to our pain, physical, psychological, and emotional. All of these types of pain can cause us to become irrational and anxious. But are we really anxious because of this pain, or is it because we ultimately feel alone? And if we are all individuals, can we really feel the same kind of pain as someone else? Existence precedes essence is also dominant in the mind and thoughts of the existentialist. That is, the idea that we are born into this world without a predetermined nature, and only later in life do we shape out nature through actions and choices. This opposes the traditional view that is that essence precedes existence, according to which we are seen as having a purpose, and values, all of which is determined before birth. (I personally think that the idea of essence preceding existence is rather obscure. There is no way that our values and purpose can be determined by genetic code. DNA is what we are, not who we are. ) Existentialists pose another question to the opposition: how can we be happy in a world devoid of significance and meaning? The loss of external values allows us to derive value from within ourselves. This value is greater than any imposed by outside forces, and thus cannot be taken away from said sources. Although many human beings live a life devoid of true happiness, it does not mean that we are incapable of attaining such a goal. If a person finds the meaning for their life, whether it be one meaning, or many, there is a large chance that they can achieve such a utopia without recognizing outside influences. People of different viewpoints follow different methods, as well as believe in different forces that shape our nature. It is in my opinion, as well as that of the existentialist, that we shape our own nature through decisions and actions made by our own free will; that we are ultimately free to act independently from the influences of outside forces. That we can ultimately ignore the views imposed on us, and achieve a sustainable level of happiness in the process. Human nature is a frail thing; people are just looking for someone else to blame for their actions and for who they are, even when there isnt any. Therefore, there is no one to blame for who we are, but ourselves.

Analytical Test Methods in Downstream Processing

Analytical Test Methods in Downstream Processing Andrea Waldvogel Validation of Analytical Test Methods in Downstream Processing Introduction Quality, safety and efficacy are the main principles of quality assurance of biopharmaceutical drug products. Quality must be designed into the product or process since it cannot be tested into it. Therefore, a quality system must comprise of validation, change control, training, quality control and vendor assurance amongst others.1-3 An effective validation does not only provide a high degree of confidence that the finished drug product consistently and reliably meets all quality requirements but also leads to economic benefits by reducing the cost associated with process monitoring, sampling and testing.4 Biopharmaceutical companies must perform facility, utility and equipment validation/qualification, process validation, computer and computer systems validation, cleaning validation and analytical method validation.5 This project report will focus on analytical method validation, also referred to as analytical procedure validation. Analytical methods are developed to measure characteristics such as molecular identity, purity, potency, and safety of raw materials, in-process samples and final drug products and to monitor the manufacturing process. The number of tests should be adequate to show manufacturing consistency and the impact of changes on the quality of the drug product. All methods must be demonstrated to be fit for their intended purpose before they are employed.5,6 Analytical method validation means establishing documented evidence that provides high degree of assurance that a specific method, and the ancillary instruments included in the method, will consistently yield results that accurately reflect the quality characteristics of the product tested.7 This report begins by providing an overview over some of the regulations and guidelines related to analytical method validation. The second section introduces the modern lifecycle approach to method validation and section three gives an insight into analytical method validation in biopharmaceutical downstream processing. The final section concludes the report with a summary of the main points discussed. There are many different regulations, guidelines and pharmacopeial monographs concerned with analytical method validation. As it would go beyond the scope of this document to write about all of them, the report focuses on some to give an overview. 1.1 Regulations Validation is based on, but not prescribed by regulatory requirement. It is best viewed as an essential and integral part of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for the assurance of quality. Compliance with validation requirements is necessary for obtaining approval for clinical trials and to market new products.4 In the U.S. for example, 21 CFR Part 211.165(e) states8: The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of test methods employed by the firm shall be established and documented. Such validation and documentation may be accomplished in accordance with  § 211.194(a)(2). 21 CFR Part 211.194(a) (2)8: A statement of each method used in the testing of the sample. The statement shall indicate the location of data that establish that the methods used in the testing of the sample meet proper standards of accuracy and reliability as applied to the product tested. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). The suitability of all testing methods used shall be verified under actual conditions of use. The requirement of validation is also implied in 211.100(a)8: There shall be written procedures for production and process control designed to assure that the drug products have the identity, strength, quality, and purity they purport or are represented to possess. 1.2 Guidelines The first guidance documents on analytical method validation were published in the 1990s. In the course of time, a lot of revision activity has taken place allowing the incorporation of new approaches to science. The harmonised ICH Q2(R1) Validation of Analytical Procedures: Text and Methodology guideline, issued in 2005, is considered the primary reference for recommendations and definitions on validation characteristics for analytical procedures and has tended to take on the role of a regulatory expectation. In the United States, it has been used as a guidance along with the related compendial documents USP Analytical Procedure Validation, Analytical Procedure Verification, and Analytical Procedure Transfer. However, those documents do not provide support for the users to accurately understand and control sources of variability.6,9 In 2013, a Stimuli to the Revision Process paper on Lifecycle Management of Analytical Procedures published by the USP Validation and Verification Expert Panel proposed a Quality by Design (QbD) approach to method development, validation, and performance verification of an analytical method via a lifecycle concept. They suggested that the traditional approaches outlined in the U.S. Pharmacopeial monographs , , and should be revised and assembled into a single new general information chapter Lifecycle Management of Analytical Procedures and a new general chapter specifying the basic requirements. This would, for the first time, formally link method development and method validation within pharmacopeia.6,10 In 2016, a general chapter prospectus on The Analytical Procedure Lifecycle was posted on the U.S. Pharmacopeial Notices and a draft of a new USP General Chapter Statistical Tools for Procedure Validation was published in the U.S. Pharmacopeial Forum (U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention).11,12 In August 2017, a new general USP Chapter Validation of Compendial Methods will become official. This is an effort to better align the validation concept with the revised FDA guidance for industry Analytical Procedures and Methods Validation for Drugs and Biologics issued in 2015. However, instead of including a section on Lifecycle Management of Analytical Procedures only a reference has been added. Depending on the development of the chapters and , USP may be revised again.13 Growing awareness that the implementation of an analytical method with adequate quality steps designed into the procedure during the development phase led to the development of a lifecycle approach for analytical procedure validation.10 2.1 Stages of the Modern Lifecycle Approach The modern lifecycle approach is based on the Quality by Design (QbD) approach outlined in ICH Q8(R2) guideline and defines activities and deliverables for every stage of method validation. The following diagram provides an overview. Figure 1: QbD Approach for Analytical Methods 2.1.1 Stage 1: Procedure Design, Development, and Understanding To be able to design quality into a method to ensure that the method is reliable and meets the analytical target profile (ATP) defined at the beginning of this stage, an understanding of how the procedure works is key. Risk assessment should be undertaken to identify variables that could have an influence on the method. The knowledge of variables and their impact is not only important for the development of a control strategy but also for the determination of a design space. The design space will reduce the amount of revalidation work considerably when the method is used operationally. Key elements of this stage are shown in Figure 1 no. 1-3.10 Proper method development including the evaluation of robustness is essential for an effective analytical procedure.10 Robustness is a measure of the methods capacity to remain unaffected by small variations in method parameters and provides an indication of its reliability during normal usage.9 At this stage, system suitability parameters are established which help to ensure that the analytical method remains valid whenever used.9 Without developing a robust method and an understanding of how a change of key parameters will impact its performance, the actual method validation step will be difficult.10 2.1.2 Stage 2: Procedure Performance Qualification The lifecycle approach uses the term procedure performance qualification instead of method validation. Procedure performance qualification is the verification of the performance of the analytical procedure (either a new one or a revised procedure) against the requirements of the ATP.10 If the procedure development has been done correctly, this step should simply be a confirmation that it is fit for the intended purpose. In cases where further controls need to be added to ensure reliable results the analytical control strategy, developed during stage 1, will need an update.10 Method validation work should be performed by a user laboratory under the same conditions as it will be used to comply with existing GMP regulations.10 2.1.3 Stage 3: Implementation and Continued Procedure Performance Verification This stage involves checking how the procedure works during operational use and that it remains in a state of control.10 For this purpose, inputs on reliability and performance of the method gathered from operators and customer complaints will be evaluated. Performance indicators such as system suitability, quality control samples and out-of-specification (OOS) results are tracked and trended.10 The method should be continually improved through corrective and preventive action to reduce the number of out-of-specification (OOS) results. Any change to improve the overall performance needs to be assessed using change control procedures. As shown in Figure 3, the nature of the change specifies what actions have to be taken.6,10,14 Figure 2: Change Types and appropriate Actions 2.2 Traditional (Current) Approach vs Lifecycle Approach In their Stimuli to Revision paper, the USP Expert Panel recommends the adoption of a lifecycle approach for the management of analytical procedures. In their conclusion, they outline the advantages of a lifecycle approach by comparing it to the traditional (current) approach to analytical procedure validation (Figure 1).6 Downstream processing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing involves many steps from recovery over purification to fill finish. Next to in-process monitoring of process parameters such as pH and temperature, analytical testing for the determination of quantity, identity, strength, potency, purity (product- and process related impurities), bioburden and endotoxin has to be performed on raw materials, intermediates, drug substances and finished drug products. Some of the analytical methods in downstream processing are HPLC, gel electrophoresis, PCR, ELISA, Bradford, hemagglutination (HA) and plaque assay. All critical steps in a process have to be validated and less critical steps have to be under control. The criticality of an analytical method is determined by risk assessment. There are various ways to perform method validation. The manufacturer is responsible for choosing the suitable validation procedure and justifying it.1,7,9 3.1 Types of Analytical Procedures The four most common types of analytical procedures are identification tests, qualitative and quantitative tests for impurities and assay. Assay involves the quantitative measurement of the major component(s) in the drug substance and drug product.9 3.2 Team Selection The validation project manager is responsible for the selection of a Cross-Functional-Team (CFT) from various related departments and functional areas. He or she is also in charge of assigning responsibilities and assuring that all personnel involved are trained properly.7 3.3 Analytical Method Validation Protocol The first step in method validation is the preparation of a protocol that defines the work to be done to demonstrate that the method is fit for its intended use.7,10 The analytical method validation protocol should contain the following sections: Purpose Short description of what is to be accomplished Scope of the project specifying the test methods and products Overview General description of the test method Summary of the characterisation studies Identification of method type and validation approach Test method applications and validation protocol Intended use of each test method application Analytical performance characteristics for each test method application Resources End user laboratory where the method validation is to be performed Equipment and materials to be used in the method validation Special instructions on handling, stability, and storage for each material Appendices References, signature, and a review worksheet for all personnel Specific tasks for all personnel and documentation of their training Listings of all equipment and software necessary to perform the method validation Document and materials worksheets used in method validation Test method procedures (SOPs) Before the method validation can begin the protocol must be agreed upon by the CFT and approved.7 3.4 Performance Characteristics Tests Performance characteristics and their acceptance criteria are defined during the characterisation studies at the development stage of the analytical method. Depending on the method and its intended use, some performance characteristics tests may be omitted, the number of replicates may be increased or reduced, or acceptance criteria may be adapted. All decisions have to be based on scientifically sound judgment. It is important that well characterised reference materials, with documented purity, are used for testing performance characteristics.7,9 The following table outlines the performance characteristics and their meaning, test procedures, how data should be reported and acceptance criteria according to ICH Q2(R1) and FDA Guidance for Industry on Analytical Procedures and Method Validation. Accuracy Closeness of test results to the true value For drug substances, accuracy measurements are obtained by comparing test results to the analysis of a standard reference material or to a second, well-characterized method. For drug products, accuracy is evaluated by analysing synthetic mixtures (containing all excipient materials in the correct proportions) spiked with known quantities of analyte. Guidelines recommend that data be collected from a minimum of nine determinations over at least three concentration levels covering the specified range. The data should be reported as the percent recovery of the known, added amount, or as the difference between the mean and true value with confidence intervals (such as  ±1 SD). Acceptability criteria are defined by end users but rarely fall outside 97-103% of the nominal value. Statistical analysis can be applied using a one sample t-test. Precision Degree of agreement among test results when the method is applied repeatedly to multiple samplings of a homogeneous sample Precision is commonly described in terms of repeatability, intermediate precision, and reproducibility: Repeatability is investigated by analysing a minimum of nine determinations using the same equipment and sample, covering the specified range of the procedure, or a minimum of six determinations at 100% of the test concentration and reported as percent relative standard deviation (RSD). Intermediate precision refers to the agreement among the results from a single laboratory, despite potential variations in sample preparation, analysts, or equipment. Reproducibility refers to the agreement among the results from different laboratories. Results are reported as % RSD, and the percent difference in the mean values between the analysts must be within specifications. Less than 2% RSD is often recommended, but less than 5% RSD can be acceptable for minor components. Specifity Ability to measure accurately and specifically the analyte of interest in the presence of other components In drug assays, specificity takes into account the degree of interference from other active ingredients, excipients, impurities, degradation products, or matrices. In chromatography, it ensures that a chromatographic peak corresponds to a single component. Specificity can be demonstrated by the resolution between peaks of interest. Limit of detection (LOD) Lowest concentration of an analyte in a sample that can be detected In a chromatography laboratory, the most common way to determine both the LOD and the LOQ is using signal-to-noise ratios (S/N), commonly 3:1 for LOD and 10:1 for LOQ. An appropriate number of samples must be analyzed to fully validate the method performance at the limit. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) Lowest concentration of an analyte in a sample that can be quantified with acceptable precision and accuracy under the stated operational conditions of the method Linearity Ability of a method to provide results that are directly proportional to analyte concentration within a given range Guidelines specify that a minimum of five concentration levels be used to determine the range and linearity, along with certain minimum specified ranges depending on the type of method. The range is normally expressed in the same units as the test results obtained by the method (for example, nanograms per millilitre). Data to be reported generally include the equation for the calibration curve line, the coefficient of determination (r 2), residuals, and the curve itself. Range Interval between the upper and lower concentrations of an analyte that have been demonstrated to be determined with acceptable precision, accuracy, and linearity using the method Robustness Measure of a methods capacity to obtain comparable and acceptable results when perturbed by small but deliberate variations in procedural parameters It provides an indication of the methods suitability and reliability during normal use. During a robustness study, method parameters (such as eluent composition, gradient, and detector settings) are intentionally varied to study the effects on analytical results. Common chromatography parameters used to measure and document robustness include critical peak pair resolution (R s), plate number (N) or peak width in gradient elution, retention time (t R), tailing factor (T F), peak area (and height) and concentration. Robustness studies are expected to be done during method development. Table 7 gives an overview of the performance characteristic tests that have to be performed on different types of analytical procedures.9 Figure 6: Performance Characteristic tests performed on different Types of Analytical Procedures The performance characteristics are evaluated by comparing the results to the specifications defined at the development stage. An analytical method is considered to be validated when it meets the specifications defined at the development stage. Once an analytical method has been made a formal part of the manufacturing process, it is extremely difficult to remove it. In the event of changes in the drug substance, the composition of the finished product and in the analytical procedure, revalidation may be necessary.5,7,9 3.5 Validation Documentation Every validation step needs to be documented to be able to provide written evidence to the regulatory authorities that a specific method is fit for its purpose. Documentation associated with method validation are validation protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), specifications and validation reports. Downstream processing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing involves many analytical methods which help to ensure quality, safety and efficacy of the final drug product. Development, validation and control of a robust analytical method is a lengthy and difficult task. However, without written evidence that an analytical method is fit for its intended use the company will not obtain a marketing authorisation. Over time, many guidelines and pharmacopeial monographs have been issued and a lot of revision activity has happened especially following the Stimuli to Revision paper published in 2013. Even though, no comprehensive guideline or monograph incorporating the modern lifecycle approach has been issued yet. Although proper development of robust and effective analytical methods is more time-consuming and expensive, it has many advantages. It leads to more efficient validation, variability is reduced and controlled and analytical method-related out-of-specification results and failure investigation are minimised. Additionally, changing method parameters within the design space facilitates continual improvement as it does not require regulatory re-approval. Validation is a team effort. Members of the CFT need to be properly trained. Their first and most demanding task is the preparation of a protocol which defines the scope of the validation project and provides all details necessary for a successful validation. It also defines, depending on the type of the analytical procedure, which performance characteristics need to be tested. The use of well characterised reference materials with known purity is important. Analytical method validation is considered to be complete when all acceptance criteria are met and a validation report has been written.       Bibliography References 1 Choudhary, A. (2009). Validation in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. Pharmaceutical Guideline. [Accessed on 1 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.pharmaguideline.com/2010/12/validation.html 2 International Conference on Harmonization (2009). Harmonised Tripartite Guideline: ICH Q8(R2) Pharmaceutical Development. [Accessed on 1 March 2017]. Available on Internet: https://www.ich.org/fileadmin/Public_Web_Site/ICH_Products/Guidelines/Quality/Q8_R1/Step4/Q8_R2_Guideline.pdf 3 Stockbridge, P. (2008). Biopharmaceutical Fill and Finish: Technical and Operating Challenges for the Latest Formulations and Devices. BioProcess International. [Accessed on 7 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.bioprocessintl.com/2008/biopharmaceutical-quality-assurance-184041/ 4 Nandhakumar, L.; Dharmamoorthy, G.; Rameshkumar, S.; Chandrasekaran, S. (2011). An Overview of Pharmaceutical Validation: Quality Assurance View Point. IJRPC, 1(4). [Accessed on 1 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.caidat.org/m4atomp3/2561456335400862.pdf 5 Lutz, H. (2005). Introduction to Validation of Biopharmaceuticals. BioPharm International. [Accessed on 1 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.biopharminternational.com/introduction-validation-biopharmaceuticals 6 USP Validation and Verification Expert Panel (2013). Lifecycle Management of Analytical Procedures: Method Development, Procedure Performance Qualification, and Procedure Performance Verification. Stimuli to the Revision Process Article. [Accessed on 1 March 2017]. Available on Internet: https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/revisions/lifecycle_pdf.pdf 7 Shabir, G. A. (2004). Step-by-Step Analytical Methods Validation and Protocol in the Quality System Compliance Industry. IVT Network: Analytical Method Validation, pp. 4-14. [Accessed on 2 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.ivtnetwork.com/sites/default/files/Analytical%20Method%20Validation.pdf 8 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 211.165(e), 211.194(a) and 211.100(a). [Accessed on 2 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?cfrpart=211 9 International Conference on Harmonization (2005). Harmonised Tripartite Guideline: ICH Q2(R1) Validation of Analytical Procedures, Text and Methodology. [Accessed on 1 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.ich.org/products/guidelines/quality/article/quality-guidelines.html 10 McDowall, R. D. (2014). GLP and GMP Approaches to Method Validation Going the same Way?. Spectroscopy, 29(4). [Accessed on 1 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.spectroscopyonline.com/glp-and-gmp-approaches-method-validation-going-same-way 11 U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (2016). General Chapter Prospectus: The Analytical Procedure Lifecycle. USP-NF, Notices. [Accessed on 2 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.usp.org/usp-nf/notices/1220-analytical-procedure-lifecycle 12 U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (2014). New USP requirements for Analytical Method Validation. USP-NF, Notices. [Accessed on 2 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.usp.org/usp-nf/pharmacopeial-forum 13 ECA Academy (2017). Revised USP Chapter Validation of Compendial Methods approved. [Accessed on 2 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.gmp-compliance.org/gmp-news/revised-usp-chapter-1225-validation-of-compendial-methods-approved 14 Huber, L. (2015). Recent Updates and Trends in Analytical Method Validation. PPP of The Agilent Critical Compliance Seminar. [Accessed on 7 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.agilent.com/cs/library/flyers/Public/Recent_regulatory_updates_and_trends_in_analytical_method_validation.pdf Illustrations Figure 1: Huber, L. (2015). Recent Updates and Trends in Analytical Method Validation. PPP of The Agilent Critical Compliance Seminar. [Accessed on 7 March 2017]. Available on Internet: http://www.agilent.com/cs/library/fl

history of the port of long beach :: essays research papers fc

History of the Port of Long Beach   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The San Pedro Bay breakwater began construction in 1899. This was to facilitate the building of the Port of Los Angeles. It served well as a breakwater for both ports.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1909 the Los Angeles Dock and Terminal Company purchased about 800 acres of marshes and mudflats at the mouth of the Los Angeles River. On June 24, 1911, in a grant from the State of California, the City of Long Beach was given the tideland areas in trust for the people of the state. The theory behind the tidelands was that although they were mostly shallow water, they could be dredged to make deep water. This provided as much fill as the port needed to make additional land and piers. The Tidelands Trust restricted the use of the land. It also restricted what could be done with monies received from the different ventures allowed on the property. The money was only to be used for improving or maintaining harbor commerce and navigation, or for marine recreation or fisheries.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By 1916 the Los Angeles Dock and Terminal Company declared bankruptcy and turned over all operations of the port to the City of Long Beach. The city then completed the dredging projects that were already underway including a channel and a turning basin. The following year a committee was formed to oversee harbor operations. It was the first Board of Harbor Commissioners.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1924 voters of Long Beach approved a five million dollar bond for use in improving the inner harbor area as well as beginning development of the outer harbor areas. The goal was to become a deep water port and by 1926, the Port of Long Beach did exactly that. The port handled eight hundred twenty-one ships and imported or exported a total of more that one million tons of cargo. Shortly thereafter, in 1928, construction began on new facilities to include new Piers A and B. At the same time, Pier 1 was reconstructed and a new transit building was completed on it. The port then renamed Pier 1, â€Å"Municipal Wharf.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Further construction of the San Pedro Bay breakwater began in 1932. The extension was to be three and one-half miles by authorization of the Federal River and Harbor Act of 1930. In 1936 oil was discovered in the harbor. The good thing about finding oil in the harbor was that the port then had a sizeable amount of capital to invest back into itself.