Ethics and Islam Essay

The interpretation of secular vs. religious ethics is always interesting, when we try to understand which of the two deserve our support. Obviously, both ethical philosophies have the right to exist among us, but the provisions of the religious ethics in Said Nursi’s vision are not only unique, but are sometimes surprising, and are sometimes unacceptable to those, who keep to secular ethical traditions. Said Nursi insists on ethics having religious foundations. His ethical vision is based on the assumption that religion is the source of reliable ethical knowledge. â€Å"For Nursi, the ultimate source of all ethical reflection is the Qur’an† (Markham 69). In this situation it is possible to suggest that Qur’an should be simple and understandable to the common people, so that they should be able to follow its provisions. The assumption is rather debatable: on the one hand, there seems to be nothing negative or threatening in the fact that Said Nursi keeps to religious foundations of ethics. On the other hand, I may suggest that those who refuse to accept the life of the prophet Muhammad as the source of ethical knowledge, risk facing opposition from religious ethics’ supporters. This ethics loses its relevance as soon as it is faced with the fact that there are possible other sources of ethics in other cultures of the world. Moreover, and I would agree with Markham, in that there is no guarantee that being obedient to Qur’an means seeing its wisdom; in case we do not understand the provisions to which we should keep in our ethics, it loses its relevance and meaning. The strong side of religious ethics in Said Nursi’s words is in accepting violence as weakness in trying to resolve various disputes. â€Å"Nursi is committed to handling disagreement with peaceful means not because he shared a western skepticism about the truth of religion, but because of the truth of religion† (Markham 72). Secular ethics would easily reject these religious attitudes. While Nursi tries to justify the strength of religion, he obviously forgets that this strength is relevant only within the limited religious circles. Secularism exists and cannot be denied. For those who consider themselves being secular the strength of religion is closely connected with the power of metaphysical phenomenon. In the absence of the latter, the power of the former becomes debatable. Thus, religious foundations of ethics can be applied within the limited space of extremely religious eastern countries, which keep to Islamic religion. Especially interesting is Nursi’s ideas about personal ethics and social equality. His interpretation of a person in illness is rather curious, though is also natural within the eastern religious framework. â€Å"O ill person who lacks patience! Be patient, indeed, offer thanks! Your illness may transform each of the minutes of your life into the equivalent of an hour’s worship† (Makrham 74). The question is whether patience is equal to inactivity. Recognizing the religious value of pain and suffering is what Nursi tried to convey in his ethical teaching (Markham 75) but this also risks confusing ethics with religion, without creating any distinct border between them. Social ethics in Nursi’s vision tends to support equality through rejecting interest and recognizing the importance of redistribution. In these terms, Nursi seems to reject the pluralism of social status in the society. Moreover, rejection of interest is closer to rejecting secularism, than to supporting religious foundations of ethics. Conclusion The whole ethical theory created by Nursi deserves attention but seems to be founded on the grounds, which do not justify the strength of religion but better protect it from the intervention of the external knowledge. In this light religious ethics seems even more vulnerable, than Nursi tried to represent it. Works cited Markham, I. â€Å"Secular or Religious Foundations for Ethics: A Case Study of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi†. In I. Markham & I. Ozdemir, Globalization, Ethics and Islam, Ashgate Publishing, 2005, pp. 65-78.

Importance Of Primary Education For Childern Analysis Education Essay

Primary instruction is the basic and first right of every child.Its handiness and proviso is non merely the duty of province but parents and families. Primary instruction brings consciousness among the multitudes, opens avenues for chances every bit good self-advancement and betterment and reduces chronic and inter-generational poorness. As a first measure in the creative activity of public assistance and merely society, cosmopolitan primary instruction is an absolute pre-requisite for sustainable development. Every individual kid that means misss every bit good as male childs should be able to finish full class of primary instruction. In order to vie with the environing universe, kids are prepared from really early childhood. Equally early as four or five old ages, the kids grew up in the place, where they seek advice about how household life, and how to interact with people in general pretence. But life and the competition and the whole universe, life and excel in the upcoming one in ulterior life. General instruction in assorted subjects is indispensable to supply each of which is primary instruction for kids. Primary instruction is mandatory for pupils on life, where all the related subjects the basic cognition and necessary, which may include numeration, word formation and apprehension of general moralss, norms and criterions of cognition around. Primary instruction is normally started earlier, in some states, such as baby's room categories in other counties is the first measure the chief baby's room. All kids to instruction, the usage of this very petroleum and professional life around the universe, they have to cover with in ulterior life information. This is in all states, all of the plans and classs to take compulsory position and kids with linguistic communication, art, scientific discipline, mathematics and other facets of life, particularly the basic cognition of faith, introduced mandatory instruction. Primary instruction normally ends at ten old ages old as 5th class pupils through their tests. Started within this period of clip, so that all pupils in the community to work as a category and how to cover with and obey the general apprehension in society. Other than this subject is the most of import facet is secondary in these initial experiences to beef up vocational instruction in the former watercourse. Yet basic instruction in hapless states like Pakistan is in crisis. 67 % of kids ( aged between6-10 ) go to school ( 72 % male and 62 % female ) 57 % literacy rate ( 69 % male and 45 % female ) Thousands of new trained instructors are needed today to supply childern with a nice instruction There are so many grounds for kids to lose school, but poorness is the chief 1. Parents can non afford school fees, uniforms and books sum. Most of communities may non hold adequate resources to run a school.In most of rural countries, schools are at long distances which make kids to avoid them and particularly it makes impossible for misss. The account for misss ‘ exclusion is n't simple. In different cultural values boys get precedence when it comes to instruction. Girls are kept place to assist with child care and family working.They do non bask the same freedom of motion as male childs. It is of import for the Government of Pakistan to do excess attempt by running more plans and educational prioritized policies to accomplish Millennium Educational Development Goals set under the declaration signed in 2000. This subject is chosen to pull attending of every person to endeavor together for the development of simple instruction which can be guided by the analytical model provided in claiming the Millennium-Development-Goals. The survey will enable us to happen impact of different factors set uping the accomplishment of Millennium-Development-Goals for instruction. It besides includes plans and policies used to accomplish the spreads and achieve maximal achievement of ends. To reason, it will foreground the jobs associating to this issue and giving solutions to them. 1.2 Importance of research rubric: The end of accomplishing cosmopolitan primary instruction is particularly of import because educational attainment has been noted as a cardinal facet to overall economic growing ( Gupta et. al. , 2002 ) . To mensurate advancement towards this end, the United Nations has chosen three indexs of primary cosmopolitan instruction: Universal Literacy, Universal Primary Enrollment and Universal Primary Education Completion. Additionally, the United Nations has called for Gender Parity, or the equal representation of males and females, in primary instruction as a portion of a separate end meant to advance gender equality and empower adult females. As the deadline for finishing the MDGs has been set for 2015, developing states must set up the most efficient ways to accomplish these ends with the limited resources available. The primary aim of this subject is to reexamine the extent to which-and how-educational developments are reflected in national MDGs-based development schemes and policies in Pakistan, in order to place critical spreads and challenges, and to see what can be learned from these experiences to do betterments in accomplishing ends. The subject, hence, is intended for usage by development of educational governments, and specifically by policymakers, national human rights establishments, civil society organisations, and United Nations financess, plans and bureaus working to incorporate educational rights into national and international attempts to accomplish the Millennium-Development-Goals ( MDGs ) . 1.3 Brief reappraisal of position of instruction in Pakistan since its birth: Since the birth of Pakistan, in last 63 old ages different comprehensive paperss and policies at national degree on restructuring and betterment of instruction system were produced in different old ages 1959, 1972, 1979 and 1992. Yet, the limited economic resources, hapless grasp of instruction precedences, unequal committedness, and improper execution of Torahs and deficiency of response from the people ne'er allowed the coveted transmutation to take topographic point. In 1998, the so authorities, made an understanding to this basic duty, by denoting the policy on 27th March 1998. The National Education Policy 1998 was formulated to transform the Pakistani state into an educated, cultured, integrated, cohesive entity that can vie and stand up to future challenges. The two of the chief aims that were set under this policy were to universalise primary instruction for the kids, young person and grownups by the twelvemonth 2010 through non-formal attack and to achieve cosmopolitan literacy rate. In September 2000, at the United Nations HQ in New York City, merely after two and half old ages of national instruction policy for Pakistan was devised, 189 states from across the universe signed the Millennium Declaration to accomplish minimal criterion of quality of life. Pakistan was besides one of them. Eight Millennium-Development-Goals were agreed to accomplish the aims of the Declaration by 2015 and get down a new epoch of peace and equality. The first specific end set under MDGs was to cut down utmost poorness and hungriness, second was to accomplish cosmopolitan primary instruction, 3rd to advance gender equity and empower adult females, 4th to cut down kid mortality, fifth to better maternal wellness, sixth to battle HIV/AIDS malaria and other diseases, seventh to guarantee environmental sustainability and eight to develop a planetary partnership for development. Primary educational development is the 2nd end to accomplish after eliminating hungriness and poorness. To put the universe on a new class of patterned advance, rich and hapless state, old and new, had signed a declaration. The human race had ne'er done much corporate attempt and possible to make good earlier in history. Declarations can be signed but merely as easy forgotten. In todays life of international political relations due to planetary economic and societal unstability, precedences change fast and committednesss are delayed. As a state, it is our duty to fall in together and to contend against this planetary war. It can be our coevals that eliminates illiteracy and make a universe for every adult male. It can be our coevals who can supply a way of success and bright hereafter for the following coevalss. Governments are answerable to the people they govern and it ‘s those people, you and me, who have the ability to do certain they keep their committednesss. So far the current rate of advancement for Millennium development ends to be fulfilled by 2015 is difficult.If we want to, we can do a difference by fall ining with each other to do our voice count. Our ballot counts and so does our voice. So Lashkar-e-Taiba ‘s do our difference to the state today and do illiteracy history. These are the several grounds which hinder the accomplishment of MDGs for instruction will be focused but other of import variables will non be ignored. All these elements have been identified in this research paper and are given in item. Though Pakistan has run through a political convulsion every bit good as natural catastrophe like temblors of 2004-5 and inundations of 2009 has atrocious and atrocious after effects on the economic system every bit good as societal substructure of Pakistan. Yet we as a state should non give up and go on to our best to accomplish these MDGs. 1.4 Importance of subject for Academic governments: The research paper has its graduated table and importance. It has a really broad range and its graduated table of importance is besides huge. The subject has its importance globally as this job is non the job of one state but it is a planetary issue and has a planetary position. A batch of work has been done in this respects but still there is a demand to trap indicate the jobs until no proper action is being taken. This research investigates the accomplishment for educational MDGs in Pakistan, placing the jobs, issues and hinderances in non accomplishing the coveted ends and proposing some recommendations to accomplish the targeted ends. This paper, hence, is intended for usage by development of educational governments, and specifically by policymakers, national human rights establishments, civil society organisations, and United Nations financess, plans and bureaus working to incorporate educational rights into national and international attempts to accomplish the Millennium-Development-Goals ( MDGs ) . Ministry of instruction has gained importance and is playing a really fruitful and ruling work in the society. Students and instructors are making research on such subjects ; it will assist them understand good the job. 1.5 Cardinal Definitions: The definitions of of import nomenclatures or words are as follow:FootingsGlossary/Operational DefinitionEducationThe act or procedure of educating ; the consequence of educating, as determined by the cognition accomplishment, or subject of character, acquired ; besides, the act or procedure of preparation by a prescribed or customary class of survey or subject. ( www.brainyquote.com/words/ed/education158399.html )Primary instructionIt is most frequently referred to as simple instruction, which is normally composed of classs one through six. The chief intent of primary instruction is to give kids a strong foundation in the rudimentss of a general course of study, with an accent on reading and math. ( www.ehow.com †º Education †º K-12 †º K-12 Basics ) 1.6 Study aim: This survey attempts to reexamine and analyze the state ‘s specific policies, plans, bing commissariats and schemes which have been adopted to accomplish the millenary development end to guarantee that by2015 every individual male child and miss will be able to finish full class of primary schooling. Furthermore, the survey besides suggests some recommendations and looks at the different factors that have an impact in accomplishment of these ends. To analyze the impact of the Net primary registration ratio ( % ) on literacy rate spread. To analyze the impact of the completion / endurance rate grade 1 to 5 ( % ) on literacy rate spread. To analyze the impact of the GPI ( Gender para index ) on literacy rate spread. To analyze the consequence of the Public outgo as % of gross domestic product on instruction on literacy rate spread. To analyze the impact of the Pupil-teacher ratio on literacy rate spread. To analyze the proposition that Poverty rate has significant/insignificant impact on literacy rate spread. To analyze the impact of Non formal instruction ( deeni madrasas ) on literacy rate spread. To analyze the insignificant/significant impact of population aged ( 0-14 ) ( % of entire ) on literacy rate spread. To analyze the proposition that primary instruction instructors ( % of females ) has a significant/insignificant impact on literacy rate spread. To analyze the impact of low weight babes on literacy rate spread. To analyze the impact of figure of primary schools on literacy rate spread.

Incurable disease AIDS

Today, the world is worst alarmed by an incurable disease AIDS. AIDS has been spreading in the world like a wild fire. AIDS is a global problem and there should be a global solution found by the entire international community. It is really scary to see and imagine our world fall into pieces because we refuse to share and put in the common vestiges of our civilizations. â€Å"It could be said that the AIDS pandemic is a classic own-goal scored by the human race against itself. † – Princess Anne, Ireland. The Origin of Aids: -AIDS is caused by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which originated in non-human primates in Sub-Saharan Africa and was transferred to humans during the late 19th or early 20th century. Two types of HIV infect humans: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is more virulent, is more easily transmitted and is the cause of the vast majority of HIV infections globally. The pandemic strain of HIV-1 is closely related to a virus found in the chimpanzees of the subspecies Pan troglodytes, which lives in the forests of the Central African nations of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Central African Republic. HIV-2 is less transmittable and is largely confined to West Africa, along with its closest relative, a virus of the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys atys) an Old World monkey inhabiting southern Senegal, Guinea, and western Ivory Coast. â€Å"It is clear before God and man that the entire war on HIV and AIDS has not been waged with any degree of piety, responsibility and care. †| Symptoms of Aids: -The symptoms of AIDS are primarily the result of conditions that do not normally develop in individuals with healthy immune systems. Most of these conditions are infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that are normally controlled by the elements of the immune system that HIV damages. Opportunistic infections are common in people with AIDS. These infections affect nearly every organ system. That’s what prompted James Ander ton to say that, Everywhere I go I see increasing evidence of people swirling about in a human cesspit of their own making. | People with AIDS have had their immune system damaged by HIV and are very susceptible to these opportunistic infections. Common symptoms are: * Chills * Fever * Sweats (particularly at night) Swollen lymph glands * Weakness * Weight loss Causes for Aids: -Reckless life style is the major cause for HIV. The virus can be spread (transmitted): * Through sexual contact — including oral, vaginal, and anal sex * Through blood — via blood transfusions or needle sharing * From mother to child — a pregnant woman can transmit the viru s to her foetus through their shared blood circulation, or a nursing mother can transmit it to her baby in her breast milk Other methods of spreading the virus are rare and include accidental needle injury, artificial insemination with infected donated semen, and organ transplantation with infected organs. However considering the patients to be untouchable is unconditionally disgraceful. Sometimes I have a terrible feeling that I am dying not from the virus, but from being untouchable. – Amanda Heggs| HIV infection is NOT spread by: * Casual contact such as hugging * Mosquitoes * Participation in sports * Touching items that were touched by a person infected with the virus Aids and blood or organ donation: -AIDS is NOT transmitted to a person who DONATES blood or organs. People who donate organs are never in direct contact with people who receive them. Likewise, a person who donates blood is never in contact with the person receiving it. In all these procedures, sterile needles and instruments are used. However, HIV can be transmitted to a person RECEIVING blood or organs from an infected donor. To reduce this risk, blood banks and organ donor programs screen donors, blood, and tissues thoroughly. What is necessary to change a person, is to change his awareness of himself. -Abraham Maslow. Aids Awareness programmes: – * AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among people ages 25 – 44 in the United States, down from number one in 1995. * The World Health Organization estimates that more than 25 million people worldwide have died from this infection since the start of the epidemic. * In 2008, there were approximately 33. 4 million people around the world living with HIV/AIDS, including 2. 1 million children under age 15. Complete extinction of impure thought is impossible without ceaseless penance. Mahatma Gandhi | The government has drawn up a strategy to fight AIDS that seeks to unite all sectors in a common programme. The national health department is the main driver of a strategic plan to coordinate the fight against AIDS by the whole country. These include traditional healers, business and religious organisations. The priority areas in this plan are: * Prevention; * Treatment, care and support; * Legal and human rights; * Monitoring, research and evaluation Conclusion: -As of now, there is no cure for AIDS, though there are drugs that prolong a patient’s life. There is a huge amount of research going on in this regard, especially in the US, and hopefully, a cure (or a vaccine) will be discovered. However, moral life alone is the best medicine to prevent AIDS. As a nation we should commit ourselves not only to the fight against terrorism, but to economic justice, defeat of the AIDS epidemic and vestiges of discriminatory policies of all kinds.

One of the 10 amendments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

One of the 10 amendments - Essay Example Such amendments appear all the more relevant when we consider United States as a flag bearer of human rights and the government of the day tries to make sure that countries around the globe adhere to such a policy and this becomes an internationally accepted norm. The UN Human Rights day and the guidelines put forward by the United Nations for the nations of the world to follow towards ensuring the human rights of their citizens is a testimony of the importance of such rights. Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition; Right to keep and bear arms; Conditions for quarters of soldiers; Right of search and seizure regulated; Provisions concerning prosecution; Right to a speedy trial, witnesses, etc.; Right to a trial by jury; Excessive bail, cruel punishment; Rule of construction of Constitution; Rights of the States under Constitution Though some countries had such rights included in their constitution prior to US, but most of the nations were subsequently guided by these amendments towards protecting their citizens. But the passage of the Bill of Rights in US was also criticized by some congressmen in the early stages of its introduction.

Regional Economic Integration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Regional Economic Integration - Essay Example Indonesian economy is rapidly developing; it is the largest economy of South Asia nowadays. The country’s GDP is 14, 4% in agricultural sector, 48, 1% - industry, and service sector is 37, 5% (according to 2009 data). All the countries mentioned above appear to be competing as they produce and export similar goods. At the given time period these Asian countries’ economy is attractive for foreign investors. Still, the business in tourism and oil refining branch remain the most profitable and prosperous nowadays, thus this fact makes these branches interesting to the potential investors. As for Taiwan economy, financial sector is also worth to invest in. Key words: regional economic integration, the GDP, economic sector, competition, foreign investment. The Asian countries keep their economic development. The economic miracle known as â€Å"the leap of Asian tigers†, unfortunately, affected not all Asian countries. Though the economy of these countries is rapidly d eveloping, according to the experts’ assessments, 16, 3 per cent of people still remain below poverty line. The Philippine economy is a combination of agriculture (24, 9%), light industry (29, 1%) and the sector of related services (51, 1%).

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York - Essay Example The paintings in comparison belonged to the Impressionist era. They make an interesting comparison and discussion because impressionism had a rough start and was not accepted as a legitimate painting style before. Impressionism is an artistic style and movement that depicts the experience of the artist’s experience. Impressionism focuses on light rather than detail to evoke emotion from its art. They broke away from the traditional academic painting which emphasizes precision and correctness but instead emphasized on the free flow painting of the brush and the emotion of the painter. There are two celebrated artists during this period whose name resembles and who rose to prominence also marks the prominence of Impressionism both as an artistic method and movement. Among this is Auguste Renoir Manet's rise to prominence as an artist particularly in his work Boating is interesting because it can directly relate to impressionist's acceptance as an art and movement. Initially, Manet was reluctant to this new genre of painters known as Impressionists because they were not yet accepted during that time. The style of Impressionists breaks away with the academic traditions of the time. Nonetheless, he adopted the impressionist method marked by his work Boating which did not hide the brushwork and free flow movement of the paint.

How Free Trade Causes Development Research Paper

How Free Trade Causes Development - Research Paper Example drug barons, arms merchants, rackets bosses, Mafiosi, and other profiteers are emerging as the economic and political leaders of the social transformations underway in their respective societies.† (Buchanan, 2000, p.1) One of the criticisms leveled against free trade as it exists today is its affect on workers and consumers. Some believe that under this system, workers become helpless pawns of their capitalist masters, compelled to sell their labor power at sub-optimal costs. The only theoretical alternative they have to evading this exploitation is to become destitute, which is a far greater misery. Multi-national corporations (MNCs), which are the facade of free trade, are perceived as coercing citizens to unwillingly participate in the capitalist market system, while also leaving consumers with no choice but to buy their products. In the book titled Telling the Truth about History, author Joyce Appleby traces how MNCs came to be the dominant institutions of our age. Here, th e author makes some scathing observations about the nature of capitalist enterprise that is the back bone of prevailing free trade systems: â€Å"One of the distinguishing features of a free-enterprise economy is that its coercion is veiled. . . . The fact that people must earn before they can eat is a commonly recognized connection between need and work, but it presents itself as a natural link embedded in the necessity of eating rather than as arising from a particular arrangement for distributing food through market exchanges....† (Joyce as quoted in Levite, 2002, p.32) The free-trade system is also criticized for promoting 'wage-slavery', whereby human beings are reduced to mechanical automatons as they go through the drudgery of work each day. Here too, the slavery is not so much express... This paper stresses that while free trade has led to development in some countries, they have led to economic instability in others. What is most worrisome about free trade in the modern world is the vacuous nature of the term, as it is stripped of its substantive meaning. In other words, where there is conflict between the execution of this system in its ideal form and the consequences for major business corporations, it is always the interests of the latter that is looked after. This is nowhere more clearly visible than in the history of NAFTA. The terminology can be a little deceptive here, for despite claims of being a 'free-trade' agreement, it has many protectionist provisions in it. A brief survey of the effects of NAFTA on the general population reveals that American, Mexican and Canadian elites have seen most of its benefits. This report makes a conclusion that global free trade arrangements have failed to lead to uniform development. While there are obvious success stories like India, China and South East Asian bloc, much of the rest of the world has not benefitted. It is in response to these failures that the global solidarity movement has arisen. Centered on universal human challenges like poverty-reduction, access to basic healthcare, free education for all children, social welfare for the disadvantaged, etc, the global solidarity movement presents an alternative operative framework to the United States led global capitalist project. In a few decades time, it is plausible that this more pragmatic form of social organization might have quelled American hegemony in economic, cultural and political domains and might have eliminated the need for economic globalization.

The Structure of Computer Forensic Report using FTK imager Case Study

The Structure of Computer Forensic Report using FTK imager - Case Study Example The main individuals involved in this feud are the two co-founders or owners of the company. Apparently there was a string of mailing and communication between these individuals which eventually led to the leaking of the private company information. Since most communication and file exchanges are conducted via email, the network was then prone to compromise given the unprofessional and lack of secured system. As the founders of the company, the two main involved individuals, that is, Alison Smith and Jean are in difficult terms since both parties claim there was a communication between them that led to the release and exposure of the private company information. The CEO, Alison is the paramount who authorized the investigation to be carried out to facilitate the troubleshooting and identification of the origin of the communication and email threads that eventually led to the information leak. The examination of Jeans computer media was essential in the investigation given that was the origin of the spreadsheet document. The forensic examination would eventually aid in the finding of conclusive data as to why and how the data ended up on the competitors web page. The findings gotten from the examination were essentially positive and offered conclusive information regarding the events that led to the information leak. Jean had to grant permission for investigators and auditors to go via his computer emails to be able to examine the email signature blocks and headers. The thread in the email conversations retrieved from Jeans computers display the source of the intrusion within the system that led to the compromise of company information. Below is the email message signature block displaying where the information was actually sent by Jean with thought and assumption hat she was communicating with her co-worker and company founder,

Diversity Plan for Abercrombie & Fitch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Diversity Plan for Abercrombie & Fitch - Essay Example The teen apparel retailer has had consistent good performance in terms of profitability despite the challenging U.S. retail environment (Anna 2013). In order to increase its revenue, the company has put in place measures to ensure that it spreads out to international markets by widening its product portfolio. It is therefore imperative that the company should implement a diversity and inclusion program so as to improve its position as an international apparels retailer. President’s Statement Diversity is an important source of competitive advantage in terms of innovation and growing company revenues. The ability of a company to compete in both the domestic markets and the international markets depends on the resourcefulness of its people. Suffice to say, Abercrombie & Fitch values its people as the most important asset for the company. Workplace diversity and inclusion gives sufficient intellectual capital to fuel our growth to new levels. The apparel retail market has been ch anging rapidly and it is through diversity that the company can be able to meet new challenges and create value for both our clients and shareholders. The strength of our company comes from the combination of our values, knowledge and expertise. Thus, diversity is the cradle upon which Abercrombie & Fitch Company’s success is anchored. The company values diversity not only for revenue growth but also to foster an all inclusive work environment. The management of Abercrombie & Fitch Company is fully committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion in its workplace. Justification for Diversity Diversity basically refers to human qualities and skill sets that are different and varied among individuals and groups (Morgan and Felix 475). For instance, diversity can be manifested in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, physical abilities and educational background among others. It needs the unique contributions that can be made by individuals with many differences and abilities. The succe ss or failure of a company depends on its ability to create a work environment that harnesses a wide range of input from its employees and business partners (Eagly and Jean 216). Companies are also obliged to satisfy the population and demographics that they serve. One of the benefits of diversity is improved productivity (Kreitz 115). It is notable that innovation arises from a combination of different perspectives towards attaining a common goal. By embracing diversity, an organization is capable of excelling since it will have a large pool of experts with different perspectives to spur its growth. In fact, the global market requires diverse knowledge of consumers and their preferences. Suffice to say, a diverse workforce will be well suited to develop products that are appropriate for the diverse markets. Also, diversity plays and integral role in ensuring that important consumer cultural perspectives are considered in operations of business. For instance, Abercrombie & Fitch has to ensure that it understands the needs of its international markets like Africa which are fundamentally different from the American market. Diversity in the workplace is anchored in law. Organizations are legally required to ensure that their workforce is diverse and does not discriminate against any demographics. In order to avoid class lawsuits, Abercrombie & Fitch has to implement a diversity and inclusion plan that incorporates all the demographics and nationalities in which it operates. Suffice to say, the company’

Data and Assumption on New Technology Innovation Essay Example for Free

Data and Assumption on New Technology Innovation Essay Yesterday at the stroke of midnight a series of tragic events came to a closing when Othello, Venices most eminent and respected Moorish general, killed himself in his wifes bedchamber after smothering the young bellenone other than Venices coveted Desdemonawith a pillow. According to several witnesses of the bloody suicide, the mentally tormented general was under the notion that Desdemona had been illicitly tupping his first-in-command, Michael Cassio, a lie fed to him by the ironically misnamed Honest Iago. Iago, the villain responsible for the murder of his own wife as well as a Venetian gentleman, has been taken by Cyprian officials for questioning and possible torture. However, it is known that he orchestrated a plan to create conflict between General Othello and Lieutenant Cassio surrounding Desdemona that he hoped would result in the death of both Cassio and the lady. Witnesses to the blood bath describe the scene gravely and painfully. I walked into the room and there was Othello, with his wife Desdemona slain on the bed. It was really shocking. Her face was very pale, and though she was evidently dead, it seemed she was trying to say something, says Gratiano. Another witness describes Othellos suicide with great distress. He was very calm, but there was a wondrous rage in his face, like a monster. I had never seen him like that before. He took his sword and drove it into his chest before anyone could stop him. The only survivor of the discord is Lieutenant Cassio, who suffered a major injury in his leg from Iagos sword. When asked whether he was ever involved with lady Desdemona, Cassio responded, We were dear friends, and it pains me greatly that she is gone. But we never shared more than the touching of hands or a brief brush on the shoulder. As for the man who caused this, I will see to it that he pays for his cruelty with his own suffering. A funeral will be held in three days near the town square. Mourners are welcome, including former suitors of Desdemona. Michael Cassio asks that all that attend bring memorabilia of the lost ones such as locks of hair, clothing, letters, or embroidered handkerchiefs.

Maintaining a Competitive Edge in Business

Maintaining a Competitive Edge in Business INTRODUCTION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The performance of nay business nowadays is very much triggered by stringent competition due to the existence of other players in the respective industries with the iam of providing the general consuming public with products and servces which were previously made available by other suppliers. To survive such predicament, businesses execute their own set of strategies. Various operations strategies have ben identified in order to maintain their sustainable competitive edge and to establish their place in the market as against other players in the industry. In this paper, the researcher will closely analyze the case of J. Sainsbury, a leading supermarket with interests in finance in the United Kingdom. The researcher will identify the performance objectives of the entire industry and compare it with that of J Sainsbury, and analyze order qualifiers and order winners as regards to the business operation of the business. More importantly, the researcher will also give suggestions on what steps can the company do in order to maintain its sustainable competitive advantage despite the growing competition in the industry with the entry of other players and the growth of previously identified competitors. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Performance objectives refer to a set of goals and aims specified by the company or the industry which are expected to be achieved after implementation and execution of a set of strategies which are formulated top improve the performance of the organization. The supermarket industry in the United Kingdom is very diverse and competent as each have varying strategies and tools on how they can better serve the public so that they will have an increased market share as against the other players. The key performance objectives of the operations of these supermarkets are geared towards increasing their market share and generating more profit. One of the performance objectives of the entire supermarket industry in the United Kingdom would be to increase their economic value which involves earnings in profit, creation of new customers, innovation, and the best use of available resources. Furthermore, another performance objective of operations in the industry would be imp rovement of the companies social function which entails their ability to perform the conduct of their business while reaping benefits which are beneficial to the society such as corporate social responsibility measures. One more performance objectives would be to improve its human capital which in turn will reciprocate better service in the industry. Another performance objective of the business would be helping in the growth of the nation through improving internal and external environment of the company. The last performance objective of the company would be to be able to expand operations on other areas of the business aside from food retail which has been the industrys main business. ORDER QUALIFIERS AND ORDER WINNERS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Order qualifiers refer to the characteristics various products which are offered by the company that can qualify for such products or services to be considered for purchase by the customer. On the other hand, an order winner refers to the characteristics of a product or service that wins the order or the final and most important factor which triggers the purchase. A company is said to be in a trouble if its best investments or its sustainable competitive edge is not important to the general consuming public. Order qualifiers and order winners are important for the firms products and services because eit stipulates the criteria which are identified by the consuming public and these criteria must be present in their offerings for such to be considered as a valuable option.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For instance, in the United Kingdom, when the shoppers think of which supermarket they should buy their needs, they consider these supermarkets in terms of order qualifiers. Order qualifiers would include which ones has the lowest price, highest quality of products, socially responsible business, most accessible, among other factors, nonetheless, presented with this qualifiers, the customer will choose which one to visit base on the order winner or the characteristic or final consideration which makes them choose that supermarket, normally the organizations sustainable competitive advantage. For instance, it can be assumed that what makes J. Sainsbury an order winner is its focus on quality which makes them the best in food and health as they deliver to the public a perpetually improving quality shopping experience exceeding customer expectations. THE OPERATONS OF J. SAINSBURY   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being one of the leading supermarkets in the United Kingdom, J. Sainsbury has been continuous in providing the public with a shopping experience of the highest quality in terms of the products and services which it offers. The remaining section will discuss the operations of J. Sainsbury in line with the performance objectives in the industry which have been earlier identified.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first performance objective identified was economic benefits. J. Sainsburys operation undeniably surpassed is economic benefits as illustrated by the profits which the company earned in the previous year. According to the companys Chief Financial Officer, they made good progress despite the challenging economic environment and their sales even soared 6% higher from the previous year which is indicative of a good economic performance. The company is also generating more than 18 million customer transactions on a weekly basis with a 16% market share. Furthermore, in terms of its social function the company also showed in its operating review its continuous emphasis of corporate social responsibility as being significant in the growth of their business. The company has made a positive difference in many communities by being able to support charities such as Comic Relief where they raised almost 10 million pounds and Active Kids where their donation almost reached 70 million pounds worth of sport equipments and other items. They have also implemented efforts to reduce to negative environmental impact of some supermarket practices such as when it comes to plastic bags. The improvement of the workforce has also been identified as a performance objective in the industry. Such has been shown by the company thorugh its efforts to improve the quality of the labor force for better service. It also continuously gives out monetary bonuses and incentives for good service performance which will motivate the employees to do better because they know that they are being recognized. Another performance objective earlier identified was being able to help in the growth of the nation. J. Sainsburys has been committed to this by providing employment opportunities which gave the citizens an avenue of earning as they work in a dynamic corporate environment. It also perpetually creates opportunities to help the unfortunates in the nation by involving in partnersh ips with different groups. The last performance objective of the industry as earlier identified would be being able to expand their operations to open more opportunities and to serve more markets. J. Sainsburys response to this objective would be improvement in its non-food sector such as sales for home and lifestyle items. They have also expanded business through their additional channels to reach more market such as going on-line. RECOMMENDATIONS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As what has been shown by the discussion above, it can be assumed that the performance of J. Sainsbury in the market is doing well. The financial performance is indicative of good business while their corporate social responsibility is indicative of how well they help the society by bringing back whatever they have earned from the public. The strategies which have been identified and formulated by the company showed success in being able to maintain its competitive advantage in the market and in being able to manage competition from other players in the industry. The increase in their net sales is indicative that they were able to manage other players and they were able to do business in a good way despite the challenges which where brought about by the global economic downturn.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To be able to maintain its competitive position in the industry, J. Sainsbury must be able to perpetually put an emphasis on its on-going strategies and how maximum benefits can be reaped from such. Competition will always be rough in an industry which is as rough as the supermarket business in the United Kingdom. Both small and big players will have continued efforts in order to outplay and compete against each other. There will be competitive efforts which will focus mainly on price as such ahs been deemed as the most important order qualifier among the general consuming public. To be able to manage such competitive strategies, J. Sainsbury must always remember that the lowest price does not guarantee the most market. Price is a big indication towards purchase, but more emphasis should be put into quality as such is more important. There is a significant need to be able to compete on price. Nonetheless, the need to compete on quality can otherwise prove to be mo re paramount among consumer concerns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The operations strategies which have been earlier identified will help the company increase its share in the market or at least retain its current position. The researcher recommends that the company must put a continued emphasis on its efforts towards helping the community and the entire nation. The corporate social responsibility or the set of practices of every organization which are geared towards the environment should always be of paramount concern. The general consuming public is being increasingly aware of how to protect the environment. With that, the company must be sensitive towards this concern and must continue its efforts towards providing the public with an environmentally friendly shopping experience such as through the bags their use and improvement in their waste disposal practices in order to keep the environment clean. Moreover, they should also continue their efforts to help communities in which they pay back from the revenues they have earned from the public. A portion of their earnings shall be directed towards helping others by showing value to the same society which gave them the profit in the business. More importantly, it should continue to generate employment opportunities in the United Kingdom to be able to help the nation and to help improve the performance of the business by employing more competent and qualified individuals who can render excellent customer service which in the long run will translate into increased profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The competitive environment for supermarkets in the United Kingdom is tough. Nonetheless, with the formulation of effective individual operation strategies, the business will be able to outplay competition and survive in the marketplace as it continue on its perpetual efforts to help the public by offering them with a shopping option of the highest quality. REFERENCES: J. Sainsbury Annual Company Report (2009). Retrieved on April 29, 2010 from http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/files/reports/ar2009_report.pdf Business Studies (n.d.). Objectives of Business. Retrieved on April 29, 2010 from http://www.nos.org/Secbuscour/cc03.pdf Waterman H. (2007). UK Supermarket CSR Reports: A Comparison Using Environmental and Social Reporting Guidelines. Retrieved on April 29, 2010 from http://www.fcrn.org.uk/researchLib/theses/supermarket%20CSR%2007%20Holly%20Waterman.pdf

Youth Work And Anti Social Behaviour Criminology Essay

Youth Work And Anti Social Behaviour Criminology Essay The purpose of this research is to investigate and explore whether youth work helps in preventing Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) amongst young people. It is a worthwhile task to research this specific area as there is little published research on the contribution of youth work in preventing ASB. The research was conducted using young people and youth workers from the youth centre that I was doing my placement in Warwickshire. The data collected was a mixture of both quantitative and qualitative, however the focus of the data collection was on qualitative data. The main findings from the study revealed that the majority of young people and youth workers felt that attending the youth club helps to keep young people out of trouble. It was confirmed that youth clubs play an important role in informing young people about crime and justice issues, and that young people are likely to approach youth workers for help and advice. The services deemed important by young people were highlighted, and differences have been recognised between the services deemed most important to provide by young people and youth workers. Issues regarding the role of youth workers were raised, with differing opinions from both young people and youth workers. It has been illustrated that young people have a very positive attitude towards both youth work and youth workers, which is very important if youth workers are to build and maintain good relationships with young people. It is hoped that this research will provide a valuable insight into the possible role of youth work in preventing ASB to those who work in the field of youth work and crime prevention. Introduction The purpose of this study is to explore the potential role of youth work in preventing Anti-social behaviour(ASB). The topic of ASB and youth crime is one used in election campaigns by all political parties. Since New Labour came to power in 1997 there have been numerous citations of Tony Blairs slogan tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime, especially with regard to the phenomenon of youth crime. The purpose of this research therefore is to add to the debate on ASB prevention and to investigate a potential avenue that could help prevent it, that is, Youth Work. Relatively little published research has been conducted in the UK specifically on youth work and ASB or crime prevention, especially when compared to the US where Sherman et al (1997) has conducted interesting research. It is the purpose of this piece of research to reduce this gap in knowledge. It is hoped that this research will inform both those who work in the youth work arena and crime prevention strategists in general of the possibilities that youth work holds. 1.2 Aims and Objectives The title of the project is Investigate and Explore the role of Youth Work in preventing Anti-Social Behaviour. The broad aim was to explore whether youth work plays a role in preventing young people commit Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) or in severe cases Crime. The objectives of the research were: To search, review and critically examine the available literature on youth work and youth crime prevention. To determine the role and nature of the youth clubs and youth workers in relation to crime prevention To demonstrate and compare the perceptions of youth work from those who attend youth clubs and those who act in the role of youth worker. To establish whether youth work can be an effective means in preventing youth crime 1.3 Definition of terms used There are debates about the precise meaning of the key terms used in this research, therefore these debates will be briefly outlined and the use of terminology justified. There are three main terms that are used within this report that must be defined. These are: anti-social behaviour, youth crime, youth work and young people. These terms each have their own meanings that are debated by academics, researchers, politicians and even the media. The biggest debates regarding terminology centre on the terms youth crime and young people therefore these will be discussed first. There are two initial problems that occur when attempting to define youth crime. Firstly the problem in defining exactly what crime is, and secondly the problem in defining exactly what youth is. Muncie states the common definition of crime usually takes the form similar to that of an act prohibited by criminal law (2004:39). Michael and Adler (1933) take this further stating that in other words, no act can be considered a crime, irrespective of how immoral or damaging it may be, unless it has been made such by legislation (cited by Muncie, 2004:39). On first examination, this definition may seem perfectly viable, however in respect of young people it is argued that such a legal uncontroversial definition is unable to capture the full extent of troublesome behaviour. It is for these reasons that criminologists have used terms such as delinquency and antisocial behaviour to refer to youth misconduct which is not deemed criminal by the law, but is otherwise troublesome. The use of such terms are used to label and criticise youth behaviour such as hanging around on the streets or being loud as anti-social when this would not necessarily be the case had an adult been behaving in the same manner. These terms therefore provide a way in which to discriminate against young peoples, often not excessively offensive, behaviour. With regard to anti-social behaviour, even a definition of what amounts to this has contrasting perspectives. For example, Rutter, Giller and Hagell define anti-social behaviour as criminal behaviour whereas the Home Office do not (1998:1). This could indicate that the location and context in which the term is used can be of significance. It is submitted that over time and in different societies our constructions of what constitutes criminality clearly change. Support for this can be found from Becker who argues that crime is a consequence of social interaction and that crime only occurs once it has been criminalized through public perception and social reaction. Sumner (1990) supports Beckers view and argues that crime and deviance are matters of moral and political judgement as they are ideological concepts that justify inequality (cited in Muncie, 2004:40). Defining youth is also a problematic task. If attempting to define youth by reference to age, there are no precise moments that mark when childhood ends and adulthood begins (Muncie, 2004:41). This important change has become known as the transition between childhood and adulthood. Spence argues that transition suggests a journey from one state to another, involving both personal and social aspects, and it is therefore dependent upon the idea that the two stages are distinct conditions and fundamentally different (2004: 48). One possible approach to pinpoint the occurrence of this transition is to use the age of criminal responsibility, which is currently 10 years old in England and Wales. Ultimately, the concept of youth is one that suggests similarity amongst people of similar age whilst acting as the basis for creating social rules and institutions that reinforce these apparent similarities (Spence, 2005, p.47). However, despite these definitional problems it is important to define youth in relation to crime. In England and Wales, a person who commits a criminal offence who is between the ages of 10 and 17 years will be treated as a juvenile offender, whereas an individual who commits a criminal offence and is between the ages of 18 and 21 years will be tried as a young offender (Davies, Croall and Tyrer (2004. p.57). Having taken these debates into consideration, the use of these terms throughout this report have been used to mean the following: the term youth crime refers to crime committed by those individuals under the age of 18 years, and the term crime indicates an act prohibited by criminal law (Muncie, 2004, p.39). The term young people has been used to mean those individuals over the age of 10 years and below the age of 18 years, as this also reflects the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales. With regard to youth work, it is difficult to give a text book explanation of exactly what youth work is and research has illustrated that youth workers themselves find it difficult to put their role into a sentence that gives justice to both the work of the youth worker and that of the young person (Ingram and Harris, 2005, p.11-12). The nearest one will find to a formal definition of what youth work entails can be found in the statement of values and principles from the National Youth Agency (NYA), which states that the nature and purpose of youth work is: to facilitate and support young peoples growth through dependence to interdependence, by encouraging their personal and social development and enabling them to have a voice, influence and place in their communities and society. (NYA, 2005:17). It is through this definition that the researcher uses the term youth work to mean working with young people to help them achieve a sense of personal fulfilment, as well as work that can help and advice young people in their daily life choices and activities. The term youth worker therefore is used to describe those who carry out this role. 1.4 Organisation of the report The report is divided into four chapters as follows: Chapter Two reviews the design and methodology adopted to conduct the research and provides justification for the design and methods used. Chapter Three presents the findings of the research and analyse these appropriately. Chapter Four is the final chapter and will discuss the main findings from the research. It will also draw on these findings and the literature review in order to argue that youth work has the potential to make a significant contribution to ASB prevention and recommendations for policy makers, practice and further research. The appendices contain copies of all relevant documents referred to throughout the research. CHAPTER 2 Design and Methodology Research Design and methods The overall design of this research incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methods. The researcher aimed to collect these forms of data using questionnaires and focus groups. One set of questionnaires was distributed to six youth workers who works at the youth club. Semi-structured questions formed the interview questions used in focus groups with young people. As the research was an investigation the use of questionnaires was deemed appropriate for the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. Throughout the literature review, it is clear that there is a number of research/theories and approaches that are based on facts within the topic of ASB. An example is that the Home Office have established that young people with a troubled home life are at higher risk of being involved in ASB and crime than those who have not. Using a quantitative design would be inadequate to offer alternative explanations and explain different personal circumstances, for example, why young people who have come from troubled family life get involved in ASB. My research question requires me to ask young people and youth workers whether youth work helps in preventing ASB. A qualitative design would therefore benefit me as it would allow me to ask young people directly through the use of semi-structured interviews. This would therefore include their individual understanding and experiences, rather than being given a choice of options to choose from. It has been stated that qualitative and quantitative research each reflects a different epistemological stance, which ultimately widens the gap between the two (Bryman, 1992). In terms of epistemological framework, quantitative research is strongly linked to the positivist method of studying society, therefore observing the world in an objective manner, whereas qualitative research entails a more subjective approach. These theories explain why quantitative data is often viewed as hard data and qualitative data as real and deep (OReilly, 1996:7). It is therefore submitted that it is not a disadvantage to combine quantitative and qualitative data, but that it is an advantage as the utilisation of the two methods allows for an in-depth investigation, which will allow a more complete account[s] of social reality (Bryman, 1992:126). Questionnaires According to Robson, (2002:230), questionnaires are seen as a predominantly quantitative research method. The questionnaires used in this research asked questions about young people and ASB from the workers point of view, and included both tick boxes and also opportunities to explain further. This offered the researcher qualitative data from the questionnaires. The questionnaire also contained personal data including age, gender, ethnicity, disability and sexuality. Participants were however not asked for their name or any details which would have enabled them to be identified. Below is a table adapted from Munn and Drever(1990) and Sarantakos(2005) which shows the benefits and drawbacks of questionnaires. Fig 1. Benefits Drawbacks Efficient use of time Greater assurance of anonymity for participants Standardised questions and format for data collection Production for quick results Less opportunity for researcher bias Easier for data analysis Allow for a greater coverage of participants Information tends to describe rather than explain Information can be superficial No room for probing, prompting or clarification No opportunity to provide motivation for the participant to take part Identity and conditions are not known Do not allow for additional information The main benefit of using questionnaires in this research was the ability to gain information in a relatively straight forward. This was also helpful for the data analysis stage as questions were all standardised and could easily be organised to produce results for analysis. Focus groups The other method used to collect data in this research was focus groups. Morgan(1998:1) states that, focus groups are group interviews. A moderator guides the interview while a small group discusses the topics that the interviewer raises. Morgan went on to talk about the growth of focus groups as a qualitative research method and how discussions that takes place generate a rich understanding of participants experiences and beliefs'(1998:11). The purpose of a focus group in this research was to offer a deep insight and gain a greater understanding of the opinions that exist towards the research question being explored. Sarantakos (2005) talks about how focus groups can be used as a tool to explain trends and variances through the views of respondents. Below is a table that shows the pros and cons of using focus groups and have been taken from Morgan(1997) and (1998), Bloor et al (2001), Sarantakos (2005). Fig 2 Benefits Drawbacks Ability to gain understanding o complex issues through group discussions Ability to understand uncertainties and ambiguity that can underlie group assessments Allow for easier comparisons of opinions and the similarities and differences that exist Recording data can be problematic Being in a group may hide peoples real opinions The process can be dominated by some members There can be difficulties keeping discussions on track Findings may not be represented The reason why these two methods were used in the research was to enhance the data collected and to enable the researcher to gain a deeper understanding of feelings and opinions that surround the subject. This use of multiple methods is becoming common in social researches which, as stated by Boer et al (2001:12), contribute to the parallel mushrooming commitment of academic researchers to triangulation. Triangulation is a process by which different methods are employed by researchers to ensure that the methods themselves do not distort data but instead produce similar findings. Implementation and changes to Design Due to selected young people not turning up for the focus group, the researcher had to randomly select young people who were present at the time who fitted the criteria. This meant having to postpone the time and some planned activities as the young people had to seek consent first to participate from parents/carers and bring to the researcher signed forms. This meant that the researcher had to do one focus group instead of two that had been planned in the research proposal. Although it would have been good to have two focus group so as to look for similarities and differences in young peoples views, having one group did not make much difference as the researcher felt the young people who participated were a fair representatives of young people who attend youth clubs. Having one focus group, in the researchers opinion was more than enough as the researcher had to consider time needed for analysis. 2.5 Sample Selection and Details of Participants In total there were 14 participants in the study: eight young people, and six youth workers. It was felt that although this was a relatively small sample, it would allow for a greater degree of qualitative data to be collected and analysed. The researcher felt that the sample of young people was, fairly representative of those attending the youth clubs. The sampling method used was convenience or accidental sampling which involves choosing the nearest and most convenience persons to act as respondents. Robson(2002:265). The main limitations to this type of sampling is that there is no way to tell if the findings are representatives of the population or not. Robson(2002:265). However, the researcher tried to make sure that many groups were represented in the study including every age group and gender. One key group that was not included was young people from ethnic minorities group. This was due to the fact that at the time no one who fitted the criteria was present and the area is dominantly white. The participants (both youth workers and young people) were all white British. The age range of the young people was between 13 and 16 years old, with 37.5% being female and 62.5% male. The youth worker participants were 66.7% female and 33.3% male. The table below(Fig 3) shows a detailed breakdown of all participants. Young people Age(years) Male Female Total 13 1 1 2 14 1 1 2 15 2 1 3 16 1 1 Fig 4 Youth Workers Age range Female Male Total 18-25 2 2 25-30 1 1 2 30+ 1 1 2 2.6 Young Peoples Focus Group The researcher arranged semi-structured questions in advance and sent them to the Youth Worker in charge for approval. A place and time was allocated where the group would not be disturbed. By planning in advance, the researcher was able to avoid interruptions and ensure people could not overhear the discussions. Facilitating a focus group allowed the researcher to be creative in the types of questions that she could ask. Interactive and visual exercises were included which enabled young people to keep focused, interested and engaged in the topic. 2.7 Youth workers questionnaire There were several questions that could be compared to the questions given to young people, in order to reach the objective of determining and comparing the perceptions of youth work from youth workers and young people. Due to the mixture of open and closed questions it was possible to extract both quantitative and qualitative data from the youth workers. However, because the sample size was relatively small the focus was to collect qualitative data that was rich in both information and experience. At the youth club the questionnaires were handed to the worker-in-charge who ensured that the researcher was handed the completed questionnaires back. All six questionnaires were completed and returned. Confidentiality was ensured and maintained throughout as the questionnaires were handed out with an envelope for use after completion of the questionnaire. 2.8 Ethical Issues It is vital when completing research that the importance of ethical issues is observed. (Walliman 2006:151). The ethical issues identified for this research can be found in the research proposal (Appedix). No further ethical issues were identified. Consent forms forms were all signed and retuned to the researcher. The researcher further emphasised on confidentiality issues within the group. Throughout the research, all the procedures identified to promote ethical practice were put into place. A place that was free from noise, interruptions or risks that others could overhear was used and this was important in maintaining confidentiality. 2.9 Data Analysis In presenting and discussing the research findings a mixture of summary and descriptive statistics were used. Generalizations from these statistics were kept to a minimum due to the research design and methods adopted. As the research sample was relatively small and manageable, the researcher felt confident to complete the statistical calculations herself. In addition, as the research sample was relatively small it was not thought appropriate to use any other statistical tests in the data analysis CHAPTER 3 FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS 3.1 Introduction The purpose of this chapter is to present the findings of the research and provide a basic interpretation of these findings. Quantifiable data will be presented in a graphical format. Qualitative data will be illustrated by quotes and written observations. The findings of the study have been provided through the use of data analysis by using a grounded theory approach. A grounded theory is dedicated to generating theories. It emphasises the importance of empirical fieldwork and the need to link any explanations very closely to what happens in the real world.(Denscombe, 2007:89) The researcher analysed the data after recording all of the information provided from the focus group onto one sheet. This meant putting all of the participants answers to each question together, therefore analysis on possible themes and categories was made easier. An example is provided in Fig 5 below: Key P1=Participant 1 Q1 What do you understand by the term Anti-Social Behaviour? P1- ermm, I think its crime committed by youth like young people P2- ohm ermm I dont know (pause) young people messing around on the streets getting into trouble P3- aint it just teenagers doing nothing on the streets or corner shops P4- Like graffiti, hanging on the streets, smoking, drinking, things that young people do P5- Its like all these guys with hoodies hanging about getting into trouble by misbehaving, acting stupid P6- Petty crime like hanging about on the streets, making noise, vandalising property I used this process to look at specific parts of the interviews which were important in order to meet my research objectives. My data analysis was based on looking for similarities or differences in the answers given and categorising relevant themes. Denscombe (2007:98) states that, the first stage of analysis involves the coding and categorizing of the data. This means the researcher begins to assign bits of raw data to particular categories. Careful scrutiny of the data will allow the researcher to see that certain bits of the data have something in common. 3.2 Focus Group-Young people The objective of having a focus group with young people was ultimately to discover their views on both the youth club they attended, the youth workers that worked there, and whether having a youth club helped keep the young people out of trouble, therefore addressing the issue of reducing and preventing youth crime. In order to do this it was considered important to discover how often the young people actually attended the clubs. Youth club attendance and spare time activities Figure 6 below illustrates that nearly two thirds of the young people, (5, which is 62.5%) attended whenever the clubs were open. It is argued that this is an important finding for the foundation of the research as if young people were not attending the clubs then the potential of youth work to help reduce Anti-social behaviour and crime would be dramatically reduced from the outset. As the youth clubs are regularly attended by young people it was felt that because the youth club studied in this research were not open seven days a week, it was important to try and discover what young people were doing in their spare time when they were not at the club. As was discussed in Chapter Two, according to research, social skills are an important part of the transition into adulthood (Spence, 2005). However, the effect of socialisation and peer group pressure can have differing effects on individuals. It is clear to see from figure 7 below, socialising with friends is a large part of the young peoples lives. It is interesting to observe that only a small proportion (2), which is a quarter of young people thought that they got into trouble in their spare time. This figure could be a result of several different factors such as different opinions as to what is classed as getting into trouble, for example is it only trouble if you have broken the law or when you are being antisocial? Subjective factors such as these could have affected the answers given by the participants and this must be kept in mind when analysing the findings Keeping out of trouble The young people were asked to rate the extent of their agreement to the statement coming to the youth club keeps me out of trouble (question 3). It is submitted that the results (see figure 8 below) are encouraging on several levels. Firstly, no one disagreed with the statement therefore it is possible to argue that the youth clubs could help reduce youth crime, at least for the period in which the young people attended the club. Support for this argument can be found in the fact that 62.5% of young people rated their extent of agreement at 4 or above on the scale. To make a direct comparison, the youth workers were asked the same question (question 6). The results are also illustrated in figure 3 above. It must be remembered when interpreting these findings that the sample size of the two groups were different, as the young people sample (n=8) was larger than the youth worker sample (n=6). The findings from the youth workers indicate a strong extent of agreement that youth clubs do help keep young people out of trouble, illustrated by the fact nearly all responses (4: 66.7%) were marked 4 or above on the scale. # Comparative means to indicate the level of agreement to the statement that youth clubs keep young people out of trouble The role of a youth worker: Question 1-Youth Workers/ Question 10-Young people It was important to discover what the young people and the youth workers perceived to be the role of a youth worker in order to see if there were any major differences. If they were there, these would need to be resolved in order to provide the service that young people want and need. The young people in the stated that someone to offer help/advice as the main role of a youth worker. Help/advice/guidance is one perception of the role that is shared by both the young people and youth workers. There was a difference in that young people felt that to provide activities was an element of the role, as opposed to youth workers. This information was difficult to quantify the data into categories in that the answers given by the youth workers were very serious, whereas the young peoples answers were more focused towards fun and activities as opposed to being focused on serious matters such as guidance The NYA promotes that the main purpose of youth work is the personal and social development of young people and their social inclusion (NYA, 2006:6). . In comparison to Mertons study (2004), which found the role of a youth worker to be a social educator and mentor, it is possible to argue that these elements are also visible in the findings from this research as helping, advising and guiding young people can fit into both of the roles Merton found. Referring to the literature review, I had based my research on the risk factors identified by the home office that increase the chances of young people be involved in ASB. Within these risk factors, peer pressure was established as one of the risk factors associated with ASB. My results supported this as 7 out of 8 young people mentioned copying their friends, trying to fit in and peer pressure as a reason for engaging in ASB. Chapter Four Discussion, Conclusions and Implications 4.1 The most important findings The study found that there was a high level of agreement amongst young people and youth workers that going to the youth club keeps young people out of trouble. It is therefore argued that youth work is already contributing to ASB prevention, at least during the period in which the youth clubs are open. Regarding what the participants thought were the most important services to provide, Q4-YW and Q9-YP, the study found a difference of opinion not only between youth workers and young people, but also amongst youth workers themselves. Young people felt that a place to socialise, access to information and advice, and a safe place to be were the most important services, whereas overall youth workers felt enthusiastic workers and the building of relationships were paramount. If youth work were to hold a substantial ASB or crime prevention role, differences such as these would need to be straightened out in order to ensure the most important services are clearly defined in terms of what the young people want and need from the clubs. With regard to the informative function of youth work, it was found that youth work does indeed play an important role in informing young people about ASB, crime and justice issues. This provides the foundation on which to argue that youth work has an extremely important role in providing young people with information on important issues. The study found that young people were likely to approach a youth worker for support and advice. This is very encouraging in terms of youth work holding and maintaining a successful role in ASB prevention, as it would be paramount that young people feel both confident and comfortable in approaching youth workers for help. It was also illustrated that in general young people have a very positive attitude towards youth workers, which supports the argument that youth workers have the potential to cross the barriers with young people where others fail, especially in terms of promoting pro-social behaviour and social inclusion. This finding als

Dorothea Dix Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dorothea Lynde Dix was quoted as saying, â€Å"In a world where there is so much to be done, I felt strongly impressed that there must be something for me to do.† Dix began at the age of 39, and spent the next 20 years as a social reformer for the treatment of the mentally ill. When asked to teach a Sunday School class at a women’s correctional facility, Dix was appalled at the conditions, as well as the fact that many of the women weren’t criminals, but were instead mentally ill. This is where her crusade began. Her work had immediate results throughout the country, and the changes are still being felt even today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/dorotheadix.html. The website is an excellent source that chronicles Dix’s early life. As a child she lived in a household with a mentally unstable mother and an alcoholic father. This site details her first career as a teacher, then her second career as a social reformer. The Webster site gives an abundance of specific detail about how Dix influenced people and how passionate she was about her beliefs. The last portion of the website biography laments the fact that Dix and her accomplishments are sadly under-reported in most history and psychology textbooks, but that this fact would sit very well with Dix herself, as she preferred to not be in the spotlight.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/mhddsas/DIX/. This website gives a much more detailed description of Dix and her early life, as well as the time she spent in Boston. The writing is more personal and gives more intimate details. The site, in it’s entirety, is for the Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. The hospital history portion gives a stirring and highly detailed account of Dix visit to North Carolina and the events leading up to the state legislature’s decision to give money for a state hospital. It is an informative, as well as entertaining, account. The site also contains many photographs of Dorothea Dix and the hospital. This site and the historical elements that it contains is a microcosm of the change Dix brought about.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/dorotheadix.html. This site gives another overview of Dorothea Dix’s early life and career highlights, but does so with an emphasis on her finding her religious home among ... ...nian Institution site gives more detail on Dix ideas and involvement in the Civil War. It tells how Dix modeled her nursing after Florence Nightingale, even down to commissioning a black dress for herself, imitative of her heroine. The article also paints a portrait of Dix as a dour, disciplined and dedicated person who had trouble relating to the nurses and had a troubling relationship with the male doctors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dix’s life work has had a lasting effect on the care and treatment of the mentally ill. Her goals were never concretely set in her mind, she simply did what was best for the people and accomplished immeasurable good in her lifetime. Not only did she bring to light the plight of the mentally ill, she helped to open the door for hospitals and asylums to be built across the country and bring about overall change in the care and treatment of the patients. She believed, and was able to show, that the â€Å"insane† weren’t a lost cause. With proper care and treatment many were able to recover and lead normal lives. This was something that professionals at the time didn’t think was possible. She awoke the nations conscience to the plight of the mentally ill.

Prohibition was Ineffective :: American History

Thirteen Years That Damaged America I have always taken an interest in the Roaring Twenties and that is why I decided to write my English term paper on an event that occurred in the 1920s. What follows is my term paper which concentrates on prohibition and why it was not effective, namely because of lack of enforcement, growth of crime, and the increase in the drinking rate. I hope this may be of some help to you. "Prohibition did not achieve its goals. Instead, it added to the problems it was intended to solve" (Thorton, 15). On Midnight of January 16, 1920, one of the personal habits and customs of most Americans suddenly came to a halt. The Eighteenth Amendment was put into effect and all importing, exporting, transporting, selling, and manufacturing of intoxicating liquor was put to an end. Shortly following the enactment of the Eighteenth Amendment, the National Prohibition Act, or the Volstead Act, as it was called because of its author, Andrew J. Volstead, was put into effect. This determined intoxicating liquor as anything having an alcoholic content of anything more than 0.5 percent, omitting alcohol used for medicinal and sacramental purposes. This act also set up guidelines for enforcement (Bowen, 154). Prohibition was meant to reduce the consumption of alcohol, seen by some as the devil's advocate, and thereby reduce crime, poverty, death rates, and improve the economy and the qual ity of life. "National prohibition of alcohol -- the 'noble experiment' -- was undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America" (Thorton, 1). This, however, was undoubtedly to no avail. The Prohibition amendment of the 1920s was ineffective because it was unenforceable, it caused the explosive growth of crime, and it increased the amount of alcohol consumption. "It is impossible to tell whether prohibition is a good thing or a bad thing. It has never been enforced in this country" (LaGuardia). After the Volstead Act was put into place to determine specific laws and methods of enforcement, the Federal Prohibition Bureau was formulated in order to see that the Volstead Act was enforced. Nevertheless, these laws were flagrantly violated by bootleggers and alike. Bootleggers smuggled liquor from oversees and Canada,commoners stole it from government warehouses, and produc ed their own. Many people hid their liquor in hip flasks, false books, hollow canes, and anything else they could find (Bowen, 159).

Product Life Cycle Essay

INTERNATIONAL PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE The international product life cycle is a theoretical model describing how an industry evolves over time and across national borders. This theory also charts the development of a company’s marketing program when competing on both domestic and foreign fronts. International product life cycle concepts combine economic principles, such as market development and economies of scale, with product life cycle marketing and other standard business models. The four primary elements of the international product life cycle theory are: the structure of the demand for the product, manufacturing, international competition and marketing strategy, and the marketing strategy of the company that invented or innovated the product. These elements are categorized depending on the product’s stage in the traditional product life cycle. Introduction, growth, maturity, and decline are the stages of the basic product life cycle. During the introduction stage, the product is new and not completely understood by most consumers. Customers that do understand the product may be willing to pay a higher price for a cutting-edge good or service. Production is dependent on skilled laborers producing in short runs with rapidly changing manufacturing methods. The innovator markets mostly domestically, occasionally branching out to sell the product to consumers in other developed countries. International competition is usually nonexistent during the introduction stage, but during the growth stage competitors in developed markets begin to copy the product and sell domestically. These competitors may also branch out and begin exporting, often starting with the county that initially innovated the product. The growth stage is also marked by an emerging product standard based on mass production. Price wars often begin as the innovator breaks into an increasing amount of developed countries, introducing the product to new and untapped markets. At some point, the product enters the maturity stage of the international product life cycle and even the global marketplace becomes saturated, meaning that almost everyone who would buy the product has bought it, either from the innovating company or one of its competitors. Businesses compete for the rema ining consumers through lowered prices and advanced product features. Production is stable, with a focus on cost-cutting manufacturing methods, so that lowered prices may be passed on to value-conscious consumers. Product innovators must guard both foreign  and domestic markets from international competition, while finally breaking into riskier developing markets in search of new customers. When the product reaches the decline stage, the innovators may move production into these developing countries in an effort to boost sales and keep costs low. During decline, the product may become obsolete in most developed countries, or the price is driven so low that the market becomes close to 100% saturated.

Dangers of Speeding

When riding through any type of speed zone you should be extremely precarious. Especially In a school zone, due to the children going and leaving school as well as all cars that could possible be lined up walling to pick up and drop off. The Lake Sconce Academy speed zone is approximately 35 miles per hour. Going over this speed zone could harm your self and the people around you as well. Violating any school speed zone could endanger the lives of children crossing the street, buses traveling back and forth, and any staff member helping the children or aren't going to school or on about their day.School zones are specifically designed to help protect children and families and to try to prevent any type of accident. Also, going over the speed Limit makes you more likely to cause or be a volt In an accident. It may seem that going only a couple miles over the speed limit wont have any cause or effect, but it has a lot more effect than anyone thinks. Many people have the thought that no damage can really be done unless your going a certain speed over the posted limit. But following the proper speed limit could keep you from injuring yourself or others.It also prevents you from loosing control, swerving, distractions, and allowing you to have ample amount of time to react to any unexpected changes within the area. The faster you are traveling in a car the harder the impact and usually the more damage caused. Not only could this effect you, your car, and the other persons belongs, but It could also affect your record. For every violation of the law you receive points, and after six points while having a class D license you risk the chance of eating your license taking until your eighteen years old or taken proper reckless driving classes.Believe it or not speeding is the third leading contributing factor in car accidents. On average, more than 33% of car accidents are caused from not following the proper speed limit. The consequences from getting in a wreck can be e xtremely serious. You have a high possibility of facing very expensive fines, having to take traffic school, having your Insurance premiums raise a significant amount, and possibly even getting your license suspended for a very lengthy time period.Dangers of Speeding By belladonna Especially in a school zone, due to the children going and leaving school as well as all cars that could possible be lined up waiting to pick up and drop off. The Lake Sconce going over the speed limit makes you more likely to cause or be a victim in an belongs, but it could also affect your record. For every violation of the law you receive serious. You have a high possibility of facing very expensive fines, having to take traffic school, having your insurance premiums raise a significant amount, and

I’Ve Witnessed the Arrival of a Golden Age Essay

The article â€Å"I’ve witnessed the arrival of a golden age† was published 14th August, 2007 and written by the Guardian’s Delhi correspondent, Randeep Ramesh. Throughout the article, Randeep Ramesh describes the development of India. Among other things he tells the story about some years ago when he visited an Indian software millionaire, who shows him around the computer industry. The software millionaire comments on the correspondents’ education, because he thinks it is a shame that he was not born in Indian for that cause that the British system makes scientists become journalists instead. The headline, â€Å"I’ve witnessed the arrival of a golden age† is mainly factual, because it informs us. It actually tells that the writer has witnessed a golden age and what we will find within. The language which is used is formal or rather a quotation. It tells us what we will find within. The structure of this article is basically like any other article. It is structured with a lot of sections. It has a headline and beneath it there are three sentences which briefly give the reader a general idea of what the article is about and then a little introduction which is an experience where a software millionaire shows him around. The memories from his past are mentioned. Then it moves on to the body of the article which is a description of how India has developed and how he had witnessed the arrival of the golden age while he was living in Delhi. The body only sticks to one topic and that is India. In the ending there is a sum up which also solve the problem in the article. Besides that there is an interesting point in the three last sentences. That is, you see that India has put the past behind and now see a bright future coming and still is optimistic. The writer does not use a figurative language. Many of the sentences are long and some complex etc. â€Å"In the unselfconscious, no-nonsense manner of many educated Indians, the entrepreneur quizzed me on which university I had gone to (Cambridge) and the subject I had studied (physics), before triumphantly declaring that I had been â€Å"born in the wrong country†. (p. 1, line 8-11) Language is formal, there is not used any kind of slang nor sarcasm or irony. There is much appeal to logos in the article because it is based on logic or reason and there are several facts. The article is argumentative for the reason that the reader becomes wiser and informed. The arguments which are used are objective and the choices of words are neutral. The purpose of writing the text could be that the Randeep Ramesh wants to influence the reader and express his own opinion. He generally informs the reader and makes his point clear.

Celebration to Individualism in Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” Essay

What comes to mind when the idea of â€Å"Romantic Literature† enters your head? Immediate imageries consisting of two lovers, a rose, or even a starlit sky may come to mind. In Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, she disproved these imageries by creating her own scenario with grotesque images and lonely characters. Many have overlooked this novel as a romantic literature but it is actually one that contains the most elements of a romantic literature. Romantic literature emerged through a movement called Romanticism. Romanticism can be defined as a movement in art and literature that revolted against rigid social conventions. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelly stresses the importance of individualism in Romantic Literature by developing various narratives of the story to generate perspectives of the same environment through different narratives. Robert Walton begins the novel through an epistolary frame for the actual story to build on. We learn that Walton is on a journey to venture to an area where no man has gone before and is also in search for a close companion. Although he is amongst a huge crew of men, he felt as if he was on the voyage by himself. He narrates the story through several letters to his sister until we learned that he encountered a new friend, â€Å"Victor Frankenstein†. Frankenstein then began to tell his story as the narrative switched from Walton to Frankenstein, the main narrator of the book. As the story shifts to Victor Frankenstein, we begin to understand his life story as an individual that was much isolated from everyone else. With the congregation of his life studies, Frankenstein was able to bring life or artificially gave birth to a grotesque monster. At first he was proud of his work but he later abandoned the creature due to its hideous looks. The monster proceeds to kill the people that are closest to Victor in his life, leaving him totally alone. Though torn by remorse, shame, and guilt, Victor refuses to admit to anyone the horror of what he has created, even as he sees the ramifications of his creative act spiraling out of control. Frankenstein then finds himself next to the monster in a cave as the monster decides to describe the loneliness he had felt ever since he was â€Å"born†. The monster that Frankenstein created began narrating his life and the  cruelty he had to endure alone. It is born eight feet tall and enormously strong but still has a mind much like a newborn. Abandoned by his creator, it was confused as it tried to integrate himself into society, only to be shunned universally. Looking in the mirror, he realizes his physical grotesqueness, an aspect of his being blinded society to his initially gentle, kind nature. Seeking revenge on his creator, he kills Victor’s younger brother. After Victor destroys his work on the female monster meant to ease the monster’s solitude, the monster murders Victor’s best friend and then his new wife. It was once in a gentle spirited nature, it had become angry and violent as it remained in solitude. The emphasis on the individual’s expression of emotion is displayed through out the novel. The development of the characters in the story is presented by each character alone. The split narratives of these three characters allowed the story to unravel all the mysteries that the other narrators left out. Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the monster isolated themselves from others as each one told their own story. The celebration of individualism in the novel permitted a better understanding of each character individually as each one of them are left alone in the end.

System analysis and method designed (MIS class report) Essay

System analysis and method designed (MIS class report) - Essay Example â€Å"In this method each step has definite opening and ending point, with particular deliveries to the subsequently phase† (Als and Greenidge). The image given below shows the details of this model. This project requires less human resource for the overall development of the project. Here through this model we can develop the overall system with a small development team. Because this model works in a sequence and second phase can only be completed after the successful completion of the first phase (Sage, Andrew and & Palmer). â€Å"The Waterfall model is the straightforward and extensively accepted/followed software development model, however like any other software development models; Waterfall model has also its disadvantages. Spiral Model for software development was developed with the purpose of conquering the disadvantages of the Waterfall Model† (Parekh). This software development methodology is composed of iterative nature of the prototyping and systematic aspects of the linear sequential model. This software development methodology provides potential for development of incremental version of the software. Through this software development methodology we can have series of incremental releases of the software system. Its early versions are designed to collect more and better requirements from the client (Pressman). The image given below shows the working of this model: This software development methodology works in small increments and evaluates toward a big and comprehensive system implementation, so this software development methodology usually requires small project development team (Sommerville). This type of software development methodology is usually implemented for the medium to large projects. Mainly this software development methodology is best for the system those are huge, complex, and all requirements are not available at the start of the project (Pressman). The better interaction among