Performance Management Analysis

Introduction In the recent past, there has been a shifting paradigm from Taylor’s model of organizational management to more productive methods of production. The new methods aim at increasing production through efficient management of human and capital resources. A number of scholars have conducted extensive research to establish the effects of various managerial techniques on the performance of employees.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Performance Management Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some researchers note that task formulation is the most notable aspect of management, whereas others observe that the availability of human resources is the crucial factor that influences the performance of the management team. However, scholars concur that three factors are essential as far as the best managerial practices are concerned. One of the factors is production management while the other is the or ganization of work. In addition, the relationship between various groups in the organization influences the performance of employees. Scholars agree that a new model of management should be applied in case the organization is to achieve high results. The new model must incorporate the tenets of neo-liberalism into its productivity structures. Currently, scholars focus on exploring the new management dynamics that relate to post-Ford model of production. Scholars in the UK and the US perceive that the model should be adopted in order to enhance productivity in organizations. However, changing the work structure has micro and macro implications. Scholars of political economy and ethnographic sociology have posted their findings on the topic given its importance in the performance of organizations. This paper reviews a number of articles in order to shed some light on the topic. Views of Various Scholars on Post-Ford Production Model As earlier noted, scholars have posted various views regarding the management models in the current managerial systems. Their views can be categorized into a number of models. Under high performance work systems model, scholars such as Danford and Thompson have contributed enormously in enriching the topic. Handel and Gittleman are some of the scholars who have contributed to the development of high-performance work practices model. Ashton and Sung have conducted extensive research to establish the influence of high-performance work on organizations.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A number of scholars have also discussed the issue of high involvement in detail. Some have talked about high involvement work systems while others stick to high involvement work practices. Harmon is one such scholar who talks about high involvement work systems while Fuertes and Sanchez capitalize their study on high involvement practices. The is sue of high involvement management is also of importance to scholars. Forth and Millward are some of the scholars who analyze the relationship between high involvement practices and the management strategies. Scholars such as Brown and Reich have postulated their findings regarding the relationship between high performance and employment systems. High commitment management is another model employed in analyzing the performance of employees. Baird, Whitefield, and Poole are some of the scholars who have posted their findings on commitment management model. Danford (2004) notes that the idea of high performance work systems is a mechanistic model that does not take into account the demands of human beings. He conducted a study on JetCo manufacturing company and came up with a number of suggestions. The company had a number of efficient practices at the start, but ended up with practices that were unpleasant to the workforce. The company had prolific initiatives aimed at improving the quality of production. The introduction of team leaders created tension among employees, which lowered the firm’s productivity. Employees perceived that their views were not given serious attention. On his part, Thompson (2003) notes that a significant factor regarding high performance work systems is reciprocity. In this regard, employers have a responsibility of ensuring that they develop trust and commitment towards employees. Therefore, the employer is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the employee is provided with adequate training and efficient reward system. However, Thomson admits that employers in the neo-liberal economy are unable to fulfill the wishes of employees due to the challenges posed by the economy. On high performance work practices, Handel and Gittleman (2004) criticize the model by observing that it does not create a working relationship between workers and employers. The model is only known to increase wages. Therefore, the new model of h igh performance management is simply aimed at benefitting an individual, but does not increase productivity in the organization.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Performance Management Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ashton and Sung (2002) assert that it is proven scientifically that a strong relationship between human resource practices and improved performance exist. In particular, the relationship is strong in matters related to profitability and productivity. Therefore, the two scholars suggest that performance practices are closely related to the skills acquired by the employee. The relationship serves to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization. However, the scholars caution that the model is only applicable to certain industries. This means that the model does not solve managerial problems in all scenarios. Harmon (2003) conducted a research to explore the efficiency of th e American health care sector. In the study, a conclusion was drawn suggesting that a relationship between high performance management and employee efficiency existed. The study can be interpreted to mean that high involvement work systems are related to financial aspects. Fuertes and Sanchez (2003) extend the works of Harmon by observing that some factors motivate employers to adopt certain models. Employers calculate the benefits of the model before adopting it. Employers might prefer using less costly strategies, as opposed to using strategies that would drain their resources. Employers do not prefer some of the practices, such as rewarding employees with financial benefits because they eat up their profits. Employers prefer using non-financial rewards to appreciate their employees, such as awarding a promotion. Forth and Millward (2004) assert that high performance management is a concept that cannot be neglected given its effectiveness and influence on the performance of the or ganization. They further observe that all management practices are related to the high performance management model in one way or the other. Forth and Millward note that the high performance management model might be interrupted by deregulation of financial markets. Organizations in the modern financial markets go through a number of challenges that make it hard for employers to implement high performance management models.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Competition in the market is stiff implying that employers are concerned with sustaining market competition, not enhancing structural organization of firms. Brown and Reich (1999) conducted a study on one of the Australian manufacturing companies. The company formulated a number of strategies aimed at improving the performance of the organization. The firm emphasized on team building, development of staff, and training. The firm adjusted its policies that focused on Taylor’s model to reflect modern managerial practices. Efficient planning and role allocation were some of the new strategies employed by the firm. The new tactics improved the performance of the organization in a number of ways. Whitefield and Poole (1997) observe that high commitment management is a highly sensitive issue. Therefore, it must be handled carefully. The main concern of employers is to increase production and organize work. The scholars note that before talking about performance management, the caus es of perennial problems in the organization must be handled. The above scholars suggest that organizations utilize their competitive advantages in the market to formulate innovative practices. The researchers conclude that implementation of high performance managerial practices generate new techniques that improve the performance of the organization. High performance management strategies are extremely costly, but their outcomes are productive. In this regard, they observe that high performance management models must produce high results for them to be maintained. In a study conducted in Europe, it was established that organizations with comprehensive new work practices tended to have high training needs. Regarding high commitment management, Baird (2002) notes that all stakeholders in the organization must be consulted before formulating any policy. Through consultative forum, the organization utilizes its resources in the most cost effective way. Moreover, embracing dialogue help s the firm in achieving its competitive advantage in the market. The role of professionals in the organization is to ensure social bonding and commitment to the new techniques of production. Conclusions Model managerial theories suggest that the work place is the main learning institution that enhances the capacity of employees. Older models suggest that employees are expected to join organizations when they are already equipped with adequate knowledge from colleges and universities. Things have since changed in the modern society. For instance, the works of modern scholars suggest that teamwork is one of the most crucial aspects of management. Employees are expected to be given chances to explore their potentials in the organization. This implies that employers are expected to allow some flexibility that permits sovereignty. References Ashton, D., Sung, J. (2002). Supporting Workplace Learning for High Performance Working. Geneva: International Labor Office. Baird, M. (2002). Chan ges, Dangers, Choice and Voice: Understanding What High Commitment Management Means for Employees and Unions. The Journal of Industrial Relations, 44(3), 359-375. Brown, C., Reich, M. (1997). Micro-Macro Linkages in High Performance Employment Systems. Organizational Studies, 18(5), 765-781. Danford, A. (2004). High Performance Work Systems and Workplace Partnership: A Case Study of Aerospace Workers. New Technology, Work and Employment, 19(1), 14-29. Forth, J., Millward, N. (2004). High-Involvement Management and Pay in Britain’, Industrial Relations, 43(1), 98-119. Fuertes, M., Sanchez, F. (2003). High-Involvement Practices in Human Resource Management: Concept and Factors that Motivate their Adoption. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(4), 511-529. Handel, J., Gittleman, M. (2004). Is There a Wage Pay-off to Innovative Work Practices? Industrial Relations, 43(1), 67-97. Harmon, J., (2003). Effects of High-Involvement Work Systems on Employee Satisfa ction and Service Costs in Veteran Healthcare. Journal of Health Management, 48(16), 393-418. Thompson, P. (2003). Disconnected Capitalism: Or Why Employers Cannot Keep Their Side of the Bargain. Work Employment and Society, 17(2), 359-378. Whitefield, K., Poole, M. (1997). Organizing Employment for High Performance: Theories, Evidence, and Policy. Organization Studies, 18(5), 745-764. This report on Performance Management Analysis was written and submitted by user Kimber A. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Best Case Study Writing Tips and Tricks

The Best Case Study Writing Tips and Tricks In many ways writing a case study is similar to any other writing assignment. There is a set of common rules that can be applied to your particular task. The most common mistake students make over and over again is starting to write without careful planning and preparation. This may lead to an unsatisfying result, because the thoughts you express may be in chaotic order. You may understand what youve written since you are an author, on the other hand it will be a challenging task for a reader to understand what you wanted to say. So, dont rush things. We had better look at all the stages of case writing thoroughly. First, you need ti know exactly what you are writing about. Define the problem you are going to consider and try to look at it from different perspectives. Then start doing a profound research to gather all the information needed for your case study. You can use various sources, including books, magazines, articles, interviews, or you may even talk to people who are directly involved into a problem you are researching. Once youve got all the information required to write your case study, analyze it, sorting out the information you really need. Even if you have exclusive information, which is compelling, yet irrelevant, you should leave it out. Keep in mind that a good case study should be as interesting for a reader, as it is for you (that is, writer). After that, you may start writing. However, you can notice youve done something wrong at earlier stages, so you need to go back and research or analyze it even more. It was mentioned above that a case study has a lot to do with any oth er kind of writing task. And by that we mean it should follow the rule of the thumb of every text, i.e. it has to be divided into three main parts. State the problem in an introduction , so that the reader knows what you are writing about. In the main body you should analyze the problem under consideration more precisely and suggest your opinion on how it should be dealt with. Your suggestions should be based on the information youve found. However, dont be afraid to express your opinion, but dont forget to back them up with strong arguments. Summarize all you have said in a conclusion. You should present your point of view of how a particular problem can be solved. Besides, you can also mention the urgent problems in that particular field to show your understanding of all the aspects of it, and to come up with ideas for further research. Find it difficult to write a really good case study? Our custom academic writing service will be of great help whenever you need some expert assistance with writing a case study. Just buy a case study at CustomWritings.com!

Precedent vs. Precedence

Precedent vs. Precedence Precedent vs. Precedence Precedent vs. Precedence By Maeve Maddox A passage in a newspaper article prompted this email from a reader: Im grimacing at a Virginia newspaper passage:the first paid event held at the commons area, which might set precedence for future events I assume the author is not saying that this might make the future events come first. Please discuss the difference between precedents and precedence. The similarity of pronunciation is perhaps one cause of confusion between precedents [PRES-ih-dents] and precedence [PRES-ih-dence], but the error also occurs with precedence and singular precedent. The words are closely related in origin and meaning. Among the meanings of Latin praecÄ“dÄ“ns are â€Å"a person who goes in front,† â€Å"a person who ranks above,† and â€Å"a prior event.† The noun precedence may have originated as an erroneous spelling of the plural of precedent, but it has acquired a distinct meaning of its own. Precedence means, â€Å"the fact of being above or ahead of another or others in order, rank, or importance.† A common idiom is â€Å"to take precedence,† meaning â€Å"to enjoy the right of preceding others in ceremonies and social formalities.† A site on diplomatic protocol for the country of Saint Lucia provides an example of this usage: The Prime Minister, like the Governor-General, as the Head of Government, is entitled to certain privileges and courtesies.   He/she has the right of precedence in all circumstances, except when the Governor-General is in attendance. Things as well as people may â€Å"take precedence† in the sense of being esteemed above something else. An example of this use occurs in a speech by a prime minister of Singapore: For a religious person, conscience and religious conviction take precedence over the laws of the state, but in a multi-religious society like ours, it becomes crucial to keep religion strictly separate from politics. A precedent is â€Å"a previous instance taken as an example or rule by which to be guided in similar cases or circumstances.† A common idiom is â€Å"to set a precedent.† In a legal context, a precedent is a judicial decision that constitutes an authoritative example for subsequent similar cases. For example: â€Å"Griswold v. Connecticut  served as an important precedent in the Roe v. Wade  decision.† Here, with corrections, are some typical errors in the use of precedence for precedent: INCORRECT: A court ruling expected soon- stemming from public access to pretrial information in the William Cruse murder case- may set a precedence in what can be reported in criminal cases before trials. CORRECT : A court ruling expected soon- stemming from public access to pretrial information in the William Cruse murder case- may set a precedent in what can be reported in criminal cases before trials. INCORRECT: If the studio achieves anywhere near the same amount of success theyve seen with Cinderella, which has grossed nearly $160 million since its  March 13 release, it may set a precedence for more live-action flicks to come. CORRECT : If the studio achieves anywhere near the same amount of success theyve seen with Cinderella, which has grossed nearly $160 million since its  March 13 release, it may set a precedent for more live-action flicks to come. INCORRECT: The Kyoto Protocol has set  a significant precedence  for climate target negotiations in the future, and particularly with respect to differentiation of targets between  countries. CORRECT : The Kyoto Protocol has set  a significant precedent for climate target negotiations in the future, and particularly with respect to differentiation of targets between  countries. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comparative Forms of Adjectives5 Brainstorming Strategies for WritersBail Out vs. Bale Out

Statement of purpose to applying to university Personal

Of purpose to applying to university - Personal Statement Example recognizes that aside from this main personal objective, there is a firm desire to be an instrumental contributor to the development of my native country through this field of study. It was acknowledged that most of the students who reportedly graduated in the last decades focused on literary programs where professional careers in education and providing instructional approach through teaching have been appropriately satiated and addressed. Likewise, as affirmed from the narration of our prophet Mohammed, peace is upon him, when he said that we must look for knowledge everywhere. As such, this advice is put into application through fervent desire for traveling across countries for both leisure and educational pursuit. I believe that through being immersed in different cultures, traditions and languages, I would be able to personally experience and learn about people, arts, communication patterns, and current global trends. In addition, I contend that by travelling, it would provide me with the perfect opportunity to practice speaking and communicating through English, as my second language. Thus, I would like to develop greater proficiency in English through being enrolled in the university in the United States. passion to delve into theories and concepts that integrate courses in biology, as well as in information technology. I recognize that contemporary organizations have applied advanced discoveries in the field of biology, or the study of life; as well as in vast technological advancements in information and the use of computers, the internet, as well as other technical fields. In addition, since graduates from this particular field are still rare in Saudi Arabia, I plan to share the fruits of the knowledge to be gained from the program to my country through helping in its growth and development within this discipline. I am most grateful for the government for according me with a scholarship to enable me to pursue higher education in the United States. As

The collapse of the Atlantic cod fishery is generally understood to Essay

The collapse of the Atlantic cod fishery is generally understood to have been multi-causal. Describe the various factors that co - Essay Example Previously, the fishermen caught fish only in certain areas and there too they were unable to fish at a great depth. This limited the amount of fish that were caught and hence a balance in the ecosystem was not majorly disturbed. With the introduction of efficient machines, huge areas were covered and fishing could be done at greater depths, which resulted in a rapid decline in the fishing stocks. The Collapse of fishing industry has left a strong message to the Government and to all the companies linked with the utilization of natural resources. Natural resources are the assets of a country and to over exploit them just for the sake of making extra profits is harmful for the future of the country. Canadian forests are now facing similar threats and it is being feared that they may meet the same end as the Fishing industry. Ten percent of the world’s forest land is present in Canada and the wood industry generates billions of revenue for the country (Canada, 2010). However the forests are suffering from overcutting of wood and if Government does not introduce policies to barricade the practice, Canadian forests may be doomed like the Atlantic Cod Fishery.

Effect of Art Essay Example for Free

Effect of Art Essay Traditionally, we have believed that art imitates life. The painter represents what he or she sees by producing a scene on a canvas. The sculptor does the same with bronze or stone. A photographer or film maker does it even more directly. A writer describes life in his or her books. This simple concept is known as mimesis. But some have questioned the one-way nature of mimesis by arguing that art also changes the way we view the world, and in fact, life sometimes imitates art rather than the other way around. The person who first articulated this belief effectively was Oscar Wilde. Speaking about the foggy conditions in London in the late 19th century, he wrote that the way we perceive them changed because of art. Referring to the wonderful brown fogs that come creeping down our streets, blurring the gas lamps and turning houses into shadows he argued that poets and painters have taught [people] the loveliness of such effects. According to Wilde, They did not exist till Art had invented them. And you don’t have to look too far to see anti-mimesis in our lives. To what extent is our outlook on life altered by ideas we read in books? The portrayal of people in films? The styles we see in fashion photography? One great example of this is the TV series The Sopranos, and how it affected both the Mafia in the USA and the FBI. Art’s influence on society: propaganda and censorship Throughout history, it has always been the case that art has the power to change society, especially when new media are used to express an idea. During the First World War, for example, movie cameras were used for the first time to record trench warfare – when the film was shown in cinemas in Britain, audiences ran out screaming. This led to the government censoring further such use of such a powerful medium. And in government censorship, and use of art as propaganda, we see how seriously governments take the effect of art. All of the major dictators of the C20th understood the power of art to influence the population. In Nazi Germany, Hitler set up the Ministry of Propaganda and National Enlightenment. It was headed by Goebbels, who made sure that nothing was published, performed, or exhibited without his approval. When this happens, you know there isn’t going to be a happy ending. And what Goebbels approved, of course, only fit in with Nazi ideology and ideas. In terms of art, this meant no modern and abstract art, certainly nothing hostile to the regime, and nothing that featured images other than the stereotypical blonde-haired, blue eyed set in idyllic pastoral scenes of blissful happiness. In Stalinist Russia, there was also a keen understanding of the power of art. Art portrayed contented peasants, industrious workers, and Stalin himself. In fact, Stalin was shown god-like in many paintings, a phenomenon known as the Cult of Stalin. Just as in Germany, gigantic architectural projects expressed the power of the state. However, there is no doubt that in Russia there were greater artistic achievements than in Nazi Germany. Composers worked with fewer hindrances – as seen in the works by Prokoviev and Shostakovich, and film-makers such as Eisenstein emerged. Art’s influence on society: the trial of Lady Chatterley’s Lover But even under less oppressive governments, the artistic expression of certain ideas can be subject to control. One great example is the book ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ by DH Lawrence, which was deemed offensive on many levels. In this book, Constance Reid, a woman from a progressive liberal middle class family marries a minor member of the aristocracy, Lord Clifford Chatterley, and takes the title ‘Lady Chatterley’. But her husband is injured in the First World War, confined to a wheelchair, and left impotent. Despite this, he becomes a successful writer and businessman. It is more his obsession with financial success and fame rather than any physical difficulties which come between him and his wife, and she begins an affair with their gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors. The largely aristocratic ‘establishment’ of Britain at the time – the book was published in Italy in 1928 were shocked by many aspects of the book. First, there was the fact that the book was ‘obscene’, in the way it went into explicit detail the affair that took place (see below). Second, there was the fact that a women was breaking her marriage vows, something considered far worse than a man behaving in the same way. Finally, it represented an intimate relationship between a member of the ‘lower’ classes (although it emerges during the story that Mellors is actually well-educated, and became an officer in the army during the First World War) and the ‘upper’ classes, a concept that was totally taboo in Britain at that time. The book was duly banned. But the book was republished by Penguin books in 1960. The attorney general, Reginald Manningham-Buller (dubbed ‘Bullying-Manners’ by the journalist and author Bernard Levin) had to read only four chapters to decide to prosecute Penguin books for publishing it. What annoyed him was not just the content, but the fact that the price of the book meant it was affordable to women and members of the lower classes (remember that only few women worked at this time, and husbands were generally in charge of family finances). The trial was a disaster for Manningham-Buller and the prosecution. They had failed to find any experts to support their case, in stark contrast to Penguin’s defence team, which had brought in authors, journalists, academics, and even members of the clergy to defend the book. Manningham-Buller and his team had very little idea of what Lawrence had been trying to express in his book, regularly being caught out by the superior insight of the witnesses they were trying to catch out. And although they tried to shock the jury – in his opening speech, Manningham-Buller announced: The word fuck or fucking appears no less than 30 times . . . Cunt 14 times; balls 13 times; shit and arse six times apiece; cock four times; piss three times, and so on. they were unable to prove that the book would have a negative influence on the readers it was aimed at. According to the Guardian: No other jury verdict in British history has had such a deep social impact. Over the next three months Penguin sold 3m copies of the book – an example of what many years later was described as the Spycatcher effect, by which the attempt to suppress a book through unsuccessful litigation serves only to promote huge sales. The jury – that iconic representative of democratic society – had given its imprimatur to ending the taboo on sexual discussion in art and entertainment. Within a few years the stifling censorship of the theatre by the lord chamberlain had been abolished, and a gritty realism emerged in British cinema and drama. (Saturday Night and Sunday Morning came out at the same time as the unexpurgated Lady Chatterley, and very soon Peter Finch was commenting on Glenda Jacksons tired old tits in Sunday Bloody Sunday and Ken Tynan said the first fuck on the BBC.) Homosexuality was decriminalised, abortions were available on reasonable demand, and in order to obtain a divorce it was unnecessary to prove that a spouse had committed the matrimonial crime of adultery. Judges no longer put on black caps to sentence prisoners to hang by the neck until dead. Can we say, though, that it was art in this case that changed society, or was it an interaction between human sciences (ie, the law) and the arts (the book) that led to change? This is from the same Guardian article: †¦the message of Lady Chatterleys Lover, half a century after the trial, is that literature in itself does no harm at all. The damage that gets attributed to books – and to plays and movies and cartoons – is caused by the actions of people who try to suppress them.

Educating Rita by Willy Russell Essay -- A Play By Willy Russell

Educating Rita by Willy Russell â€Å" How do the characters of Frank and Rita change throughout the play and what is Russell’s purpose of using the technique?† Educating Rita is a play written by Willy Russell who was born in Liverpool, Whiston. â€Å"I really don’t want to write plays which are resigned, menopausal, despairing and whining. I don’t want to use any medium as a platform for displaying the smallness and hopelessness of man.† Willy Russell wrote Educating Rita as a comedy, he wanted to write a funny play to be watched and not to be studied. Coming from a working class family and society, he witnessed a deep injustice in the way lower classes were treated. Even though people who were working class had wonderful qualities, they were often regarded as worthless. In Educating Rita there are two classes, the lower class that is represented by Rita and the upper class represented by Frank. Russell reveals that although both characters come from different classes, they can both learn from each other. In this play there are only two characters. Although many other people are important to the play, Rita and Frank are the central characters. Rita is a 26-year-old woman who has decided to take a course in English Literature at the Open University. Frank, who is in his early fifties, is Rita’s tutor at the University. From the first opening scene we immediately see that Frank has a drinking problem, as he hides bottles of alcohol behind books in his study. Frank is in his study on the phone to his girlfriend to whom we can see he does not like much â€Å"†¦yes just pop off and put your head in the oven†¦Ã¢â‚¬  At the start of Act 1 Frank shows that he is uninterested in Rita, prejudges her and thinks that she ... ... one she leaves behind. She does pay a price, by leaving Danny and not having a baby yet, she gets what she want’s, an education. In the play, education is portrayed as a game when they are in the university – not going there for the need of an education but to acquire the lifestyle that an ‘educated’ person would so. Frank doesn’t know this game, but Rita does and at the end of the play she realises what it has done to her. At the beginning of the play she is an ‘uneducated’ woman, who knows little about academic things but has a lot of experience about life. She doesn’t value the knowledge which she already has much. She throws away her old life and what she gets back - Frank thinks- is much less valuable. But to Rita, education is a way out of mediocrity into a superior lifestyle. The tragedy is that she pays for it by becoming a different person.

New Jersey Insurance Company Essay

1. In what ways does Mr. Somersby control the operation of the sections of his division? In what ways does top management control the operations of the law division? Mr. Somersby controls the operation of the division by requiring reports from each section of his division. Which such reports he was able to monitor the performance as well as the expenditures of each section. The law division has about five sections to which two of them seem more crucial than the others. This is because such section handle accounts that can either make or break the financial status not only of their division but of the company as well. Because of the importance of such sections, Mr. Somersby conducts conferences with the sections in order to determine if there are any problems during their operation and to prepare for future developments. The top management controls the law division by monitoring the financial standing of the division through the required reports that they acquire. They screen discrepancies and questionable differences in cost through comparison with the division’s previous financial report. They are able to do because of the established standard they have set from their years of experience [most of the employees have been retained due to their costly training. Thus, hiring of new employees are avoided unless needed] and frequent transactions in their â€Å"routinary† operation. They require the division to set budgets, and monitor their projected costs from their incurred cost. The same goes to Mr. Somersby. When large deficits are detected they questions such occurrence in order to justify the incurred cost or to make certain actions for the situation to desist. 2. What possibilities for improving control, if any, do you think should be explored? Since budget plans seems to be crucial in their company, they should try to establish more definite parameters for their reports especially for the corporate loan division. They should incorporate the factor of TIME with their reports. For doing almost â€Å"routinary† transactions and for handling such situations for a longer period of time, the examiners should have a clearer gauge as to how long their transactions would be. By sending reports on a timelier manner they would be able to have more reliable figures for their budget estimates. As for larger accounts [like  those of the corporate loans], they should also try to consider not only outsourcing on the legal matter but for investment matters as well. They could consider hiring consultants that have a larger network in these matter in order to have a broader reference in the evaluation process. These financial experts might be able to help them more in accessing mortgages, company and individual net worth and the market standing of any investment. With this, just like on legal matters, these too can be a form of marketing, because they can claim to have a more reliable service because of the presence of financial experts that are not tied with their company. [Thus unbiased reports and projections]. They should also coordinate with the government in some cases so that they could keep track and prepare for any policy changes in their area that might affect the prices of their resources but that of their needed inputs as well. 3. As Mr. Montgomery, what comments would you make and what questions would you ask Mr. Somersby about the performance of the two sections of the law division for the first 6 months of 1987? As Mr. Montgomery, my comments for Mr. Somersby would be as follows: There have been huge deviations on the projected budget and the actual budget of the law division. More particularly, the individual loan section has incurred most of those deviations. From the figures, it seems that the corporate loan section had lesser number of transactions compared to their previous year. It seems that the individual loan section has employed an outsider which is different because their division has carefully trained and well experienced examiners, and has not required to have one from the previous years. The questions would be as follows: What are the reasons of the over budget?  What are your plans in order to prevent your division from incurring these deviations? Why was an additional labor for the individual loan sections made? How come the budgeted number of employees was 26 and the actual number of employees was 24? Since, employing additional labor for the individual loan section happened, is there a need to employ a new permanent worker? Were some of the people from the corporate loan section laid off? Are there any management problems in the corporate loan section? Have you considered employing financial experts instead of outsourcing them? What would become of the division then?

Basic Teleological Assumptions of Classical Design Theory Essay

The Old School of Intelligence Design presupposes the existence of an intellectual being behind the creation of the universe. Through inference, it often acts as a proof in support of a theistic God. The Design theory is usually supported on two major points – the complexity of the universe and the teleological nature of all natural organisms that constitute the universe. Traditionally, the old design theory resorts to an analogy of the machine, which is complex with an absolutely immaculate correspondence between the parts and the whole and has a ‘purpose’ or ‘telos’, thus teleological. Using Paley’s now legendary example of a mechanical watch that begins its ‘Natural Theology’, one can say that a watch in good condition comprises a number of devices that are intricately connected to each other in such a way, that if one part moves, it in turn set the other parts into movement, thus making the clock work. The watch is thus a ‘complex’ machine. At a second or higher level, there is a ‘purpose’ behind this entire operation, i. e. the ‘purpose’ of the watch – to tell what time of the day it is to its user. Thus, all parts contribute to the whole leading to a well defined ‘purpose’, thereby making the device ‘teleological’. Paley’s inference, which he extends to include all kinds of being and is developed into the central argument of the Old Design theory, is that ‘there must have existed, at some time, and at some place or other, an artificer or artificers who formed it for the purpose which we find it actually to answer; who comprehended its construction, and designed its use’. (Paley) Old Design theory, following Paley’s formulation, goes on to extend the analogy to include all natural beings to argue that the universe, being so well organized and infinitely more complex, thus presupposes the existence of a much higher intelligence, or a being with a much higher intelligence, who must have created this teleological universe. The general logic that establishes the thesis is: 1. Machines are produced by intelligent design 2. The universe resembles a machine Therefore, 1. Probably the universe was produced by intelligent design. (Rowe, p. 59) As a proof of this line of logical conclusion, we can look at anything of the natural world around us, both animate and inanimate, although the animate makes us understand the logic better. A tree, for example, is sustained by the nourishment that is produced by the leaf. The leaf works like a machine, with its every constituent carefully designed, arranged and contrived in such a manner so as to serve its exact purpose – carrying out photosynthesis and providing the tree, of which it is a part, with the necessary succor. It is thus a teleological unit within a bigger ‘machine’ – the tree. The tree, in its part, has all its constituent parts built and organized in such a way so as to make it serve its purpose – to exist and reproduce by creating more of its like. In order to understand this analogy, we can derive on the example of a car. A car, in itself, is a teleological unit serving the purpose of commuting people from one place to another. However, it is a combination of many smaller teleological units – the carburetor, for example, with parts to suit its express purpose – of providing the necessary combustion for the car to move. (Rowe, p. 57) Thus, a purposeful machine can be a combination of many constituent purposeful machines, which add up to carrying out the purpose of the whole. Any part of the human anatomy (like Paley’s example of the eye), and its relation to the human body in general can be counted as an example of teleological design in the natural world. Furthermore, Sartre’s existentialism can be taken as a normative school of thought elaborating on teleological renditions. As an existentialist belonging to atheistic principles, Sartre viewed subjectivity as the underlying source of inspiration behind creation. In other words, it is only the subjective understanding of things that he thought to be the fundamental purpose of beginning. The example of a paper-cutter can be aptly suited here to the context of explicating Sartre’s philosophical doctrine. The postulate that Existence precedes essence, as he came upon, can be justified by reasoning with the purpose behind the making of a paper-cutter. As is obvious, there are two sides to it. Firstly, the person who makes a paper-cutter knows what he is doing and what a paper-cutter is. So it directly involves the utility of a thing being made or created. Secondly, the process of making is also known to the maker. Hence, a logical inference can be drawn from these two interconnected preconditions that help assigning a teleological meaning to the whole. Needless to mention, it is unlikely that the person making the paper-cutter should be ignorant of its end-use (Sartre, p. 2) Arguments Old and New Till the end of the nineteenth century, the Design Theory, with certain qualifications, was thought to be adequate as an explanation behind creation and its unsurpassed complexity, through the presence of a super-intelligent being. However, right from the beginning of its existence and even before, serious questions and fallacies have been raised in the logical reasoning that draw correspondence between the mechanical and the natural world, leading to Intelligent Design theory. These criticisms are in fact older than even when the Old design was laid down as a philosophical foundation. Hume was one of the earliest critics, and Darwinism was one of the last and most potent criticisms of intelligent design – almost forcing the point of view to refashion and re-present itself into the New Design theory. The foremost accusation against the Design theory is that it is ultimately an analogy. Although Rowe proves in his article that analogy is necessary to reach the truth, yet he proves the significance of analogy only through another analogy, and thus laying the base of his logical inference weak. However, even if we take, for the sake of argument, Rowe’s formulation to be true and believe in analogy to be a way to reach the truth, there can be serious complaints raised against the way the analogy works itself out. One of the first problems to be thrown up by the machine analogy is that the creator of the watch is himself created by something external to his own self, and therefore the creator, an intelligent agency capable of action, needs to be created. Design theory often quite consciously avoids delving into the nature of the creator, just as it does about the ‘purpose’ behind the universal design. ‘Does intelligent-design theory provide explanatory power? ’ asks Young and Edis, ‘If so, it must provide information about the details of the design and, to this end, about the nature of the designer. ID theory, however, deliberately avoids the answers to this question’. (Young and Edis, p. 193) Even if we take into account the theological connotations of the theory that establishes the creator as a self-created, self-creating being, there are other problems that are foregrounded by Rowe. First, does a universe comprising teleological components itself become teleological? To prove that all natural objects that comprise the universe have a ‘purpose’ does not necessarily prove that the universe itself has a ‘purpose’. All that remains is transference that if the constituent objects have a purpose, then the world itself must have a ‘purpose’ where being constructed by a being that transcends ordinary intelligence, it is impossible to grasp that overarching ‘purpose’ behind creation. Such an argument runs into a danger of fallacy, because if ‘Design Theory’ is propounded to prove the presence of a God (or an intelligent being) behind creation, then we cannot take the presence of the being as a presumption. In that case we take to be proven what we are out to prove. Secondly, we can take into account Hume’s classical criticism of the Old Design theory, which says that it is presumptuous to take the teleology and the machine-like orderliness as the very pattern of the whole universe. Here we run into the danger of taking our argumentative basis as only that small section of the universe that is apparent to our sensory perception as the general model of the universe itself, something that we would never know. There may be, and probably are, other parts of the universe located outside the ken of our knowledge where chaos reigns. The greatest criticism of the Old Design theory comes in the form of Darwinian Theory of ‘Natural Selection’. Darwin started off as a believer in Paley’s theological model of Design theory, but as a result of his experience, defected and put forward his own theory of ‘Natural Selection’. It states that in order to be machine-like in teleology and perfect in construct, nature does not necessarily need a divine and intellectual being. Nature works in spite of such a presence or an absence in order to make its organisms best suited to the environment, whereby only the organisms that manage to suit themselves to the changing environment exist while the other perish. The survivors manage to make anatomical adjustments to survive in the environment, thus combining the part to the whole and carry on the acts of existence and procreation. Darwin’s locating the question of Intelligent Design within the question of the implicit ‘anthropomorphism’ of classical ID, is obvious when he talks about ‘Man’ and ‘Nature’ and their roles as agencies of creation: â€Å"As man can produce and certainly has produced a great result by his methodical and unconscious means of selection what may not Nature effect? Man can act only on external and visible character: Nature cares nothing for appearances, except in so far as they may be useful to any being. She can act on every internal organ, on every shade of constitutional difference, on the whole machinery of life†. (Darwin, p. 53) Till the beginning of the twentieth century, the Darwinian theory of Natural Selection reigned supreme in the field of scientific enquiry, while Design theory was more or less relegated to the recesses of religious and spiritual thought. However, the beginning of the twentieth century saw a resurgence of the Design theory, as Darwinian Evolution was made subject to questions and doubts. One of the most common attacks on Darwinism from the proponents of ID theorists has been from the lines of what is known as the mousetrap theory. The mousetrap is one of the most common and yet one of the most complex devices of our everyday life. However, if any of its component parts: the spring, the hammer or the platform is missing, it would fail to achieve its ‘purpose’, its ‘telos’: that is catching mice. Similarly, the immense complexity of even the most basic molecular organisms is so self sufficient and so ‘teleological’ that it cannot be explained by the theory of natural selection, since they do not appear as the result of any earlier form adapting to suit to the changing environment. It appears created out of an intelligent design. Michael J. Behe criticizes Darwin from precisely this position. New Design Theory: In Search for a Philosophic Co-existence However, Behe’s criticism that Darwinism does not account for the immense complexity of molecular organisms is not the same thing as to say that there is a supremely intelligent, benevolent and perfect being who has designed the universe. In fact, Natural selection can be made to account for the immense complexity of even molecular organisms. Neither does Dempski, who otherwise supports the ID theory, speak about the real nature of the intelligent being in question. Under such a situation where nothing could be proven conclusively, the design theory re-formulated itself in what is now known as the New Design Theory. One of the most significant positions of modern proponents of the intelligent design theorists is to dissociate and distance themselves from the earlier theological imports of the argument. As Manson states ‘the fact that modern ID theory is a minimalist argument for design itself, not an argument for the existence of God, relives it of much of the baggage that weighed down Paley’s argument’. (Manson, p. 277) Thus, much in response to earlier loopholes of ID arguments, a section of modern theorists is looking for a co-existence of Darwinism and ID, stating that they are not necessarily exclusive. The big-bang theory of creation is used very commonly as a point of departure. It states that the conditions conducive to life and existence required too many factors to act in too perfect a combination, and hence they do not look like an accident. Therefore, the presence of an intelligent being is needed in order to present the conditions from where nature could take its own course and get on with its act of existence and procreation. The presence of an intelligent being, whether in the form of a single theistic God or otherwise, is thus established, albeit through a new formulation. Religion, Meaninglessness and the Old Design Theory Questions of decaying morality and faith often encroach upon the spheres of religion. A man’s existence can grossly be measured on two parameters: his belief in the system of religion and other ethical means; and his actual loyalty to what he believes. If a man, out of compulsion or faith, remains loyal to what he regards as the most singular religious creed, he ought to have some degree of propensity to it. So he can be adjudged credible enough to be an individual who does not sway from his internal notions. But in reality, things turn out to be markedly different from the nature of our interaction with the world. Even the sternest believers are compelled to choose a life that hardly conforms to what he believes in and of itself about religion. Religion acts almost as an external element which is unplugged from the course of life and does not have anything to do with controlling man’s destiny (Tolstoy, p. 2). In relation to the Old Design Theory, it can be stated that God’s presence is rather nonessential with regards to the actual ordeal man has to live through in this life. As Rachels (293) argues, the ancient myth of Sisyphus is correspondent to conveying the ultimate meaninglessness of life. Contrary to the seep-seated Christian faiths of Tolstoy, this philosophy is more akin to Sartre’s doctrine of atheistic and nihilistic existence. Even if we go by the conjecture that there is in fact a supremely intelligent being at the heart of every phenomenon in the universe, the scope of redemption in mortal life is nearly impossible and therefore, the influence of a single entity, however powerful it is, is negated. References Manson, Neil A. (2003). God and Design. New York: Routledge. Young M. , and Edis, T. (2006). Why Intelligent Design Fails: A Scientific Critique of the New Creationism. Piscataway: Rutgers University Press. Paley W. (1837). Natural theology: or Evidences of the existence and attributes of the Deity†¦ With additions & notes. London: W. & R. Chambers. Darwin, C. (2007). On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection Or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life. New York: Cosimo, Inc. Rowe. The Design Argument: Old and New. Sartre, Jean-Paul. Existentialism Is a Humanism. Tolstoy, Leo N. A Confession. Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Rachels, J. (2005). The Truth About the World: Basic Readings in Philosophy.

Szabist Essays

Szabist Essays Szabist Essay Szabist Essay Service offering And Variety Augmenting the Core Product: The shostack’s molecular model can help identify the tangible and intangible elements involved in service industry. For Szabist the intangible element includes the knowledge they provide to a student in different fields for example BBA, media sciences etc. The grooming of personality, to work in teams, the education which is the core product of Szabist. The tangible element includes the degree provided by Szabist. Nature of Service Offering: Core Product: The core product Szabist provide is quality education. Supplementary Service: The supplementary service Szabist includes extra-curricular activities such as computer labs, libraries, sports room, the societies and affiliation to foreign universities. Delivery Process: Szabist delivery process is through the faculty they hire for providing quality education. The documentation of all the records of student all over the time period till they are studying. The Flower of Service: Information Clearance Classes Degree Education Consultation Fees Submission The flower’s petals are the supplementary service shown in the clockwise pattern in which they are often encountered by customers. Information: When a student comes in for admission they are provided with the admission form and guided about the procedure through which they can join Szabist. Consultation: The student can consult in which program they fit the most and what are the requirement criteria for that particular program. Fees Submission: Once the student went through the admission process they are asked to submit their fees beforehand. Classes: The classes are conducted on daily basis for whatever program a student is rolled in. Clearance: Once the student completes his/her credit hours criteria all payments are settled between the student and Szabist before the degree is granted. Degree: Degree is awarded by Szabist to the successful candidate who completes his/her course requirement. The Service Product mix: Width: Graduate Programs EMBA, MBA, MS (Computing), MS (Media Sciences), MS (Management Sciences), MS (Social Sciences Economics) and Ph. D. Undergrad Programs BBA, BABS, BS (Computing), BS (Media Sciences), BS (Social Sciences), BE Mechatronics, Biosciences and LLB. Length: The total number of courses offered by Szabist. Depth: EMBA SZABIST offers a two years EMBA degree for the executives and the middle/level managers who strive for excellence and greater challenges in their professional life. The EMBA is a two years program spread over six semesters and consists of 66 credit hours. 20 courses, 1 Business Project (3 credits) and 1 Research Project (3 credits) are required to graduate. Maximum time limit to complete the EMBA degree is five years. MBA SZABIST offers MBA degree in the specialized fields of Management, Human Resource Management (HRM), Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Islamic Banking, MIS and Economic Policy Management. Both MBA (Day) and MBA (Evening) programs are offered. For students with a 4-year BBA degree, the duration of the MBA Program is 1. 5 years. 10 MBA courses (30 credits) and a research project (6 credits) are needed to graduate. Students are also required to complete a 6-week internship. The maximum duration to complete this degree is 5 years. For students with a 4-year non BBA degree / relevant degree, the duration of the MBA program is 2 to 2. 5 years. 24 courses (72 credits) are needed to graduate. Students are also required to complete a 6-week internship and clear the SZABIST comprehensive exam. The maximum duration to complete this degree is 5 years. For students with a 2 to 3 year undergraduate degree the duration of the MBA program is 3 to 3. 5 years. 30 courses (90 credits) are needed to graduate. Students are also required to complete a 6-week internship and clear the SZABIST comprehensive exam. The maximum duration to complete this degree is 5 years. MS (Computing) SZABIST offers MS degree with majors in Information Technology, Software Engineering and Computer Sciences. The MS is an evening program only and consists of 8 courses and a Thesis / Research Project / Course Work. For students with a 4 year BS or 2 year MCS degree, the MS is a two year program. 9 MS courses and Thesis/ Research Project/Course Work are needed to graduate (33 credit hours). For students with a 4 year professional degree (BE, MSc etc. ), the MS Program is a two year program. Deficiency conversion courses and 9 MS courses and Thesis/Research Project/Course Work are needed to graduate (33 credit hours +18 credit hours of deficiency courses. ) For students with a 3 year BCS degree, the MS Program is a three year program. One year of deficiency conversion courses and 9 MS courses and Thesis or Research Project are needed to graduate (33 credit hours + 30 credit hours of deficiency courses. ) The maximum time limit to complete the MS degree is five years. MS (Media Sciences) SZABIST offers the MS Media Sciences degree. The MS Media Sciences is an evening program only and consists of 8 courses and a Thesis. For students with a 4-year BS Media Sciences or relevant Bachelors or Masters degree, the MS Program is 1. 5 years. 8 MS courses (24 credits) and a thesis (6 credits) are needed to graduate. Students are also required to complete a 6-week internship. The maximum duration to complete this degree is 5 years. For students with a 4-year non-relevant Bachelors or Master degree, the duration of the MS program is 2 to 2. 5 years. 24 courses (72 credits) are needed to graduate. Students are also required to complete a 6-week internship and clear the SZABIST comprehensive exam. The maximum duration to complete this degree is 5 years. For students with a 2 to 3 year undergraduate degree, the duration of the MS program is 3 to 3. 5 years. 30 courses (90 credits) are needed to graduate. Students are also required to complete a 6-weeks internship and clear the SZABIST comprehensive exam. The maximum duration to complete this degree is 5 years MS (Management Sciences) SZABIST offers the fifth year MS degree in the specialized fields of Management, Human Resource Management (HRM), Marketing, Finance and IT (MIS/ E-Business). The MS program is an evening program only and consists of 8/10 courses and/or Thesis (30 credits). The maximum time limit to complete the MS degree is five years. MS (Social Sciences Economics) SZABIST offers the fifth year MS degree in Social Sciences Economics with majors in Psychology, Sociology, International Relation, Political Science, Economics, Media Studies, Education, Public Administration, NGO Management, Gender Studies, Philosophy, Law Human Rights and Public Policy. The MS Program is an evening program only and consists of 8/10 courses and/or a Thesis/ Independent Studies (30 credit hours). Ph. D. SZABIST offers the Ph. D. degree in Management Sciences, Computing and Social Sciences Economics that can be completed during the evenings in two years after the MS / MBA degree. 6 Ph. D. courses and a dissertation are required to graduate. A total of 48 credit hours must be completed. For candidates with a 4 year professional (BBA / BS / BE / MBA / MCS / MSc / MA) degree, the Ph. D. Program is a three year 78 credit hours program. MS degree (30 credits) must first be successfully completed. In Management Sciences, specializations include Organizational Structure, Human Resource Management Development, and International Business Strategy Development, e-Business Strategy, Leadership, Corporate Restructuring, Corporate Ethics Governance, Advanced Financial Management, Marketing Communication and Not-for-Profit Management. In Computing, specializations include Database Management Systems, Data Warehousing Mining, Networking Communication, Business Intelligence, Process Modeling, Telecommunication, Mobile Communication, Mobile Computing, Technology Management, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Agent Systems, Speech Recognition, Multimedia HCI Systems and e-Business, Mechatronics and Machine Vision Image Processing. In Social Sciences Economics, specializations include Economics, International Relations, Political Science, Media Studies, Education, Public Administration, NGO Management, Gender Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Law Human Rights and Public Policy. The total time to earn a Ph. D. degree after a four-year university degree is a minimum of three years to a maximum of seven years. BBA SZABIST offers a four year (eight semesters) BBA degree program with majors in Management, Marketing, Finance, and IT. The BBA Program is essentially a day program and consists of 46 courses and a thesis (six courses per semester) with a total of 144 credit hours (all electives and certain courses may be offered in the evening) and an Internship. The maximum time limit to complete the BBA degree is seven years. BABS SZABIST offers the 3 years BA (Hons) Business Studies of the University of Wales, Newport, UK. Students can earn BABS, UK, and Degree after completing two years of study at SZABIST and one year at Newport, UK, through an articulation agreement. Students aiming for a UK degree can join this programme and save 2 years UK cost. Two years study at SZABIST is fully mapped and matched with University of Wales BA (Hons) Business Studies curriculum. Please refer to separate SZABIST brochure for details of this program. BS (Computing) SZABIST offers a four year (eight semesters) BS (Computing) degree with majors in Information Technology, Telecommunications, Software Engineering and Computer Sciences. The BS Program is essentially a day program and consists of 40 courses (six courses per semester) with a total of 130 credit hours (all electives and certain courses may be offered in the evening), Internship and the passing of the comprehensive exam. The maximum time limit to complete the BS degree is seven years. BS (Media Sciences) SZABIST offers a four year (eight semesters) BS (Media Sciences) degree with majors in Production and Advertising. The BS Program is essentially a day program and consists of 46 courses a thesis (six courses per semester) with a total of 144 credit hours (all electives and certain courses may be offered in the evening), and an Internship. The maximum time limit to complete the BS degree is seven years. BS (Social Sciences) SZABIST offers a four your (eight semesters) BS (Social Sciences) degree with majors in Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Political Sciences and International Relations. BS Program is essentially a day program and consists of 48 courses (six courses per semester) with a total of 144 credit hours, Internship and the passing of the Comprehensive Exam. The maximum time limit to complete the BS degree is seven years. BE Mechatronics SZABIST offers a four year (eight semesters) BE (Mechatronics Engineering). The BE program is essentially a day program and consists of 43 courses (five or six courses per semester) with a total of 142 credit hours (all electives and certain courses may be offered in the evening), Internship and the passing of the comprehensive exam . The maximum time limit to complete the BE degree is seven years. Biosciences BS Biosciences at SZABIST is a four year program spread over 8 semesters and consists of 135 credit hours of teaching, 44 courses, internship of at least six weeks, and research project are needed to graduat LLB SZABIST offers the LLB University of London International Programmes This is an evening program and can be completed in three years. The University of London, UK will award the LLB degree. Please refer to the separate SZABIST brochure and to the University of London web site. www. londoninternational. ac. uk for details of this program. Reference: http://khi. szabist. edu. pk/programs

Assignment for International Economic Relations Lecture

Assignment for International Economic Relations lecture Topic:Milton Friedman as the criticised economic agitator which has chances to succeed In my opinion, things which are fascinating in the economy for people without more than average knowledge about this science are not elaborate models, taxation or tariff systems. Really captivating issue for ordinary man is a picture of economy as a metaphysical force which rules our lives. In this context it is a reasonable tool for explaining global processes. Somehow, we should be a little skeptical, because it is quite dangerous to think that one and only impact on world society is supply and demand rule. In my essay I would like to focus on the understanding and the idea of world which Milton Friedman offered in the book „Free to Choose†. In the reality as he presented it there are two categories of action- according to â€Å"real economics† and against it. That real and good economics is a set of actions, but also lack of any action, which are undertaken for purely economical reasons. One should emphasize that Friedman sees economics as overwhelming power which, in terms of the effectiveness and the profit, is the best solution. As an example he is points to ZSSR- an opposite of the model to free economics. In his view commonwealth with the planned economy would be in even worse condition if it werent for the elements of drawing aside from the Marxist ideology in the direction of the capitalism. American economist illustrates the way in which the system works by describing the situation of the Soviet citizen who is decides to break the principles of soviet economy. He is handing the washing machine over to the national point of repair illegally. He is paying more, but repair is done without the queue and he has his working washing machine in the short time. What is more a mechanic from the national point of repair gets some additional earnings. Both benefit from that transaction, which is a pure example of capitalistic way of handling business , all that happening in the center of gravity of a planned economy. Friedman is also assigning a very important role to the price as the notifying, stimulating and regulating factor. One should add typical Smiths attitude to the role of the government presented in the epitaph for Hong Kong of the end of years 80, written in the same spirit. My point is not to report Friedmans ideas, as I think that what he presents to his readers is not only the image of economics. I can see it more as the program, desired state of affairs. In my mind a Nobel Prize winner in field of economics from the year 1976 is in a way reminding of Karol Marx. Despite the fact that the Communist Manifesto is from other times and presents the opposite ides, I could say it uses similar rhetoric. As a matter of fact the American economist is scoring the program of the co-founder of the International Workingmens Association, as if he wanted to show that the capitalism won already as the best economic system, now is the time for it to become the leading ideology. Finding support in such attributes as the freedom, the equality in the access to goods explicitly in the context of the economic system is making the text of Friedman agitational. In the following part of the essay I will be trying to confront utilitarian (or even Utopian) vision of Friedman with views of other economic minds. It is probably the best to argue against Milton Friedmans theory by using the achievements of the school of John Maynard Keynes. It is obvious that the British scholar sees the role of the government and the state rather differently. Keynes wants administration to take care of citizens in the full-time manner, rather than only as a night watchman. However he agrees with the global scope of economics. According to him the domestic production depends on the world demand, and unemployment is an effect of the insufficient demand. When comparing the two points of view I shall focus on the vivid aspects. There is a method of the psychoanalysis with the colloquial name „ dictator †. The test examines 2 persons- one is assigned to be a dictator receives for example 100 dollars. He is supposed to share money with the second person, so that the other accepts the exchange. If the second person agrees on the division of money, the amounts are given to the participants. If the division wont be accepted money is coming back to researchers. It isnt possible to negotiate and the second person knows what amount the dictator has at his disposal. Supposedly the situation is simple- the second person should agree to accept any amount the dictator offers, as it would always result in the intrinsic gain for him. Meanwhile, 69% of people for which the suggested amount stayed from 1 to 3. 7 dollar decided not to agree for the division. Dictators most often pay amounts between 28 and 44 dollars. It is one of many undoubted proofs for the fact that people do not always act reasonably and according to the spirit of economics. Adam Smith wrote, that the exchange between sides based on the principle of the freedom would take place exclusively when both sides will recognize it as profitable. How can receiving 3 dollars for nothing not be recognized as profitable? It turns out that there is something else apart from the profit as understood by Friedman. In „Free is Choose† and „The Essence of Friedman„ is summoning the famous Leonard E. Reads pencil, of which „ no man knows how to make a it†. Read is describing all stages of the coming into existence of the pencil, with a broad spectrum. The pencil â€Å"is saying† that thanks to the function of price none of the buyer is interested in a aspect who is getting the graphite: believer of the Yahweh or the Allah and whether Americans or Japanese people cut the trees down. The whole matter is showing itself not to be so simple and that is why nobody is registering international price of pencils, and more a barrel of oil concerns us. Furthermore an example of the â€Å"dictator† shows that the point of reference is extremely important in making economic decisions. Not to search far, let us take the example of the European Union, which ideology is more related to Keynes than Friedman. What I mean is the Union as the institution bristling with the customs, rates, and artificial subsidies of Community economies. After all opening to other markets, with cheap products (provided it is not dealing with the dumping) should benefit the EU. Isnt it a fact that the more participants in the free global exchange, the more effective the economy is? We, Europeans prefer to pay extra for â€Å"our† grain, by subsidizing it, rather than allow for goods from Africa. Maybe the explanation for this is the fact that we are aware that even tough the profit is less, it stays within European economy, and does not allow inhabitants of Africa to make comparatively higher profit. It is worthwhile to mention the opponent of classical economics and the self-regulation of the world market. Karl Polanyi regarded specific business activity and its rooting in the culture together with the historical moment and the social situation as the main factors influencing the shape of the economy(„ The Great Transformation †). According to Polanyiego economic transactions are not as much guided by receiving an economic or financial benefit as they are aimed at supporting and refreshing norms and social values. He found global markets moving on into the side of the laissez-faire, the main reason for the atomization of the society and the breakdown of social bonds. From the other side Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto is slightly narrowing the issues. He definitely rejects the argumentation of supporters of liberal economics, who claim that capitalism is not working in some countries (e. g. South America) due to cultural differences. He regards these views as offensive and unconvincing. In his „ The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else †, he highlights the inborn feature of entrepreneurship of inhabitants of countries which find it difficult to function as the free market economy. De Soto claims that the poor men of noncapitalistic world have significant amounts of the saving which are being estimated to account for as much as forty-fold the entire foreign help from 1945 to 2000 r. The Peruvian can see the problem in the lack transparency of these goods. The wealth which people have from outside of the range of capitalism, is not circulating in the worlds economy. It is not possible to take a loan or to pawn the central mortgage with the help of these assets. For de Soto capital is not only a transparentness. The secret of Capital lies in abilities of people of capitalist systems which can see living their wealths which they can invest as a living capital. For them it works already on the principle of the unconditioned reflex, however the rest of the world is left with the dead capital and not being able to invest it. Here Hernando de Soto is seeking the cause of the poverty. I will devote the last paragraph to the quite obvious accusation, that in the model of Friedman there is no such an instrument like social benefits. The government, which is not helping poor men to rise their quality of living and help become economically active or in more extreme cases giving them a chance to survive, seems worthless. Apart from that, words about equality of opportunities and of the access to goods, seem to be empty words in the context of a society diversified in terms of wealth from the assumption. It is not difficult to attack Milton Friedman and his views. Equally easily like Karol Marks and his social and economic model . After all in the communism a logical cohesion and an adequacy in relation to reality were not the most important issue, its aim was to give an uncomplicated and interesting interpretation of world surrounding us. The same concerns the laissez-faire of Friedman. This gives the American economist greater chances of the success than the German a philosopher had. If to examine the criticism of de Soto, Keynes, Polanyi and socialists it it is possible enough to reach the conclusion that they criticize small shortcomings rather than serious professional errors. Following Keynes thoughts, it is possible to say that there are other factors which influence human action then mere economics. However it is worth to remember the fact that at one time we didnt know how to measure the social capital, social tensions, social inequality. Perhaps at one time in the future we will manage to measure even more intangible factors such as love, pain or the dislike. Then when they become measurable and countable, it will be possible to include them in the system of economic exchange, and to check whether being a â€Å"dictator† is still more profitable. It is difficult to force people to retreat from global exchange, in favor to the local one which is fulfilling the social role, as Karl Polanyi wanted. As for de Soto, the poor of developing countries must learn the same lesson as the Americans in The Wild West did- the important of title deeds and the fact that they are liable to an exchange for other goods, that is in short transparency. There remain two questions: how to convince people for acting within the free economy, and how to solve a problem which the laissez-faire doesnt predict? First what is coming to my mind it is a Grameen Bank example. First bank in the world which opened to people without essential capital. The homeless, unescorted women, families in need could take the microcredit fitted to their needs. Everything acting as a bit as in the fairy tale- as people are rising their standard of living and Grameen notes considerable profits. What is more they already have their followers in major banks: Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, BNP Paribas. Of course, just as in every other system there are already certain shortcoming, but one should remember that the project is young. One should appreciate the fact that it is satisfying social needs of the welfare state belongs, and it is not in opposition to the laissez-faire. And if the economic liberalism would be supposed to control entire world, it is in my opinion one of the best solutions we could offer yet. It is as if we corrected the shortcoming of the framework by using the tools that the framework gives us. Maciej Bialoruski, IS UW(International Economic Relations, Wed,16. 45)

Why do you think science fiction is so popular today Essay

Why do you think science fiction is so popular today - Essay Example the modern world is attributable to the great scientific progress that has been made in recent years, the expansive nature of the genre, and a general unease with contemporary society and our collective futures. One of the major reasons science fiction is widely popular today is because of modern technological advances. The last two decades have witnessed an infusion of technology the rapid progression of which the world has never before experienced. In these regards, one considers the development of the Internet and digital technology as some of the prominent developments. In addition, cloning and stem cell research has also presented great potential for the genre. Ultimately, with the explosion of these technologies a corresponding desire to explore their extreme potentials in literature and entertainment has largely fueled the genre. Another prominent reason science fiction is extremely popular in the contemporary world is because of the expansive nature of the genre. Science fiction is unique among genres in that it is restricted only by the imagination of the writer. This is contrasted with genres such as film noir, westerns, or even romantic comedies that are subject to highly restrictive genre conventions that grow tired after a number of years. Conversely science fiction is constantly able to reinvent itself in accord with specific changes in technology and the cultural milieu. This ability to constantly explore the spectrum of human knowledge and experience allows the genre to stay highly relevant in the contemporary world. A final reason science fiction is widely popular is because of general unease with society and our collective futures. The current world has problems. Countries such as Italy and Greece are facing bankruptcy and the rest of Europe and the United States face a considerable recession. There are growing concerns with global warming, world hunger, and HIV. With this great amount of social unease the need for a dream-like and imaginary