Legal Issues-Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Legal Issues-Business Law - Essay Example The medium of transaction in the online world may not satisfy the existing legal requirements like a contract should be in writing. Like in the conventional business transactions, there are concerns to regulate online commerce. However, the nature of traditional business and online commerce differ significantly. It is these differences that lead to legal issues to arise. The legal issues relating to online commerce is further compounded by the fact that the existing law is territorial. This implies that the existing law is limited in its application to the persons or activities within the boundaries of a region or a state. Unlike the usual business transactions, online commerce does not occur within the precincts of one physical location. It is crucial that the law should adapt to the online commerce needs, as well as respond to the differences between traditional commerce and online commerce. The law must adapt to online commerce realities by providing a clear guidance for parties engaging in electronic communication and online commerce. This is particularly important in simulating online commerce to reach its full commercial potential. I agree with the article that the law needs to evolve in order to address emerging issues in online communications and particularly online commerce. It is important that the law should be designed to accommodate the traditional aspect and online commerce as well. The book titled â€Å"Code† written by Lawrence Lessig provides insights into the whole concept of online commerce. In order to have a better understanding and its implications, particularly legal perspectives, this paper will highlight what is important in chapters 1, 2 and 3 of the book. In chapter one, the book provides historical background of the advent of online commerce. The chapter discusses the beginning of a new political society after the collapse of communism in Europe. It further points out to the fact that a

Methods of Warfare in 1st World War Essay Example for Free

Methods of Warfare in 1st World War Essay What methods of warfare were used in World War 1 and how did they change over the duration of the War? German Plan: In 1914 when war was declared Germany soon thought of a plan that they thought would win them the war known as the Schlieffen Plan which was soon put into action. The plan was if they could send all their troops through Belgium into France and take France within a matter of weeks before the Russian army was mobilised they could send all their troops to face Russia when Russia’s forces had fully mobilised. And so have a better chance of defeating Russia. Germany estimated it would take six weeks to conquer France and Belgium leaving them time to move their troops to the Eastern Front before Russia was fully engaged in the war. French Plan: In 1914 when war broke out the French followed their Plan 17 which was to send all their troops charging across the frontier and attack deep into Germany forcing the German soldiers to surrender. And so the French launched an attack on German forces in Alsace-Lorraine, the French troops were cut down by German machine gun fire and artillery, within 12 days 200,000 French troops had been killed forcing them to abandon the plan and retreat to Paris. British plan: In order to help out the French Britain created a small force they planned would help the French troops stop the Germans and so England sent the British Expeditionary Force (150,000 professional trained, well equipped troops) in 1914 to France in order to hold off the German forces and to hopefully help beat back the German troops. Unfortunately in September 1914 the BEF were pushed back to Marne where they and the French stopped the German advance and pushed them back to the River Aisne. It was here where both sides dug themselves in in trenches leading to a large stalemate between both sides. Trench Warfare: During the First World War trench warfare was the most common type of warfare used, due to the fact that tanks had only recently been created and aircraft were not very developed. The trenches stretched from the sea at Ostend all the way to the Alps. These trenches caused a stalemate due to the fact that taking an enemy’s trench was extremely difficult because they were well defended by many machine guns that would kill any incoming infantry. Machine were large, heavy guns that were devastatingly effective as defensive weapons as they could fire eight bullets per second killing platoons of soldiers in minutes if they went over the top. During the war artillery caused the most casualties as they often destroyed enemy positions and killed the soldiers within them. Even though the enemy would just go deep into the trenches underground where they would be safest from the bombs. Artillery guns were very inaccurate at the beginning of the war but by the end of the war artillery was more powerful and much more accurate. A key weapon used to drive enemies out of the trenches was poison gas. The gas could be in a grenade that could be chucked into a enemy trench or fired in an artillery shell or even dropped by plane. The gas tended to be chlorine causing soldiers to struggle to breathe or mustard gas that blinded or killed its victims. Lastly the trenches were very unhygienic, full of dead bodies and gunge of mud and blood on the floor. This meant bacteria and infections spread very quickly and so diseases were common which took the lives of many soldiers on both sides. Land Warfare: Before the war Land warfare was only infantry and artillery but British inventors in 1914 thought of the idea of the tank, which they took to generals, but was rejected as though it would be impractical but Churchill disagreed and funded the project. Tanks were first used two years later in the Battle of the Somme; they advanced ahead of the infantry crushing the enemies’ defences and then spray the enemy with machine gun fire. Seeing this the British morale was boosted as they thought Tanks could lead to the breakthrough that will win them the war. Unfortunately the tanks were very slow, not very maneuverable and unreliable as many tanks broke down before they reached the enemy. The first real success for tanks was at Cambria in 1917 where they easily broke through enemy lines but the infantry behind couldn’t keep up. By the end of the war both forces were using armor piercing machine guns and adapted field guns to destroy tanks meaning tanks weren’t as invincible as they thought they were at the beginning of the war. Air warfare: In 1914 planes had only recently been invented and so at first they were very simple and used to fly over enemy targets or trenches etc, and take pictures, which they would then take back to head quarters. When planes were seen taking pictures enemy aircraft would try to shoot them down, at first the pilot would fire pistols and rifles from their planes at their enemy as they hadn’t though of a way to shoot in-between the propeller without hitting and braking the propeller. It was not until April 1915 they had fixed this problem by fitting a machine gun that was synchronized so that bullets missed the propeller and by 1918 spectacular dog fights were taking place in the air with more advanced airplanes with more advanced weapons that played a large part in slowing down the German advance. So in four years the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps had gone from having 37 planes to 23,000 planes but really the air war was little compared to the war at land and sea. Sea Warfare: Lastly before the war Britain had the largest fleet of advanced ships in the world that belittled the German fleet. Throughout the war there were very few battles on the sea. British Ships were used more for blockading German ports and supply lines hoping this would cause Germany to run out of resources and surrender. The only major sea battle was the Battle of Jutland where the British fleet lost 14 ships but destroyed 11 German ships and successfully maintained the blockade. Throughout the war Germany used its U-boats to destroy merchant ships and allied war ships, at first the U-boat would warn the ship it was about to be attacked but this convention was abandoned later in 1915. To stop the losses of Allied ships, Britain created: Q-ships that looked like merchant ships but had heavy guns on board; Mines to stop U-boats going through the English channel; Depth charges that sometimes when dropped hit U-boats and destroyed them; Convoys to protect merchant ships and Long-Range aircraft to protect the convoys.

Biomes of the World Essay -- The Worlds Biomes

A biome, also known as life zones, consists of all plants, animals, and other organisms, as well the physical environment in a particular area. A biome is characterized by its’ plant life, climate, and location. The climate and physical features determine the boundaries of a biome. A biome is made up of many different ecosystems. The ecosystems tend to have the same pants and animals as neighboring biomes around the boundaries. The major biomes are the tundra, taiga, tropical rain forest, temperate forests, desert, grassland, savanna, chaparral, and marine. Each biome has it’s own characteristics such as the tundra. The tundra is a biome that is located in the Northern Hemisphere of the world. It circles the North Pole and reaches down to the taiga. The tundra has a very cold and harsh climate, especially in the winters. The average winter temperatures is about -30Â °F and average summer temperatures is roughly 37-54Â °F. The yearly amount of precipitation, which includes melting snow, averages to about 6 to 10 inches. With these conditions it makes for a short growing season of about 50-60 days. In some parts it can be up to 180 days. This is only found in the more southern part of the tundra. Another aspect of the tundra includes the vegetation that is found there and the adaptations that have been made. The tundra is known for its’ cold temperatures, but also its’ limited plant species. The growth of the vegetation is primarily low to the ground and the biomass of plants is concentrated in the roots. Here the plants reproduce more likely by division and building than by flower pollination. Some of that growthforms that you will find in the tundra include tussock, mats or cushion plants, rosettes, and dwarf shru... ...enthic, coral reef, and estuaries. Some freshwater habitats include marches, lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands, and bogs. All the biomes of the world have climates, plants, and animals all their own. Traveling through each zone you can pick out the similar adaptations of each plant and animal. Biomes are unique to their location, each one of great importance to the world. Bibliography 1. Biomes, http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes 2. Aquatic Biomes, http://redbaron.bishops.ntc.nf.ca/wells/biomes/html/aquatic.htm 3. Biomes, SLW, October 1996, http://runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes 4. Chaparral, http://www.csun.edu/csc24235/hairach.html 5. Northern Coniferous Forest, http://www.uwsp.edu/acaddept/geog/faculty/ritter/geog101/biomes_northern_forest.html 6. The World of Biology, 4th ed., Davis, Solomon, Berg; Saunders College Publishing, Ó1994.

Cialis Insead Swot

Case-Study Cialis. This report will be aimed at a SWOT analysis of a new product to treat erectile dysfunction, Cialis, produced by the joint venture Lilly ICOS. Strength : Cialis is more efficient than other products already sold on the market and has less constraints Weaknesses * Lilly ICOS has very low financial funds compared to Pfizer. * The time needed to introduce a new drug on the market is high because it has to be tested to be sure it’s not dangerous. The time needed to convince doctors to switch and suggest a new drug for the same health problem * ICOS has no experience in launching new drug product Opportunities * People who have already tried Viagra and are dissatisfied with it are an easy target. Indeed, these people already talked about the problem to a doctor in the past and these people are still looking for a solution. This dissatisfaction can be due to the fact the product is not working, or for some inconvenience issues, eg. onsumers cannot eat too fat othe rwise Viagra has lower effect. Cialis does not have these constraints. * Viagra is not used a lot by European. The market would thus be easier to penetrate. Threats * The main product used to treat ED is Viagra, produced by Pfizer, has been dominating the market for years and is already known worldwide by consumers. * To penetrate the market, Cialis has to convince two targets: the chosen consumer group but also the doctors who prescribe the drug. There are issues concerning the culture of the target. Depending the country, the consumers are less keen to talk about erectile dysfunction to their doctor. Suggestions To penetrate the market with Cialis, Lilly ICOS should definitely not attack Viagra by the front because the group is too well known and has to higher financial ressources. Another strategy would be to bypass and attack a niche but the benefits would be lowered The best strategy according to me would be to attack Viagra by flank. Cialis has to attack the weaknesses of Viagra looking why it losts consumers. * We have to focus on geographical regions where Viagra is not well implemented. In this case, Cialis would better introduce its product in Europe than trying to do it in US. * Then, Cialis has to convince both targets  : the consumers and the prescriptors. * According to the country, the prescriptors are not the same  : while in US, France and UK it is mainly the family doctor, in Germany, Italy and Spain, people consult a specialist. According to the country, Lilly ICOS should convince the  «Ã‚  most consulted » physicians to propose patients who are dissatisfied with Viagra to use Cialis instead. * The consumers are a second barrier. They could be reached with advertising with a less  «Ã‚  dramatic  Ã‚ » environnement. ED problems have to be considered as common and normal as headache in order to make it easier for them to talk about it to their doctor. These advertising would made play some actors between 50 and 60 because the ED affect people aged in this area.

Translations by Brian Friel

Leaving Cert Comparitive study : Translations by Brian Friel Translations is a three-act play set in the tumultuous nineteenth century country of Ireland. The action takes place in a hedge-school where students are faced with the invasion of English speaking soldiers. One of these soldiers falls in love with an Irish girl and then mysteriously goes missing. The son of the master of the hedge-school is forced to go into hiding to keep from being condemned for the crime, although he is not responsible for the soldier's disappearance. Translations is a play about love, tradition, and the circumstances that force the break with these traditions.Characters Manus Cares for people at the beginning of the play. Intelligent and educated. Runs away at the end. Lacks ambition and vision. Owen Friendly with everyone. Takes Manus' place at the end in caring for Sarah and Hugh. Betrays Ireland with the English. Ran away for six years, like Manus does at the end. Yolland Wants to learn Irish and un derstand the people. Doubts moral validity of what he is doing. Overly romantic about Ireland and its language. Cannot face up to authority. Hugh Agrees to help Maire at the end. Uses Manus and blatantly prefers Owen. Sometimes pretentious.Major Areas of Study: Language and power†¦ Language and communication†¦ Language and identity (both cultural and individual)†¦ Progress†¦ Friendship and love†¦ The past and mythology†¦ Education†¦ Sample Questions 1. Why do you think that Friel gave his play the title Translations? 2. The play is set in 1833. How does Friel make its themes relevant to a modern day audience? 3. Do you agree that Translations is more concerned with the fate of individuals than the fate of nations? 4. â€Å"The play is about the characters' search for their true identities. † Do you agree?

Owing to vs Due to

Owing to vs Due to Owing to vs Due to Owing to vs Due to By Maeve Maddox Steve Campbell asks for a post on â€Å"the choice between due to and owing to. There was a time that I felt very strongly about the difference between due to and owing to, zealously correcting misuse in student papers. After all, one of my most esteemed authorities, H.W. Fowler, has this to say in Modern English Usage: Under the influence of ANALOGY, due to is often used by the illiterate as though it had passed, like owing to, into a mere compound preposition. He gives such examples as these of due to being used incorrectly: The old trade union movement is a dead horse, largely due to the incompetency of the leaders. Rooks, probably due to the fact that they are so often shot at, have a profound distrust of man. The perceived error is that due to must be attached to a noun and not, says Fowler, to a notion extracted from a sentence . . . it is not the horse, [or] the distrust of the rooksthat are due, but the failure of the movement, the distrust of the rooks . . . Even now, I reach for an index card when I hear the local weatherman say, â€Å"The road is closed due to flooding.† Then I remind myself that the difference between due to and owing to is as much a dead horse as the â€Å"old trade union movement† in Fowler’s example. For those who wish to go on beating the horse, due to is adjectival and owing to is adverbial. The road was closed owing to flooding. For the road to be due to anything, it would have to be something that influenced the existence of the road: The road was due to the efforts of local citizens who voted to raise taxes for its construction. Here are two more examples for the sake of comparison: His accident was due to excessive alcohol consumption. His accident occurred owing to the fact that he was talking on his cell phone. For most English speakers due to and owing to have become interchangeable. Trying to preserve a distinction between them is pointless. I’d rather direct my energy to the defense of â€Å"I† as a subject pronoun. 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 Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Arrive To vs. Arrive AtCapitalization Rules for Names of Historical Periods and MovementsCaptain vs. Master

Green Revolution Essays

Green Revolution Essays Green Revolution Essay Green Revolution Essay Green revolution within reach People need energy all the time. Not only electricity Is In great demand to make houses and other building operate but we need fossil fuels to use wide range of transportation. According to estimates, nonrenewable sources will run out in the foreseeable future. Scientists predict that we will be able to exploit coal for about two hundred and twenty years, natural gas about sixty years and oil will run out in forty years . They also suggest the shift from fossil-fuel-consuming civilization towards the green global community who will create a symbolic relation with nature. In practice, this means seeking alternative sources of energy that come from gifts of nature. And when you analyses the latest European union law regulation about increasing usage of alternative energy 2, or read about newest scientific experiments with hydrogen cars and energy-efficient houses you will be convince the process of becoming green has already begun. Although there are some fears and doubts In this new social movement, the benefits far outweigh and give a new chance for mankind not to act against but coexist with the beauty of nature. As a priority, alternative sources of energy as opposed to fossil fuels are clean energy. They do not cause emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Not releasing any carbon dioxide they do not contribute to the process of global warming as the popular and widespread fossil fuels do. : Besides, they can be widely used for producing and generating electricity. When you consider the share of sources In producing electricity In the world, due to BP Statistical Yearbook 2004, you will notice the huge share of fossil fuels (67%1 nuclear energy(16%) In comparison to 7% coming from hydroelectric dams(16%) and wind energy Hopefully, the world governments act for green solution and advertise clean energy giving incentives for maintaining it. Analyzing the newest European union law regulation concerning energy policy you read about plans imposed on all Its members to generate electricity from wind, sun and water In order to Increase the usage of alternative energy sources up to 20% In total European energy production with the time deadline to 2020. In Norway, for example, scientists having been working since 60-ices of last century have tried to use gig and low tides of oceans to generate cheap energy. Only one obstacle has ceased and delayed these experiments so far, an appropriate material which could resist salt sea water. Fortunately the newest technology have brought new solutions and scientists were able to create huge water turbines with special protecting Installation covered with specially designed paints that can operate without any additional maintenance. Only in 2004 Norway activated about 19 turbines of such type which can supply energy for 1 600 houses. Although the process of constructing ocean turbines still remains a secret, lots of other countries follow the ideas and test similar ones with the support of government financial programmer. Although nonrenewable sources boast with wide range of them from solar energy, wind, geothermal, tide energy or hydroelectric energy, being environmentally friendly teen cost nudge amount AT money- opponents argue. Protestor Jesse Accused Trot Rockefeller University estimates that to satisfy Aquas electricity needs, they would have to cover all of Texas and Louisiana with wind turbines what would be very expensive. Meanwhile, considering the prices of oil at their peak, continuous bill rising and perspective of running out of liquid sources, the huge input of money in making alternative sources operate equals. In addition, when you remember the idea of paying green taxes by those who damage the environment you have no doubts. Money is equal with only one difference you pay before, making the alternative sources operate, or after usage being left with high bills. Oil believers claim also that as long as benefits of alternative sources can be measure in electricity production they absolutely fail when you consider the remonstration. Our civilization stands out with the productivity of goods and their huge dislocation at the same time. This requires tons of oil and gas with the huge share of oil (90% ) in the entire world transportations. Following The Report of Peak Oil for USA department the peak of oil production will make serious problem for liquid sources in transportation not energetic crises generally speaking. They consider no other possibilities in this branch. Fortunately the world of science together with vehicle lovers offer unlimited visions and prospects in automobile development. After oil and gasoline engine, respected motor and car companies such as Toyota, Lexus, Ionians or Honda have launched their new inventions, a car which combines a small fuel-efficient gas engine with an electric motor that assists the engine when accelerating. The electric motor is powered by batteries that recharge automatically while you driver. This ecological whim called hybrid car is gaining more and more popularity and other car companies being convinced of new technology are bringing out new models. Only in 2004 Lexus ARC eh received the reward of European Car of The Year. When you insider other kinds of transportation, cities like Seattle have diesel-electric buses- these can draw electric power from overhead wires or run on diesel when they are away from the wires. Giant mining trucks, or submarines are often diesel-electric hybrids, or nuclear-electric. And the latest invention of automobile world- the hydrogen car proves the human genuine and denies the gloomy vision of oil dependence. The process of becoming green does not mean generating electricity from alternative sources or seeking innovative solutions in automobile industry, it also means reduction in consumption and perhaps less comfortable and more emending way of life. As people are becoming more and more sensitive towards environmental issues, they accept green solutions. Surprisingly, it looks as a new thriving revolution, or as skeptics prefer to call a fashion of becoming green. In the USA green industry makes huge profits and is nearly comparable with the dot- revolution in the 90-ices. Green architecture is thriving gaining new branches from new raw materials to recycled. You can admire new efficient and ecologically friendly office buildings in Japan, China, USA or in Europe, usually skyscrapers powered by mind or solar panels with rainwater collectors, insulating glass system and daylight dimming system; all constructed in one purpose to reduce energy and water consumptions. There is also widespread tendency to build self-sufficient houses powered Dye alternative sources, Walt inclement logging systems All tense symptoms prove that green global community is becoming an absolute fact not a marginal fanaticism of some forces, and if this requires, if any, some personal sacrifices like walking instead of going by car or riding a bike instead of driving a car, it is worth taking it up in the name of higher value Our Earth protection.

Eozostrodon - Facts and Figures

Eozostrodon - Facts and Figures Name: Eozostrodon (Greek for early girdle tooth); pronounced EE-oh-ZO-struh-don Habitat: Woodlands of Western Europe Historical Period: Late Triassic-Early Jurassic (210-190 million years ago) Size and Weight: About five inches long and a few ounces Diet: Insects Distinguishing Characteristics: Long, sleek body; short legs    About Eozostrodon If Eozostrodon was a true Mesozoic mammaland thats still a matter of some debatethen it was one of the earliest to have evolved from the therapsids (mammal-like reptiles) of the earlier Triassic period. This tiny beast was distinguished by its complex, three-cusped molars, its relatively large eyes (which indicate that it may have hunted at night) and its weasel-like body; like all early mammals, it probably lived high up in trees, so as not to get squashed by the larger dinosaurs of its European habitat. Its still unclear whether Eozostrodon laid eggs and suckled its young when they hatched, like a modern platypus, or gave birth to live babies.

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 39

History - Essay Example Her family realizing how dedicated Swift was, they decided to move close to Hendersonville, Tennessee. Therefore, this shows how supportive her family was to accomplishing her goals and becoming a renowned artist (Burlingame 7). It is among the many sacrifices her parent’s made in years to ensure that Taylor Swift succeeded. They kept on encouraging her on her quest to becoming a country musician and more so her mother Andrea who has been her role model and mentor. She always loved to perform her music. In her free time, she would watch biographies of country music legends which made her realize that most of the stars had started in Nashville (Burlingame 13). Every time the name Taylor Swift comes up in the media such as magazines, newspaper or even online articles, there is a chance that at least one of these phrases will be included. Taylor Swift the first singer of country music to win an MTV award in the music video category, one of the youngest female artists in history of mankind to win the best year’s Album in the Grammy Awards (Burlingame 17). In addition, Taylor Swift became the year’s best selling artist. Even though one could see Taylor Swift have become a star over night, at the age of 11, she was already singing and writing her own music. She had big dreams and continued to do what felt right until 2006 when she had a break through with herself titled debut Album (Burlingame 21). In the year 2006, Taylor released her single debut Tim McGraw and then self titled it that later on the Recording Industry Association of America certified multi-platinum. The same year in October, she had sold 2.5 copies of the album. In the 50th Grammy Awards, Taylor was nominated for the Best New Artist. Fearless, her second album won the album of the Year in 2010, released in 2008 at the 52nd Grammy Awards which were her pop stardom. As the year ended, Swift became the best selling country artist of the year 2008. In 2009,

Psychological theories of personality (SLP) Essay

Psychological theories of personality (SLP) - Essay Example There are 16 possible psychological types identified by the MBTI psychological model. Using the MBTI model we learn of the four dichotomies of psychological preferences (Bayne, 1997). This model is useful in dictating the character of an individual. The MBTI scores are used in the determination of attitudes and feelings. Attitudes are used to measure the factors of extraversion and introversion (Ewen, 2003). While, functions are divided into perceiving functions of sensing and intuition and the judging functions are made up of thinking and feeling. The interaction of one or more preferences in the MBTI is referred to as type dynamics. On the other hand, the five factor theory is used as a descriptive measure of the human personality. This model contains the five factors of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Through this model openness can be described as the ability to appreciate a lot of emotion, adventure or new ideas (Quenk, 2009). While, conscientiousness is a trait that makes a person behave obediently and exhibit self discipline. All these factors have been extensively tested and found to have strong correlation to human character traits. The FFM (five factor models) use has confirmed high validity and conformity scores to common human behavior traits. For instance, a research was conducted on a population of approximately 24, 000 people using 162 samples and conscientiousness trait matched all the set performance criteria. However, the FFM has been criticized as being limited to a ssessing all human character traits since the model is mainly based on predicting character (Quenk, 2009). The comparison of MBTI and FFM show that the two models have the tendency of being similar. The correlation between the two set of personality models show that four of the MBTI measures are related to the big five personality models in the FFM. Extraversion and

Market Research in a Recession Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Market in a Recession - Research Paper Example For any CMO who is reading this article will start thinking of making changes to his or her approach towards using market research as a tool for making strategic decisions in light of the associated costs of it. Even for market research companies who will be crucially hit by the reduced spending of clients can start brainstorming on a new approach which is cost-effective so that they don’t end up losing its business. A marketing decision is directly affected by this article because it indicates that in the current situation of decreased consumer spending, the trends and patterns have changed quite substantially making it difficult for any marketing person to take a decision on its basis. Consumers are switching brands, changing preferences and looking for deals. Consumer loyalty is shaken in current times where the consumer has become highly cost conscious. Hence a marketing decision should be taken by considering these changes and trying to apply the seven points mentioned in the article. In addition to the current points made by the writer, he himself could have done a small study of companies in different sectors to clearly prove the trend of reduced spending on market research. The writer could have done two distinct things, by using market research himself to prove his point. One, a telephonic interview session with CMOs of Marketing Managers involved in the strategic decision and understand their viewpoint on the current scenario. This small study would have helped him to fortify his claims and support these seven points better.

The represesentation of disability and illness in Victorian England Essay

The represesentation of disability and illness in Victorian England novels - Essay Example r themselves in all this plentitude and opportunity, those who were somehow stricken with illness or disability were determined to be of somehow lower or disdainful quality. This was largely because people tended to judge others based upon their material acquisitions in these quickly changing times. Wealth was taken to be an accurate measure of the person’s character while illness or disability was seen to be a reflection of a diseased soul. These attitudes in society were explored in books written in the time. As will be discovered in this paper, novels emerged during this time period as society’s most accurate means of reflecting on the social ills of the day and novels such as those written by Charles Dickens or George Elliot repeatedly demonstrated that the ill or disabled Victorian was somehow held to be of lower quality or worth than whole-bodied individuals. During the Victorian period, the process of psychoanalysis had not yet been published, much less widely discussed and applied to social structures. The principle means of reflecting issues common to the contemporary society was through the explorations provided in the fiction produced during the period. Borislav Knezevic says of Dickens and his contemporaries: â€Å"Professional novelists became not only providers of relatively lucrative cultural products, but also voices of great social authority, and representatives of that middle-class wisdom and success. [†¦] The novel became a locus of middle-class symbolic power† (Knezevic, 2003: 4). In the Victorian era, the novel was as much about information as about entertainment, as Salman Rushdie observes in his entry on The Nation: â€Å"The word ‘novel’ derives from the Latin word for new; in French, nouvelles are both stories and news reports. A hundred years ago, people read novels, among other things, for i nformation. From Dickens’s Nicholas Nickleby, British readers got shocking information about poor schools like Dotheboys Hall, and

Finding the Leadership in You Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Finding the Leadership in You - Essay Example I use more of an array of incentives to motivate individuals to perform their best. I am in a sense a transformational leader also. I go beyond to manage my day-to-day operations for the company, my lack of tolerance to uncertainty and self-objectivity affects my leadership abilities. My ability to get knowledge without inference or reason is low (Webb, 2013). My low intuitive abilities are affecting my capability to learn and solve the complex problem in a subconscious basis. It plays a vital part in the decision making process. I will work on developing my intuitive abilities in order to improve my decision making, avoid common mistakes and dissolve prejudices (Tidd & Bessant, 2011). I have a strong conflict management skill. My capacity to remain calm and absorbed in tense conditions is a crucial aspect of conflict resolution (Webb, 2013). I usually stay centered and in control of myself, which makes me avoid being emotionally overwhelmed intense conditions. I have a strong courteous regard to people feelings, and act as a facilitator in solving conflicts. My high Yield tendency facilitates courteous yielding to opinions, judgments, or wishes of other people. My forcing tendency abilities demonstrate my skill of ensuring that people act in a manner, which facilities’ resolution of conflicts (Tidd & Bessant, 2011). The high avoidance tendency demonstrates my ability to avoid tense situations, or conflicts. This ensures that I behave in a manner that does not facilitate conflicts, and ensure that an amicable environment exists at all time. The high compromising tendency shows that I am more than eager to compromise in order to take into consideration other people thoughts and feelings (Cummings & Worley, 2009). I possess strong problem solving skills. These skills demonstrate my ability to solve problem and offer solutions to complex and challenging situations. Time management skills demonstrate how someone is more aware to

The represesentation of disability and illness in Victorian England Essay

The represesentation of disability and illness in Victorian England novels - Essay Example r themselves in all this plentitude and opportunity, those who were somehow stricken with illness or disability were determined to be of somehow lower or disdainful quality. This was largely because people tended to judge others based upon their material acquisitions in these quickly changing times. Wealth was taken to be an accurate measure of the person’s character while illness or disability was seen to be a reflection of a diseased soul. These attitudes in society were explored in books written in the time. As will be discovered in this paper, novels emerged during this time period as society’s most accurate means of reflecting on the social ills of the day and novels such as those written by Charles Dickens or George Elliot repeatedly demonstrated that the ill or disabled Victorian was somehow held to be of lower quality or worth than whole-bodied individuals. During the Victorian period, the process of psychoanalysis had not yet been published, much less widely discussed and applied to social structures. The principle means of reflecting issues common to the contemporary society was through the explorations provided in the fiction produced during the period. Borislav Knezevic says of Dickens and his contemporaries: â€Å"Professional novelists became not only providers of relatively lucrative cultural products, but also voices of great social authority, and representatives of that middle-class wisdom and success. [†¦] The novel became a locus of middle-class symbolic power† (Knezevic, 2003: 4). In the Victorian era, the novel was as much about information as about entertainment, as Salman Rushdie observes in his entry on The Nation: â€Å"The word ‘novel’ derives from the Latin word for new; in French, nouvelles are both stories and news reports. A hundred years ago, people read novels, among other things, for i nformation. From Dickens’s Nicholas Nickleby, British readers got shocking information about poor schools like Dotheboys Hall, and

Sales Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Sales Management - Essay Example ales representative, it is importance for a sales manager to take note of the situation and take charge in order to avoid losing customers simply because of a sales representative’s behavior. (Churchill, 2000). There are some basic steps that the sales manager can take in order to convert the sales person’s behavior from inacceptable to acceptable. (Johnston, Churchill, Marshall, Ford, Walker, 2005). Some of such steps are discussed below. The first and the foremost concern of a sales manager should be to understand what a sales representative’s actual problem is. (Forsyth, 2002). He should investigate to know why the sales person is behaving in that particular way. He should talk to the sales rep in detail in order to understand the underlying causes of his behavior. (Churchill, 2000). These causes might be psychological (e.g. inferiority complex, frustration, prejudices and biases based on cultural, ethnic, racial, national, religious or other differences, etc.), emotional, or some other causes (e.g. if the employee has a grudge against a particular customer, or the customer’s attitude towards the sales rep is inappropriate, etc.) (Hughes, McKee, Singler, 1999). Once the sales manager has a good knowledge of the sales person’s problems, he can sit with the sales rep and try to work out an appropriate solution. (Schwartz, 2006). For example, if the sales person has lack of motivation, the sales manager can help him boost his morale through various motivational exercises and techniques. (Spiro, 2003). Or if the sales person has time management issues, he should try and instill such qualities in him. The manager should try and convince the sales person that the customer is the king and even if the customer is wrong, the sales person should be polite with him and should extend respect towards the customer at all times. (Honeycutt, Ford, Simintiras, 2003). The manager needs to empathetic and polite while discussing the issue with the sales rep so that his

Review of Parrot in the Oven Essay Example for Free

Review of Parrot in the Oven Essay Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida is a coming of age novel written in 1996, by Victor Martinez. The story is set in California and is told from the point-of-view of a fourteen year old, Mexican American boy. Manuel Hernandez, like many young men, struggles with identity. Manny’s life is hard. He has two older siblings and a baby sister. His mother does not work. His father is unemployed and an alcoholic. The main provider and only person in his house that can keep a steady job is his older sister. His older brother cannot hold a job long. As would be expected, Manny’s family lives in the projects. Project life brings its own problems. The Garcia boys live in Manny’s neighborhood. They constantly terrorize and beat him. Manny does not fight back. He realizes that he is outnumbered and too afraid to do anything. This could be one of the reasons Manny joins a boxing club in school, and later joins a gang. Family life is not much better for Manny. Throughout the story Manny deals with an alcoholic father and a borderline obsessive compulsive mother that have both become bitter and resentful. Manny’s brother is rarely home, but when he is he is often drunk. His older sister is resentful that she must carry the family. At one point in the story she gets pregnant and soon loses the baby. Chapter nine shines light on a key aspect of Manny’s character. As the title implies, Manny is naive. He lives in a predominantly Latino community where racial discrimination is non-existent. In this section of the book, Manny’s boss urges his daughter to invite Manny to her birthday party. She reluctantly agrees. Manny tells his brother, Nardo, about the party. Nardo and their sister try to explain to Manny that white people do not usually interact with Mexicans socially; he is most likely being used. Manny does not listen. He is in lust. Needless to say, the party ends badly. A terrible home life, hormones and identity issues lead Manny to gangs. He takes the beating, as a form of initiation, so that he can kiss a girl. He is not entirely sold on the gang culture but feels that he should hang out with the members. On his first run with Eddie, a gang member, he witnesses Eddie assault a woman and steal her purse. At that moment he recognizes that Eddie is the guy that knocked up his sister. Frozen in place, Manny realizes that gang-life is not for him. He goes home and watches his sisters sleep, knowing that although life at home is rough there is nowhere else he would rather be. Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida exposes many aspects familiar to first- and second-generation Mexican American families. Many young minorities might be able to relate to Manny’s struggles. Even though the book deals with ugly issues like abuse, alcoholism, racism, teen pregnancy and gangs, the book also provides a space for discussion around identity, self-esteem and pride. I would definitely recommend this book to students.

Development of the German Industrial Relations System

Development of the German Industrial Relations System The management of employees, both individually and collectively, remains a central feature of organizational life (Blyton Turnbull, 2004). This statement, taken from the book The Dynamics of Employee Relations, generally reflects the necessity organizations are facing. Regarding the central role employees are playing in business, the implementation of systems which regulate the working process in order to protect and restrain both employees and employers by installing rules, policies, and guidelines are essential. These systems are called employee relations and are put in place globally. Yet, these systems differ accordingly among different economies according to nation and culture. The subsequent is divided into three major pillars: First, it will provide a description of the core characteristics of the German employment relations system. The second pillar regards the existing systems of collective bargaining and participation and discusses their development since the 1980s. The third and last part gives an outline of the major recent trends and will focus in detail on the most significant recent issue of the German employment relations system. Main Body Core characteristics of the German human resource management/employment system Being one of the most successful economies in Europe (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998), the German industrial relation system is regarded to encourage workplace cooperation in high-quality production and the economic prosperity contributes in general to a peaceful and collaborative work-environment. According to Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, the German model of industrial relations is based on five pillars, which will be explained in the following. The most significant pillar is regarded to be the dual structure of interest representation. This implies a separation of workers representation at the workplace-level from the collective bargaining system. Hence structural conflicts between labor and capital are dealt with in two arenas, separated according to interests, actors, and modes of enforcement (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998): While collective bargaining deals with issues such as working-hours and wages on a more general level and therefore follows a quantitative approac h, in the workplace these are specialized and more of qualitative nature. Although both parties are legally independent from each other in formal terms, they reveal certain interdependencies in reality. Keller (1998) states that unions and works councils are reliable partners within a network of stable co-operation. It is for example often the case that Unions train members of the works-council and provide them with legal advice, while works councilors are in many cases also trade unionists and participate in policy-making and recruiting members for their Union. The two institutions of trade Unions and Works Councils, as well as collective bargaining, will be described in more detail in the following and at a later stage. As the second pillar, Mà ¼ller-Jentsch (1998) reveals the importance of the law. Existing on a profound legal basis, the dual system of Germanys industrial relations puts emphasis on a detailed regulation of labor conflicts on the one hand and industrial relations at the workplace on the other. For instance, this implies the fact that works councils do not have the right to strike. Penalties for breaches are high, which calls legal exports to action, who therefore gain more and more influence on the workers side. The third pillar mentioned is the degree to which the institutions of collective representation encompass their constituencies. As the unions and works councils are able to make decisions in the name of the whole workforce, they are obliged by law to represent the interests of all employees. Next and fourth important feature is the fact that the named institutions are of intermediate character (Ferner Hyman, 1998). According to its legal constitution, the works council follows explicitly the economic goals of the company. Trade unions have become so called mediators between the interests of labor and capital, and bulwarks of the tradition of social partnership (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, 1998). The fifth and final major pillar of the Germa n model of industrial relations is the relative centralization of collective bargaining and the according coordinated bargaining policies, which will be explained in greater detail in the second part of this essay. The two parties of the German dual system are, as already described above, the trade unions and the works councils. In Germany, trade unionism goes back to 1945, when the German Trade Union Confederation (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund) was put in place, providing a single organizational structure for workers of different status. In 1995, the confederation had a total of 9,354,670 members coming from sectors such as the metal industry, public service, chemicals, construction, banking, rail, police, wood and plastics, media, textiles, food drink and tobacco, or education and science for example. Although German unions are not formally affiliated to any political party, the German trade Union Confederation shows links to the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). These patt erns of political alignment result from tradition, yet they appear to be weakening more and more over time. In addition, there are two other significant confederations in Germany: the German Salaried Employees Union (DAG) and the German Civil Servants Federation (DBB), which resulted from the Weimar Republic. The trade union density in Germany in 2007 was at 19.9% (OECD.2008). In comparison, the UK shows a density of 28%, whereas the United States reveal 11.6%. The second part of the German dual system are the works councils. In Germany, works councils are mandatory for in all private firms with five or more employees. They possess rights of information, consultation, and co-determination (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998). Co-determination implies social matters such as principles of remuneration and payment methods, performance related pay, daily and weekly work schedules, regulation of overtime, holiday arrangements, or the use of technical devices to monitor employees pe rformance. In specific circumstances there is even the right of veto over individual cases of hiring, grading, transfer, and dismissal. Additionally, the employer is obliged to inform the works council about the economic situation and financial affairs. Works councilors are elected for four years and are by law independent from the unions, representing the whole workforce. In general, works councils deal with the following employment relations: technological change, functional and numerical flexibility, as well as influencing the formal company structures. As already pointed out above, technological change implies for example the implementation of new technological instruments or methods to monitor employee performance. Concerning the functional flexibility, an article from the Industrial Relations Journal can be stated: Works councils are constituted on the basis of working together with the respective employer/management in a spirit of mutual trust to reinforce the achievement of functional flexibility (Lumley, 1992). The numerical flexibility roots in a legal event. The Employment Promotion Act was introduced by the German government in 1985. After successful lobbying of employers, legislative changes in employment relations were introduced, facilitating an increase in fixed-term contracts, temporary employees, and part-time workers in a mixed way. This enabled employers to be able to react more promptly to economic crises or peak-times, for example. Especially times of economic pressure generate a demand for more flexibility by organizations in how work is conducted. There is a need for flexible structures and work processes, allowing companies to adjust their labor resources to meet rapidly changing market demands, for instance the current global economic crisis which also strongly hit the German economy. Competitive conditions are leading to a decentralization of the German employment relations system on multiple levels, particularly within enterprises ( Berg, 2008). At the same time, workers desire more flexibility in when, how, and where they work. The increase in female labor, the rise of dual earner couples, and the cost of child rearing have altered the balance between work- and non-work roles and contributed to a variety of flexible work arrangements, especially in Germany (Berg et al. 2004). Another significant aspect of the German employment relations system is how business in the country is organized. There are three basic types of organization which can be distinguished: The chambers of Industry and Commerce, Business Associations, and Employers Associations (Harzing Van Ruysseveldt, 2004). The Chambers of Industry and Commerce are local organizations with a formal legal status, which makes membership necessary for all affected firms. The term affected implies all firms belonging to the respective field of operations of the Chambers. The task carried out by the Chambers are for example licensing and regulating trade pract ices and managing occupational training programs such as apprenticeships. These are a popular instrument for German high-school graduates who are willing to directly enter into working or simply do not have the possibility to go to university. Business Associations are organized by industry, in local associations affiliated to sectoral peak associations (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998). They are concerned with such matters as technology, production, marketing, and research. In Contrast, Employers Associations are responsible for negotiating the multi-employer collective agreements, which, according to Mà ¼ller-Jentsch (1998) are covering the vast majority of employees. Finally, the following facts about the German economy and its industrial relations will provide a further insight on how the countrys relations look like. The information is taken from the European Industrial Relations Observatory. The trade union density in Germany, where the number of trade union members is compared relative to the overall number of employees, is at around 22%. The employer organization density is at 63%. Here, the number describes the percentage of employees employed by companies who are members of an employer organization. In 2007, the country employment rate, regarding people from 15-64 years, was at 6.4%, whereas the unemployment rate for the same age-group reached 8.4%. Another significant figure is the number of working days lost through industrial action, per 1,000 employees. Here the average from 2004-2007 was at 5.62 days. The European average was at 37.47 days, which shows that Germany is significantly below the average (EIRO, 2009). Furthermore, the industrial relations in Germany, in cooperation with many other factors of course, result in a stable and advanced economy, which is to be regarded as very advanced and on a high level. Yet, there is still room for improvement left, also in industrial relations. Here, the cooperation of trade unions, works cou ncils, and employers could still be further improved. Existing systems of collective bargaining participation and their development since the 1980s Collective bargaining can be defined as a process of decision-making between parties representing employer and employee interests. Its purpose is the negotiation and application of an agreed set of rules to govern the substantive and procedural terms of the employment relationship (Windmà ¼ller.1987). In detail, the functions of collective bargaining are determining the terms and conditions of employment, as well as the allocation, distribution, and transaction of cost-saving issues. Furthermore, it also aims at countervailing the power of management and conflict-resolution. A significant prerequisite is the mutual recognition of the actors as representatives and the general willingness to bargain. The parties need to be aware of the fact that, within a defined area, future problems and issues are to be resolved jointly. Collective bargaining takes place within the field of the terms and conditions of employment. Specific topics are the price of labor, work rules, individual job rig hts, enforcement procedures, and the issue of management and union rights. (Zagelmeyer, 2010) The relationship between the two parties (employers and employees), can significantly influence the outcome of the bargaining. This accounts on a general as well as on an individual level. The probability to achieve a win-win situation throughout the bargaining process is certainly higher if the overall climate between management and employees in the company is positive and if the individuals get along with each other. It also affects the respective strategies and tactics and determines the general atmosphere of the whole process. Another important aspect is the term of bargaining power. According to Chamberlain and Kuhn (1986), it is defined as the ability to secure anothers agreement on ones own terms. It is the driving force underlying the bargaining relationship. The structure of collective bargaining can be either formal or informal. In a formal structure, the participants are legally bound by the terms of the agreement, whereas an informal bargaining structure is defined as the employers or employees who are affected by the results of a negotiated settlement through either pattern bargaining or other non-binding processes (Zagelmeyer, 2010). The process of collective bargaining can take place on different layers. Starting at a work group, department or company level, the single-employer bargaining functions in a decentralized way. Multi-employer collective bargaining embodies the local single industry, regional economy, or even a national economy, which reveals the highest possible degree of centralization. To draw the line to the German system of collective bargaining, Berg (2004) states the Germany shows a trend towards a further decentralization of collective bargaining, meaning that employment relations issues are increasingly being resolved on a single-employer level. Keller and Jacobi (1998) refer to the German Collective Agreement Act, where the parties t o a collective agreement must be unions on the workers side and single employers and or employers associations on the other. Company collective agreements are mainly to be found in smaller firms and cover a small minority of employees. Yet, the overall collective bargaining coverage in Germany ranked at 61% in 2007 (EIRO, 2009). In comparison to 2004 (68%), this percentage has decreased by 7% and can probably be drawn back to the current trend of decentralization of collective bargaining in Germany, which, on average, does not cover as many of the overall number of employees than the centralized approach including multi-employer collective bargaining. Indust ry wide and sectoral agreements contribute to a high degree of standardization of wages and other working conditions, as does state regulation (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998). It is also the case that, although sectoral bargaining is taking place at a regional level, collective bargaining in Germany is centrally direc ted by the national organizations on each of the two sides. Several pilot-agreements, especially from the engineering industry, function as role models for influence all other industries. An example is the so called IG Metall, which therefore enjoys a high degree of awareness in the German economy. According to the pacemaker of IG Metall, there are three different kinds of collective agreements to be distinguished: First, there are wage agreements. These set the level of wages and periodic alterations. Next there are the so called framework agreements, specifying wage-payment systems. Last, there are umbrella-agreements, which regulate all other conditions of employment such as working time, overtime, holidays, and dismissals. Another significant aspect of the German way of bargaining is described by Tallard (1988): The German collective bargaining process follows a certain sequence. A more or less extended period, depending on the industry and complexity of the issue to be discusse d, leads to agreement in the majority of the cases. If negotiations fail, both parties try to resolve the conflict through mediation procedures. These are established by union-employer agreements instead of government interventions. If mediation also fails, the conflict might result in a strike or in a lockout, which are the two last legal weapons of the union side in order to achieve their goals (Keller. 1997). Although there is a trend towards decentralization of collective bargaining, the system still needs mechanisms to adapt general conditions of collective agreements to the circumstances of individual establishment (Berg, 2008). Furthermore, it needs to be pointed out that civil servants are excluded from collective bargaining. The conditions of employment for this group of employees are set by legislation. Still, there is an influence of the relevant unions who function as consultants for the government. Another aspect of German industrial relations is that the scope of indus trial regulations is not closely related to union membership, as it is the case in other countries (Ferner Hyman, 1998). Roughly eighty percent of the employees are covered by collective agreements, which is three times the number of union members. Currently, the majority of collective negotiations is concerned with pay. This has been a development over the past decades and the focus of collective bargaining has changed over time. During the 1970s for instance, non-wage issues have received the most attention. During the late 1970s, for example, there had been a trend in bargaining across industries which considered the protection of employees against rationalization. During the 1980s, working-time arrangements played a dominant role (Ferner Hyman, 1998), where collective bargaining mostly aimed at regulating the working-time of employees as a strategy for job-creation. In the focus of discussion between unions and employers was the claim that the effect of shorter working hours r esults in an increase in employment. Since the early 1990s, especially after the Unification of Eastern and Western Germany, collective bargaining turned to the issue of wages. Since the efforts of the unions have not been very successful (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998), strikes emerged over several industries. Mà ¼ller et al. (1998) also make the point that collective bargaining seems to have had only a limited impact on income differentials. It was not a subject of priority to German unions. Yet, through the introduction of common pay scales, the gap between management employees (white-collars) and manual employees seems to be closing. In order to demonstrate the development and the outcome of collective bargaining in Germany, two other aspects need to be taken into consideration. During the 1950s annual holidays in Germany were two weeks, on average. Until the 1990s, this was increased to a total of six weeks, due to constant union-efforts (Ferner Hyman, 1998). The o ther aspect considers the amount of weekly working hours. Again during the 1950s, employees worked on average 48 hours per week. In the 1990s the efforts of the unions resulted in a total of 37.5 hours per week, on average. Taking a closer look on the development of collective bargaining in Germany, the following can be conclusion can be drawn. Due the historically more nationwide structure of bargaining, which had been introduced to a certain extent already in the Weimar Republic, the main process of bargaining happens at a more nation-wide, multi-employer stage. The development since the 1980s has shown that most bargaining-procedures follow the role model of the above described IG Metall and the major issue has become the topic of remuneration. A current example was the ongoing, publically held discussion about minimum-wages in several industries. Yet, there is a certain trend towards the decentralization of bargaining on a single-employer level which will be further discussed in the following. It is also of a high significance that the nationwide role-models are carried out to the single-employer levels, where often adjustments are made and the centralized outcome is often adapted to individual situations of companies. As a last aspect to be discussed referring to collective bargaining is the extent to which political parties in Germany take influence on the bargaining process. The IG Metall for example has an obvious affinity to the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), whose major target group are people belonging to the general workforce. This can certainly be of advantage for the majority of employees in case that the SPD takes legislative influence in favor of issues the IG Metall is concerned with. Current major trends and the decentralization of the German human resource management relations system The following part of the essay will provide an outline of current trends regarding the human resources management relations system in Germany. The previously described trend of the decentralization of bargaining structures will be regarded in greater detail, since it seems to be a significant development in German employment relations over the past years. One trend, which is not only occurring in Germany but in nearly all major industrial economies of Europe, is described by Streeck and Kluge (1999). In their study, it becomes evident that employers are tending to have a growing interest in a reliable and constructive relationship with trade unions on a company level. They state that the aim is to get along in a more productive manner than as it had always been the case. Being aware of the fact that this saves time and efforts, employers try to act more on a partner-level (Streeck Kluge, 1999). In case of Germany, the employee-side has the opportunity to react on static negotiation s with the employer by introducing strikes and lockouts. Yet, regarding the fact that employers are now obviously showing an increased compliance, at least on a perceived level, unions also tend to adopt a higher potential of compromise and push back a strike as the last opportunity since it harms the company on a general level. Another notable trend over the past years in Germany has been the growth of temporary work. With growth rates that are significantly higher than the rates of standard employment (Mitlacher, 2008), temporary work has attracted both public and academic attention. This trend can obviously be drawn back to times of economic recession and a certain divergence in business fluctuations. Employers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, are often depending on the ability to react to the current situation. In peak-times they are able to adjust their workforce upwards, whereas in times of crisis they can easily downsize their workforce accordingly. This situat ion surely comprises a negative connotation towards employee rights, yet it is a very useful application for employers although it might be regarded as exploitation of the workforce. To go a bit more into detail, it can be stated that on the one hand, temporary or triangular employment relations offer the possibility to reduce labor, hiring, and training costs. On the other hand it might also be stated that agency jobs are also associated with low wages, minimal benefits, negligible job security, little training, and no job prospects (Mitlacher, 2008). Here it becomes clearly evident that the advantage of triangular work is on the employers side, whereas employees have to get along with it. In general, Jahn (2005), who is quoted by Mitlacher (2008), states that the proportion of young people and foreigners is much higher among temporary agency workers than in the overall economy. Furthermore, 30% of the temporary workers are low-skilled and only a quarter of all temporary workers ar e women (Federal Employment Service, 2005). A further trend which can be regarded in Germany is the issue of privatization. It is an issue since the 1970s when the Social Democratic Party was governing and refused privatization on grounds of political principle (Ferner Hyman, 1998). Due to the issues of the perceived increase in profitability and flexibility coming along with privatization, the trend has developed during the 1980s, when the Christian Democratic Party of Germany came to power and created the legal grounds for privatization. Although all public sector unions and major interest organizations have offered strong and coordinated resistance to privatization and have caused serious social conflicts (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998) , the trend kept on developing over time. A famous recent example for privatization is the Deutsche Bahn AG. Apart from the above mentioned current issues, there is another significant trend in Germanys employment relations. According to a study of the Max-Planck-institute, the employment relations in Germany undergo a change which can be allocated to a steady increase in internationalization, which has started to grow considerably during the 1990s. Besides the danger of facility-shifts to financially more feasible countries, employment relations are mainly affected by another aspect. The increasing degree of Americanization brings along a growing shareholder-orientation. Industrial Relations and codetermination are reacting on the competitive environment of international markets by adapting to a decentralization of collective bargaining (Max-Planck-Institut-fà ¼r-Gesellschaftsforschung, 1999). This is development is also supported by the unification of Germany, when two independent economies were merged together. The area wide-wage agreement has been in the centre of Germanys system of collective bargaining. Individual wage agreements have led to more moderate wage developments, whilst collective agreements wit h individual firms, and agreements at the production unit level, have not had this moderating effect. On the other hand, collective bargaining has become more flexible, leading to greater pay differentiation. The further decentralization of collective bargaining, although desirable, has given rise to objections based in constitutional law and to resistance from employees and employers (Ochel, 2005). As already described above, there is a trend from multi-layer collective bargaining to a decentralized structure, with a single-employer structure, taking place from work unit-levels to corporation-levels. As revealed by Mà ¼ller-Jentsch et al. (1998), there is no necessary interconnection between deregulation initiated by the government and flexibility, which is pursued by assertive employers. Yet, both coincide in practice and contribute to the process of decentralization of labor relations. Therefore the actors at the company level gain importance, whereas the actors on a sectoral le vel, unions and employers associations lose some of their former power. Coming along with the above described shift of competence and influence, a new institutionalized balance of power (Ferner Hyman, 1998) has developed. Still, nationwide pacemakers such as the IG Metall are still powerful and maintain a significant influence. Referring to this issue, an example is presented by Ochel (2005) is provided, who bascically refers to so called Wild-Cat Co-Operation. In detail , this means that works councils often agree to overtime working, which enhances the earnings of their constituents while allowing the company to increase production without the long-term commitments involved in taking new workers. This contradicts with the policy to which the unions are strongly committed, to restrict overtime and encourage additional recruitment in order to reduce unemployment. The divergence between interests is the following: Unions, having a nationwide, multi-employer perspective aim reducing the overall unemployment. Works Councils instead aim at achieving the most suitable solution for the individual company, since they have a more decentralized focus and a single-employer point of view. Conclusion To come to a final conclusion it can be stated that the German industrial relations system has undergone a constant development over the last decades. The dual system, embodying unions and works councils, is based on tradition and represents the two parties of collective bargaining. Due to internationalization and other globalizing aspects, a major development in the German system is a shift towards decentralization, laying more decision power on the individual employers perspectives. As pointed out above, this bears opportunities as well as challenges.

The Benefits of Implementing Talking Circles in the Classroom Essay

I spent my volunteer experience with Dr. Geis’ special needs classroom at County Elementary School; and throughout my participation, the most defining observation was that of the teachers and staff members. Naturally, some employees are better than others at fulfilling tasks. However, as time passed, I noticed that certain employees had difficulty starting each day fresh, free of the pressure and tension that may have accumulated from the previous day. I only volunteered a couple of times a week so my ability to wipe the slate clean was easier. Nevertheless, I can understand how taxing and repetitive the process can be for the full length of a school year. According to the National Commission on Teaching about, â€Å"one-third of all new teachers leave after three years, and 46 percent are gone within five years† (Kopkowski). The relatively high attrition rate of teachers is known as teacher burnout. Teacher burnout can be attributed to both physical and emotional facto rs which may include, â€Å"classroom disruptions, inadequate salaries, oversized classes, overbearing parents, excessive paperwork, cutbacks in supplies or materials, threats, harassment, assaults, violence, or problems with co-workers or with administrators† (Campbell). The National Commission on Teaching estimates costs up to, â€Å"$7 billion a year, as districts and states recruit, hire, and try to retain new teachers† (Kopkowski). Teacher burnout is financially and socially affecting schools, communities, and society. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that may lead to teacher burnout, acknowledge the effects of the issue, and provide solutions to better manage the stress of teaching. In The Relationship Between Student Behaviour Patterns and Teacher Burnout... ...y. 2014. Clear, Todd R. Imprisoning Communities. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print. Clifford, Amos. Teaching Restorative Practices With Classroom Circles. 1st ed. 2013. Print. Glassman, Bernard, and Rick Fields. Instructions To The Cook. 1st ed. New York: Bell Tower, 1996. Print. Hastings, Richard P, and Mohammed S Bham. 'The Relationship Between Student Behaviour Patterns And Teacher Burnout'. School Psychology International 24.1 (2003): 115--127. Print. Kopkowski, Cynthia. 'Why They Leave'. NEA. N. p., 2014. Web. 2 May. 2014. Mindgarden.com,. 'Maslach Burnout Inventory By Christina Maslach, Susan E. Jackson, Michael P. Leiter, Wilmar B. Schaufeli, Richard L. Schwab - Mind Garden, Inc.'. N. p., 2014. Web. 2 May. 2014. Pranis, Kay, Barry Stuart, and Mark Wedge. Peacemaking Circles. 1st ed. St. Paul, Minn.: Living Justice Press, 2003. Print.

The Doryphoros

Can you hear it, the mumbles of children everywhere at the just the mention of year around school, while the parents of these kids start to jump for joy. Would a year round school year help not only our nation but Oklahoma’s concerns about school performance? It is this simple question that starts the debate and battle of the school year. Should we or should we not have longer school days or just go for the gold to say and make school a year round institution. There are many who argue for year round school. They believe that more is always better. United States President Barack Obama is among them. The challenges of the new century demands more time in the classroom. † he stated. I for one think that more hours would not only help American but Oklahoma schools as well. We have all been there, coming in from a long summer break when out of the blue a teacher ask the dreaded question, do you remember how to work this problem? I can still see my blank stare at the chalk boa rd wondering who is going to save me. Shorter summer breaks means students are less likely to incur learning loss, and it may decrease the number of students being sent to remedial classes or to tutoring for help.Oklahoma’s kids are falling below average in science and math. We say that some kids just don’t test well, but it is not the case. The long summer breaks mean less time in the class room to keep their heads in the game. Without a long summer break that leaves less young minds in summer school and more time in the classroom and where the action is. School systems that are already year round have an advantage over the other states that are not. This would provide Oklahoma children with the ability to have a more global educational experience.Countries like Japan, China, and Korea already have this system in effect. Their children test higher, have a more developed level of learning, and they graduate College at a higher rate. The average test scores for U. S 4th grader in math was (539), whereas China’s average was well into the (800). They test better due to them retaining the knowledge learned during the year and years before. Students who test lower cost not only time but money to be spent on the longer educational process. We should not look at it as if it should happen but as in when to start.Before you think man is this person crazy, what about all the vacation plans we made during the summer. With the year round school program it will be easier to schedule family vacations and it will give students opportunity to rest their brain more frequently. It will also help cut down the need for these bright minds of our future to need the re-teaching of skills already learned. Allowing teachers to use classroom time more efficiently not only benefits the teachers but the kids as well. They will be learning more and keeping up with the rest of the world.We fail to realize our children are crying out for help. When we have seniors leavi ng high school with only the reading skill of a 5th grader can we say that as citizens of Oklahoma we did our best to help them achieve their best? I for one believe it is time for us to stand up and say no our children need and deserve more. A family with both mother and father working, that leaves who to care for the kids. Child care is expensive costing more during the summer break. Parents who are just making end meat to supply the house hold with enough to just get by would have more room to breathe.Families would be able to save as much as $750 per month. Families struggle pay the bills, put food on the table, and supply kids with clothing, why add another expense on the already tight budget. With all that being said there are some who believe that year round school would be more of a burdened than a source of help. The budget for food and other bills also raise a question with them. They even go to state that budgets and staffing issues simply may not allow for extended schoo l programs to happen. They say that school maintenance, day to day upkeep and the utilities do not justify the means.You may even hear that students who have difficulty with attention, due to disability are not ready to attend longer periods of time and that it will create some disorder in the classroom. Many budgets and staffing issues have been brought forward as well. How are we to pay qualified teachers the competitive way and it is hard to keep them as well. With all this information being said I for still believe that the pros out way the cons. We need to build a better foundation and it all starts in the classroom. Without the proper education our kids will not secede in the world.We as Oklahoma’s should care more about the education we are sending these children out with than the dollar amount. So as we sit down to listen to the children as they are against this we need to ask do they really know what is good for them. As adults and Oklahomans it is our job to ensure the children grow up with the knowledge need to advance in life. Without the proper education we are saying that we as parents, educators, and adults do not care about the education of our next president, teachers, doctors etc. It is time to take a stand and say yes our education system in Oklahoma needs a change and to place it into action. Before you decide look at the statics of all the other countries that go all year round. There are fewer drop outs, more college graduates and higher achievement in life. We all just want our children to be the best they can be and that starts in the classroom. Works Cited CNN. â€Å"Obama wants to overhaul education from ‘cradle to career' – CNN. com. † CNN. com – Breaking News, U. S. , World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News.Kristi Keck, 10 Mar. 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. . â€Å"Fast Facts. † National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a part of the U. S. Department of Education. The National Center for Education Statistics, n. d. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. . Oklahoma. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma State Dept. of Education, 198. Print. Williams, Mary E.. Education: opposing viewpoints. San Diego, Calif. : Greenhaven Press, 2000. Print.

A Walk in the Woods

Bill Bryson’s 1998 literary work takes its readers’ imagination, as the title suggests, to â€Å"A Walk in the Woods.†The author returning back to the United States after living for 20 years outside the country decided to the reconnect with his home landscape and hikes the Appalachian Trail. In Bill Bryson’s account of the Appalachian Trail, both historical and environmental information is received by the readers. More specifically the environmental crisis and its causes are dealt in this Bryson’s book. For some, environmental issues are quite uninteresting and dull.However, readers of this book are still compelled to continuously read it because of its humor and thought-provoking exploration of the wild. Moreover, Bill Bryson’s style and themes informs and teaches several environmental issues and concerns to its readers while entertaining them. Though, by scanning the history and events in other areas, it can be said that Bill Bryson’ s accounted environmental problems in his book does not occur solely in the Appalachian Trail, rather it is a world-wide problem.Bill Bryson accounts that the Appalachian Trail is 2200 miles, and I think he is telling the truth. Based on what I have learned (or know) about, the Appalachian Trail is a 2,147-mile-long footpath from Georgia to Maine, which follows the ridgetops of the fourteen states through which it passes.Although other people had put forth similar ideas, Benton MacKaye’s article â€Å"An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning,† is usually looked upon as having presented the impetus for the Appalachian Trail.A regional planner, MacKaye saw in the post-World War I era an America that was becoming hastily urbanized, machine-driven and far detached from the positive reinvigorating aspects of the natural world. In addition to endowing with obvious recreational opportunities, the trail he imagined or visualized would be a linking line between a se ries of everlasting self-sustaining camps in wherein cooperation would replace antagonism, trust replaces suspicion, and emulation replaces competition.Encouraged and supported by relatives, friends, and like-minded acquaintances, MacKaye set about disseminating the idea of an Appalachian Trail to anyone who would listen, as well as officials of the National Park and National Forest Services.Particularly interested to the trail concept were members and officers of previously existing trail organizations such as the Green Mountain Club of Vermont, the New England Trail Conference, and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Not overlooking the advertising power of the press, MacKaye also solicited the help of newspaper reporters and columnists throughout the Northeast.The idea struck a chord form in October 1923, just two years after publication of his article, the first few miles of trail to be built particularly as a part of the Appalachian Trail were opened to the public in the area of Har riman and Bear Mountain State Parks in New York by the then recently formed New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.Acting upon a request by MacKaye and others, the Federal Societies on Planning and Parks met in Washington, D.C, in March 1925, for the intention of furthering action on the Appalachian Trail.There, an organization establishing the Appalachian Trail Conference (now known as Appalachian Trail Conservancy, committed to the protection and management of the trail) was adopted, and William A. Welch, of New York’s Palisades Interstate Park Commission, was named its chairman. Throughout the meeting, it was determined that the Appalachian Trail would run approximately 1,700 miles (which is 500 miles less than Bill Bryson’s measurement or the length of Appalachian Trail today) from Mount Washington in New Hampshire to Cohutta Mountain in northwestern Georgia.A northern extension was to stretch to Mount Katahdin in Maine while a southern addition would reach all of th e way to Birmingham Alabama. Among various branch routes that were also proposed, one was to follow the Long Trail in Vermont, another would extend into the Catskills, and another was to run along the Tennessee River to Kentucky.

The significance of context in information systems and organizational change Essay

Since their arrival on the mobile and web computing scene, information systems have had a profound effect on economies, organizations and societies. Individuals have also enjoyed a great deal of the extended effect of the activities that are conducted within the social aggregates provided by information systems. This report seeks to evaluate the impact and the role of information systems on the quality process on different industries in order to make the implementation and application of quality assurance easy, simple, fast accurate and time saving. The journal of strategic information systems seeks to explore the impact that information systems has had on the general process and profitability of a company. This journal has a scholarly audience for those who are in search of better understanding on how best information systems have improved their lives and the potential that they still hold for the future. Since it is documented as a scholarly article, it is expected that the article shall fulfill educational curiosities regarding how information systems have enabled simplicity and some level of perfection in the business world. It is also expected that the journal shall provide precise information with extensive research carried out to back the statements outlined in the article. According to the journal article, the gradual increase in dependence of information systems has shown a steady rise in the need for quality improvement within business enterprises. The article sites a survey carried out to show that IT improvement in t erms of quality is the top problem facing IT executives in the current job market. It is because of the multidimensional edge that IT presents that the position of Chief Information Officers (CIO) has become a recent development in the corporate sector. The journal models the relationship between information systems quality and the organizational impact it has. The article hypothesizes that there is a greater organizational impact in situations where the systems quality, service quality and information quality are high. According to the article, information system service quality is the most influential concept, followed by information quality and then system quality in the overall performance of the business. However, the article fails to mention other impacts that are attached to the success of the organization such as efficiency of the personnel and the updating of information system quality. On the other hand, the article’s mention of Ackoff (1967) is critical to the support of the information system theory. Ackoff pointed out five misconceptions regarding information systems by stating that the most critical information deficiency that managers suffer is from the high levels of irrelevant information. Furthermore the article points to Whitaker and Voas (2006) and Parnas (2003) who confirm that software is plagued with problems such as fragmented software modules that are hard to integrate and hard-to-use interfaces. However, at the time this information was presented this was a rampant p roblem that was facing the software industry and the IT world in general. However, recent researches have shown that in recent years, this has changed drastically and information systems are required to be top notch before they can be released into the market for use and even for testing. The article fails to mention that there have been increased measures and precaution taken to ensure that quality assurance is the core principle in the world of information systems. It also fails to mention that quality assurance is the only link to continued success in an organization when it comes to matters of information, technology and systems. It is only through the assurance of information systems that organizations can adapt systems that are guaranteed to produce tangible and beneficial results. The article also emphasizes on the use of information technology in the general performance of business and the overall perception of the outside world. It is lacking in the expertise to recognize t he fact that quality assurance goes hand in hand with quality control which is mostly effected by use of personnel employed to overlook the process. Therefore, although the article has been pinned as a scholarly article in the journal, it requires much revision in order to remain relevant in the world we live in today. Encyclopedia Britannica posted an article on information systems that proved to be worth reviewing. The article lays the importance of information systems in organizations. The article states that information systems enhance several capabilities of an organization which in turn provide support for business activities. For example, decision making, product development, customer and supplier relation and sometimes the general business model are the areas where information systems fit best. The article does not hold any opinion towards the importance of information system but it does point out the advantages and the potential that information systems hold in the organization. The article is right in pointing out that information systems advancements create new options in the way business is conducted which is generally true, but the article fails to mention that information systems require to be constantly updated. Besides updating, information systems require to be assured so that the results can be translated into the output of the company which shall be of the same quality. The language used in this article is informative and without any bias and it makes its credibility rise with each statement. For example, the article includes that information systems do not necessarily translate to increased profits. The success of a business depends in part the adoption of effective information systems, but it also in the skill to which the information systems are deployed and used alongside other factors such as customer relation and knowledge of the industry. The article is witty and well updated with the latest advancements in quality assurance processes. For example, the article is clear in the definition and the implication of virtual organizations whose quality assurance has to be constantly updated because of the evolving and fast paced information system world. The article does not fail to mention the importance of human personnel in the workings of the company and the incorporation of information systems. Although the article is mainly focused on the information technology literate the simplicity of definition of terms means that the audiences of the article are both the literate and the illiterate to the IT world. It is through the incorporation of information systems to the World Wide Web that quality assurance can be improved drastically. Through quality assurance, individuals can participate in global forums and national events such as elections, referendums, and opinion polls. It is therefore, through the incorporation of info rmation systems in such fronts that quality assurance becomes paramount. The article vividly describes and gives simple illustrations for the ways in which quality assurance in information systems can assist all members of the society. According to the journal of the association for information, science and technology (2014), quality assurance is an administrative and procedural activity that is implemented in the quality system to ensure that both the goals and objectives of the product are fulfilled as intended. The journal hosted an article on the significance of context in information systems and organizational change. The article mainly speaks about the implementation of information systems which is relevant to the above outlined thesis. The article indicates that there are three distinct principles that are to be followed in the implementation of information systems throughout the organization. The first principle should incorporate innovation of the information system with regard to the socio-organizational change, the second principle involves the analysis of the local organizational, the national and the global context of the information system, while the third system uses the analysis of the decisions mad e towards the innovation process of the information system. The article is based on an assumption that ICT does not face any deterministic implications on the organizational results which makes it miss its mark in terms of convincing about the implementation of information systems. The failure in assumption is largely misplaced because ICT has a large role in the performance of the business which ultimately makes it a valuable variable to consider. The article on the significance of context in information systems and organizational change also points out that the information systems research is mainly contextual because it is mostly based on an organizational setting instead of a laboratory setting. It is for this reason that information systems studies are subject to the environment in which they are applied, according to the article. The position of context of information environment used in the article is fairly placed given that different environments, markets or industries pose different challenges for the organization and the information system in use. Different fields of engagement require certain assurances in terms of the incorporation of information systems. For instance, quality assurance in information systems for the military is more precise that that which would be used in a local bookstore. One in a bookstore would be used to track borrowed books while one for the military would be used to track missiles and comm unicate code during wartime. On both counts, quality assurance would have to be stepped because it involves the use of human personnel to operate the information system. On the other hand, quality assurance should be strict so that human use of the information system can be smooth and accommodating and at the same time it should be time saving. The article is well organized starting from the introduction, all through the body and into the conclusion. The points raised in the article such as the concept that information systems are mainly concerned with IT innovations is well founded. The article sites many references for backing the information presented going as far back as 1989 when the initial concepts for the internet were taking place. The audiences intended for the article are scholars who require in-depth information about information systems, their innovations and implementations. The article is highly resourceful and rich in detail for any scholarly work. The article states that in order to maintain a competitive edge in the respective field, companies have to invest in information systems like ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) software that serve different functions in the organization. These systems also provide real time data that is used to aid in fast decision making. Information systems such as ERPs help co mpanies to manage their operations seamlessly across the globe. This information is particularly helpful especially in aiding the thesis statement that seeks to give credit to quality assurance for the easy integration, simplicity and quickness in the performance of business duties. Quality in any field is determined by the users, clients or customers who use the product and not by the society in general. The quality, as is often confused is not related to the actual price of the product or the service. The two are separate variables though relating to the same product. Therefore, adjectives like ‘poor’ and ‘high’ should not be used in relation to quality. Even in IT and information systems there are standards by which products must conform and they are monitored by such standards as ISO, 9000 or an alternative as the CMMI model. This is the idea projected in the journal of information systems (2009) that was designed in the interest of quality intervention in the quality assessment arena. The article on the benefits of information systems to organizations indicate that companies benefit by cutting down on human labor that previously cost them billions in wages. Since the invention and the spread of information systems companies have op ted to cut down on human labor down to the most important employees within the company. Although the article is fundamentally clear on the importance of cutting down human labor services, it fails to mention that quality assurance in the information systems that replace them are in constant need of updating for as long as the systems are in place. The article is geared to the well informed in the field of information systems and information technology as it mentions some of the most recent advancements such as cloud computing. The article merely seeks to hit the final nail on the information system concept coffin by including these latest features. Although other articles speak about virtual organizations and virtual communication systems, the journal of information systems seeks to give the latest advancements as well as options and possibilities in the industry. The drastic, yet advanced calculations in the growth of the information technology world have led to the overreliance of computerization that might eventually become the downfall of human beings. Without human intervention to the computerized world, there is an ever conscious possibility of failing to meet set objectives in terms of assurance of quality. The article seeks to inform of the impending danger of the failure to adhere to quality assurance precautions which is commendable and very informative. The article is neither biased but rather it leaves the reader with an option to think outside the box, consider gathering more information or take the information provided at face value. The tile of the article suggests that there shall be many sides to the information system story which is clearly shown and well detailed. The main purpose of the article from a scholar’s point of view is to broaden the thinking of the reader and to create a set of questions as to what lies ahe ad with information systems. Both the application and implementation of information systems has been revolutionary and has defined the 21st century in a huge way. Therefore, quality assurance on information systems has become tougher and more brutal as days go by primarily because of the competition and the innovativeness associated with information technology. The article seeks to highlight the consequences of ignorance and also the failures that companies undergo as a result of ignoring quality assurance requirements for the betterment of their stature in the industry. It is only with quality assurance that new ideas and concepts can be fostered within the organization. Quality assurance ensures that there is always room for improvement on the information system so that companies can grow according to their mission statement. The article is witty and largely educative and at the same time cautious as was the intention. The article is one to look out for in the world of information systems. The international journal of computers, communications and control had an article on management of information systems titled ‘managing the digital firm’ which was an eye opener for those interested. The article was written by rather two professionals in the information systems arena who have extensive background knowledge in information systems. From the title of the article, it is expected that the information provided shall be highly educative and without any blunder. It is also expected that because of the doctoral status of the authors, the information provided can hardly be refuted. The article kicks off by stating that knowledge of information systems is essential in the creation of successful and competitive corporations that add value to their products and services. The article further cements this statement by stating that it is inconceivable for a company to operate without the extensive incorporation of IT. This statement is rightly so because from a global p oint of view, all relationships between customers, suppliers and employees are mainly maintained digitally. The tone used in the article is educational which suggests that it is meant for scholars, educators and to a large extent, managers who are often faced with major information systems challenges. In order to do so, the authors of the article have incorporated a sociotechnical style of presentation through the combination of computer science, management science as well as operations research and blended them with behavioral elements that are drawn from sociology, psychology and sociology. The article contains in large part presentation of facts from a management of information systems (MIS) point of view. The article explains in detail the concepts of digital firms and how quality assurance should be incorporated in the information systems adopted by organizations. The article also advices on keeping information systems updated in order to ensure that the quality assurance process remains easy, simple, fast, and accurate and not time consuming. The article is a masterpiece if not the b lueprint of the future of information systems and businesses in all industries. The article explains in great detail that information systems are relevant in all industries and all markets however miniscule they might seem. The article is very resourceful and without any identifiable flaws. However, its lack of emphasis on quality assurance is a minor setback, but the essence of the article is captured in the rest of the details discussed. References Avgerou, Chrisanthi. â€Å"The significance of context in information systems and organizational change.† Information Systems Journal 11.1 (2001): 43-63. Print. Benbasat, Izak, and Ron Weber. â€Å"Research Commentary: Rethinking à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Diversityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  in Information Systems Research.† information systems research 7.4 (1996): 389-399. Print. Haigh, Thomas. â€Å"The history of information technology.† Annual Review of Information Science and Technology 45.1 (2011): 431-487. Print. Hayman, J. L.. â€Å"Educational Management Information Systems For The Seventies.† Educational Administration Quarterly 10.1 (1974): 60-71. Print. â€Å"Information Systems Failures.† European Journal of Information Systems 2.3 (1993): 157-158. Print. â€Å"Information Systems Research: Policy on Special Issues.† information systems research 16.1 (2005): 6-8. Print. â€Å"Information systems and interorganizational networks.† European Journal of Information Systems 5.2 (1996): 73-74. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 17.4 (2008): 287. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 17.4 (2008): 287. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems Best Paper 2008.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 18.4 (2009): I. Print. Karim, Akram Jalal. â€Å"The Significance Of Management Information Systems For Enhancing Strategic And Tactical Planning.† JISTEM Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management 8.2 (2011): 459-470. Print. Kini, Ranjan B.. â€Å"Strategic Information Systems.† Information Systems Management 10.4 (1993): 42-45. Print. â€Å"Management Information Systems (MIS).† Inc.com. N.p., 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 15 May 2014. . O’, Tiomothy J.. â€Å"Executive Information Systems.† Journal of Information Systems Management 6.2 (1989): 34-41. Print. Osinulu, L. F. Amusa. â€Å"Information Technology, Quality Assurance, and Academic Library Management.† Library Philosophy and Practice 1 Feb. 2010: 13-29. Print. Parker, Donn B.. â€Å"Ethics for Information Systems Personnel.† Journal of Information Systems Management 5.3 (1988): 44-48. Print. Ritch, Stephen, and Robert J. Munro. â€Å"Management Information Systems, Planning, And Public Community Colleges.† Community Junior College Research Quarterly of Research and Practice 6.2 (1982): 179-186. Print. Sprowls, Clay. â€Å"Strategic information systems: A European perspective.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 3.4 (1994): 345-346. Print. Stowell, Frank. â€Å"Do We Mean Information Systems or Systems of Information?.† International Journal of Information Technologies and Systems Approach 1.1 (2008): 25-36. Print. Teittinen, Henri, Jukka Pellinen, and Marko JÃÆ' ¤rvenpÃÆ' ¤ÃƒÆ' ¤. â€Å"ERP in action à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  Challenges and benefits for management control in SME context.† International Journal of Accounting Information Systems 14.4 (2013): 278-296. Print. Warren, Matthew. â€Å"Ethics in Information Systems.† Australasian Journal of Information Systems 13.2 (2006): 23-29. Print. Winter, M.c., D.h. Brown, and P.b. Checkland. â€Å"A role for soft systems methodology in information systems development.† European Journal of Information Systems 4.3 (1995): 130-142. Print. Xu, Li D.. â€Å"Systems characteristics in information systems design.† Systems Research 9.1 (1992): 67-78. Print. Zwass, Vladimir. â€Å"Information systems in the economy and society.† Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 May 2014. . Source document