Effect Of Oil Price Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Effect Of Oil Price Change - Essay Example The demand and supply framework of oil price changes is very complex and becomes understandable when divided into two. The two segments are; the short run and long run demand and supply. The short-run responses to oil price changes refer to the immediate changes in the event of an oil price change. Players in the market do not make immediate adjustments to their costs and procedures with effect to the oil price changes in this period. In the real world situation, consumers using cars and home equipment that use oil will respond slowly to a change in the oil prices. For example, an increase in the oil prices will make these consumers reluctant to change their consumption behavior of oil and oil-related products to cut their expenditure on oil even though they are not impressed with the prevalent high prices (Krichene, 2008). In the short run, the sensitivity of demand to the oil price change is quite low. In the long run, the demand for oil changes with relation to a change in oil pri ces. The consumers respond towards a rise in oil prices in the long run by initiating actions channeled at cutting their consumption of oil. These actions are such as the using of more fuel-efficient cars and equipment to cut their expenditure on oil. The price sensitivity, in the long run, is more than in the short run since oil consumers can make changes in their consumption of oil more in the long run than in the short run. This effect makes the demand curves of oil prices to be steeper in the long run than in the short run (Prasch, 2008).

IKEA Essay Example for Free

IKEA Essay IKEA, the Swedish retailer, is known for its good-quality, inexpensive products, which are typically sold at prices 30–50% below those of its competitors. While the price of products from other companies continues to rise over time, IKEA’s retail prices have been reduced by a total of 20% over the last four years. At IKEA, the process of cost reduction starts at product conception and continues throughout the process of design, sourcing of materials and components, production, and distribution. For example, the â€Å"Bang† mug has been redesigned many times to realize shipping cost savings. Originally, 864 mugs would fit into a pallet. After redesign a pallet held 1,280 mugs, and with a further redesign 2,024 mugs could be squeezed into a pallet, reducing shipping costs by 60%. IKEA strives to deliver the right number of goods to the right stores at the right time to make sure that the deliveries are efficient. IKEA’s mantra in shipping has always been the same stating â€Å"We don’t want to pay to ship air†. IKEA’s products are shipped in flat boxes by not only reducing shipping for IKEA, but making it easier for customers to be able to slip it in the cargo hatch of a station wagon. New Product Process: Product Price The process of developing a new product at IKEA starts with a team of designers, product developer and purchasers who get together to discuss design, materials, suppliers and pricing. Everyone contributes and purchasers use their contacts with suppliers all over the world to find who can make this product at best quality for the right price at the right time. Manufacturer IKEA’s products are often developed in close cooperation with suppliers. IKEA has introduced a code of conduct governing working conditions and environmental awareness among suppliers. This deals with matters of health and safety at workplace that forbids use of child labor. IKEA implements quality control with external audits who check IKEA and external suppliers. The manufacturer is chosen based on several factors and kinds of materials used for the product. Design The team works with existing pool of manufacturers and suppliers with a price point to identify the best designer and select a design for production. This is a continuous process that involves designer submitting a brief about the product’s price, it’s function, materials used and fabricator’s capabilities. This design is reviewed by IKEA’S staff designers and freelances until the design is refined to be the best. Shipping IKEA has pioneered the concept of flat. This flat package enables IKEA to lower shipping costs by maximizing the use of space inside shipping containers. There is no storage waste. The company has estimated that if the products are assembled and shipped, then the transport volume would be six times it’s original. IKEA has created a global network of distribution centers, most of which are near container ports and major truck and rail routes for efficient distribution. Sales IKEA designs its stores – a kind of theme park traversing as a furniture outlet. The layout of an IKEA store guides shoppers through a predetermined path of several model homes. Customers can sit in, try it out. The emphasis is always on low priced products with yellow price tag. The IKEA centers have day care as well as dine in options. The biggest selling point is on price tag. Additional Features – Value for Customer IKEA contributes to adding value to the customer includes its relationship with suppliers, distribution and logistics, and customer service in their stores. IKEA keeps costs low and offers good quality products. IKEA tries to reduce their prices every year. Going green is the mantra adopted by the company along with ethics which believe in no child labor. The logistics and the way their products are packed to the way they are stored is remarkable. Providing an on-site day care and a cafà © makes the shopping experience good for children and their parents, to the way they display their products. The products are packed in such a way that customers can load them in the cars or u-hauls and transport them to their homes or offices. A customer is satisfied after viewing the product they have assembled.

Methods used in conducting social research

Methods used in conducting social research Historically, it was perceived that social research could be performed objectively using positivistic techniques related to the natural sciences. Despite their ideological variations, Comte, Durkheim and Marx all perceived that natural scientific methodologies could be applied to social studies thus providing objective value free research. Yet the social sciences are divided as the objectivity of social research has been a highly contested issue within ontological schools of thought claiming that the social world cannot be explored wholly objectively. This debate was brought to the forefront when Becker who takes an interactionist perspective, claimed that it is impossible for social researchers to make values free judgements and that sociologists take sides namely that of the underdog, the oppressed and the powerless. This essay will explore the concept of objectivity within social research by giving a historical account of social theory before critically analysing the claim that th e objectivity of the social researcher is fatally compromised when he or she takes sides. The Becker/Gouldner debate will be critically addressed before analysing the notion of public sociology. Before addressing the debate, the historical significance of social theory must be addressed as there is a long history regarding issues of objectivity, and value free research. Prior to World War Two, social research was dominated by the paradigm of positivism. Philosophers such as Comte (1798-1857) strongly affirmed that methods applied to the natural sciences such as physics should be applied to the study of social behaviour (Benton Craib, 2001). The positivist perspective placed great emphasis on the objectivity of social research, accepting Science as the only general form of knowledge that produces reliable social scientific knowledge that can be generated into theory applicable to social behaviour within society (Benton Craib, 2001: 23). Moreover, like the natural sciences it requires both logical and empirical support. Causal relationships can be identified and truths can be falsified thus, positivist sociology assumes that law-like generalisations can be derived from socia l research Pedraza (2002: 75). Postivism was widely accepted throughout the nineteenth centuary as science was assumed to be the highest form of knowledge, thus by applying the methodologies of the natural science to the newborn social sciences allowed for some level of acceptance. As far as objectivity is concerned, positivist methodological approaches claim that objectivity is an ideal that is attainable, as the social realtiy of society can be observed it without any antecedents. As a result, the aim of the social scientist is to be exogenously detached from the research subject. Although not positivists,both Durkeim and Marx both ascertained that social research could be studied using natural science techniques therefore obtaining objectivity. Although not a positivist himself, Durkheim drew upon positivistic methods in his study of suicide using statistical data to identify patterns of causal relationships. (REF) Turning to Weber (WEBERREF) changed the direction of social research claiming that although social research should be value free, obtaining completely objective research was impossible. This is simply because researchers are subjective humans. Weber coined the term value free sociology and urged that sociologists need to be unconfined by personal values if it was to make a positive contribution towards society. Weber recognised that personal values would to some extent influence research topics but encouraged objectivity in exploring a topic once chosen. For Weber, value freedom is then a non-judgemental analysis of society in its own terms. Although Weber advocated this approach to social research, it must be acknowledged that values can enter research in a variety of ways ranging from the choice of research area, formulation of the research question; methodology including data collection, analysis of data; interpretation of data and overall conclusions (Bryman, 2008). Following from Weber the epistemological position of positivism has been overtly critiqued by various theorists, particularly those who take an ontological, interpretivist stance. For example, Becker (1964: 245) argues that, there is no position from which sociological research can be done that is not biased in one way or another. Therefore, social research cannot be completely objective as researchers can unknowingly contaminate their exploration of an issue with values developed throughout their own biography. Furthermore, Becker (1964) claims that, sociologists must either write from the position of a superordinate or from that of a subordinate (Lawson, 1991: 591). In addressing this claim, Becker (1964) discusses the credibility of hierarchy which explores the notion that social groups whom are perceived to be superior within a given society are in a position of power that can define the rules of society. The exclusivity of the natural sciences within society is an example of thi s. Becker (1964: 242) goes on to surmise that sociologists challenge this rule by refusing to acknowledge the established status order in which it is surmised that the truth of knowledge is unequally distributed. Therein, Becker suggests that social research should focus on the underdog in order to reform knowledge distribution. This is similar to the view that has been taken up by feminists such has Hartstock (2004: 7) who place emphasis on relativist standpoint theories whereby knowledge is shaped by power relations, that it is socially situated. Therefore those oppressed can give the best account fo the internal workings of their group. Hartstock (2004) attains that prior to feminist sociology, research disciplines and public policy did not account for women as group with their own knowledge. For Hartsock (2004), any social research that does not address the unequal distribution of knowledge, is therefore, potentially skewed. Thus drawing upon the Marxist notion of historic materialism standpoint theorists such as Hartstock (2004) and Harding (DATE) chose to address this with the aim of exercising social research from the position or standpoint of women. It can be surmised from this perspective that it is therefore it is impossible for a social researcher to extract themselves from power relations in thei r own situation. Therefore the feminist approach strongly advocates that objectivity should not be the primary aim of a social investigation. Rather, it is important for researchers to adopt a stance and consider how their values will influence their research. In addition, it should be recognised that feminist researchers shape the results of their analyses no less than do those of sexist and androcentric researchers. The objectivist stance should be avoided as it attempts to make the researchers cultural beliefs and practices invisible, while simultaneously skewering the research objects, beliefs and practices to the display board (Harding, 1987:9). What are the arguments against this? GOULDNER Gouldner is in consensus with Becker that social research cannot be value free yet he openly criticises Beckers claiming that Becker does not address the reasons why sociologists are more inclined to take the side of the underdog. Furthermore Gouldner asserts that is not always the case, the manner which some sociologists conceive the value-free doctrine disposes them to ignore current human problems and to huddle together like old men seeking mutual warmth. This is not our job, they say, and if it were we would now know enough to do it. (Gouldner, 1973: 13) It is clear that subjectivity poses a severe limitation for the positivist objective approach to social research. For Gouldner, however, the positivist approach posed another extensive problem, it was useful to those young, or not so young, men who live off sociology rather than for it, and who think of sociology as a way of getting ahead in the world by providing them with neutral techniques that may be sold on the open market to any buyer (Gouldner, 1973: 12). In others word Gouldner saw self interest as a powerful motivator the outcome of research being affected by the context in what it is undertaken. Thus the social researcher is not necessarily on the side of the underdog. In laymen terms Lawson (1991) suggests that the crux of this debate is the question of whether sociologists are allied with the state, accepting the state as the overall authority or should they adapt a more ethical, moral role in addressing social problems of society. Ultimately social researchers are divided by this dilemma that as Gouldner suggests, depends on the social context of the researcher. What Gouldner recognises is that the attempt of sociologists to draw upon the natural sciences to obtain an objective approach does not entirely fit with social studies and that the institutions in which professional sociologists consult such as government, academia and business can have a profound effect on a researchers values. Parsonian sociologists such as Haak (1994) and Hammersely (2000) are critical on views promoted by Becker and Gouldner arguing that that the politicisation of social research is not only misguided, but inherently dangerous, and that an intelligent and sceptical commitment to the principles of objectivity and value neutrality must remain an essential feature of social research (back cover). Hamersley (2000) promotes the idea of value-free, objective social research placing emphasis on academia as the key institution to producing knowledge. Yet the University as a place for producing knowledge itself is under threat. This can be demonstrated by addressing the tragedy of the anticommons. ANTICOMMONS 300 In response to Hardings Tragedy of the Commons whereby a resource is exploited by overuse, (HellerRosenburg1998)) address the notion of the anticommons where upstream and downstream technologies are compatible for the development of a new product yet the technology is patentable and ownership is fragmented thus the price of the new product becomes high and its consumption ends up being small or there is a gridlock in the development of the products EXAMPLE OF ANTICOMMONS This is not objective research if the notion is to make profit 250 This situation can be directly perceived by examining changes within university systems. For example, in Japan, national universities that conduct public research have transitioned to University Corporations by which there is an emphasis in profiteering from any innovations it may develop (Nishijima, 2004). According to Nishijima (2004) the Japanese ministry of education has advocated universities to acquire patents of innovations and to partake in research activities with private organisations such as corporations. through establishing Technology License Office for the past few years. The transition of National University to University Corporation implies that results of basic research will suddenly change from public goods to private goods and that the anticommons problem will emerge in the product innovation where basic research and development of new products are complementary. In the case of National University, there seems no consensus (no argument so far) on how economists should formulate the objective function of national university.10 Even if we assume that national university behaves as if it maximized a particular objective function such as probability of research success subject to budget and other constraints, equilibrium variables of national university will not be far from those arbitrarily given, as long as the particular objective function is not convincing. Therefore we have no choice but to exogenously give particular values to variables Thus as Oliver (1992) ascribes, social research are sometimes forced to take sides as funding bodies are not willing to take risks and support user-controlled research. The point that Gouldner (1973) puts across is that sociology should focus on social change therefore it must take sides. Essentially, Marx emphasised the need for social research to contribute to social change, The Standpoint of the old materialism is civil society; the stand point of the new is human society, or social humanity. The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it. (Eastman, 1935) like Marx, Gouldner (1973) believed that sociology should count towards human emancipation thus Gouldner became a strong believer in public sociology. REFLEXIVITY 300 The notion of reflexivity. Researchers must give an indication of the purpose of their research and how they have come to partake in such research This illustrates some of the factors that can affect social research. Namely, the need for profit. PARSONIAN SOCIOLOGY ARGUES FOR EPISTIMOLICAL RESEARCH DISCUSS!! BURAWOY PUBLIC SOCIOLOGY DISTINCTION BETWEEN THOSE THAT ACT AND THOSE WHO DONT As Burawoy (2005: 324) asserts the possibility for public sociology comes from sociologys spontaneous connection to its reflexive relation with civil society. Burawoy clearly recognises that sociology in itself is a reflexive paradigm and suggests that it clearly needs to move from ideological theory to commitment to action. In a sense Burawoy (2005: 325) advocates that social research must take sides claiming like Marx and Gouldner that society should place human society or social humanity at its organising centre. 200 words Whilst this debate continues, a few conclusions can be drawn from this essay. Firstly, it is near impossible for social researchers to complete value free research. There are several factors that account for this. Namely as Gouldner asserts, the social context in which research is conducted. Secondly, It would seem that social research is clearly divided by professional and public sociology. Thus it is not a case of whether or not to take sides but more a case of which side our values empower us to choose. Those inclined towards professional sociology may attain that objectivity is not compromised whereas those inclined towards public sociology may recognise that it can be and even more so, that it is necessary to evoke humanitarian changes.

Leda and the Swan Analysis Essay -- essays research papers

In William Butler Yeats poem â€Å"Leda and the Swan†, he uses the fourteen lines of the traditional sonnet form in a radical, modernist style. He calls up a series of unforgettable, bizarre images of an immediate physical event using abstract descriptions in brief language. Through structure and language Yeats is able to paint a powerful sexual image to his readers without directly giving the meaning of the poem. â€Å"Leda and the Swan† is a violent, sexually explicit poem with its plain diction, rhythmic vigor, and allusions to mystical ideas about the universe, the relationship of human and divine, and the cycles of history. It can be seen as a poem about the way a single event is to be understood as part of a larger scheme; the result of the god’s assault on Leda is the birth of Helen of Troy...

Bush’s Environment Policy Essay

The bush’s environmental policy basically concentrates mainly on first improving the economic and military condition of the country and then tackling the problem of pollution and environment degradation. The United States of America under bush’s administration is a realist state. For a realist state, international security is one of the main aims. Therefore, his policies are more towards removing hurdles for military development. Plus, resources are scarce, and this is nothing hidden from anyone, and since America largely depends on these resources, Bush’s administrative polices are always up for projects for production of energy. I would not say that his policies are against the environment, they are just not for it. I, being an environmentalist at heart, strongly disagree with the current Bush’s administration policy. If the level of pollution emitted by industries does not go down, we have every reason to worry about our coming generations and our natural habitat. At the international level, environmental issues are what matter the most because if a country like America does not change its policies, it will become the strongest nation of the weakest world. The United States of America is one of the most influential countries globally and its decisions affect almost every other country in the world. The only solution for environmental protection is global governance. This means that a single individual or a single state cannot do anything about this issue if it wanted to. Because it is a universal problem and it affects the entire globe, every state must come together and do something about it. Economic growth and environment protection cannot go hand in hand and often are two aims that have conflicts. This is why every country must make a choice. If the most significant and dominant country does not make the ‘right’ choice of giving priority to environment over economic growth, we cannot expect any other country to cut down on its growth economically. A study carried out recently came to a conclusion, that at present, the United States of America is responsible for most of the pollution caused in the world today. According to a BBC report, it constitutes for 4 percent of the total world population and at the same time, it is responsible for 24 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions given out in the environment. (BBC News, 2002) Hence, it is no surprise to why the majority of opinions are against the bush’s administrative policies. As mentioned in the article, according to polls carried out in 2001 and 2002, even the majority of the American public does not want economic, resource and military growth if that means that their environment has to suffer. America also had to face large criticism for not being a part of Kyoto Protocol which could have been the closest solution to the problem of global warming. In conclusion, I would like to state, that Bush’s policies are not for people because the long term result of them is loss of environment that surrounds those people. It must realize the importance of the strong need for strict environment policies before it is too late. References BBC News, (2002) Q&A: The US and climate change from BBC News. Website: http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/1820523. stm

The Constitution and Slavery essays

The Constitution and Slavery essays 1.The Constitution never mentions the word "slave" or "slavery." Whenever the subject arises, other words are used ("such Persons," "other Persons," "Persons held to Service or Labour"). Why do you think the framers avoided these words? The framers of the Constitution avoided the word slave or slavery because they were trying to avoid the divisive nature of the topic in order to obtain ratification. There were already too many issues to resolve and slavery would likely have promoted a breakdown in the negotiations. For starters, the notion of a centralized government threatened some of the former British colonists. Thus, fair representation became an important issue to agree upon and this was worked out through basing the House of Representatives on population and the Senate on a fixed number of members from each state. However, the South was too dependent on slavery to support its agricultural economy and would not be willing to give up the source of labor it needed to support it. With the threat of three southern states leaving the convention if slave trade was banned, the issue was pushed out until 1808. 2.Some 19th century opponents of slavery considered the Constitution a pro-slavery document. Do you agree? Explain. The Constitution was a pro-slavery document. While, some might view the three-fifths clause as a major step forward in recognizing the slave as a person, what it really did was give the South the representation it needed to hold on to the slave trade. With the Souths increased representation in Congress and the electoral college, Southern slave owners won 12 of the first 16 presidential elections. And, the Constitution kept the slave trade legal for twenty years, allowing for an increase in the number of slaves being brought into the country. Further, the fugitive slave clause protected the ability of slave owners to treat the slaves as property by requiring the return of...

Hispanics essays

Hispanics essays Mainly people recognized in the United States today as Hispanic or Latino are immigrants, or descendents of immigrants from countries that was under the rulings of the immense Spanish empire in the earlier days. Hispanics are one of the fastest growing groups in the United States today. At some indefinite moment within the next seven years, the Latino population in the United States will go beyond forty million, which will make the group the largest minority population (U.S Bureau of the census 1998). The three largest groups of Hispanic Americans are Mexican Americans (57%), who live mainly in the Southwest (the area conquered in 1848 by the U.S during Mexican War); Puerto Ricans (10%), living mainly in the industrial Northeast; and Cuban Americans (5%), concentrated in Florida. This group was comprised largely of political and economic refugees (and their descendents) who immigrated to the United States following the Cuban Revolution in the mid 1980s. Since World War Two, these three oldest and largest Latino communities have been joined by new migrants making the Latino population in the U.S more diverse. Other Hispanic groups gaining in importance are Dominicans, 520,151 of whom (1990) have settled mainly in and around New York City, where they have quickly gained political representation and improved their economic status. Political disorder in Central America has led to a recent flow in immigration from that area. 0f 1,323,830 Central American residents, 565,081 have come from El Salvador, 268,779 from Guatemala, and 202,658 from Nicaragua. The largest group from South America is the Colombians, who in 1990 numbered 378,726, many of them living in the borough of Queens in New York City. Colombians have been unique in importing their lifestyle to the United States. Friends, occupations, servants, goods, all have been replicated (U.S bureau of the census). ...

James Buchanan Was the Only President Who Never Married

James Buchanan Was the Only President Who Never Married There has never been an openly gay president of the United States, but some historians have argued that James Buchanan, the only president who never shared the White House with a first lady,  may have had feelings for a member of the same sex. The nations 15th president is the nations only bachelor president. Buchanan had been engaged to a woman named Ann Coleman long before he became president, but Coleman died before the two could wed. It would not have been unusual, nor would it have proved Buchanan not to have been gay, if they had married; history is filled with homosexual men who married straight women. Longtime Companions While he remained unmarried his entire life, Buchanan had a very close relationship with William Rufus De Vane King, a diplomat who served as U.S. senator and the nations 13th vice president- coincidentally, the only vice president never to have married. Buchanan and King lived together for more than two decades. It was a relatively common practice in the 1800s. Historians note, however, that the couple’s contemporaries in Washington reportedly described King as effeminate, calling him Miss Nancy and Buchanans better half. They also cite letters written by Buchanan about the man he described as his soul mate. After King left the United States to become the minister to France, Buchanan wrote to a friend: I am now solitary and alone, having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them. I feel that it is not good for man to be alone; and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who can nurse me when I am sick, provide good dinners for me when I am well, and not expect from me any very ardent or romantic affection. King showed his own affection for Buchanan at his departure by writing to him: I am selfish enough to hope you will not be able to procure an associate who will cause you to feel no regret at our separation. A Historian Makes His Claim James Loewen, a prominent American sociologist and historian,  has been outspoken in his claims that  Buchanan was the first gay president, writing in a 2012 essay: There can be no doubt that James Buchanan was gay, before, during, and after his four years in the White House. Moreover, the nation knew it, too- he was not far into the closet. Today, I know no historian who has studied the matter and thinks Buchanan was heterosexual. Loewen has argued that Buchanans homosexuality is not often discussed in modern times because Americans do not want to believe that society was more tolerant of gay relationships in the 19th century than they are now. Another Bachelor Candidate The closest the nation has come to having a bachelor president since  Buchanan was when Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina sought the partys presidential nomination in 2016. When asked who would be his first lady, Graham  said the position would be rotating. He also joked that his sister could play the role, if necessary. While Grover Cleveland entered the White House a bachelor in 1885, the 49-year-old was married a year later to 21-year-old Frances Folsom. The One and Only? Although it has long been rumored  that  Richard Nixon had a homosexual affair with his close friend Bebe Rebozo, Buchanan is still the most likely candidate for first, and only, gay American president. Thanks to his vocal support of gay marriage, President Barack Obama  did earn the title briefly, albeit symbolically, in a May 2012 Newsweek  magazine article, written by Andrew Sullivan. Tina Brown, editor-in-chief for Newsweek at the time, explained the term and the cover  photo  of Obama with a rainbow halo superimposed over his head by telling news site Politico, If  President Clinton  was the ‘first black president’ then Obama earns every stripe in that ‘gaylo’ with last week’s gay marriage proclamation.† In his article, Sullivan himself pointed out that the claim was not meant to be taken literally (Obama is married, with two daughters). Its obviously a play on Clinton being the first black president. I am aware that James Buchanan (and maybe Abraham Lincoln) have been in the Oval Office before.   Lincoln has come under speculation as well as having had gay or bisexual affections, but he did marry and father four children. He also was known to have courted women before his marriage to Mary Todd Lincoln. Sources Byers, Dylan. â€Å"Tina Brown Explains Obama Gaylo.†Ã‚  POLITICO, 14 May 2012. Sullivan, Andrew. â€Å"Andrew Sullivan on Barack Obamas Gay Marriage Evolution.†Ã‚  Newsweek, 15 May 2012.

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World Coursework

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World - Coursework Example book Leaving Microsoft to Change the World He gains confidence and skill through his journey. That said, he never shows leadership for the organisation, as he meets these women, and pretty much sends them on their way to do their thing in these other countries, with very little guidance or management from Wood himself. Because of this, this book should not be looked upon as a book for leaders, and to provide guidance on how to lead people, because this is not where Wood’s skills lie. In fact, his lack of leadership arguably hurts the project, as he is never able to gather a team for himself or for the other branches of the project in other countries. This paper will describe how the project came together, how he got his fundraising teams together, how the project branched out to other countries and also analyses the governance of the project. The personality traits of Wood is pertinent to the discussion of Wood’s leadership, because these traits have a bearing on how he leads. One of the personality traits that Wood shows throughout the book is a sense of independence. This is shown in the fact that he left the high-powered job at Microsoft in the first place to go to Nepal. Moreover, the overall personality trait that he exhibits is one of empathy and compassion. An ordinary man would not be moved as much as he was by his initial visit to Nepal. At least, an ordinary man would not be moved to give up his entire life to help the people of that country.

Product & pricing (marketing management) Case Study

Product & pricing (marketing management) - Case Study Example TiVo managements, now spearheading a brand new sector of entertainment industry, did a lot on market development which involves marketing existing products, in this case services in new markets. In some degree product development was used but on a limited scale. Perhaps a lot of work on research and development made both market development and diversification attainable. Also in the area of diversification of TiVo services, there were a few brand names to take care of different sets of customers which new market strategy of Ansoff's growth model seeks to explain. More so, 0.04% penetration rate is abysmally low largely due to lack of awareness on the part of customers. A very good indicator, current quarterly subscribers of 14,000, needs to be sustained while means are to be devised through appropriate marketing channels to increase this number in the near future. Concerning product life cycle, one is of the belief that TiVo is still in its introduction stage - infancy probably heading to growth stage. A period of one year or thereabout cannot be safely considered to be in full growth or maturity or have dominating influence on the market. The net loss increasing progressively as shown on exhibit 3 tends to suggest that management must remodel and refocus its strategies in order to remain profitable. Frankly speaking, since the project is still in introduction stage, it will make economic sense if they could focus on TiVo's long-term prospects. Market Attractiveness As said earlier, TiVo has a cutting-edge technology that can impact greatly the entertainment industry if professional inputs are sought on most policy decisions. The market is really vast but the problems TiVo has include inability to relay what it can offer the public and tendency for the very marketers (including columnist) hired to promote the services end up confusing and dispelling customers. Also the model adopted by the co-founders and management are imperfect, this reflects in pricing policy, branding and marketing techniques. TiVo is highly innovative by featuring qualities like pause, fast-forward, rewind, play and record. Conventional TV can not boost of these qualities let alone recording in basic, medium, high and best modes. Important point about this innovative strength is that for TiVo to sell there is need to reach out to customers and let them understand TiVo's value proposition. New Product Development Process New product development process seems to be lacking or non-existent; diversification, an integral component of Ansoff's Growth Matrix requires that products or services be branded (segmented) to satisfy different customers. Differentiating TiVo's service from recording with different prices is one but inadequate service segmentation. Management should think of bundling different services into TiVo like gaming. A close study of customer's preferences for programmes can be another big clue. Brand Positioning Furthermore, TiVo branding has a huge price differential between the two main recording services defeating the whole essence of branding. Charging $499 for a black box for a 14-hour recording and $999 for the same black box and 30 hours of recording is disproportionately high. To make TiVo more attractive, more brands need to be created perhaps to keep competitors at bay even when partnering with

The working class of Indian mens working in the field of Fashion Dissertation

The working class of Indian mens working in the field of Fashion - Dissertation Example The study "The working class of Indian mens working in the field of Fashion" talks about The working class of Indian fashion Industry. With industrialization and mass production fashion got a new shape in the western world. Fashion industry has became more popular when combined with visual effects, that is through the art of photography which brings the outcomes of the designers to the doors of common people through different print media forms. on one hand photography makes the dresses and models all the more attractive and famous, while on the other, it makes the conceptual loopholes quite prominent. The 16 page editorial published in the Vogue Issue of August 2008 in India sees the new nation as a place where even the poor class takes to expensive brands and carries it off gracefully. Hence Vogue attempts to make fashion reach out to all classes of people instead of the wealthy ones or celebrities. The magazine published some photos of lower middle class people flaunting expensive branded clothes and accessories. However this kind of portrayal drew lots of controversy because the people modeling in the magazine belonged to the similar class, which witnessed suicides and poverty. What becomes prominent in this discussion is the strong influence of western culture or the cultural dependency witnessed by the Indian fashion industry. Yet, the same fashion trends which has been a pride of the glamour seeking people of the upper middle class and wealthy sections are now imposed upon. those working class people who are merely able to cover their cost of production of labor hours and some who are not even able to do so. They perhaps belong to the class of contractual or casual workers who thrive to make both ends meet. When we think of the designers and fashion photographers a finger might be raised at their sensitivity towards the human dignity. It hurts when one sees the contrast between the social status and the expensive brands. Why would a person thriving for ba re survival want to use a Burberry umbrella? Even if we assume this might one day become an economically viable option, the individual might not decide to flaunt his money through these brands even if he can afford it. The middle class people working in the fashion industry (photographers, designers and editors of fashion magazines) need to be sensitive to the ethical viability of any form of art which represents fashion trends. This prompts us to ask the question: Can Vogue’s way of representing ‘new India’ support Realism or it is an example of Aestheticism in fashion photography? II. LITERATURE REVIEW This section attempts to discuss the theories of Realism and Aestheticism in visual art and how they apply to fashion photography in particular. Reviews of different literatures are covered to learn about the evolution of fashion industry in India and the works of different fashion photographers including the way they portray fashion in the daily lives of the soc iety. The study incorporates details regarding the middle class people working in the fashion industry of India and how they portray culture and economy through their works. How the trends change along with the impact of globalization and economic upgradation. At the end of the review one might raise questions about ethics and priorities while portraying

Literature review Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 2

Literature review - Coursework Example The question thus remains whether financial sector can be considered as a signification source of economic development. In general, financial development has a twofold effect on economic growth. For one, capital accumulation can be increased by the financial sector. Secondly, development of financial institutions leads to enhanced savings which means greater investments resulting in greater capital accumulation. With increasing investments, capital can be used to increase the level of gross production. Also, properly developed financial institutions means increased variety of financial instruments that facilitate lenders and borrowers thus having a positive impact on the overall economy. However, in the long run other factors like human and physical capital need to be considered as other sources of economic growth. This paper will conduct a literature review on the subject of the relationship between financial development and economic growth in the context of the Indian economy. Furt her, the literature findings will be related with theories from articles based on similar context. Although not all views support the role of financial development on economic growth, positive views can be seen in Levine’s (1997) article. According to Levine’s theory, well developed financial institutions helps in reducing costs attached to information and transaction. Such reduced costs encourage increased investments leading to capital accumulation. With greater level of capital, there can be more spending on research sector leading to technological development causing higher efficiency in production process which in turns means increased level of gross production. Moreover, Levine has taken a broader approach in stating that various functions of financial institutions facilitate capital accumulation, rate of savings and trading of goods. Thus, he has concluded that financial structure as a whole,

Pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Pollution - Essay Example This condition of remaining free of ice is highly dependent on the water currents and states of the weather. The Polar Bears usually favor such areas which enable them to hunt for seals in these spots of leads and makes use of the sea ice to be their podium (Sea World, â€Å"Distribution and Habitat†). In the similarly context, polynyas are water areas which are bounded by ice all around the year because of tidal currents, winds and upwelling. These areas are considered to be significant as they serve as major food supplying and breeding regions for wintering marine mammals such as the Polar Bears. Few of the Polar Bears were learnt to chase the lower border of the floating sea ice throughout the year and makes widespread relocations according to the retreats and proceeds made by the ice (Sea World, â€Å"Distribution and Habitat†). The population of the Polar Bears has been found to be declining at an alarming pace because of their disappearing habitat owing to global warming. The various reasons accounting for the alterations in the climate has resulted in speedy loss of ice in the Arctic sea. The ice in the Arctic sea was found to turn down by 7.7 percent every decade along with a turn down in the sea ice in the perennial sea region by 9.8 percent every decade. To add more to this problem, in few of the areas, a contraction of the ice in the Arctic sea was found to be 32 percent from the periods of 1960 and 1970 to 1990. This huge decline in the ice areas have resulted in jeopardizing their habitat of the Polar Bears which is posing to be a severe threat to their population (World Wildlife Fund, â€Å"Polar Bear: This icon of the North Is Losing Ground As Global Warming Melts its Sea Ice Habitat†). Moreover, the ice is examined to melt quite before time in a year and is taking more time to develop owing to the alterations in the climate. This

Identify the historical significance related to the theme of freedom Essay

Identify the historical significance related to the theme of freedom - Essay Example â€Å"The Cornerstones of History, a book written by Thomas A. Scott, is quote â€Å" a collection of fifty-nine primary documents presents multiple viewpoints on more than four centuries of growth, conflict, and change in Georgia. The selections range from a captive's account of a 1597 Indian revolt against Spanish missionaries on the Georgia coast to an impassioned debate in 1992 between county commissioners and environmental activists over a proposed hazardous waste facility in Taylor County. Drawn from such sources as government records, newspapers, oral histories, personal diaries, and letters, the documents give a voice to the concerns and experiences of men and women representing the diverse races, ethnic groups, and classes that, over time, have contributed to the state's history.† In Eric Foner’s, â€Å"The Story of American Freedom†, Foner’s idea of freedom can be quote, â€Å"summed up in this very quote, his saying that it is ‘the oldes t of cliches and the most modern of aspirations.’† â€Å"However, what does it truly mean to be free? For the people of the United States, the concept of "freedom† and its counterpart, "liberty† has had widely differing meanings during the centuries. The Story of American Freedom, therefore, "is not a mythic saga with a predetermined beginning and conclusion, but an open-ended history of accomplishment and failure, a record of a people forever contending about the crucial ideas of their political culture." During the colonial era, Foner projects freedom to be comprised of the event, when the â€Å"Puritans believed that liberty was rooted in voluntary submission to God and civil authorities, and consisted only in the right to do well.† John Locke, as well, would argue that liberty did not consist of a lack of restraint, but of â€Å"a standing rule to live by, common to every one of that society, and made by the legislative power.† Foner revea ls the ideological conflicts that lay at the heart of the American Revolution and the Civil War, the shift in thought about what freedom is and to whom it should be granted. Adeptly charting the major trends of Twentieth Century American politics, including the invocation of freedom as a call to arms in both world wars, Foner concludes by contrasting the two prevalent movements of the 1990s: the liberal articulation of freedom, grounded in Johnson's Great Society and the rhetoric of the New Left, as the provision of civil rights and economic opportunity for all citizens, and the conservative vision, perhaps most fully realized during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, of a free-market economy and decentralized political power. â€Å"The Story of American Freedom† is a sweeping synthesis, delivered in clearheaded language that makes the ongoing nature of the American dream accessible to all readers (Ron Hogan). According to the Atlanta Journal of Constitution, â€Å"The book's aim is to increase understanding of southern history as a whole by focusing on a single state. New chapters added since the 1983 first edition discusses urbanization and diversification.† â€Å"’The Journal of American History’† says quote â€Å"that the book, ‘The Creation of Modern Georgia, informed by the latest scholarship, particularly the last decade's studies of the South in the thirty years following the Civil War, his work is an ambitious attempt to understand Southern history through a study of one state.’† â€Å"Bartley's is a stimulating interpretive synthesis, but one that does not lose itself

Literature review Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 2

Literature review - Coursework Example The question thus remains whether financial sector can be considered as a signification source of economic development. In general, financial development has a twofold effect on economic growth. For one, capital accumulation can be increased by the financial sector. Secondly, development of financial institutions leads to enhanced savings which means greater investments resulting in greater capital accumulation. With increasing investments, capital can be used to increase the level of gross production. Also, properly developed financial institutions means increased variety of financial instruments that facilitate lenders and borrowers thus having a positive impact on the overall economy. However, in the long run other factors like human and physical capital need to be considered as other sources of economic growth. This paper will conduct a literature review on the subject of the relationship between financial development and economic growth in the context of the Indian economy. Furt her, the literature findings will be related with theories from articles based on similar context. Although not all views support the role of financial development on economic growth, positive views can be seen in Levine’s (1997) article. According to Levine’s theory, well developed financial institutions helps in reducing costs attached to information and transaction. Such reduced costs encourage increased investments leading to capital accumulation. With greater level of capital, there can be more spending on research sector leading to technological development causing higher efficiency in production process which in turns means increased level of gross production. Moreover, Levine has taken a broader approach in stating that various functions of financial institutions facilitate capital accumulation, rate of savings and trading of goods. Thus, he has concluded that financial structure as a whole,

Identify the historical significance related to the theme of freedom Essay

Identify the historical significance related to the theme of freedom - Essay Example â€Å"The Cornerstones of History, a book written by Thomas A. Scott, is quote â€Å" a collection of fifty-nine primary documents presents multiple viewpoints on more than four centuries of growth, conflict, and change in Georgia. The selections range from a captive's account of a 1597 Indian revolt against Spanish missionaries on the Georgia coast to an impassioned debate in 1992 between county commissioners and environmental activists over a proposed hazardous waste facility in Taylor County. Drawn from such sources as government records, newspapers, oral histories, personal diaries, and letters, the documents give a voice to the concerns and experiences of men and women representing the diverse races, ethnic groups, and classes that, over time, have contributed to the state's history.† In Eric Foner’s, â€Å"The Story of American Freedom†, Foner’s idea of freedom can be quote, â€Å"summed up in this very quote, his saying that it is ‘the oldes t of cliches and the most modern of aspirations.’† â€Å"However, what does it truly mean to be free? For the people of the United States, the concept of "freedom† and its counterpart, "liberty† has had widely differing meanings during the centuries. The Story of American Freedom, therefore, "is not a mythic saga with a predetermined beginning and conclusion, but an open-ended history of accomplishment and failure, a record of a people forever contending about the crucial ideas of their political culture." During the colonial era, Foner projects freedom to be comprised of the event, when the â€Å"Puritans believed that liberty was rooted in voluntary submission to God and civil authorities, and consisted only in the right to do well.† John Locke, as well, would argue that liberty did not consist of a lack of restraint, but of â€Å"a standing rule to live by, common to every one of that society, and made by the legislative power.† Foner revea ls the ideological conflicts that lay at the heart of the American Revolution and the Civil War, the shift in thought about what freedom is and to whom it should be granted. Adeptly charting the major trends of Twentieth Century American politics, including the invocation of freedom as a call to arms in both world wars, Foner concludes by contrasting the two prevalent movements of the 1990s: the liberal articulation of freedom, grounded in Johnson's Great Society and the rhetoric of the New Left, as the provision of civil rights and economic opportunity for all citizens, and the conservative vision, perhaps most fully realized during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, of a free-market economy and decentralized political power. â€Å"The Story of American Freedom† is a sweeping synthesis, delivered in clearheaded language that makes the ongoing nature of the American dream accessible to all readers (Ron Hogan). According to the Atlanta Journal of Constitution, â€Å"The book's aim is to increase understanding of southern history as a whole by focusing on a single state. New chapters added since the 1983 first edition discusses urbanization and diversification.† â€Å"’The Journal of American History’† says quote â€Å"that the book, ‘The Creation of Modern Georgia, informed by the latest scholarship, particularly the last decade's studies of the South in the thirty years following the Civil War, his work is an ambitious attempt to understand Southern history through a study of one state.’† â€Å"Bartley's is a stimulating interpretive synthesis, but one that does not lose itself

Islam †Annotated Essay Essay Example for Free

Islam – Annotated Essay Essay The article explains the way Islam views life after death. It clearly describes the various tenets that this religion follows when it comes to life on earth and life after death. Islam believes that life on earth has no purpose except to prepare oneself for life after death. The life after death typically consists of three phases: Death, the intermediate and the phase of resurrection. Death is considered to be the first gateway to reach the Garden or Fire. Importance of the custom of singing various verses at the time of death and till the body is buried and the custom of proper ablutions before burial is given due space. The second phase is the most controversial phase for which lot of explanations exist. This is the period when the soul is separated from the body but is not yet resurrected. What the soul does in this in-between phase has many theories, most common being, the souls embarks on a journey similar to the journey made by Prophet Muhammad where He was taken through the seven layers of heaven and made to look down at the tortures of hell. Another commonly accepted theory is the visit of angels Munkar and Nakil, who question the souls about the Quranic verses and their faith. The third phase, that is, the day of Resurrection is believed to be quite spectacular with the destruction of the whole world and the souls entering either the garden or the fire according to their virtues. It is also believed that after resurrection and the destruction of the whole mankind, a new age will begin and justice and righteousness will return to the earth again with a new leader. The idea of punishments or rewards after death, like the author mentioned, do seem having lot of physical attributes. All that has been mentioned seems a bit too dramatic like the tree in hell, Zaqqam which has demons as flowers! It seems, to capture a proper picture of the horror of hell, physical attributes like fire, demons, swords, etc. have been used. This would probably make humans understand better the tortures that they are to undergo if they do not live a life of righteousness. The editor’s note also briefs about the various contributions Islam as a religion has made to the world like ban on liquor, gambling and other vices. It also mentions the equality that Muslim women are credited with in the religion. However, in this present world, they seem to be the most bounded ones. The images of burqa-clad women with no freedom tell quite a different story. The religion, which has beautiful and just tenets to its credit like equal property rights to women, no race and color discrimination, seems to be misunderstood and misinterpreted by the religious heads and the followers for short term benefits. Because of such acts, Islam today is demonized and its contributions to the society are being passed unnoticed. Finally, the article was a comprehensive note of the beliefs in Islam regarding death and after and gave a very brief yet informative idea about the various customs and views on important aspects like fate of non-believers and reincarnation. It did make me a lot wiser about this religion!

A Case Study At The HSBC

A Case Study At The HSBC Chapter 1 Literature Review 1.1 Overview of Corporate Social Responsibility The notion that business has duties to society is firmly well-established, despite the fact that in the past there has been a revolution in the way people view the relationship between business and society. Numerous researchers suggest that companies which indulge in corporate social responsibility obtain consumers positive product and brand evaluations, brand choice, brand recommendations, good attitude to firm, good image of the firm, purchase intention and even enjoy a premium price. Spurred at least in part by such evidences, more companies than ever before are backing CSR initiatives such as corporate philanthropy, cause-related marketing, minority support programs, and socially responsible employment and manufacturing practices with real financial muscle. Not surprisingly, this trend is also reflected in the pervasive belief among business leaders that CSR is an economic imperative in todays national as well as global marketplace. However despite the increasing importance of CSR, there is little research available about CSRs impact on consumers. According to Yoon (2003), it is not clear when and how CSR activities influence consumer evaluations. Recent researchers have suggested that a CSR activity might backfire on the company if the consumers have become suspicious and infer that the companys true motive for the CSR activity is only to improve its image to sell more products without trying to act for the sake of consumers 1.1.1 Defining Corporate Social Responsibility According to Kotler (1991), Corporate social responsibility is about doing business in a way that maintains or improves both the customers and societys well being; Fombrun and Gordberg (2000)s point of view is that, corporate social Responsibility is something that no sane chairman should be without. On the other hand, Petkus and Woodruff (1992) believe CSR includes both avoiding harm and doing good. Corporate social responsibility is viewed as a companys commitment to minimize or eliminate any harmful effects and maximizing its long run beneficial impact on society. Corporate social responsibility activities include numerous factors; namely meeting customer expectations, demonstrating commitment to environmental responsibility, improved environmental performance, staying ahead of the legislation, and increased employee motivation. Mohr, Webb, and Harris (2001, 47) define CSR as a companys commitment to minimizing or eliminating any harmful effects and maximizing its long-run beneficial impact on society. Though, Angelidis and Ibrahim (1993) define corporate social responsibility as corporate social actions whose purpose is to satisfy social needs, Lerner and Fryxell (1988) suggest that CSR describes the extent to which organizational outcomes are consistent with societal values and expectations. While some view CSR as an obligation, others, namely: Enderle Tavis (1998) define corporate social responsibility as the policy and practice of a corporations social involvement over and beyond its legal obligations for the benefit of the society at large. 1.1.2 Dimensions of Social Responsibility The dimension of social responsibility was propounded by Carroll (1979). It was proposed that organisations have to have 4 pillars that must be fulfilled to be good corporate citizens. They are: Economic Dimension. Economic responsibility is to be profitable for principals, by delivering a good quality product, at a fair price, is due to customers. Legal Dimension. Legal duties entail complying with the law and playing by the rules of the game. Ethical Dimension. Ethical duties overcome the limitations of legal duties. They entail being moral, doing what is right, just, and fair; respecting peoples moral rights; and avoiding harm or social injury as well as preventing harm caused by others (Smith and Quelch, 1993). Philanthropic Dimension. Interest in doing good for society, regardless of its impact on the bottom line is what is called philanthropic CSR that is giving back time and money in the forms of voluntary service, voluntary association and voluntary. 1.2 Evolution of the CSR concept. Even relatively contemporary, a theory of CSR can be divided into four eras based on several conceptual shifts (Lee, 2008). The first dominant theme emerged during 1950s and 1960s concentrating on ethics and social obligation of business. A pivotal study by Bowen (1953) contended that CSR is an obligation of businessmen to act in line with the objectives and values of society. CSR was posited as a complementary and corrective measure for some social failures in the laissez-faire economy. Friedman on the other hand was concerned with the insufficient skills of corporate managers to solve social problems and potential cost from uncertain outcomes that would reduce the maximization of shareholder wealth a true responsibility of business. Such an intellectual stalemate contributed to the shift from the emphasis on macro-social effects of CSR to an organizational-level analysis of CSRs effect on financial performance. CSR in the second period was central around enlightened self-interest in the 1970s. A conceptual breakthrough by Wallich and McGowan (1970) represented reconciliation between the social and economic interests of corporations. The authors argued that CSR supported the long-term interest of shareholders by strengthening the wellbeing of the society, which provided a crucial support structure and customer base for business operations. Most studies in this era focused on the content and implementation process of CSR to avoid conflict with business interests (Ackerman, 1973; Fitch, 1976; Murray, 1976). A major caveat in this conceptual reconciliation was the lack of a specific mechanism to identify a causal link between social responsibility and financial performance (Weick, 1976). In the 1980s, the tie between the economic and social goals of business became tighter in the corporate social performance model. The dominant theme represented the thirdgeneration of CSR. The multi-dimensional model of corporate social performance was proposed in a pivotal study by Carroll (1979). This model suggested the integration of economic and social objectives in a total CSR framework, featuring economic, legal, ethical and discretionary aspects. The model was modified by Wartick and Cochran (1985) to include principles, processes and policies. Wood (1991) further formulated a more pragmatic model incorporating related theories, such as organizational institutionalism and stakeholder management theory. The limitation of the CSP model was the lack of objective and behavioral measurement to be able to compare the social performance of different companies (Wood and Jones, 1995). An aim to generate business return from CSR is most prominent in the latest development of CSR through strategic management. In this perspective, the stakeholder model has become central to the new CSR paradigm (Jones, 1995). Based on the stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1984), Clarkson (1995) ameliorated the measurement problem in CSR through stakeholder identification, separation of stakeholder and social issues, followed by appropriate level of analysis. CSR becomes strategic when integrated into a companys core business competencies by serving as a filter through which strategic decisions are evaluated for their impact on the firms various stakeholders (Werther and Chandler, 2006). Strategic CSR then matches internal core competencies with the external opportunities to complement corporate mission and vision related to social responsibility (Du et al., 2007; Werther and Chandler, 2006). 1.3 CSR and Stakeholders According to Smith (2003), stakeholder theory is based on the principle that companies need to consider the effects of their actions on all constituencies (e.g. shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, the environment, and the community), even if profitability is reduced. On the contrary, shareholder theory argues that the only responsibility of a company is to (legally) make profits for its shareholders. Mitchell (2001) argues that the shareholder approach increasingly dominates American companies. Furthermore, it is often interpreted as having one basic goal-maximizing stock prices. This, in turn, leads to a short-term perspective because growing proportions of Stockholders buy and sell stocks based on short-term information. Mitchell goes on to argue that companies are obligated to make profits, but there is nothing in the legal system that requires maximization of stock prices or that restricts the time frame to the short term. Nonetheless, a manager who does not produce sufficient earnings for shareholders risks his/her job and puts the company at risk of a takeover (Martin 2002). Martin (2002) further argues that when responsibilities to the community are seen as being likely to come at the shareholders expense, managers usually side with shareholders. He suggests that most socially responsible corporate behaviors are done specifically to enhance shareholder value. These are generally activities undertaken to comply with laws, regulations, or norms. They entail simply meeting the baseline of societys expectations; companies that do not meet basic expectations are likely to lose financially. On the other hand, there are many socially responsible actions taken by companies because managers believe they are the right things to do. Because these actions are outside the norms and may lead to financial losses, they are considered risky. 1.4 Social responsibility, Business Ethics and Corporate Governance. 1.4.1 Social Responsibility and Business Ethics Today, ethics has become more and more important with global business expansion. This is so, because of a raise in ethical and social responsibility concerns. There exists, however, according to Czinkota and Ronkainen (1998), a wide divergence in the level of importance attached to these two issues in different countries. Ethics as defined by Hoffman and Moore (1990) define ethics as what is good and right for people. An individuals perception about whether ethics and social responsibility contribute to organizational effectiveness is likely to be a critical antecedent of whether he/she even perceives an ethical problem in a given situation  [1]  . This is a practical view based on an argument that managers must first recognize that ethics and social responsibility to be imperative to organizational effectiveness before their behaviors will become more ethical and reflect greater social responsibility. Intuitively, ethics and social responsibility should have a positive impact on the success of an organization, because consumers make ethical judgments that are likely to influence their purchases. Consumers recognize organisations that are responsive to ethical and social factors. Consequently, business should care about ethics because adopting the right behaviour helps acquire and preserve good reputation overtime; because ultimately, it pays to do so. 1.4.2 Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance The definition of Corporate Governance differs depending on ones view of the world. Shleifer and Vishny (1997) define Corporate Governance as the ways in which suppliers of finance to corporations assure themselves of getting a return on their investment. Taking a broad perspective on the issues, Gillan and Starks (1998) define Corporate Governance as the system of laws, rules, and factors that control operations at a company. Irrespective of the particular definition used, researchers often view Corporate Governance mechanisms as falling into one of two groups: those internal to firms and those external to firms. Of course, firms are more than just boards, managers, shareholders, and debt holders. Over the years, Corporate Governance has evolved from the traditional profit-centered model to the social responsibility model. These two models illustrate the fundamental conflict that prevails today in Corporate Governance the Profit-Centered Model and the Social Responsibility Model are mutually exclusive. Each focuses on an opposite half of the corporations domain, even though the economic and social aspects of business are closely interrelated. In short, governance is viewed as a zero sum game. Because the economic role of the firm is fundamental to its survival, profit often drives out social considerations. Because knowledge increases when shared, collaborative partnerships between management and stakeholders can be economically productive. Like all partnerships, stakeholder collaboration is a two-way, working relationship that combines the capabilities of partners for their mutual benefit. According to Halal (2000), the wealth-creating role of business arises directly out of integrating stakeholders into a productive whole a corporate community (Figure 1). The corporate community model views the firm as a socioeconomic system in which wealth is created through stakeholder collaboration. This is not done to be socially responsible, but because it is a competitive advantage. Drew et al. (2006) identified five integrated elements that underpin a firms ability to manage risks, engage in effective Corporate Governance, and implement new regulatory changes: Culture, Leadership, Alignment, Systems, and Structure. Each of these elements relate to the others. For example, organizational culture is shaped by leadership practices. Systems support organizational structure and shape its culture. Alignment ensures each element is harmonized with the others so that, for example, explicit cultural norms are reinforced by leadership, and systems reinforce the culture. No one element s tands alone. After engaging in an examination process, board members can map organizational challenges against these elements, identify areas in need of improvement, and plan change management programs. Superior risk management programs and stronger firm governance capabilities result. The elements of CG addressed in Figure 2 could be considered as the core (i.e. management) of Figure 1 (i.e. corporate community model). Combining the models therefore represents the influence of Corporate Governance on CSR or corporate community. Figure 1 The basic cause of todays continuing conflict between profitability and responsibility is that managers do not seem to understand that these two interests can be united. Stakeholder collaboration is now the key to creating economic wealth. In the new perspective, stakeholder collaboration does more than gain resources and political support; it allows joint problem solving to increase the firms store of valuable knowledge. Future research needs to focus on the stakeholder assessment process and its translation into CSR objectives and policies. Therefore, adopting a process-based management systems approach as the foundation for a CSR management system will provide top management with a holistic view of the business that takes into consideration a single system approach to governance. This approach will provide management with internal control, clearly identify responsibility and will embed CSR in their organisation. This approach overcomes much of the criticism surrounding many current CSR systems approaches. Figure 2 The leadership style is also found to play an important role in socially responsible organizations. In this respect, transformational leader seems to be more effective, comparing with manager and transactional leader. Thus corporate governance as a critical element for driving excellence in CSR can be a source of competitive advantage for firms in its own right. 1.5 Consumer Behavior or Socially Responsible Consumer Behavior It has been observed that several personality trait variables affect how a consumer reacts to a companys corporate social responsibility activities. One trait that has been identified is called socially responsible or socially conscious consumer behavior. The socially conscious consumer is a consumer who takes into account the public consequences of his or her private consumption or who attempts to use his or her purchasing power, to bring about social change. According to Webster (1975, 188), the socially conscious consumer is a consumer who takes into account the public consequences of his or her private consumption or one who attempts to use his or her purchasing power to bring about social change. Mohr, Webb, and Harris (2001, 47) define this behavior as a person basing his or her acquisition, usage, and disposition of products on a desire to minimize or eliminate any harmful effects and maximize the long-run beneficial impact on society. Over the years, socially responsible consumer behavior has been seen as a lasting personality trait that engrosses the consumers self-concept. Persons, who are high on this trait, would not hesitate to modify their consumption behaviors in a variety of circumstances in order to struggle toward the ideal of improving society. Much research has been conducted on this trait. Measurement scales have not only been developed but related demographics and attitudes have also been explored. Roberts (1995) used the method of cluster analysis to segregate a group of socially responsible consumers. He estimated them to constitute 32% of the American population. According to him, when one compares this group to most Americans, the latter is more broadminded and environmentally concerned and has higher levels of perceived consumer effectiveness (perceived ability of individual consumers to influence environmental problems). 1.6 The Impact of CSR Activities on Consumer Behavior Consumers need to be aware of the level of CSR of a company so that this factor can have an impact on their purchase. The reason why, building awareness constitutes one of the major purposes behind cause related marketing which is a subset of CSR. Also, consumers are more likely to respond to a companys social responsibility record when they identify with the company  [2]  . Identification is enhanced when consumer perceptions of the companys character are similar to their perceptions of their own character. It is further argued that consumers judge a companys character based more on its CSR than on its business expertise. When consumers personally support the social issues that the company targets (called support for the CSR domain), they are likely to see greater congruence between themselves and the company. In two experiments, CSR was manipulated and its effects on the evaluation of the company were measured. They found that consumer support for the CSR domain significantly moderated the positive effect of CSR on evaluation. Ross, Stutts, and Patterson (199091), who used a non-probability sample, found that 53 percent of the sample, could recall a cause related advertisement for a product, and Webb and Mohr (1998) found that 79 percent of a sample could describe a specific cause-related marketing campaign after the concept was explained to them. Since CSR is a wide and multifaceted concept, knowledge about the social responsibility activities carried out by companies is relatively low. As a result, it is hard for consumers to acquire and store such information. Lack of awareness, therefore becomes the major inhibitor of customer awareness to CSR. Since 1993, according to reported surveys, firms supporting causes are enjoying a more positive image compared to other firms. Furthermore, the Cone Communications Press Release stated that two thirds or more of the sample said that they are likely to switch brands or retailers to those participating in cause related marketing. Demand from socially responsible consumers may increase in line with increasing promotion of a firms socially responsible activities; research by Sen and Bhattacharya (2001) suggests that consumers sensitive to the particular cause supported by a corporation (such as environmentalism) are more likely to react positively towards that corporation. On the other hand, in interviews with a convenience sample of 225 people, Ross, Stutts, and Patterson (1990-91) found that 49 percent stated that a firms support of a cause had been a primary reason for them to purchase a product, and 54 percent said that they are likely to. Also, most consumers do not understand the ethical dimensions of the products that they purchase (Auger et al, 2003, p. 299) but experimental studies have shown that once consumers acknowledge a firms socially responsible initiatives their evaluation of that firm (and its products) increases (Brown and Dacin, 1997). Furthermore, it has been established that certain demographics are increasingly likely to make consumption choices based on social grounds (McWilliams and Siegel, 2001, p 121). A national telephone study by Smith and Alcorn (1991) found that 46% of respondents were likely to switch brands to a company that donates to non-profit organizations and 30% sometimes buy products based on the charitable causes that the manufacturer supports. Porter and Kramer (2002) believe that strategic philanthropy1 at its most sophisticated can be responsible for enhancing the reputation of a company by linking the admirable qualities of the supported cause to its corporate identity. Moreover, it is believed that concentrating charitable donations and funding on a popular cause through a deliberate selection process may have a greater impact than generalized CSR (Porter and Kramer, 2002). Research by McWilliams and Siegel (2001) has found that not all consumers place a high value on the socially responsible actions of a firm; the price of competing goods can affect the demand for goods provided by socially responsible corporations. Studies conducted at Marymount University (1999) reported that 75 percent of consumers would avoid shopping at a store if it was known that their goods were produced under poor social conditions. Furthermore, it was found that the same consumers would be willing to pay $1 more for a $20 item given that the item was produced under good conditions. These studies show that consumers are willing to pay more for goods produced in a socially responsible manner. Indeed, the University of Maryland (2000) found that approximately 75 percent of consumers would pay an additional $5 at least on a $20 item if it was known that the item was not manufactured in a sweatshop. However, It has been suggested that income has a significant impact on demand for products from firms with a good reputation for CSR; low-income shoppers are seen to be more price sensitive than affluent shoppers. This means that affluent consumers are more willing (and able) to pay a higher price for said products (McWilliams and Siegel, 2001). A survey conducted by Creyer and Ross (1997) measured the attitudes of the parents of elementary school children towards ethical and unethical business behaviour. It was found that respondents expected companies to conduct business in an ethical manner and importantly, respondents stated that they would pay higher prices for products from an ethical company. 2.1 An Overview of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Banking Sector The Mauritian banking industry comprises of 18 banks, of which 5 are local banks, 8 are foreign owned subsidiaries, 1 is a joint venture and 4 are branches of foreign banks.  [3]  The banks are certified by the Bank of Mauritius to carry out banking business locally and internationally. Banks provide several traditional banking facilities and card-based payment services such as credit and debit cards, internet banking and phone banking facilities. Other services such as fund management, custodial services, trusteeship, structured lending, structured trade finance; international portfolio management, private client activities, investment banking, treasury and specialised finance are also offered by banks. The banking sector is now increasingly integrating CSR as a management strategy. External social activities are carried out to benefit the wider social community. The banking sector tops the list with a percentage of 1.2 per cent of profits before tax. For example, the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), the leading bank in Mauritius, has promised 1 per cent of its profits before tax ( £460,000) for social projects this year and Barclays Bank (Mauritius) has dedicated Rs 400,000 for the fight against AIDS. While the State Bank of Mauritius launched scholarships to help the brilliant but needy students of the Gandhian Basic School, the Barclays Bank has adopted the fight against diabetes as its flagship cause. Thus it can be seen that corporate social responsibility is very much present in the banking institutions of Mauritius. There is a belief that the growing of businesses and development of stakeholders must go together. Consequently, more and more companies are participating actively in corporate social responsibility. 2.2 A Profile of HSBC Bank Mauritius Limited HSBC Bank (Mauritius) Limited is part of an international banking and financial services organisation with a network of some 9,500 offices in 86 jurisdictions. (MBA Profile of Banks, 2010) The history of the HSBC Group in Mauritius can be mapped out from 1859, when the Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London and China (the predecessor of the Mercantile Bank Ltd) established a branch in Port-Louis. It started with community investment back then with the financing of one well-known project that was the construction of the Port Louis to Curepipe railway network, in 1864. In 1865, a decision was made to close the branch. The bank was represented by the Blyth Brothers and Co Ltd for the next half century. In 1892, the Chartered Mercantile Bank was renamed as The Mercantile Bank of India Limited and in 1916, it came back to Mauritius through the acquisition of not only the then Bank of Mauritius, which was previously a commercial bank but also its historic building in Place dArmes. Mercantile Bank conducted business from its main office at Place dArmes continuously. In 1959, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited purchased the Mercantile Bank and in 1983, the name of the Groups operations in Mauritius was changed from the Mercantile Bank Ltd to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. In 1999, the international brand name HSBC was launched. Finally in 2002, HSBC started on a campaign to distinguish its brand from those of its opponents by describing the unique characteristics that make out HSBC, abridged by the words The worlds local bank. 2.2.1 Mission To be the worlds leading financial services company. We want to be the first choice for our customers and for our employees. If HSBC can be the best place to bank and the best place to work, we will have built a sustainable business that will deliver for the long term for customers, colleagues, shareholders and society at large. 2.3 Corporate Social Responsibility at HSBC Bank Mauritius Limited At the HSBC, there is a culture to manage business in a responsible and sensitive manner. There is a belief to have a duty towards customers, investors and employees to promote an ethical, responsible and sustainable corporate philosophy. The social initiatives undertaken by the HSBC are channeled into different levels, that is: Investing in communities Working together Protecting the environment Sustainable finance 2.3.1 INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES The HSBC aims to make a positive impact in all communities it operates. The community investment at the HSBC is mainly focused on two pillars which are education and environment. The educational support focuses on disadvantaged children such as orphaned children of the SOS Childrens Villages, on environmental and business literacy and environmental education and understanding. The HSBC Eco-Schools Climate Initiative was initiated in affiliation with the Foundation for Environmental Education. The intention of the programme is to encourage action on climate change by improving schools environmental good organization. 2.3.2 WORKING TOGETHER Employees At the HSBC, employees are believed to be their greatest asset. There is a perception to look harder so as to understand things more deeply. Staffs are driven by the belief that they can form a better future. Their priority is to exceed customer expectation. There is neither labeling nor discrimination and customers are rewarded for their commitment. Promoting Development The HSBC aims at promoting development of its employees not only through e-learning courses easily available both at home and at work but also through exchanges and overseas assignments. Committed to employees well-being HSBC employees have access to its gym to promote healthy living. Also available is an internal library with a collection of books on well being, yoga, healthy living and stress relief. The aim of the organization of the Health Week is to create awareness on the prevention of non-communicable diseases and to contribute by donating blood. Customers Customers are treated fairly and with respect. Despite being strict, the lending criteria take into consideration the customers ability to repay the loan. There is adherence to the MBA Code of Banking Practice. To maintain awareness about customer views, customer surveys are carried out. Suppliers Suppliers are required to abide by HSBCs policies and respect rights of employees. In case, after developing a plan to put a worry at rest, suppliers fail to improve, the HSBC stops working with them. 2.3.3 PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT The HSBC is very committed to the environment. In 2005, it became the worlds first carbon neutral bank. It is trying to optimize operations through environmental management systems. Water Saving Campaign In 2008, the HSBC teamed up with the Central Water Authority to launch a water saving campaign. It aimed to sensitizing the population about the scarcity of water and finding easy ways of saving water. Activities were organized; internally, through the theme of Be Part of the Solution where staff got the opportunity to visit the Meteorological Station of Vacoas and externally, through billboards, daily radio advertisements and tips in local newspapers and distribution of 12000 educational leaflets. Sustainability of Office Infrastructure and Internet Banking All in one device are being used to save energy. Consequently, there is a cutback in amount of equipment, consumption of electricity, toner cartridges and paper and maintenance cost. Through the use of internet banking, the HSBC is trying to provide its customers with their banking needs while at the same time trying to reduce printing outcomes. 2.3.4 SUSTAINABLE FINANCE Through sustainable finance, the HSBC is trying to incorporate the environmental criterion in its lending policies. Consequently, the organization will be able to assist its clients in building environmentally sustainable busin

The Iliad of Homer :: essays research papers

The Iliad Important Characters: Agamemnon king of Mycenae; brother of Menelaos Hektor Prince of Troy; son of Priam and Hekuba Achilles greatest warrior of the Achaian army Aias song of Telamon; he has brute strength and courage Menelaos husband of Helen; brother of Agamemnon Paris a prince of Troy; also son of Priam and Hekuba Priam King of Troy; very old man Helen wife of Menelaos; most beautiful woman In the world Diomedes one of the best Achaian warriors Hekuba wife of Priam Aeneas son of Aphrodite; Trojan Aphrodite Daughter of Zeus; goddess of love; mother of Aeneas; patron of Paris; on the Trojans' side Athena daughter of Zeus; goddess of wisdom; on the Achaian side Ares son of Zeus; god of prophecy, light, poetry, and music; on the Trojans' side Zeus supreme god and king of Olympos Poseidon younger brother of Zeus; god of sea   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chryseis and Briseis who were captured during a raid in Troy are awarded as ‘war prizes' to Agamemnon and Achilles. Chryseis for Agamemnon and Briseis for Achilles. Chryseis is the daughter of Chryses which prays Apollo to help get back his daughter. Apollo causes a deadly plague in the Achaian camp. Achilles asked Kalchas to explain the cause of Apollo's anger. Apollo plagued the Achaians because Agamemnon refused to return Chryseis to her father. Agamemnon demands Achilles' war prize in place of Chryseis. Achilles because angry at Agamemnon's demand and withdraws his troops from the Achaian army. Agamemnon returns Chryseis to her father then collects Briseis from Achilles. Strangely, Achilles gives him the girl. Then, Achilles decides to tell his mother about the problem. Achilles asks his mother to ask Zeus to make sure that the Trojans win. Thetis goes to Zeus and asks and he agrees to help the Trojans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Agamemnon has a dream that he can defeat the Trojans so, full of false hope, he planned a mass assault on Troy. Agamemnon orders his army to prepare themselves to attack. When the news of the Achaian plan arrived in Troy, Hektor ordered his troops to meet the Achaians on the plain in front of Troy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Paris dares any of the Achaian warriors to fight him personally. Then, Menelaos accepted the challenge. But, Paris is suddenly scared and backs out. Hektor then fines Paris and scolds him. The agreement was whoever won gets Helen, then the war would be over. They fight on a large open area between the armies. Menelaos hurts Paris then Aphrodite saves Paris and brings him to his bedroom in Troy, where she also brings Helen. Then Agamemnon announces that Menelaos has won.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hera wants the complete destruction of Troy so Zeus sends Athena to get them fighting again.

Eminem :: essays research papers

For my research paper, I chose to write about Marshall Mathers. I chose to write about him because he is the best young rapper, and I like how he doesn’t care what happens, he just goes with it. He isn’t a very good role model, but he is funny, and couldn’t care less what anybody says about him. He had a rough childhood that reflects to now, and makes great records and songs that describe his life and what has happened during it. Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born on October 17, 1974 in Kansas City, Missouri. He created his own nickname, Eminem, which is pronounced M&M, from his initials, M.M. Marshall had a harsh and cruel childhood, where he constantly moved between Kansas City and Metro Detroit. When he was a child, he lived with his mother. His mother’s name is Debbie Mathers-Briggs. Eminem has never even seen a picture of his father in his life. Eminem and his mother continued moving and never stayed in one place longer than six months. His mothe r worked very hard and many jobs to provide for herself and Marshall. When Eminem was in school, he used to get beat up every day. There wasn’t one day when he didn’t get beat up by the same group of kids, just for being himself. One day those kids almost killed him, and Eminem went into a coma. The day after he got out of the hospital, they moved again. Eminem continued to move back and forth from his mothers to his grandmothers, until the age of 11, when he and his mother settled in Detroit for good. Marshall first started to get into rap when he was 14. Some of his musical influences growing up were the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Run DMC. As Eminem persued his rapping career, he would often hustle radio stations into playing his self-made tapes, to get some publicity over the radio waves. Marshall felt that his rapping career was starting to take off. He was getting some big calls to rap in major places and he thought everyone has started to love him. Soon, he fou nd the love of his life, Kim. They had a baby girl together, named Hailie Jade, on December 25, 1995. Eminem decided to release his first full-length album in 1996 called Infinite. It was somewhat of an experimental thing, but the record did not sell any copies.

Admission Statement

Every action that we do serves as an opportunity for us to develop and achieve our particular goals and interests. This in turn, motivates us to perform on our optimum capabilities. Despite the occurrence of challenges and hurdles along the way, it serves as our guide and inspiration to do better in life.With the emerging opportunities happening in our current environment, one must have the appropriate foundation and education to become competitive in their respective fields. Realizing this, I wish to present to the admissions committee to apply for a degree in Gonzaga College.My passion for sustenance and development do has always been evident in the things I do. I treat every activity as a chance to learn and acquire new principles that I can use later in my life. In addition, consider the student life to be a holistic undertaking. One must not only dwell into the realm of academic study but at the same time establish interpersonal relationships and engage into sports to keep a bal anced way of living.In detail, I have been involved in lacrosse for the past year and I can say that I had shown growth and improvement in the way I play the game. I consider these skills to be at par or better to be accepted in a division 1 school.Being a player on the JV team for The McLean School, I know what to expect and what obstacles I must overcome to be an even better and more valuable lacrosse player. It instilled in me the values of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and teamwork – facets that are equal determinants of survival in a collegiate environment.Also, I had the adage that you must not sacrifice your educational objectives among other things. It is an integral reason why you are enrolled in an educational institution in the first place. That is why academically, I had made it a point to excel in the things that I do. I see every meeting and lessons as an opportunity to learn and acquire new ideas.I continuously enjoy learning Math, Science, and History because of the relative satisfaction and fulfillment it brings to my day. I know that my hard work to get good grades since the 8th grade will pay off in due time.On the other hand, my inclination to music has always been a part of my life. The enthusiasm to play an instrument during my spare time has grown through the years. With the help of my tutor, I was able to enhance my skill and proficiency in guitar and bass guitar for the past two years. Now, I am proud that my sacrifice has paid off. I am now capable of composing and producing my own songs.With these, I can contribute my talent to the community engaging in a particular band group that is available in Gonzaga. Not only shall I showcase my creative side for the group I may belong to, at the same time I can inspire others that achieving something need to be made by effort and continued persistence.With all of these, I feel that I am capable of achieving anything given that I strive and work hard for it. The abilities that I have right now is only the beginning chapter of my life, I will still continue to face difficulties and hurdles. However, these incidents can be used to shape who I am and at the same time inspire others to become better individuals.I believe that this mindset can help the Gonzaga College High School achieve its desired goals and objectives. It does not only seek to see its students graduate with the academic expertise. On the other hand, it aspires to promote a holistic opportunity for its students to grow and be effective in the professional environment. It is in this that I feel suitable to be included and mature at this educational institution.

Patriots in Lower Canada

Quebec is known as the homeland of the French-speaking Canadians. Its uniqueness in culture was guaranteed by the British North American Act and is a cornerstone of Confederation. Prime Minister Pearson encouraged and advertised the idea of making the Canada as a homeland for French-Canadians and not merely for the Quebec. 1 In 1837, both Upper and Lower Canada had their rebellion opposing the proposed union between the two halves of Canada.The Canadian Patriots who are the Quebecers would like to separate from the British colonialism and led themselves in any affair which for their own benefits. This rebellion was not materialized and there were twelve Patriots in Lower Canada who were put to death and hung in Montreal. Aside from that, there were sixty patriots who were exiled to Australia. In Upper Canada’s case, the rebels who had rebellion were also sent to Australia. After this incident, the Durham report came out and tried to have solutions for the French-Canadian feud. 2 According to Claude Belanger that Durham suggested the â€Å"joining of the Upper and Lower Canada into one legislative union having two administrations to institute responsible government as to remove a major source of friction that had existed between the government and elected officials prior 1837 to assimilate the French†. 3 _______________________ 1. Opinion; Bridging the Solitudes. www. uni. ca/threads/d12. html 2. ibid. 3. C. Belanger. The Durham Report, the Union Act and the Birth of the Separatist/Federalist Attitudes. http://www2. marianopolis. edu/quebechistory/readings/durham.htm *Durham Report Durham report contributed much in the history of Canada. It was able to analyze the root causes of rebellions. Durham’s report has four main topics; these are the causes of conflict in Upper Canada, causes of conflict in Lower Canada, the Union of the Canadas and responsible government. 4 The earl of Durham whose name was John George Lambton introduced the Durham r eport to the Colonial Office in February 4, 1839 but Durham report was consummated in January 1839 that was why it was officially introduced in the following month by the said earl of Durham.5 After the rebellion in 1837, earl John George Lampton was designated as governor general of British North America with special power as lord high commissioner6 to inspect colonial grievances. He arrived in the spring of 1838 in Quebec. The report of earl John George Lampton called â€Å"Report on the Affairs of British North America† was one of the most significant documents in the British Empire history. 7 The report on the affairs of British North America made by Durham report suggested reforms as the creation of municipal governments and a supreme court.According to David Mills on his website that Durham condemned the â€Å"defective constitutional system in Upper Canada where power was monopolized by a petty, corrupt, insolent Tory clique†. Durham was able to narrate the dile mmas as racial and not political based in Lower Canada. He was able to found out that there were two nations fighting in the heart of one state. 8 __________________________ 4. Radical Jack and the Union of the Canadas. www. sd22. bc. ca/vss/library/CBenz/8-3. html 5. D Mills, Durham Report. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Thecanadianecyclopedia. com/index. cfm? PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002473 6.The History of Canada. Durham Report. www. linksnorth. com/canada-history/thedurham. htm 7. ibid. Durham suggested the assimilation of the French Canadians through the legislative union of the Canada to secure harmony and progress9 which they have had between 1791 and 1837. 10 This report of Durham was favored by the reformers in UC and NS which in favored the idea of responsible government but was not accepted by the Upper Canada’s Tory elite. The Montreal Tories showed their support to the union for having a reason of finding it as a way of overcoming the French Canadian opposition for the ir plans in economic development . 11Durham report was mistakenly perceived about its suggestion in assimilating the French Canadians that it came from an intolerant, racist attitude. Durham had his three reasons why he suggested assimilation. The following reasons of Durham report are taken from Claude Belanger: â€Å"*There was, for a variety of reasons, some of which disclose intolerance on the part of Durham, a deadly animosity between the English and the French and this made efficient government of the province impossible. *One should consider who will dominate eventually on this continent; the French of Canada will suffer the fate of the Acadians of Louisiana.If the French cling to their ancestral ways and language, in a continent increasingly dominated by the English, they will put increasingly in a position of hopeless economic and social inferiority. *Because they are French, a spirit of __________________________ 8. Mills, op. cit. 9. ibid. 10. Belanger, op. cit. 11. ibid . exclusion (read: they have been victims of discrimination) has kept them out of the better positions in government and business and has furthered their position of inferiority†. 12As a whole, Durham report regarding his recommendations for separation of powers between colonial and imperial obligations was not accepted. He has one significant mistake of judgment when he stated that the French-speaking Canadians might be influenced by a growing English-speaking majority. 14 When Earl John George Lampton was in Quebec for his few months of staying there, he was busy gathering information which was needed for his report. On the other hand, he was attacked by his political opponents at his own homeland and received great criticism from them.15 After few months of investigation, Earl John George Lampton was able to go home, England, to give his findings about the dilemmas in Canada. He was not able to witness the action that was taken according by his report because he was ill and died after. 16 But indeed, Durham report was able to played a significant role in the progress of Canadian autonomy. 17   12. Mills, op. cit. 13. C. Belanger 14. Mills, op. cit. 15. History of Canada, op. cit 16. †¦ 17. ibid. References 1. Opinion, Bridging the Solitudes.www. uni. ca/threads/d12. html 2. Claude Belanger. The Durham Report, the Union Act and the Birth of the Separatist/FederalistAttitudes. http://www2. marianopolis. edu/quebechistory/readings/durham. htm 3. D Mills, Durham Report. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Thecanadianecyclopedia. com/index. cfm? PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002473 4. The History of Canada. Durham Report. www. linksnorth. com/canada-history/thedurham. htm 5. Radical Jack and the Union of the Canadas. www. sd22. bc. ca/vss/library/CBenz/8-3. html