4 Units Target completion date October 14, 2016 Essays - Biology

4 Units : Target completion date: October 14, 2016 By the End of this guide, I will be able to show I know the following : 1. Able to recognize parts of the cell, simple cell cycle, and how these all relate to how cells function in our bodies both for good and for not so good (such as cancer as a case study) 2. Able to explain how our actions affect the cells and cell systems in our body , and how they respond to changes (such as exercise and the body) 3. Ability to see systems in plants and animals 4. Understand how cancer can be treated and explore possible options for thi s By the end of this guide I will have mastered the following new scientific/research skills: 1. Able to effectively use a microscope to obtain a better understanding of cell structures, and use it to collect data to interpret cell cycles and cells in general 2. Able to write a sound lab report using the necessary parts of a scientific paper 3. Able to use various resources to explain cell cycles, and organ systems The tasks I will have to complete in this guide are: Tasks to Complete What will be done in this part? How is this being used? 1.0 Intro: Henrietta's cells -Questions to answer and discussion in class introduction 1.1 Understanding Cells and Life SMWYK -Figure out a way to learn the different types of cells, parts of the cell and why it is important Learning 1. 2 Using the Microscope EffectivelySkills to practice -ability to use a microscope -able to make a wet mount and observe items at low, medium, and high power Practice 1.3 Observing Cells Labusing what you have learned as well as skills -Using the skills learned in 1 and 2 in real life situations, explaining differences between animal and plant cells Evaluated 2.1 Understanding and Observing Cell Cycle (focus: Mitosis) -Able to explain the various parts of the cell cycle -View under microscope the different stages of mitosis Learning and Evaluation 2.2 Understanding Stem Cells -Learning about stem cells and importance in the future of medicine Learning 2.3 What is Cancer? -Describing cancer and learning about how to treat cancer. Learning 2.4 Cells to Organ Systems -how cells form tissues, then organs, and finally organ systems reading and worksheet (or SMWYK if you would like) Learning 3 . 1 Exercise Lab Activity -understanding how changing the environment on a body will affect organ systems Evaluated 3.2 Plant Tissues Activity -learning about plant tissues and systems through questions and lab exercise Learning 3.3 Fish Dissection -learning about systems through completion of a dissection to show how detailed a body really is Learning and Practice 3.4 Cancer Treatment Project -developing a cancer treatment, testing effectiveness, and then presenting your findings Evaluated 4.0 Biology TEST -demonstrate understanding by completing a test of the content learned Evaluated New Terms In this Guide: Cells and Cell Cycle Cancer and Stem Cells Systems and Exercise Plants and others Activity: 1.0 Henrietta's Cells Objective of the Activity: Understanding the role research plays in our understanding of health and cells. As well, understanding of historical perspective, as sometimes what we do is not ethically proper in different generations. Reading to be done for the questions below. Discussion of the questions and the reading will take place Introduction: Henrietta Lacks' Immortal' Cells Medical researchers use laboratory-grown human cells to learn the intricacies of how cells work and test theories about the causes and treatment of diseases. The cell lines they need are "immortal"they can grow indefinitely, be frozen for decades, divided into different batches and shared among scientists. In 1951, a scientist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, created the first immortal human cell line with a tissue sample taken from a young black woman with cervical cancer. Those cells, called HeLa cells, quickly became invaluable to medical researchthough their donor remained a mystery for decades. In her new book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks , journalist Rebecca Skloot tracks down the story of the source of the amazing HeLa cells, Henrietta Lacks, and documents the cell line's impact on both modern medicine and the Lacks family.

Importances essays

Importances essays One can say there are many things that people overestimate the importance of, but the one that is most bothersome would be the wide world of sports. It is an important aspect in our lives, I mean, it keeps us entertained. But there is absolutely no need for the complete chaos when it comes to the competitive brawl. Not only does it take away from other important issues on the news, it provides poor role models and greed beyond belief. When is it that one can turn on the TV and not see a fight erupt during a sporting event. Whether it would be baseball, football, basketball, or hockey. Do you really want your children to see this and think this is how they should act if they do not win in a game? Its just not right. It is in our nature to be competitive, but lets not take it to the extreme. Athletes need to learn to control their actions and cool down before they do something that they regret. Not only do athletes play dirty, but coaches and fans as well. And all because of a bad call or a sore loss? Its just not worth it. Athletes are supposed to be looked at as positive role models to whom people look up to. Now, we see them on the daily news breaking the laws. Heres an example, Kobe Bryant put on sexual assault charges. Thats real nice, a thing a child should see for sure on TV. And what about all the athletes that are doing drugs and taking steroids? Its a joke; they should be able to perform their athletic abilities without a drug to boost their performance. Thats not a true athlete. So think twice about the athlete that you think is so great, because it may not be all his effort. While talking to one of my friends, he stated that a television program that he was enjoying was interrupted by a special news brief which startled him. He thought something had gone wrong in this world of ours. But no, it was an update on the trade o ...

News Program Analysis Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

News Program Analysis - Research Paper Example This will include and analysis of this students findings. How are the three different forms of coverage portrayed and how the segment framed with regard to the presentation and the bias? X- Reports the floods in the south are historic this May 19, 2011. It crested at 57.1 feet Thursday, and the weather service predicts the crest will hold through at least Saturday morning in Vicksburg. The flood also claimed the first victim in the state. Vicksburg resident Walter Cook, who died after pulled from floodwaters, according to the Warren County coroner, who said Thursday it is not clear how Cook results in them. For some, the cresting floodwaters, which damaged hundreds of homes and displaced 2,000 Vicksburg residents, was cause for relief. For others, it was a reason to celebrate. Y reports VIDALIA, La. - Natchez, Mississippi occupies a prominent bluff overlooking the big river. Tourist attractions, the city is well off and mostly dries, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds. Just across the water, in the lowlands, lies Vidalia, Louisiana. A, working class town, is on the edge of a ruinous flood. At least 300 people are out of work and riverfront businesses there are out of commission. The convention center, the hotel, hospital, and medical building are inches from inundation and losing as much as $1 million a month. The flooding on the Mississippi River is sure to cost billions of dollars in damage and lost business and diverting floodwaters away from New Orleans may not reduce the cost of this disaster by much. How much will the flooding cost the southern-flooded areas and the rest of the U.S.? CBS News business and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis said on "The Early Show" Tuesday that the area affected by flooding is very significant to the national economy because of its gasoline resources. Z reports, Eddie Simmons relieved to hear that the Mississippi River crested slightly lower than expected north of him in Vicksburg LA, confident his house woul d survive the flooding that is plaguing many states. Simmons, a retired logger, is recovering from hip-replacement surgery and can barely leave his bed. Despite water swamping his front yard and creeping beneath his house in Port Gibson, he has decided to ride it out. "It's God's work. You have to deal with him. You can run to high ground, but if God wants to come there, he can come there. You might as well stay put, he said". The Mississippi River crested at more than 14 feet above flood stage in Vicksburg on Thursday, slightly lower than expected, easing worries about water potentially spilling over a nearby levee and inundating thousands more acres of farmland. Still, officials warned that the flood was by no means over. The river expected to stay at its crest for several days before beginning a long, slow retreat. It could remain above flood stage until mid-June. Television stories are subjective or objective, informal or formal to represent the TV story reporting a certain appr oach. The definition of objective and subjective: Objective/formal this statement is completely unbiased. The speaker’s previous experiences or tastes have nothing to do with the report. It is verifiable by looking up facts or performing mathematical calculations. Subjective/informal the character of the speaker or writer colors this statement. It often has a basis in reality, but reflects the perspective through with the speaker views reality. It cannot be verified using concrete facts and numbers. We use our examples listed above, X appears to have an objective point of view. This

India's global success in the film industry Essay

India's global success in the film industry - Essay Example Cinema is a major industry in India. A film industry uses many technological and commercial institutions of film making. A Cinema or a film industry depicts the culture and the art of a country in the movie that it usually make, the Indian film industry is famous for its distinguished melodrama style of film making. The Indian film industry is multi lingual. The main language used in the films of India is either Hindi or Urdu, besides these languages there are other languages such as Punjabi, Marathi, Bengali, etc that are used to present film and they target their respective language speakers. The Indian film industry in famously known as †Bollywood†, this name is an amalgamation of Bombay (the previous name used for the Indian city of Mumbai) and the ever popular Hollywood (a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California where the American cinema exists). (Bollywood History) Cinema made its first step into the Indian subcontinent in the year 1896 when Lumiere Brothers cinematograph film was screened in the city of Bombay on 7th July, 1986. This day, the concept of cinema was introduced in the Indian subcontinent but the initial silent film â€Å"Raja Harishchandra† (made by Indians totally) was released in 1913 to mark the start of the great Indian cinema. With this film, a trend of mythological and religious films took over the concept of film making in the Indian film Industry and this was further revolutionized in 1931 with the inception of sound in the first talking Indian film â€Å"Alam Ara†. The period after India’s independence was considered to be the golden era of the Indian film industry with respect to the songs, movies, etc made in the Indian film industry, by the 1970s and the 80s era, the Indian film industry had reached a great height and global recognition. In 1992, this global recognition was further enhanced in 19 92 when Satyajit Ray, an Indian filmmaker received a life time achievement Oscar for his excellent work and the

Research an Issue in Corrections Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An Issue in Corrections - Research Paper Example Choosing between work and family life has been most significant concern that affects job satisfaction and work stress among correctional officers. The two articles: The time has passed for the wardens shuffle by Laura E. Bedard Mar 13, 2015 and what’s it like being a CO spouse? By Brandy Aldriedge May 27, 2014 explores some of these instances and correctional management issue. The time has passed for the wardens shuffle is an exciting article exploring the challenges that various wardens go through as they are shuffled from one station to the next. The reason that has always been given by the authority is that when doing so issues of management are boosted as corruption, and other malpractices are minimized. However, the article faults this old fashioned practice. One notable argument from the article is that many of the wardens get completely isolated from their loved ones and family members during the process making them lose the needed morale at work. The article points to the fact that there should be a balance between work and family to ensure effectiveness in workstations rather than outdated warden shuffle. On the other hand, what’s it like being a CO spouse? Is an article that gives an account of the experiences that spouses married to correctional officers go through. The article explores the discomfort and loneliness these couples undergo throughout their marriage life. It is an agony that is never ending. More often than not the correctional officer has to choose between their family and the work he does. Most interestingly is the fact that these correctional officers have more probability of committing suicide compared to individuals in other professions in America. Furthermore, their life expectancy is 58 years which is 20 years less than any ordinary Americans. These according to the article are all as a result of poor work and family balance. The same correctional officers according to the article

Shareholder Vs Stakeholder Theory Management Essay

Shareholder Vs Stakeholder Theory Management Essay His views reflect Adam Smiths view that firms operate solely for the purpose of making a profit which contributes to the overall well being of society. Any business activity is justified as long as it increases the value of the firm to its shareholder (Cochran, 1994). Friedman (2005) acknowledges one reason for the existence of firms and that is to make a profit for its shareholders. According to Friedman, firms do not exists to change the world or to do good. He pushes the Shareholder Theory to the extent that he declares as theft or violation of management responsibility any form of donation by the firm, be it in time, in kind, or in monetary measures, by the managers from the investors o the firm (Ruf et al, 1998). Shareholder theory has been widely misinterpreted and quoted in its extreme sense. Carroll (1998) qualifies that although Friedman does insist that the only responsibility of the firm is to record profits for its shareholders, he goes on to state that the firm must operate within acceptable legal and societal parameters. The Shareholder perspective of a firm has been widely challenged over the past years. Authors such as Low and Cowton (2004) and Agatiello (2008) argue that the sole mission of firms to be profit maximisers is incorrect and inappropriate. Todays modern organisation is so complex that reducing it to such simple terms and motivations oversimplifies the same nature of the commercial organisation. Spence (2001) writes that the Stakeholder Theory has emerged as an alternative for the Shareholder Theory of the firm. According to Freeman (1984), the term stakeholder can be traced back to management literature of 1963 when the term was defined as those groups without whose support the organisation would cease to exist. Stakeholder theory recognises that firms have a much wider base of interested parties other than the shareholders and holds that the firm must honour its duties and responsibilities towards all of the parties. The shareholders are simply one group of the several groups which has a claim on the firm (Heath and Norman, 2004). Deck (1994) gives an interesting interpretation of the Stakeholder Theory. While he recognises that the objective of an organisation is to create wealth and distribute this amongst its investors, he explains how the investors are not only represented by the shareholders, but, in fact can and do take the form of other groups such as employees and the society in general, who invest knowledge and skills in the firm. Indeed Halal (2000) argues that the resources invested by stakeholders are roughly tenfold that invested by the shareholders. Post et al (2002) claim that risk is not only limited to financial exposure but also includes risks to employment, career opportu nity, environmental impact and quality of products and services. If a firm fails, employees lose their jobs and possibly also their retirement plans. In line with this argument, firm benefits should not only be distributed to the financial investors, but profits should be divided amongst all those bearing risk within the organisation. 2.2 The Triple Bottom Line A win-win outcome for organisations and stakeholders is that created by the Triple Bottom Line (Elkington, 1998). This is an attempt to shift business towards a stakeholder-based approach. The idea behind the 3BL paradigm is that a corporations success should be measured not just by the traditional financial bottom line, but also by social/ethical and environmental performance (Norman and MacDonald, 2004). The People, Planet, Profit triangle postulates how profit is to be perceived from three perspectives. A positive triple bottom line reflects an increase in the companys value, including both its profitability and shareholder value and its social, human and environmental capital (Savitz, 2006). Even if the three aspects of sustainability environmental, social and economic already existed, Elkingtons principle played a crucial role in shaping initiatives such as the Global Reporting Initiative and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (Berkovics, 2010). The novelty of the 3BL lies i n the contention of its supporters that the fulfilment of its obligations to communities, employees, customers and suppliers should be measured, calculated, audited and reported, just like financial performance had been for the past hundred years. The major fallacy of the 3BL approach is that whilst authors speak of the benefit of measuring the benefits accruing from three perspectives, no one has suggested how to use the data on social performance to calculate some form of net social bottom line. Adding up the financial pluses and deducting the minuses is much easier than summing up the environmental achievements and shortcomings of a firm (MacDonald and Norman, 2004). 2.3 Defining CSR In his seminal work entitled Social Responsibilities of the Businessman, Bowen (1953) defined CSR as the entrepreneurs obligation to pursue those policies, to make those decisions or to follow the lines of action which are desirable in terms of the objectives and values of society. It is because of this work that authors such as Carroll (1999) and Windsor (2001) have declared Bowen to be the Father of CSR. In todays world of increased globalisation, environmental awareness, recessionary pressures and high insecurity, there are increasing pressures on entrepreneurs and organisations to deliver increased societal value (Jenkins, 2006). Weber (2008) posits that although the concept of CSR is widely discussed, a universally accepted definition still needs to emerge (Turker, 2009). Further Van Marrewijk (2003) claims that a one solutions fits all explanation of CSR is virtually impossible as the concept takes on a different meaning for each organisation, depending on the levels of awareness and ambition of the firm itself. In the 1970s authors of the subject began to indicate that the emphasis on responsibility implied accountability. That, according to Carroll (1979) was too narrow and static an interpretation in order to fully picture the social efforts of the firms. As a result of this criticism two new concepts emerged: Corporate Social Responsiveness (CSR2) and Corporate Social Performance (CSP). CSR2 links CSR with strategic management and stresses the proactive approach required from companies. CSP offered a managerial framework to deal with CSR and attempted to measure it. Frederick (1994) refers to CRS2 as a conceptual transition from the philosophical aspect of CSR to the more action-oriented approach. Several authors such as Ackermann and Bauer (1976), Vallentin (2009), Sethi (1979) also support this view. Others like Carroll (1979) however argue that the term responsiveness is not an appropriate replacement for responsibility. He argues that any action which is not the fruit of reflection and responsibility is not exactly a refinement of a concept which merely encourages responsibility. Firms may indeed be responsive and irresponsible! CSP emerged as a multidimensional concept which embraced the interaction of social responsibility, social responsiveness and the policies corporations designed to address such issues (Watrick and Cochran, 1985). CSP therefore focuses attention from corporate motivations to corporate action and implementation. Although the term CSP tends to give a more dynamic and pragmatic interpretation of the concept it has not been left uncriticised. Authors such as Davenport (2000) look at CSP as a theoretical creation of the scholars. The terms CSR, CSR2 and CSP are often used interchangeably and today, much of the literature simply uses the single term CSR to mean both the firms acceptance of responsibilities and the actions and policies it undertakes in the area (Ciliberti et al 2008). The writings of McGuire (1963), Davis (1960), and Sethi (1975) all concur that CSR describes the responsibilities of a firm which extend beyond what is the legal obligations of the firm. In other words, CSR starts where the law ends. Carroll (1979) is also in support of this view and in his work in 1991 presents a Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibilities to include all, economic, legal, ethical and discretionary responsibilities which emanate from the existing operations of organisations. Although Carroll presents his model in the form of a pyramid with the economic concerns of the firm as the base, he tells us that his model does not, in fact portray a continuum and that the four facets of organisational responsibility are not mutually exclusive. Discretionary Responsibilities Be a good corporate citizen Ethical Responsibilities Be ethical Legal Responsibilities Obey the Lay Economic Responsibilities Be profitable Figure 2: The Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility Carroll (1991) In 2003 Schwartz and Carroll presented the different facets of CSR in a different format. This time they moved away from the pyramid structure which seems to have implied some form or natural progression from one level to another and presented their model in the form of a Venn diagram. Furthermore they only included three of Carrolls earlier CSR aspects. Schwartz and Carroll (2003) represented the economic, legal and ethical responsibilities but omitted the discretionary category. Indeed it is inappropriate to regard discretionary and philanthropic activities as responsibilities. Purely Ethical Purely Legal Purely Economic Ethical / Legal Legal / Economic Ethical / Economic Legal / Economic / Ethical Figure 3 : The Three-Domain Model of CSR Schwartz and Carroll (2003) 2.4 A Modern Interpretation of CSR In 2001 The European Union presented a Green Paper entitled Promoting a European Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility. In this paper CSR was defined as a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis. Pivato et al (2008) argue that this is one of the most common interpretations of CSR and it is consistent with recent academic literature. Stakeholder theory gained importance in the 1990s and continues to maintain its position as a focused area of study in CSR (Wang, 2008). More recently, in October 2011, the EU Commission published a new policy on CSR wherein it states that for a firm to meet its social responsibility it should have in place a process to integrate social, environmental, ethical and human rights concerns into their business operations and core strategy in close collaboration with their stakeholders . The EU also put forward a new definition of CSR as the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society. The EU intends that firms will abide by their responsibility when they respect the applicable legislation and aim for collective agreements between social partners. Another important aspect of the new EU approach to CSR is the fact that the emphasis is not only on the private sector firms only, but the maximisation of the creation of shared value for society is now also expected of public sector firms. This new policy advances an action agenda for the three year period up to 2014 covering eight distinct areas which detail how the EU intends ensuring that firms embrace this CSR concept. This action plan aims to enhance the visibility of CSR and the dissemination of good practices; improve and track levels of trust in business; improve self-and co-regulation processes; enhance market reward for CSR; improve company disclosure on social and environmental information; further integrate CSR into education, training and research; emphasise the importance of national and sub-national CSR policies and better align European and global approaches to CSR. The EU commission reports that small and medium sized firms are the predominant form of enterprise in the European Union (EU Commission, 2012). The EU further claims that if Europe and its enterprises are to reap the full benefit of CSR, then it is imperative that SMEs engage fully in CSR and are recognised for their initiatives. This is very challenging as CSR has traditionally been the domain of the corporate sector, but recognition of the increasing importance of the SME sector has led to an emphasis on their social and environmental impact (Jenkins, 2004) 2.5 CSR and SMEs Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are the engine of the European economy. They are an essential course of jobs, create entrepreneurial spirit and innovation in the EU and are thus crucial for fostering competitiveness and employment (Verheugen, 2005). In 2003 the EU revised its 1996 definition of an SME and within the 27 member states, today an SME is a firm with fewer than 250 employees and with a turnover of less than à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬50 million or balance sheet totals of less than à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬43 million. Apart from these quantifications, firms must be independent, i.e. separate from an economic group that is stronger than itself. Medium Sized Firms Small Firms Micro Firms Enterprise Category Head Count (Annual Work Unit Turnover Balance Sheet Totals à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬10 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬10 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 50 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬43 million OR OR OR OR Figure: 4 EU Definition of an SME Source: EU Commission (2003) The EU reports that even in 2012 SMEs have kept their position as the backbone of the European economy, with around 20.7 million firms accouting for more than 98% of all enterprises of which 92.2% are firms which employ fewer than 10 people (Wymenga et al 2012). Wymenga (2012) reports that in 2012 SMEs accounted for 67% of total employment, at around 87 million people and 58% of gross value added. The Maltese economy is one of the smallest economies in the EU: this implies that the relevance of SMEs for the domestic economy is indeed crucial. There are a little less than 30,000 firms in Malta, and with the exception of 44 large firms, the rest employ less than 250 workers. In fact, the economy is dominated by micro-sized firms (95.1%). Small and Medium-Sized firms in Malta account for 4.7% of business organisations, employ 41.8% of the labour force and account for 38.3% of the islands value-added. Micro firms employ 34.4% of the labour force in Malta and account for 26.3% of the value added (EU Commission, 2012). Medium Sized Firms Small Firms Micro Firms Enterprise Category Head Count (Annual Work Unit Turnover Balance Sheet Totals à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬10 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬10 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 50 million à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬43 million OR OR OR ORFox (2005) contends that all organisations impact on society and the environment in a number of ways through their operations. For this reason, CSR is important in large and small firms alike (Moore and Spence, 2006). The importance of SMEs in CSR literature has, however been overlooked (Perrini and Minoja, 2008; Ciliberti et al, 2008, Moore and Spence, 2006 ). A study carried out by Jenkins in 2004 reveals that much of the thinking about CSR in SMEs is based on unfounded assumptions. It is erroneously assumed that large companies are the norm and therefore, as a consequence all CSR approaches have predominantly been designed and are intended for large firms. Further, it has been presumed that small firms are little large firms differentiating themselves from large corporations merely on the basis of size (Jenkins, 2004). It is clear that SMEs are not miniature large companies, and as such the same practices which have been designed for large firms are difficult to fit to small org anisations (Williamson et al, 2006). A study of Swiss multinational companies (MNCs) and SMEs reveals that contrary to what is perceived by much of the literature on the subject, small firms possess several organisational characteristics that could promote the integration of CSR practices as core business functions, while MNCs possess the disposition to enhance communication and reporting on CSR. CSR is therefore not a function of company size, but rather of company characteristics (Spence, 2011 et al). Structure is one of the factors that distinguishes large from small firms. While large firms tend to organise themselves with a bureaucratic structure and formalisation, small firms are characterised by loose informal working relationships (Perez-Sanchez, 2003). The behaviour of small firms is strongly dependent on the characteristics and management style of the owner himself, whilst in large firms this is not so strongly felt (Tilley, 2000). Perrini (2006) argues that small firms are mostly owner-managed and are run on personal relationships. Gond and Igalens (2008) pin the level of CSR commitment by SMEs as directly dependent on the personality and personal convictions of its managing director. Age plays a significant role here, with the younger owner/managers display greater CSR awareness; gender has no impact on CSR deployment (Ede et al, 2000). Some authors are in disagreement as to whether the educational background of the owner/manager has any bearing on the level of CSR activ ity. (Ede et al, 2000; Spence et al, 2000). Spence et al (2007), confirm this claim and go one step further by asserting that it is the directors vision for the future of his business and his understanding and perception of internal resources which determine CSR engagement in SMEs. Bonneveux et al (2012) report that the capacity of a director to locate and integrate new resources is fundamental to the integration of CSR measures and initiatives. The correlation between CSR engagement by SMEs and the perception and motivation of the firms director and how he sees and reacts to CSR issues is thus reinforced. Ownership and management in large firms are more separate and distinct than they are in small firms. In small firms, control remains in the hands of one of the owners, possibly putting him in a position where he can make personal choices with respect to the allocation of resources (Spence and Rutherfoord (2001). Given this particular management characteristic, the choice of CSR engagement in SMEs is mostly determined by the personal attributes of the owner/manager. A study of US SMEs employing between 5 and 500 workers suggests that efforts to influence owners and managers to implement environmental CSR initiatives such as for example waste reduction need great focus on changing individual attitudes (Bennington et al, 2012). Stewart et al (2011) also confirm the link between leadership and the successful uptake of CSR and sustainability in SMEs. According to the shareholder perspective postulated by Friedman (1970) the owner of a small business has the right to follow their own ethical beliefs in the allocation of organisational resources as they own the business and therefore it follows that they are using their own funds to finance any CSR activity. This is not so in large firms where ownership and control are separate and the investor of the funds does not have any say on how the funds he has contributed are being divested. In support of CSR engagement even based on a shareholder perspective of the firm, Stewart et al (2012) report measurable results in terms of business performance which can be directly attributable to the SMEs greater social and environmental engagement. The study highlights the relationship between learning, the development of organisational values that underpin CSR and improved business performance within the SME context. Perrini (2006) contends that SMEs are, at many times stretched by multitasking, troubled by the limited cash available, and controlled by an informal mechanism. On the other hand, large firms are more likely to engage in carefully planned, formal, strategic management (Jenkins, 2004). Jenkins (2004) tells us that most SMEs are more likely to be concerned about the day-to-day survival then by understanding concepts such as CSR. He contends that the term CSR alienates some of the small firms and that the language used needs to be simpler. In this respect, the European Commission has propo9sed the term Responsible Entrepreneurship in lieu of social responsibility of SMEs. Jenkins research however reveals that small firms regards CSR as an all embracing concept involving three pillars: sustainability; awareness of and responsibility towards a range of stakeholders, the relative importance of whom varies from one firm to another. This implies that most SMEs describe CSR on the lines of the stakeholder theory. Jenkins (2004) reveals that SMEs are consistent in their identification of stakeholders and point towards the environmental management, employees, the community/society, and the supply chain. It is not at all surprising that SMEs focus their initiatives on the loc al community. SME owner/managers usually live in the same area in which the firm operates (CSR Europe, 2003). SMEs, in fact, rely much more that large firms on the prosperity of the community in which they operate as most of their customers and employees come from the surrounding area. Castka et al (2004) confirms that SMEs and large firms are not only different in nature but also in the way in which they approach CSR. They found that small businesses approach CSR informally and do not usually have pre-determined objectives or formal procedures for measuring the performance of objectives to external stakeholders. Further, large firms are more likely to adopt formal instruments to design CSR initiatives such as codes of conduct, ISO certification and social reporting (Graafland et al (2003). Large firms tend to integrate CSR as part of their business operations whilst SMEs consider CSR as an add on activity (Jenkins, 2004) and conduct CSR on an ad-hoc basis usually unrelated to their business strategy. Jenkins (2004) argues that the motivation for CSR engagement differs between large and small firms. Jenkins (2006) explains that the growing visibility and the increased impact of large firms globally have called for greater accountability and transparency. On the other hand, small firms remain largely invisible and are not driven by external pressures, but rather by an internal drive to do the right thing or putting something back or showing entrepreneurial spirit (Jenkins, 2004). The force which drives SMEs to engage in CSR activities is therefore more ethical rather than commercial. Gupta et al (2012) conducted a study of Indian SMEs in which they highlight the many benefits which accrue to SMEs engaging in CSR initiatives. Small and medium-sized firms actively engaging in CSR were reported to enjoy an endless list of advantages amongst which were improved image, reputation, trust and understanding. Firms also secured a better market position and improved financial performance; in creased attractiveness to potential recruits, increased employee motivation, cost savings and increased efficiency, efficient risk management systems and more business overall. CSR can be the stimulus for increased motivation and productivity amongst a firms workforce (Salquin et al, 2007; Berger-Douce, 2008). An awareness and understanding of the challenges posed by CSR can actually form an excellent basis for organisational differentiation and competitive advantage (Kechiche et al, 2012). Not all academics concord and Jenkins (2006) asserts that SMEs undertake CSR simply for its own sake and refrain from using it as a method of self promotion as the large firms do. According to Fassin (2008), CSR is a rather informal action, and therefore more intuitive rather than strategic and for this reason, SMEs will hardly enjoy all the benefits that CSR engagement implies. Jenkins (2004) emphasises that owner/managers of small firms are mainly preoccupied with the economic viability of their firms and spend a large part of their time and energy focusing on this aspect of their business. One main feature of SMEs is that the owner/manager is the person who deals with the day-to-day operations of the firm as well as other projects. This is distinct from large firms, where there is a dedicated CSR department with resources being specialised for this function. For this reason, time and resources are identified as the greatest constraints which SMEs face with respect to investing in CSR initiatives. Gupta et al (2012) also claim that the initial cost of CSR is at times higher for SMEs as they conduct small business and they justified request for government assistance and support in the implementation of CSR in the firm. The owner/managers of the UK firms studies by Jenkins revealed that they difficulties trying to convince reluctant employees to involve them selves in CSR activities. Furthermore, the excessive number of short term projects, the lack of information (Berger-Douce, 2008), the problems with measuring intangible benefits and the difficulties of making connections in a small community where other common adversities faced by SMEs. SMEs also meet difficulties which are related to the market, particularly restrictions in applying environmental and/or societal legislation because of its complexity and the rigidity of procedures. SMEs complain of the lack of adequate support services and infrastructure (Kechiche et al, 2012). Despite the adversities faced, Castka et al (2004) reveal that SMEs acknowledge that there is a need for them to conduct business in a socially responsible manner. When researching Swedish SMEs, Pettersson et al (2012) found that CSR activities become more important for some stakeholders, particularly in times of difficulties and revealed an increased need for CSR engagement. They report that SMEs can strategically use CSR activities in order to develop a competitive advantage through differentiation by creating societal advantage. They claim that CSR activities become more important for some stakeholders, particularly in times of difficulties. Jenkins (2004) posits that SMEs are often active members in their community. In support of this Perrini (2006) reports that 50% of European SMEs are engaged in socially responsible activities. He explains how there is a positive correlation between the degree of involvement and the size of the enterprise with 48% of very small firms, 65% of sm all and 70% of medium sized firms being engaged in CSR activities. A study of Danish SMEs carried out in 2005 (Danish National Labour Market Authority) identified seven areas of CSR deployment, namely, the workforce, the environment, stakeholder engagement, marketplace activities, supply chain activities, internal management activities and charitable and voluntary activities. The study revealed that work-force related CSR activities were most diffused with 54% of all CSR activities, environmental activities occupied 51% of all initiatives and supply chain activities only occupy 22% of all initiatives. On the other hand, the barometer of sustainable development within French SMEs (CROCIS, 2007) reports that 96% of firms in the Paris area had implemented sustainable development measures while 47% of these firms had good links with the community through sponsorship deals, charitable events, back-to-work/employability schemes etc. Other academics, (Saulquin et al, 2005; Berger-Douce, 20 08) are in support of this picture and confirm that employees appear to be well treated in the majority of SMEs. Fox (2005) reports that the most likely reason for SMEs to engage in environmental management is when this becomes critical in attracting and retaining business either locally or internationally. Saulquin et al (2010) affirm this by reporting that there is great sensitivity by SMEs to the wellbeing of their employees and their community links. In support of this, other authors claim that large companies influence the behaviour of small firms in their supply chain in particular in relation to environmental protection, labour and human rights, health and safety (Jorgensen and Knudsen, 2005). Worthington et al (2006) tells us that UK SMEs invested in a range of CSR activities and the most common forms of CSR deployment ranged from donating to local causes and charities, sponsorships of local events and organisations, support for local schools and colleges, environmental init iatives, ethical purchasing and staff related activities. 2.6. Capability Maturity Model Fassin (2008), contends that most SMEs regard CSR as rather informal action and refers to it as an intuitive initiative rather than strategic process. On the other hand, Spence et al (2011) affirm that MNC are often seen to assume responsibility by implementing CSR-related organisational practices and structures which permit them to interact directly with civil society. Further, however, MNCs are often accused of using CSR as a front to cover up the more real business practices. Indeed it is important to analyse the depth and effectiveness with which organisations embed CSR within their operations so as to distinguish between CSR talk and CSR practice (Spence et al, 2011). The Capability Maturity Model is an organisational model which describes five evolutionary stages in which a firm manages its processes. An organisation which treats CSR as an ad hoc activity will be at the initial stage. As the firm matures in its approach to CSR and embraces CSR more and more as part of its core business practice it starts to progress through the next four levels, namely: managed, defined, qualitatively managed, optimizing. The maturity levels offer a structure to the discipline needed for continuous improvement. This paradigm is useful to determine the reason behind different levels of organisational CSR commitment and what it takes for a firm to progress to the next level of commitment. Level 1 INITIAL Level 2 MANAGED Level 3 DEFINED Level 4 QUANTITATIVELY MANAGED Level 5 OPTIMIZING Process unpredictable, Poorly controlled and reactive Processes characterised for projects, and is often reactive Processes characterised for the Organisation and is proactive Process measured, and controlled Focus on process improvement Figure 5: The Capability Maturity Model Humphrey, 1989

Ted Hughes’ Ideas about Poetry :: Ted Hughes The Jaguar The Thought Fox Essays

Ted Hughes’ Ideas about Poetry Ted Hughes, was born in 1939 and died in 1989, he wrote two poems, The Jaguar and The Thought-Fox. These are the poems that I am discussing in my essay and also what his ideas are on the poems. He also specialises in nature poems and these are what we have also been studying. The Thought-Fox is quite a different poem. It wasn’t written about the fox it was written about him writing about the fox (confusing I Know!!!). The Jaguar on the other hand, was about the animal and it was describing the animal, can you tell the difference and how he likes to differ his poems â€Å"You don’t have to bother about commas or full stops or that sort of thing† to Ted punctuation is not important, but the senses are: â€Å" Just look at it, touch it, smell it, listen to it, turn yourself into it† as he believes senses are there to help you. If you write a poem completely different to another poet and you are worried about your work,/ Ted believes that you should not care about what other people have written it is your own work that matters and how you find it â€Å" Do not care how other people have written about this thing, this is the way you find it†. With ‘The Thought-Fox’ he thinks that a fox comes and walks in front of him and sits down, so he gets this image in his head and it creates things he can write down in a poem. At the start, he cannot think of anything to write but at the end he has created a poem. He also believes that a poem and an animal are one and the same, â€Å"A fox that is both a fox and not a fox†. Another quote â€Å"The words have a body for it and the poem has give the fox somewhere to walk† in other words the poem has brought the fox to life. ‘The Jaguar’ however, is very much different. He is actually writing about the animal in the poem and not how he thought of what to write about the subject. With the structure, ‘The Jaguar’ has five verses, four lines in each verse and around nine words in each line. ‘The Thought-Fox’ has around the same, six verses, four lines in each verse and about four to eight words in each verse. Alliteration, similes and metaphors are also common in most of his poems and as I have said he uses a lot of the senses. For example â€Å"A fox’s nose touches† and â€Å"Two

Impact of Mobile Phones Essay

Effects Of Using Mobile Phones Too Much In today’s fast-moving and globalised world it is almost impossible to imagine our day-to-day life without mobile-phones. It is one of the most successful inventions of the 20th century, which has become a convenient means of communication. Modern mobile phones perform many other functions as well; they can substitute for such devices as music players, cameras and organizers. Most of them also provide Internet access and texting. According to the U.N. Telecom agency, there were almost 6 billion cell phone users in the world, with almost 86 gadgets for every 100 people. There is nothing strange in this fact, as modern people need phones in all spheres of their lives – professional and personal. But we do not notice how much we depend on cell phones and what effects their excessive use might bring. There are certain harmful health effects, which might be caused by the immoderate use of cell phones. According to modern researches, the most menacing problem is connection be tween cell phones and cancer. Even though the data remains controversial, most scientists agree that there is a certain threat from using cell phones too much. It is reported, that people who talk on the phone for several hours a day are 50% more likely to develop brain cancer. The reason for this is the radio waves produced by mobile phones. It is calculated, that every minute the human brain receives about 220 electromagnetic impulses, which are not necessarily harmful, but which definitely affect the brain in cases of prolonged impact. Recent studies report two types of brain cancer may occur – glioma and acoustic neuroma. Apart from cancer risk, mobile phones influence our nervous system. They may cause headaches, decreased attention, shortness of temper, sleep disorders and depression, mostly among teenagers. Radio waves are not the only reason for such symptoms. It is the sad reality, that nowadays many people, especially youth, experience lack of human contact, and they try to compensate it by mobil e-phone communication, which is not an adequate substitute for personal intercourse. Adolescence is not an easy period of life, and at that time a young person is especially vulnerable. In cases of excessive mobile phone use there is a possibility of becoming addicted to the phone; the real world seems to fade in comparison with hours-long chats and hundreds of messages. These aspects cause psychological problems, as people start to feel uncomfortable in face-to-face communication. There are  also other effects that should be mentioned. There is certain risk for pregnant women and their children, so they are strongly recommended to reduce usage of cell phones. Some studies provide information about harmful effects of cell phones on the male reproductive system, so men should not carry phones in the pockets of their trousers. Most research reports that texting and playing games on mobile phones is also harmful for eyes. Regarding games it also worth mentioning, that sometimes they cause irritability and aggressiveness, especially among children and teenagers. Today’s world is a world of technology and inventions, and there are many tools which essentially facilitate our life. Mobile phones play an important role in the development of human civilization, but their excessive use brings severe problems. To reduce their harmful effects, one shoul d always remember that mobile phone is a friend, not a master, and it should never be used too much.

Canadian Peacekeeping essays

Canadian Peacekeeping essays Canadian Peacekeeping is a complicated issue. It involves many able bodies and difficult procedures to ensure peoples safety. Peacekeeping plays an enormous role in Canada. Peacekeeping started in Canada, back in 1957, when a Canadian diplomat, Lester B. Pearson, was serving as the Secretary General of the United Nations. Anglo- French forces attacked Egypt in order to secure the Suez Canal. At the same time, Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula up the coastline of the Canal. Pearson believed that something should be done to ensure a stable truce. He proposed the idea of an armed peacekeeping force, to diminish the situation. The United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) approved the idea, and they created a neutral or a buffer zone. Within six days the conflict was resolved. Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his innovation of peacekeeping. He became a Prime Minister of Canada in 1958. Canada has still maintained a contingent with the United Nations throughout its entire existence, and has participated in most armed and unarmed missions. The United Nations is made up of one hundred and fifty nine nations that work for world peace. It was established October 24, 1945 after World War Two. The two most important goals the United Nations strive for are: Peace and Human dignity. The United Nations comes into play when a country/ or countries can not maintain a conflict within themselves therefore they need help settling disputes. They also help people in parts of the world gain freedom and a better way of life. The United Nations includes four basic purposes and five principles. The four purposes are: 1. To preserve world peace. 2. To encourage nations to be just or fair in conflicts. 3. To cooperate in trying to solve difference between them. 4. To serve as an agency through which nations can work toward goals. The five principals are: 1. Equal righ...

Free Essays on River Symbolism In Huck Finn

The Mississippi River is a crucial symbol of freedom in the novel, â€Å"Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain. It provides an escape for Huck and Jim from the restrictions of society and from civilization. This symbol has a great significance to the story’s plot as well as its structure. As Huck and Jim set off down the river, it moves freely, fluidly and smoothly, and yet it is fast-paced. This represents the way the two characters are feeling at the time, free from society’s grip and able to quickly change their views and attitudes about each other. However, images of society are given along side the sides of this river, even though Huck and Jim are trying to escape them. Jim especially sees the river as a method of freedom, because his whole life he has been restricted even more than Huck or Tom have. Both characters regardless enjoy the rush they get when they travel down the river on their raft of sovereignty. Because they do not have to answer to anyone’s demands, Huck and Jim take pleasure in having the river take them away to their freedom. However, the outside world tries to invade the raft and ruin the characters’ quest for liberty. It brings them floods and criminals, among other things. It also blocks their path to freedom, which was meant to be the Ohio River, when it causes a dark, thick fog to obstruct their view. So, the river is not always on the characters’ side. As Huck and Jim run into characters who intend on bringing their downfall, they take the river as a mode of escape. This gives them temporary freedom from their problems, however it brings another problem in turn. Huck and Jim, by doing this, push themselves further into these bad situations, and the river soon becomes more of a method of quick escape rather than a heavenly means of freedom. Also, the river pushes them further into the Southern area, which poses a problem for Jim. Again, showing that the river can go against the charac... Free Essays on River Symbolism In Huck Finn Free Essays on River Symbolism In Huck Finn The Mississippi River is a crucial symbol of freedom in the novel, â€Å"Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain. It provides an escape for Huck and Jim from the restrictions of society and from civilization. This symbol has a great significance to the story’s plot as well as its structure. As Huck and Jim set off down the river, it moves freely, fluidly and smoothly, and yet it is fast-paced. This represents the way the two characters are feeling at the time, free from society’s grip and able to quickly change their views and attitudes about each other. However, images of society are given along side the sides of this river, even though Huck and Jim are trying to escape them. Jim especially sees the river as a method of freedom, because his whole life he has been restricted even more than Huck or Tom have. Both characters regardless enjoy the rush they get when they travel down the river on their raft of sovereignty. Because they do not have to answer to anyone’s demands, Huck and Jim take pleasure in having the river take them away to their freedom. However, the outside world tries to invade the raft and ruin the characters’ quest for liberty. It brings them floods and criminals, among other things. It also blocks their path to freedom, which was meant to be the Ohio River, when it causes a dark, thick fog to obstruct their view. So, the river is not always on the characters’ side. As Huck and Jim run into characters who intend on bringing their downfall, they take the river as a mode of escape. This gives them temporary freedom from their problems, however it brings another problem in turn. Huck and Jim, by doing this, push themselves further into these bad situations, and the river soon becomes more of a method of quick escape rather than a heavenly means of freedom. Also, the river pushes them further into the Southern area, which poses a problem for Jim. Again, showing that the river can go against the charac...

T-test and Correlation Statistics Project Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

T-test and Correlation - Statistics Project Example This paper will analyze difference in the percentage usage of prepositions in writing between native and non native speaker of English in their texts. For this, 10 texts written by a native speaker of English and another 10 texts written by a non-native speaker of English (Arab writer) in the usage (percentage) of prepositions were collected (table 1). The research hypothesis is â€Å"Is there a difference in the use of prepositions in writing between native and non native speaker of English?† The null and alternate hypotheses are H0: µnative =  µnon-native H1: µnative ≠   µnon-native The selected level of significance, ÃŽ ± is 0.05. The test selected is two-tailed t-test for independent samples (Independent Samples Test) because alternate hypothesis involves not equal to sign (≠ ). The average percentage use of prepositions in writing for non-native speaker of English in their text is 38.50 (SD = 6.35). The average percentage use of prepositions in writing for native speaker of English in their text is 38.30 (SD = 4.64). From figure 1, it appears that there is no difference in the use of prepositions in writing between native and non-native speaker of English. The Levene’s test for equality of variance is not significant, F(1, 18) = 1.90, p = .19 (>.05). Therefore, equal variance can be assumed for t-test. The null hypothesis H0 is retained. Therefore, there is no difference in the use of prepositions in writing between native and non native speaker of English, t(18) = 0.08, p = .94 (>.05). Both data set (data set 1 and data set 2) shows no correlation, r(8) = .06, p = .87 (>.05). In conclusion, data suggest that there is no difference in the usage of prepositions in writing between native and non native speaker of English.

Informative Speech on Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughter Essay

Informative Speech on Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughter - Essay Example The hospital provides emergency services, pediatric services, surgery practices and a fully functional and comprehensive outpatient services. The hospital serves nearly 500,000 children through its 900 employees. The hospital claims to be more than just a hospital as it offers community service program including child abuse programs. There only 43 other hospitals through the US that provide the same services and programs offered by CHKD. The hospital serves the highest percentage of Medicaid patients. In 2013, 54 percent of the hospitals patients were covered through Medicaid. Even though most patients were covered through Medicaid, Medicaid does not cover the entire cost of medical care. In such a case, CHDK provides for the child through its own funds that are collected through donations. In 2013, these donations contributed 2.15 million dollars. In the same year, the hospital served 5177 inpatient admissions, 13,109 surgical cases, 144,023 specialty clinic visits and 49,651 visits to the Emergency Center. The hospital provided 79 million dollars of fund in community benefit programs and activities in 2012. This has been achieved mainly through the help of the community. The hospital is open to individual and corporate donations. The donations received for this hospital do not go into the private fund of any shareholder but is rather given back to the hospital. This makes the hospital a non-profit organization. Fund raising events created for the purpose of benefiting the organization is also part of the program. The hospital has featured fundraising partners that collaborate with the hospital for raising money through fund raising program. These partners include Anthem Lemonaid, Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals, David Wright Vegas Night, Farm Fresh Roundup and The Point Radiothon. The hospital is also open for volunteer services. The foundations of CHDK was established in 1896 when a group of women with a passion for community service