Who I am

As I scroll through the unknown hallways of high school for the first time, anxious and worried of the unexpected I was about to anticipate, my palms start the tip of shaking heavily and sweating uncontrollably. Thinking to It, I knew It was a start, a new start of life as a beginning, new chapter of not just believing in finding myself, challenging more to my limitations, setting high bars, letting myself free to the world of judgments and doubts of others around me, and showing my heart to the world in the creation I knew was forming â€Å"my future† already.As in the future I knew would be he outcome of the things that old chosen to follow or present of today, I knew I would want to become and be the things that I desired or worked for. I was the kind of average teenager that was very practical and simple to my own age, as they describe it. In someone who was Just rousing around life and just living to the very last purpose, but that wasn't the person I wanted to be identif ied as.I was the kind of grown girl that was more prone than to Just being there for living, I was living it to the very Max of how I wanted to create an life that I took advantage of shaping It successfully, happily, and valued more than Just to myself. I am the kind of person who takes a stand in my life and to the opponents of speaking up for what I believe in strongly in whatever take in I have to, whether for the sake of my good, to speak out, or against an disagreement or for someone of any kind who struggles without an example of following, or helped along the way.I am the girl who finds more than an example of following someone In their steps to accomplish, like my mom, and using a motivation and dedication towards life of my own to fully provide the example to the environment and people around of everything I do or am. I am the girl who desires a accomplishment and long and short term goal, and challenge to be overcome and expected a lesson or outcome out of it to allow mys elf to keep improving whether I was defeated by those or won them, I would still keep pressuring myself to doing more each day.I am the girl that fully improves myself to keep understanding and lack of communicating skills, even for the times that many might not understand me in a way, but I am different. Deferent in a sense that nobody will be completely be eke the way I was or Is created today, in the sense of my doing, humor, personality, thinking, writing/ clothing style, or especially the person I made it to be remembered But before beginning.. I was Borneo in a family of strict, traditional, hard workers from Tray Blah, Vietnam. I was raised on books and the Asian doctrine that education Is the only way to success.Shortly being as an elite kid with so much fun filled childhood, life as I knew was going to drastically change. I started school as soon as I arrived at the beginning of second grade. I didn't know any English, I had no friends, and I was constantly picked on for th e way I dressed and talked. I could not complete any of my schoolwork because I didn't understand anything but aside that, my parents got divorced. I was so ashamed of the life I was living with. Worse, I was lonely and overwhelmed, and I felt so utterly lost.I knew In the example that my dad, a new life to provide her children, new house, and transportation, but she made it happen. Meanwhile at home my mom was pushing me to learn English, bringing mom worksheets and books to help me. My shame became my source of motivation, forcing me to work and relearn the basics until I mastered the language. As I began to grasp the mechanics of English, I made friends and my school life greatly improved. With my moms' encouragement and my own perseverance, within a year, by the end of third grade, I was getting straight As and even surpassing many of my classmates.From that day on, the language barrier became nonexistent. Looking back now, I fully appreciate everything that my mom did for me th ose first few months. While I was struggling to learn a language and to fit in, my mom was working even harder to learn a new lifestyle of her past struggle and to assimilate to a country whose values and culture are so drastically different from her own in which she didn't know how to handle individually living out alone. For her, her entire live were in Vietnam. She had grown up in that land, established successful career, and made a name for herself.In moving on to a new beginning, she gave all that up in the hopes that I, and my brother would have a chance at a better life. In which my mom sacrificed so much for me and my brother, she continued to put aside her own interests and wants, to provide for the two of us. She allowed me to live the life of comfort that I do today. From my mom, I have learned the meaning of hard work, integrity, and compassion. I truly believe that my drive, determination, and dedication in everything I do come from my mom, because I see it in her every single day. I respect my mom tremendously and I work hard to become successful to repay her for all she done.Of course, our relationship is not perfect. I am always frustrated and angry with her unreasonably high expectations, endless comparisons, and overbearing protectiveness. However, I have learned to fuel that anger into motivation to try harder and prove to her that I am good enough. Today, I work for my dreams, to provide for myself as an independent woman, and to travel the world and get lost in the chaos of busy cities. I work to give back to my family, to my friends, to my community around me, of all which have made me the person I am. I want to leave my mark on this world, to make a name for myself, and to become a somebody.

Revolutionary Mothers Essay

Carol Berkin masterfully presents a glimpse of the lives of the women who were affected by the Revolutionary War through many different eyes, views, and opinions in Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for Independence. She paints a vivid picture in your mind of how the war affected these women by not focusing on one race or political view, but rather through multiple races and political views. Throughout this book, the author describes the women of the Revolution as courageous, yet intelligent, strong, yet resourceful. In Berkin’s writings, her admiration for these women is apparent. She describes how these women felt as if they new that they had very important roles in the war, however they didn’t see them as much more than supporting the men who actually were meant to run the country. As strong willed as many of these women were, they made weak attempts at equal rights during these male dominated times. This book was given validity through supporting texts. Berkin used other authors such as Elizabeth Ellet to drive her points home. She is able to give even more personal insight from letter correspondences as well as diaries from women who were caught up in the midst of these times. Finally, Berkin uses documents such as the Philipsburg Proclamation, the Edenton Resolves, and the Book of Negroes as a foundation to much of the support or neglect thereof for the Americans. I believe that the author did an outstanding job of presenting the information in this book. Many authors would have tried to intertwine these women’s stories in order to make the story more interesting as a whole. Instead she sets aside a chapter to different groups she wants to go into detail discussing. For instance, she doesn’t try to compare and contrast the women who were on the home front to the women who followed the armies. Instead, she helps you realize the importance of both by devoting time to each group. This allows us to learn more about these women and get a grasp of what they really went through. The multiple number of resources Berkin used keep this book interesting. She does a good job of making sure there are notes in the back to go along with each chapter in the case that you want to, or need to, learn more about the chapter or to receive expanded content. Also, these notes give you a great resource for continuing your research on that chapters topic. I consider myself somewhat of a history buff. I had learned much about the wars and causes of the Revolutionary War. I had seen many documentaries about the war. This book however lent it’s hand to a completely different side of the war. You never learn about the women who are left at home, nor the women who follow the armies, nor the women who were acting as spies. My knowledge has been impacted greatly by this book. My eyes have been opened to a whole new side of the war that you never even knew existed. Overall I believe this book was a great, and relevant book for this course. I think it was interesting as a whole because of the extensive resources Berkin used. I will admit that there were some dry parts that I had to work my way through, but the knowledge gained was worth the fighting through.

Future Concerns †Gattaca and Fahrenheit 451 Essay

Popular fictions texts expressing views of the future educate audiences about current issues and the dystopias that develop from them. Texts such as the film ‘Gattaca’, directed by Andrew Niccol and novel ‘Fahrenheit 451’ by Ray Bradbury explore futuristic societies and the implications that become of their innovation. Although entertaining, texts such as these are didactic and must be taken seriously, as they communicate messages to audiences regarding prevalent concerns and possible futures based on society’s choices. Gattaca’ (1995) directed by Andrew Niccol, follows the story of the underdog Vincent, who is challenged by genetic discrimination against ‘in? valids’ like himself. Through an elaborate identity switch and the help of ‘genetically advantaged’ Jerome, Vincent prevails to achieve his dreams and find his place at Gattaca Space Station. Niccol utilises conventions of film to convey messages to the audience by highlighting issues relevant to the context of production. Gattaca’ incorporates many themes which highlight the corruption and inequality in this strange, new world. Niccol explores concepts such as elitism, perfection, inequity and modernism. This film opens with two contrasting epigraphs, which entices viewers’ interest into moral themes in ‘Gattaca’. The first quote reads: â€Å"Consider God’s handiwork; Who can straighten what He hath made crooked? † Ecclesiastes 7. 13. An interpretation of this quote is that life is intended to be left alone to take its course, which is contradictory to many ideas in ‘Gattaca’. The quote following reads: â€Å"I not only think that we will tamper with Mother Nature, I think Mother wants us to. † Willard Gaylin. This presents audiences with differing opinions to contemplate as they consider what scientific advancements their own future holds, watching Vincent in his. The opening scene is an extreme close up shot of Vincent’s fingernails, hair follicles and loose skin, against a blue cubicle. The extreme close up shot suggests importance as the camera focuses in on the subject matter, emphasising the significance of Vincent’s DNA. Sterility and cleanliness is suggested by the use of cold, deep blue hues. The use of blue is constant throughout the film, as is the significance in detail. These concepts tie to other scenes, such as ‘The Eyelash’, where Vincent’s own ‘invalid’ eyelash is discovered during a murder investigation. This concept highlights the precision of technology in the future, and that life with such structure becomes complicated. Audiences can learn lessons from examples such as these scenes s they can relate the situations Vincent is put in with possible futures based on the direction society is heading in present times. Another effective technique demonstrated by Niccol is the first person narration by the central character, Vincent. This is important for the development in the movie, as Vincent is the protagonist we are encouraged to empathise with. Therefore, the use of bias narration and perspective is effective in supporting the ideas presented in the film. Following the opening scene is ‘The Not Too Distant Future’, which cuts to a low angle shot looking up to the bold, symmetrical lines of the building. In this shot, Gattaca is shaded in black and grey tones, also indicating the power and formality of the institution. As the camera tilts down, the strong lines and colouring remain constant as view of the staff are also brought into the frame. Directors have dressed actors in blue business suits, again, enforcing the concept of formality, conformity and sterility. The uniformed staff are very bland and indistinguishable from one another in their uniformed clothing. Silence is broken by the rising volume of diagetic sound effects, such as the beeping sound of accepted ‘valids’ through the turnstile, as well as an anonymous greeting by a placid female voice: â€Å"Welcome to Gattaca†. These techniques develop the idea that society has become lifeless and ‘black and white’, as Gattaca presents characters as clinical and robotic products of genetic modification, teaching audiences about social issues that relate to futures.

The Process of Institution Governance and Decision Making Research Paper

The Process of Institution Governance and Decision Making - Research Paper Example The process of institutional governance and decision making is dependent on how the authority is distributed amongst the administration under the legal rights and obligation. This ultimately trickles down to the organizational behaviour of the members of the institute, which is unfolded into what direction the institute adopts by unfolding its strategies that impact all the stakeholders. One of the solutions to avoid the conflict amongst different stakeholder groups by the board of the higher academic institute is by provisioning of ‘shared governance’, which allows representation of views of all the stakeholders that are affected by the decision making process. This happens because each stakeholder group provides the views and inputs related to their interest in the decision-making process of the board. Faculty, student groups, members of the alumni, members of the board of trustees, founder members, investors etc. are all provided with a chance to share their views in setting up a strategy by the board for the future of the institute. Rivera (2008) pointed out that shared governance is the process of involving many different actors in making decisions or choosing outcome direction that serves the best interest of the whole. But this has also been criticized by many schools of thought since it is believed that institutions are to be managed like corporations. Hence applications of concepts such as delegation of authority, a division of autonomy and negotiations form part of how the decisions unroll and who has the advantage in terms of higher bargaining power.

Globalization is Dependent on Technological Advancement Essay

Globalization is Dependent on Technological Advancement - Essay Example This essay discusses that  a close examination of any of this will quickly reveal that the technological developments in the aforementioned fields have been responsible for their relevance in the creation and direction of the global village. The world is still as vast and winding today as it was 100 years ago, however, thanks to globalization it has come to resemble what is now normally referred to as a global village. Information, people and goods, can be moved from one end of the world to another in hours minutes or even seconds depending on the means one is using. Globalization can be defined as a dynamic process connecting; people, towns, cities and nations more closely than they have been in the past.From the essay it is clear that  the overall result of globalization is the intertwining of diverse individuals the world has virtually shrunk since people can travel and immigrate due to development in the transportation industry in the form of fast planes cars trains and jets, as a result, and more than ever before cities are becoming increasingly cosmopolitan with the ease of migration. However, the reason globalization is an ongoing process has much to do with the changes affecting the factors that determine how fast or if it can occur at all. Paramount among this is the aspect of technological development.  Technology has advanced in a lengthy process from the archaic Stone Age stone and micro lithic tools to today’s cutting edge technology with complex and automated device never envisioned before. However, humanity is still far from harnessing the full potential of the technology and with each hour that passes more technology is developed, invented, or upgraded. These range from mobile telephony and Skype where people are put within earshot or/and sight of each other notwithstanding continental distances (Chestnut, n.d.), to transport where one can travel from Asia to Australia in a matter of hours while the same journey in the past would ha ve taken weeks if not months. As a matter of facts, Australia’s rapidly expanding it industry is evoking widespread attention from Asian technology business that is interested in taking advantage of her markets and resources (Ganapathy, 2010). The combination between these two concepts is almost solely responsible for mankind’s ability to exist in a figuratively smaller world, bearing in mind that, without technological advancement, the term globalization would never have had meaning nor required invention (Mercy corps, 2006). The geographical separation of Australia from the rest of the world has seen it bearing tags such as the land down under, and more unflattering one as the country everybody know where it is but nobody ever goes to visit. However, with the growth of the transportation industry, Australia is no less accessible for instance, to a New Yorker than Canada assuming that they both fly there. This is because developments in the

Role model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Role model - Essay Example He became well-known for his non-violent resistance to reach his political and social goals to win independence for India. His belief of nonviolence influenced other civil rights movement leaders, such as Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. Gandhi’s influence can still be found through peace organizations that have been created throughout the world. His personal world view is still having a huge impact on today’s modern world. Mahatma Gandhis belief of nonviolence, which he called satyagraha, has often been mistranslated as "passive resistance," but it literally means "holding to the truth† (Gersom, 1992). Nonviolence does not mean just being passive instead of aggressive, but also means to ‘gain freedom peacefully’. Gandhi’s teachings can be correctly applied into the lives of people today in all walks of life. Gandhi’s teachings can become powerful only when every person is using them. "Nonviolence is the greatest force humanity has been endowed with," Gandhi wrote to the Fellowship of Reconciliation in 1926 (Dear, 2006). Gandhi’s beliefs about nonviolence are that it can be used as a weapon itself when trying to win peace. Using nonviolence instead of violence is not always an easy path. Sometimes people become too angry and cannot control their violent actions or words. However, nonviolence can offer an amazing power to fight with, as opposed to the weapons of t he enemies, which are far weaker than nonviolence. Part of Gandhi’s teachings was that violence is always more suitable than cowardice. Gandhi first used satyagraha in September 1906 with a gathering of three thousand Indians. Gandhi stated that they needed to protest calmly and without anger; they needed to suffer with the consequences of their protest instead of turning to violence. In the end, however, the British government arrested the protestors (Duvall, 2006). This act of Gandhi and his

Chronological and Subjective Age in Emerging Adulthood Essay

Chronological and Subjective Age in Emerging Adulthood - Essay Example The relationship between the chronological and subjective age has been a keen area of interest. Researchers have speculated that subjective age may be a motivational facet of identity, associated with a desire to be younger or older (Galambos, Kolaric, Sears,&Maggs, 1999). Subjective age also appears to be influenced by important social and autobiographical reference points (Montepare & Clements, 2001; Zebrowitz & Montepare, 2000) such as behaviours associated In an attempt to establish a relationship between the chronological and subjective age, a research was carried out. A sample of 190 university students (140 females, 50 males) ages 17 to 29 completed questionnaires assessing their subjective age, psychosocial maturity, number of role transitions, financial dependence, economic pressure, and alcohol use. Based on the results of these questionnaire, experts tried to locate the exact crossover point, where the subjective age exceeds the chronological age. It is important to locate the crossover point as it helps to acquire a proper understanding of the characteristics of emerging adulthood, and the changes in self perception accompanying it. As mentioned earlier, the study was conducted on 190 university students, falling between the age group of 17 to 29, the mean age of the sample being 21.87 years. The participants were judged on five different parameters- psychosocial maturity, number of role transitions, financial dependence on parents, economic pressure and alcohol use. Among these parameters, the former two are possible markers of adulthood while the latter two are barriers to its achievement. To have a better understanding of the study, it is imperative to comprehend the five parameters mentioned above. Psychosocial maturity is defined as an individuals' general level of adaptive functioning and socioemotional competence (Galambos & Costigan, 2003). It also takes into account various several other factors such as the ability to function independently, developed communication skills, and the capacity to shoulder social responsibility. Another criterion which was considered in the study was the number of role transition roles. This refers to the ease with which an individual can adapt a particular role according to the need of the hour. But experts believe that this particular feature isn't as important as is psychosocial maturity. While these two factors are representative of emerging adulthood, there are others which serve as barriers to maturity. Dependence on parents for financial assistance is one such factor. (Arnett, 1994). Economic pressure is another such criterion, which is intimately related to the first factor. As the name suggests, economic pressure refers to the difficulty associated with financial stressful conditions. (Conger, Rueter, & Conger, 2000). A higher level of economic pressure suggests that financial independence has not been achieved, which in turn is characteristic of a lower than expected subjective age. The last of

Pick a company (Thorntons) of your choice answer two question Essay

Pick a company (Thorntons) of your choice answer two question - Essay Example While it was previously characterized as a luxury brand, it is quickly loosing the perception given the recent economic conditions and the increasingly saturated market. Thorntons has thus failed to develop an edge over the competition despite being a well known brand. Thornton’s has been badly affected by the recent financial downturn. This is because of the increasing price of the raw materials that impacts the price of the already expensive product. Also the consumers are left with low purchasing power given the recent recession. This is probably one reason behind the decrease in sales. The company is also impacted by change in consumer perception regarding sugar products including chocolate. With the increase in health and diet conscious public, Thorntons is negatively impacted, especially because Thorntons most important customers, which as women, are changing their attitude towards buying chocolate. Even under all this negative turn of events, Thorntons may still be able to succeed given its perception in the minds of the customers as a premium chocolate brand (Clark). Also the UK confectionary market provides a pleasant picture for chocolate makers since it is a growing market with the highest market share taken by chocolate products (Datamonitor, 15) The competition for Thorntons has also increased as chocolates such as Hotel Chocolat and Lindt take on a more aggressive stance. Thorntons, with the increase in competition, did not manage to improve upon its products. Thorntons failed to innovate with more brands and different taste (Richardson). In the recent years, Thorntons has decided to move to selling its more commercial products in super-markets (Thorntons PLC, 2). Even though Thorntons has its own retail shop, it has moved on to sell in supermarkets where customers are given a choice of different chocolates. Given that Thorntons is a

Barclays Bank PLC Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Barclays Bank PLC - Case Study Example Barclays' four centuries of growth and provision of services in retail banking such as current accounts, savings and investments, mortgages and other loans, credit cards and online banking were surprisingly responsive to the instability present within international financial investment and services corporations across the board (Hoovers 2010). The company also holds majority apportionment of Absa Group insurance (i.e. 59% stockholder). Representation of the Barclaycard in the Spring 2010: Investors Presentation Post Q1 IMS indicated that despite the retraction of revenues from revolving credit within this sector, Barclays saw 'strong income growth largely offset by increased impairment' and 'international diversification of business' with over 50% of the card's customers outside the UK (Barclays 2010). Credit market exposures reduced by 22BN, with protium loans at 7.9BN as of December 31, 2009. Dating to the 17th century, Barclays Bank is the flagship subsidiary of Barclays PLC financial services group, with retail and commercial operations in 50 countries throughout Africa, Europe and the Middle East. In 2010, Barclays acquired the Italian credit card business of Citibank International Bank; a deal that absorbed 197,000 credit card accounts and approximately 234 million ($320 million) worth of assets globally. Integration of the Citibank acquisition, and including business assets and employees, will be incorporated into the existing Barclays Western Europe division, with conversion of the credit card accounts to Barclaycards (Hoovers 2010). In 2008, the bank had made a more limited purchase of Goldfish, the UK credit card unit of Discover Financial Services for a sum of 46 million ($70 million). Emerging market expansion has also defied the climate of default within the international financial services sector, and the company has moved forward with strategic agreements made in Asia and Russia between 2007 and 2009. The agreements also include mergers that combine liability through sale of assets with retention of administration, as in the 2007 Barclays sale of its trust administration and custody business in Japan to Sumitomo Trust and Bank for some 21 million ($32 million). In 2008 the Bank acquired Russia's Expobank at 690 million ($750 million), and began negotiations to confirm agreement on 19.5% of New China Trust - just under the maximum 20% investment cap allowed to foreign companies. Finally, in 2009 the group moved to acquire a 99% stake in Bank Akita, Indonesia at 65 million ($100 million). The acquisition includes a rebranding of the company as 'Barclays Bank of Indonesia' which will further the corporation's interests in the region through integration with its gl obal retail and commercial banking services administered by its emerging markets business division. While many people blame the 2008/09 'credit crunch' on a lack of risk management and unreliable financial reporting by banks, Barclays has shown significant leverage in planning and in critical change management decision making. Although much fiscal risk management looks to the audit process toward implementing strategic measures of mitigation, Barclays strategic model incorporates restructuring of the internal organizational

The Roles of Women Essay Example for Free

The Roles of Women Essay History tends to present the social advances made by women as a result of progress itself up as the result of a process in which, in any case, women do not have influenced. However, the reconstruction of history shows that women have achieved social gains only where and when it has been women fighting and starring those conquests. They were the struggles of many women, allowing us to enjoy rights today in the very near past were denied. While not change the societies in which we live, will basically claims and successes of the women who allow further progress on equality. Women, like men, have opinions and attitudes very different political and ideological because they have very different interests, but as human beings have a common set of rights ranging from the right to work, freedom of expression, to participate actively in politics, to study, and also to the well-deserved rest after long days of work, the right to leisure, culture and recreational aspects. Ridiculing the issues affecting womens rights is a strategy that has always worked the most immobile of society. Read more:  Essay About Role of Women in Modern Society Often, many of the problems women have been problems invisible from the double day (at work and at home) to the so-called glass ceiling (no explicit barrier often find women to reach positions managers in public and private companies). The fact of trying to keep women hidden at home has been a way to keep it hidden. What is not there. But the new woman, a woman with rights, has come forward just to go to work outside the home and to get to demand what belongs to without feeling bad about it, in short, be individuals who act accordingly. What is happening right now in the feminist movement raises a number of considerations: first, feminism is currently visible mainly in academia, in research and in the statement of social change, but more sparingly in the opinion public. As a social movement, apparently is not very active. However, women are coming forward and in many countries there have been significant advances in recent years. The main cause for this to happen is that education is necessary, and in most developed countries is reaching not only equality in higher educational levels, it is being done more fruitful tilization degrees. The process that the female gender is suffering for years is so unstoppable that most of the public has assumed that this is one of the main drivers of social change today. Changes made to achieve formal equality and affirmative action to advance true equality have been useful tools for the equality of women. But my question is this analysis of social change and equality is correct? Despite this, it is the female role that has suffered the most profound changes in recent decades. Today, even in developing countries, we see a more empowered woman who is gaining ground in the workplace and political. However, to redefine the role of women, what happens to the male role? On the other hand, man has maintained a passive stance in this process of change, it is hoped that things will happen and today we speak of a masculinity in crisis. Speaking of the new male, less all powerful and more sensitive, is not easy. Generates some scary to think how important issues such as live new parenthood, new sexuality, etc.. But it was not just the fault of man be lagging behind in this way. The main problem is that we are, as a society, unable to integrate it into the discourse of new social roles in a positive, constructive and actionable. However, from a total inequality, perceived as logical and long assumed by women themselves have come to the current situation in which there is formal equality but social reality is quite different. To get to talk XXI century, we must take into account what has been the evolution of the history that has brought us to where we are now: †¢ In the Middle Ages, between the ninth and thirteenth centuries creates socioeconomic and political structure known by the name of feudalism. The woman was in a very adverse legal situation as it was subordinate to men, their role, at this time, is more active than in later periods. The noble woman devoted primarily to the care of the mansion, said to the servants, handles and serves delicacies, sporadically, the education of young children. The religious women: The monasteries played a very useful role in the Middle Ages as they were the daughters shelter did not marry, only way to access other culture and solution for women who were not out to poor economic situation. †¢ Rural women: Regardless of marital status, rural women had to work to earn their livelihood and that of his sharing this activity with the housework. †¢ Women in cities: In the eleventh century begins participation of women in female occupations that develop in the boroughs. In times of economic expansion, the woman had access to work without problems, although charged lower wages. During the thirteenth century, womens participation is essential in the garment trades and in the production and sale of food, beverages, leather and metal. While medieval trade and industry were open to women, at the end of this time, when the economic crisis is intensifying, there were significant labor restrictions, were expelled from the guilds and were denied the opportunity to organize, a situation that worsened in later centuries. The Modern Age is a period of profound change that will constitute the foundation of the modern world. The consolidation of the bourgeois class was the largest commitment of women to household chores, they are closing the doors and were devoted more to the internal space of the house, which runs parallel to the exclusion of institutional work, while the man was increasingly responsible for family support. Women participated in small numbers in the productive activity of the cities and working, mostly, were working as maids. Some trades, traditional women are usurped by men and worsen working conditions. Already in the seventeenth century, when it occurs pre-industrial revolution takes place a shift of women to productive sectors marginal. But not all the facts of history have a higher meaning. The French Revolution with the liquidation of the old regime, not only reached the abolition of the French monarchy and the disappearance of titles of nobility, but involves a major change to European civilization. They start making demands and protests by the subordination of women to men. The nineteenth century is characterized by the existence of profound changes in the areas ideological, economic and social, that affect an essential for women, and that fall logically into the major changes taking place in human society, as a result of crises social causes industrial revolution. Specifically, stands the great transfer that occurs in the agricultural sector to the industrial sector, which results in greater inequality in the conditions of life and work of the female population as a whole. Begins at the end of this century, the struggle for access to the professions and higher education. Also, women are the first trade unions, by the refusal to admit women in the male. Leagues were established in several countries in Europe and the United States but eventually the female unionism was absorbed by the tendency to integrate women into male labor organizations. Importantly, from the second half of the nineteenth century, began to be considered the work of women as an instrument of social mobility and not as a temporary solution to help the family in their economic situation. This is what makes the male role, that is, the old patriarchal society begins to fade and begins to generate a gender equality. Having delved into the history of the advancement of women and minor male leadership, we ask the following question: What will be the role of women in the ideal state, ie in the society in which we live? For Plato, the ideal city men and women are trained to perform the same functions as long as they are of the same education. But Socrates asks whether men and women can perform the same tasks considering having different natures. That is, the process of social change for women who have been seeing throughout the trial, remains stalled due to differences between men and women. For years, man is regarded as superior to women. At present these power relations or relations of domination / subordination have been separated from everyday life. This will make a new act of violence against women, in this case by default, to remove or make invisible power relations that exist in other areas, for example in private life to recognize that women are located in the crossroads between production and reproduction, between economic activity and the care and attention of human beings and therefore between economic rowth and human development. Gender Theory clearly states that the power relations are presented in all areas of society, which places them both in public life and in private. It crosses the threshold and light a candle for analyzing relationships in the field of the daily life of the couple and the family. However, despite the development of concepts and relations of power hat has been achieved since feminism is still little knowledge we have about the realization of these relations domination / subordination in private life and the factors that may eventually affect to vary these relationships. Although it is argued that power relations in those involved are not entirely without power, not broken down what the powers that women have rather deepened in their roles as subordinate and falls almost victimization, which prevents display his powers, though limited, to rethink these relationships. The power relations that developed in capitalist society was patriarchal domination / subordination between genders. From the society we live corresponds to a capitalist patriarchal society, we assume that the power relationships that develop are of domination / subordination of male over female. As these relationships are given at all levels of society in the areas of private life and public life. Dominion powers are social, collective and personal, exploit and oppress allow individuals and groups and all types of communities. For Foucault power is a balance of power, and extends saying that power is not a form but a strength. As the force is never singular, since its main feature is to be in relationship with other forces, so that its all relative strength, ie power. In this relation of force men develop relations of oppression while women respond subordination situation that occurs at macro and micro level of public life and the private life. These relationships domination / subordination are complemented by factors such as Foucault posed in the sense that: power is not essentially repressive (since incites, inspires, produces) is exercised rather than possessed; happens dominated by both as dominant. This statement (of which power relations are productive) is challenged by feminist theory, in the sense that productivity is positive if measured from the parameters as defined by patriarchal society, but not for half of the population that responds to relations of domination with subordination, as a form of response that has been imposed. So to the extent that the interest in the profit and social control are inextricably linked, patriarchy and capitalism will be a comprehensive process With these statements we can conclude that the ideas of men and women to equality is different, in addition to current society inequality parked public to the private sphere, using capitalism patriarchal power and this in turn is determined by the needs of capital. Throughout, the paper confirms that the starting point that the power relations are marked by patriarchal society. Power relationships involving dependence of those involved, because they are forced to interact with each other, some have what others do not have, the relationships that occur in a family are dependent, depends both man of the contribution of women in the housework, as the woman of the man brings resources to the financial support of the family. When given a lot of value to the economic contribution of man as breadwinner, and based on this the relations of domination / subordination experienced by women in patriarchal society, is falling into several traps: play the invisibility of reproductive work; ignore that power relations involved who have some kind of power, and replicate the model of society in which it is something that can be assessed monetarily. Reproductive work in capitalist patriarchy is the quintessential way in which society oppresses and becomes invisible to women. Given this historical dominance of men over women, we find an author, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, who writes a novel which describes an isolated case of a society composed exclusively of women, which reproduce by parthenogenesis and where the result is an order social ideal, without war, conflict and domination. Does this benefit the equality of women? In capitalist patriarchal society women have the hidden power which is the other side of legitimate power. As discussed in this essay, the power relations that develop in the patriarchal society dependence involve their participants. It has raised the vital dependence of the woman husbands income, but does not consider the dependence, also vital, that man has the services provided by women of reproductive work. In the traditional family woman exchanged domestic services, care and care of children and a number of tasks, for financial support and protection of the husband. According to one of the streams of feminism, the primary objective of this movement was and remains The creation of a truly common space to men and women are used to achieve equality theories. But this equality must be seen as equal rights, not equal identities, which otherwise will benefit of existing male identity. Must make room for the play of differences, individual or collective. Feminist theory proposes building egalitarian relationships, and therefore no power relations between people, but on the basis of that society must create the conditions for everyone to exercise its power to develop their individual capacities, not dominate or subordinate to another. By accepting that power relationships are of dominance / subordination and therefore are two sides of the same reality, overcome these relations involves building cooperative relations, which we will be leaving in the past or dominating or being dominated. To build this world, you must know, visualize and appreciate the female culture that emphasizes the values of cooperation, interdependence, consideration and expressive relationships, instead of instrumental relationships. Thus could transform the hierarchical structure of society.

Discrimination Against Lesbians in Britain

Discrimination Against Lesbians in Britain Lesbianism and the problems of identification in contemporary Britain In Britain, lesbian women may not have had to campaign to have their sexual activities decriminalised, as homosexual had needed to do; yet their lives were not free of problems. However, men even homosexual men had more social, economic, and political power and status than British women did as a whole have. Men had a greater control of and over their own bodies than either heterosexual or lesbian women had in the immediate post-war period, and indeed before then as well. British lesbian women would have to campaign for greater rights as both women do, and as lesbians to challenge the discrimination and expected gender roles from a patriarchal and heterosexual dominated society. In other words, British lesbians had to counter sexual discrimination as well as orientation discrimination before they were able to feel fully secure in publicising their sexual orientation and identification. Changing public perceptions of their different gender roles and sexual orientation was, as the main lesbian rights groups realised was not going to be easy, as their experiences during the 1970s proved.[8] In Britain the 1960s was a decade that brought about some wide-ranging social changes and promised further changes for the future. Lesbian women could certainly regard the availability of the contraceptive pill and the legalisation of abortion as being an improvement for the choices that all women were able to make in relation to their own bodies. During the 1960s expectations about the gender roles of women began to change, as feminism meant that fewer women were prepared to become wives and mothers without having a career first. Lesbian women also realised they did not have to put up with marriage and children just because it was expected of them to do so. The decriminalisation of male homosexual acts at the end of the 1960s could also be viewed as a demonstration that British society was slowly becoming less illiberal in its attitudes towards people that embraced alternative lifestyles. For the more radical lesbians the social changes in the 1960s were the start of the process of fighting discrimination, rather than the end of the process. British lesbian women and gay men were encouraged to start gay pride movements by the apparent success such groups in the United States were having in altering social attitudes, especially in cities like New York and San Francisco.[9] British lesbian and gay pride organisations began in earnest during the early 1970s with the objectives of enabling their members to have pride in their orientation identification, as well as aiming to reduce the level of social discrimination which their own members had to endure. The hope was that reduced social discrimination and reduced fear of such prejudices would allow all lesbian women to readily admit their sexuality with pride. These lesbian pride organisations as a whole found that changing social attitudes towards them and their sexual orientation was a slow process, after all generations of social prejudices could not be expected to vanish overnight.[10] The effectiveness or otherwise of lesbian and gay pride movements since the 1970s has been an area of much debate. Depending on which criteria are used to judge the gay pride movements the achievements of these organisations will alter.[11] If judging the achievements of the lesbian and gay pride movements solely in terms of their ability to have anti-discrimination legislation passed these movements were undoubtedly a failure before the election of the New Labour government in 1997.[12] The only lesbian women to gain from anti-discrimination legislation between the early 1970s and 1997 did so because they also came under gender equality, race relations and disability legislation. Governments from the early 1970s did not believe that legislation was needed to prevent homophobic discrimination, leaving lesbian and gay pride organisations on their own to lower such prejudice aimed at their members. New Labour has taken more steps than any previous governments to pass legislation to red uce homophobic prejudices and promote the rights of all lesbians and gays. New Labour legislation has included passing legislation to end discrimination upon the grounds of sexual orientation to enhance the opportunities for all lesbians and gays to be openly identified as such without fear of homophobic discrimination. Besides specific legislation to protect lesbian and gay rights, lesbians can also use the Human Rights Act of 1998 to make sure that their orientation being publicly identifiable is not detrimental to their rights or their safety.[13] Under New Labour, lesbian women have finally received legal equality with heterosexual men and women. For instance, lesbian women and gay men are no longer dismissed from Britain’s armed forces if they openly admit their sexuality. Lesbian women and gay men now also have the right to ‘marry’ each other in civil partnerships. The introduction of civil partnerships means that lesbian women in long term partnerships hav e the same rights as married and co-habitant heterosexual couples in terms of property, taxation and inheritance rights, as well as the same benefit and pension entitlements. Lesbian women now have the same rights as heterosexual women when it comes to the custody or adoption of children.[14] In respect of the lesbian pride movements they probably had a more immediate impact on changing social attitudes towards them than they did in influencing governments to pass legislation which tackled discrimination against them. Lesbian and gay pride organisations did not use the same tactics to publicise their sexual orientation. The more radical lesbian and gay pride organisations were happy to shock heterosexuals in British society with the tone and the methods in which they demonstrated their identifications of sexual orientations. More radical groups were even prepared to ‘out’ famous people to make headlines and raise public awareness of lesbian and gay issues.[15] Other more moderate lesbian and gay pride groups were less keen on showing their sexual orientation and identification in such an ostentatious manner. The more moderate lesbian pride groups would have preferred to be open about their sexual orientation and identification without using over the top publi city stunts. Moderate lesbian groups would have fitted in with insider pressure groups, which attempt to achieve their objectives behind closed doors, rather than in public. Radical lesbian and gay pride groups are examples of outsider groups that have little influence with governments and rely on publicity to bring their objectives to public attention.[16] The campaigns of lesbian pride groups were not as successful in changing public perceptions of lesbian women as a majority of those groups would have hoped from the early 1970s. This was especially the case during the period of Conservative governments between 1979 to 1997. The Conservative party more than the Labour and Liberal/Liberal Democrats parties like to represent traditional family values instead of promoting the rights and the lifestyles of lesbian and gay pride groups. When in office the Conservatives prevented lesbian and gay groups’ form educating school pupils about their sexual orientations and identification through the infamous section 28. Lesbian and gay groups lobbied New Labour to have the section removed as soon as possible. The media did not always help lesbian and gay groups convey the messages to the public that they wanted to be sent out, especially right wing newspapers did not want to change public perceptions of lesbian women. The right wing newspap ers often portrayed the objectives of lesbian and gay groups in the most negative perspective possible.[17] Despite the efforts of some politicians, religious groups, and parts of the media the number of people who happen to be publicly prepared to be known as being lesbian and gay in Britain has increased noticeably since the 1970s. It is harder to argue out right that such a situation is entirely due to the attempts of lesbian and gay pride groups to alter the attitudes of British society. After all changed reactions towards their orientation and gender identification could have resulted from the campaigning of such groups, or alternatively could just have been a continuation of increasing indifference to how other people chose to live their lives.[18] Thus in conclusion, lesbian women in Britain have not always felt comfortable or able to openly display their sexual orientation, and their gender identification due to the nature of British society. The immediate post-war society in Britain has remained predominantly patriarchal and heterosexual in terms of social and gender relationships as well as expected behaviours, roles, and identifications. That situation meant lesbianism did exist in Britain, it was just well hidden. The 1960s were a decade that kick started the process of altering British society, and provided the stimulus for lesbian and gay pride groups to emerge during the early 1970s. The legacies, influence, and success of such groups are highly debatable. Although these groups certainly raised the profile of lesbians and gays in Britain they actually had little affect on the mainstream political agenda prior to New Labour gaining office in 1997. Lesbian and gay pride groups may have attempted to increase acceptance of their lifestyles and their alternative identifications, yet changing public perceptions of lesbian women has not been universal or overwhelmingly favourable. The way in socialisation operates in such a haphazard way means that the predominantly heterosexual and patriarchal nature of British society will continue for a considerable amount of time, even if the acceptance of lesbian women should continue to improve, and more fluid gender roles should develop further. Bibliography Abercrombie N, Hill S Turner B S (2000) Penguin Dictionary of Sociology 4th edition, Penguin, London Eatwell R Wright A (2003) Contemporary Political Ideologies 2nd Edition, Continuum, London Hobsbawm, E (1994) Age of Extremes, the Short Twentieth Century 1914-1991, Michael Joseph, London Whitaker’s, (2007) Whitaker’s Almanack – today’s world in a single volume, A C Black, London Young H, (2003) supping with the Devils – Political writing from Thatcher to Blair, Guardian Books, London 1 Footnotes [1] Abercrombie, Hill, Turner, 2000 p. [2] Judt, 2007 p.485 [3] Martin, 2003 p. 233 [4] Abercrombie, Hill, Turner, 2000 p. 314 [5] Abercrombie, Hill, Turner, 2000 p. 314 [6] Abercrombie, Hill, Turner, 2000 p. 314 [7] Sandbrook, 2005 p. 599 [8] Eatwell Wright, 2003 p. 214 [9] Hobsbawm, 1994 p. 428 [10] Abercrombie, Hill, Turner, 2000 p. 314 [11] Judt, 2007 p. 785 [12] Abercrombie, Hill Turner, 2000, p. 314 [13] Young, 2003 p. 216 [14] Whitaker’s, 2007 p. 604 [15] Judt, 2007 p. 785 [16] Abercrombie, Hill, Turner, 2000 p. 336 [17] Abercrombie, Hill, Turner, 2000 p. 314 [18] Judt, 2007 p. 785

Ethics Values in Health and Social Care

Ethics Values in Health and Social Care Introduction The global era is getting more competitive and dynamic. For the proper development of health and social care, learners should be acquired skilled knowledge about caring as well as the proper understanding of personal development. There are many departments in health and social care; they are delivers health care facilities in various different of organizations by seeing the idea of care that provides the rights of the patient. The care training provides the great support to the patient by providing their safety and make sure they are safe in all phases of the care organization and service. To cope up with the present business environment every persons should prove themselves as more personnel and professional. Task-1 1.1: Personal values and principles agree or conflict with the principles of support for working in health and social care. Personal values develop from situations with the external world and can change over time. Personal values developed early in life may be resistant to change. Ex: culture,  religion, and political party. Values exist, whether one recognize him or not. Life can be much easier when one acknowledges ones values – and when one make plans and decisions that honor him. Personal values influence personal character through internally. Basically, a person’s values and principles depend on his or her personal character and so on. In health and social care settings there are principles which run the practice of healthcare workers to confirm that quality care is delivered for service users. They are 5 principles in health and social care practices: Confidentiality Communications Promoting antidiscrimination practice Rights Acknowledging individuals believe and identities. 1.2: The way of personal culture and experience influence my work as a care practitioner. Personal Culture is defined as the patterns of ideas, customs and behaviors shared by particular persons. Personal Culture may contain all or a subset of the following features: Civilization, Language, Religion spiritual beliefs, Masculinity socio-economic class. To work in an area of health and social care especially as a practitioner greatly depends on personal beliefs and mind set up activities. Personal Culture and experience are influence by several ways, like: Positivity: positivity greatly influenced a personal mental behavior. If he/she positively treat toward something that will gives him a fruitful result. Helpful mentality: in every spare of life there must be needed a helpful mind. The actions and the work of practitioner haven’t any time requirement.so it’s very crucial. Smooth behavior: the behavior of practitioner should be firm and smooth. Ethically strong: The factors that are compulsory to be ethical have the great impact on the profession of practitioner. Quality of work: The practitioner should have able to qualifying for conducting the profession.it is expressed on the legal social welfare and the well-being of the society. 1.3: New development and changes to personal values can change work practices in health and social care setting. The definite needs and wants of the immediate of health and social care sector greatly depends on the positive attitude of works. The availability of actual work makes more well-organized values of working in health and social sector. The workers works mentality drives the actions of health and social sector. The worker should complete their activities which depend upon what customers prepare and search. The service which given by the provider of health and social sector certify the ability of the emerging level of the precision. As we know the development of health and social sector is greatly improving day by day. The emergence of work gets aspiration by the changes values. The personal values significantly changing with in an eye stream by the growth of the health and social sector. Task 2 2.1: SWOT analysis showing the key strengths, skills, ability and learning style relation to job role, weakness, opportunities and threats. SWOT analysis is the act of a person’s internal and external criteria. Strengths and weakness is internal phenomenon and opportunities and threats are external phenomenon. My SWOT about the regarding assignment is given below: My strengths: internal efforts which gives me more confident to dine this job: Greater work support. Building interpersonal communication network. Positive strategies taken by me. Maintain specific location and additional funding. My weakness: High costs are prime obstacle to continue my work. The obsolete data. The workforce diversity also created barriers. Insufficient record preserves system. My opportunities: My chances of work cause so many effects on externally. These are written below- Services provided by others. Faithfulness of well-wishers. Greater sources of external data. Threats to me : Service provide by competitors. The service provided by practitioner in several campaign Nervousness in facing viva 2.2: Divide a plan over a period week of personal development goals The action for the plan for a practitioner is a total of a mental work. A plan over period weeks of personal development goals are as follows: Making an weakened plan or schedule: At the beginning of the weakened personal development goals the practitioner have to make a plan or schedule that will provides the overall blue print for the personal developmental goals. Collection of relating information: For everything we want to collect some related information which must be logical and objective oriented. Identify the weakness: To find out where the lacking’s of practitioner Correct the weakness: After identifying the weakness practitioner have to correct the weakness and make a good use of it. Controls of errors: Finally the practitioner controls the errors by using effective leadership. 2.3: Monitor and revise the plan in accordance with my role as a care practitioner. A practitioner has to monitor overall plan to make his goal successes. He should through focus on the adapted plan, also follow the rules, regulation and ethics of the proposed plan. A practitioner has to be honest in his duty. As a practitioner I have to do arrange the duty of my work. The rules should be monitored as well as monitored by me. As a practitioner the following proposed plan is monitor and revise by me: I should have the great skills of presentation as a practitioner. I encourage teams to work harmoniously I prepare my daily activities as regular basis. I maintain my responsibilities in time. I am able to provide effective service properly. Positive mentality is the key aspects of my work environment. This personal behavior helps me to proper monitor and accomplishes my plan easily. 2.4: discussion of how my key skills, ability and learning style fits in with my role and evaluate the extent to which my weakness hinder my development and evaluate the role of my development plan in helping me achieve professional competency in accordance with your role as a care practitioner. The academic knowledge and skills should be easily taken by me if I were a well care practitioner. I have to take proper decision to solve my problem efficiently. The success of all care practitioner is highly depends on the working capability and the efficiency. One should be dedicated himself on service accurately. I should be authentic in case of responsibility my work. An appropriate job plan also should be taken by me. All types of barriers of work solved by me with very logically. Moreover, my positive attitude toward work helps me to gain my objectives. Therefore, I should keep in mind that I am working as a care practitioner who is the best sympathizer of the environments. Task 3 3.1: explanation with specific examples what steps a nurse would take to ensure that he/she does not cross professional boundaries. Professional boundaries are the spaces between the nurses power and the clients vulnerability. In relationships with any level of well-being and closeness, boundaries are needed to separate individuals applicably. Professional boundaries support key elements of the nurse practitioner-Patient relationship: trust, compassion, mutual respect, and empathy # Steps should be taken by a nurse Education starts at the entry into practice level in nursing programs. Continued in higher nursing education programs. Policies of sexual delinquency and boundary defilements should be updated and made part of the staffs annual education. Should be informed about their own states nurse practice act Be secret in case of sharing personal matter. Speak relevant and logical topics Should be emphasize on proper value of time References: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) 3.2: Discussion of promoting and supporting the rights of the service user at work and evaluate the outcome. In health and social care center the service user must consume the proper rights. Proper service makes a user more delight. There has a series of rights which should provide for a service user- Privacy of the user: The privacy of the user should be ensured all time. The promoting and supporting the rights of the service user mainly depend on the proper privacy maintain of user. Needs of the user: the service provider must be identified the actual needs of the user and finally he satisfy his needs by providing greater service. Security of user: The user should be maintained his safety and security. Personal satisfaction and independence: By providing superior service the provider raise the satisfaction level of the user and independence also increases through personal choice. Value of choice: The choice of service user should be kept in mind if the service user. 3.3: The possible conflicts that may arise and critically discuss methods of conflict resolution where professional boundaries have been crossed In an organization conflict is a common matter. It may be arise for a lot of reasons. Such as- Conflict among the channel members Conflict due to work roles Conflict through one department to another department Boss with subordinates miscommunication with senior and junior employees The upper miss adjustment can resolve by the following way- Proper communication web should be established with channels member and subordinates. Discussion in problematic area Ensure the proper understanding with the employees Maintaining good relationship eth other department Cooperating Task 4 4.1: My own personal contribution to minimizing barriers to effective network I am able to produce, monitor and revise plans for personal improvement in developing the skills and abilities required of a health and social care practitioner. I have to take some special contribution to minimizing barriers to effective network. These are below- Study my Action Plans. Dedication to achieve. I just working there as a teammate. I Identify barriers from term in achieving the goal. Create our targets to ensure development in future. Make a favorable environment. Finally I assigned as myself with the every working step including proper communication and management and control as well. 4.2: Explanation of the limit of care role and its impact on my exercise of power in times of emergencies. Every human being has limitation on their working environment. I myself also faced lots of problem in care role that impact on my exercise of power in times of emergencies. The common limitations are writing down: The limit of care role Faced unfavorable work environment. Poor work routine hampered my task. Nature of the work. Lack of positive attitudes from supervisor. Defective equipment. Impact on my power in emergencies: we know that power is the sign of satisfaction. But when some limitation occurs instantly with me my power being hampered. The negative impact of regarding my power decreases are below- Suffered from mental pressure. Decreases physical fitness. Negative attitude toward workforce environment. Boringness. Negative practices of ethics. 4.3: My contribution to minimizing barriers to effective teamwork Every worker should be positive minded to perform his or her assigned works. The mentality also should be positive to conduct communication with others. But in there are a lot of barriers that hampers to do effective team work. By using my patience and efficiency I apply myself fully to bring an effective team combination. Always I try to provide my best effort in my job. By seeing this majority of my colleagues are motivated and they also devoted their all experience and knowledge to the work. My innovative ideas help all to work combined as a team. Moreover, I give enough encourage to my teammates during the job period. 4.4: Ideas to improve personal contribution to team work A positive idea can change everything as well as it can be a key for improving personal contribution to team work. My ideas are given below: Exchanging information Friendship Effective cooperation Discussion with teammates Be honest and ethical mentality Ensure of chain of command rules Conclusion The work competence and perfection of walks depends of stability of work and devotion. For actual health and social care service, there must be needed to manage, maintain, and establish that require completing total action in terms of health and social care service. The beauty of real life can be found in social and health care service. That makes an individual to develop strong personality and perfection.

Development of Business Strategies Essay -- Business Development Strat

The paper below responds to the following three prompts: 1. â€Å"The six forces model of strategy helps firms develop externally coherent business strategies†. Discuss applying the model to real cases. 2. Explain strategic posture and how it helps firms make strategy in uncertain business environments. 3. Evaluate the role of mergers and acquisitions in corporate strategy. 1. â€Å"The six forces model of strategy helps firms develop externally coherent business strategies†. Discuss applying the model to real cases. The six forces model is an extension to Michael Porter's Five Forces Model. The six forces analyze different areas in an industry. The forces in this model are: a. Competition- Analysis that if there are a lot of competitors. If so, are there any dominant players in the market. b. New entrants- To analyze if it is easy for new entrants to enter the market and compete? c. End users/buyers- Is the price easily affected by the buyers? Can the company work with a specific potential buyer? or to analyze their strength of their position in their relationship with the buyers d. Suppliers- Study the number of suppliers if it is a monopoly and if not, how many suppliers are there in the market. e. Substitutes- To study how easily a product can be substituted and how easily these substitutes are available f. Complementary products- Effect of complementary products and services on the market. The six forces model is used to study the strategic position of a company in a concerned industry and in a given market place. It is also applied to calculate the market effectiveness of a company with regard to competition and profitability. Let us take FedEx as an example. FedEx is one of the largest global courier... ...gy. †¢ Adam Hartung(2014), Three Smart Lessons From Facebook's Purchase Of WhatsApp http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2014/02/24/zuckerbergs-3-smart-leadership-lessons-from-facebook-buying-whatsapp/ †¢ Ibrahim AKGÃâ€"BEK, Mergers and Acquisitions as a Growth Strategy http://psrcentre.org/images/extraimages/412031.pdf †¢ PALO ALTO, CA and HOUSTON, TX (2001), Hewlett-Packard and Compaq agree to merge, creating $87 billion global technology leader http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-news/press-release.html?id=230610#.U00iUvmSy50 †¢ Wikipedia, Tata Group http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Group †¢ Sebastian Spaeth, Nina Geilinger, Corporate Strategy Mergers & Acquisitions http://www.smi.ethz.ch/education/courses/corporatestrategy/Slides_2012/CS_06_MA.pdf †¢ KENT RHODES, Merger and Acquisition Strategies http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2010/08/merger-and-acquisition-strategies/

Helen Stoner :: English Literature Helen Stoner Essays

Helen Stoner Helen Stoner is instantly stereotyped by readers as a judicious and unpretentious lady of high society England. Conan Doyle pulls the strings of the Victorian males desires and creates a 'damsel in distress', who comes to a man for aid that she does not have the resources to conclude herself. He portrays her as a woman who is wronged and in great danger therefore adding to the suspense of the story. Analysing the assortment of clothes that she is wearing the reader can conclude that she is of sufficient 'breeding' and discreet. 'A woman dressed in black, and heavily veiled' tells us that she is unaccustomed to travelling around the conurbation solitary. She is dressed in black as not to attract attention. It was uncommon for women of a high-class family to travel around the metropolis alone, she may think this shameful, which is interesting considering that it contrasts to modern day westernised civilisation where it could be interpreted as independent. Manners were of paramount importance in Victorian society, and Helen Stoner is represented as a woman who is capable of being able to display the correct 'society manners'. Victorians were very pedantic about how a woman was allowed to greet any males in her presence. The fact that she is 'heavily veiled' specifies that she does not wish for Dr Watson or Mr Holmes to direct any attention to her looks but instead to her story. This suggests to the reader that no improper conduct was to be entertained. Helen Stoner also clearly has a methodical mind. She has natural intelligence yet is prohibited to show any real deduction that may question a mans views. This is why she visits Mr Holmes. She has no power over her stepfather, her views, as a woman would be thought totally irrational by other males, so she seeks professional (male) help in the form of Sherlock Holmes. It is comprehensible to me that she has been pushed beyond her mental limitations as a human being long ago, 'She raised her veil as she spoke, and we could clearly see that she was indeed in a pitiable state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features and figure was those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard' yet she has put up with what she has been reduced to simply because it was seen as improper for a woman to question what a man was doing or for a woman to draw attention to her home life.

Human Resources Management Essay

The role of a Human Resource department is ever changing in today’s volatile business environment. Over the years HR have become strong strategic partners within an organization by providing functions such as recruitment, training and development and retention. Human Resources in order to be strategic works directly with all levels of management in an effort to help with strategy and the growth of the company to meet their vision. One very important aspect is talent acquisition. Having the right people in key roles within the company is vital to the success and growth of any company. Performing this function includes preparing a job description, recruiting, and then setting compensation. A crucial tool used by many HR departments is the process of job evaluations and performance review. These aspects of the HR Department makes sure that the employees are performing the specific task for their job description proficiently and per the companies guidelines, as well as being able to determine whether the employees deserve a raise or any other compensation to award their performance. Human resources is a critical part of an organization in order to keep the company functioning and profitable they are an important part of finding the right employees, with the right skills and qualifications to fit into open positions. METHOD OF JOB ANALYSIS: When a new job is created or a vacancy occurs, it is the role of a HR representative to fill that void. In order to perform this function they need to first understand what role they are trying fill is and what skills and responsibilities this new role would require. By conducting a job analysis they are able to further define important elements of any job and then search for the person or people that are the most qualified and would be a good fit for the company. As important as it is to perform a job analysis before looking for that new candidate, it is equally as important to select the correct job analysis method. Some popular job analysis methods are Observation, Individual Interview and Structured Questionnaires. Organizations choose methods based on various guidelines that are all linked to the job responsibilities of a position, company culture and size of the organization. Each organization must select which methods are the best match for their candidate search. The Observat ion method includes studying someone while they perform their job in an effort to better understand the tasks and duties necessary to this particular job. The advantages are the observer can obtain first-hand knowledge and information about the job being analyzed. This can provide an accurate picture of the candidate ability to do the job at hand. Other Job Analysis methods such as the interview or questionnaire only allow HR to indirectly obtain this information. With other methods there is a risk of omissions or exaggerations are introduced either by the incumbent being interviewed or by items on the questionnaire. The next method is the Interview method; this method involves conducting interviews of the person leaving this position to gain insights into what duties they perform. Interviews can also be conducted on other employees performing the same job but in most cases start with the HR manager. The advantages are that it allows the incumbent to describe tasks and duties that are not observable by anyone else and for the incumbent to give an overview of what their job entailed while they were in that position. The disadvantage is the candidate can exaggerate or omit tasks and duties that the new employee will need/have to perform to be successful in this position. The interviewer must be skilled and ask the proper questions in order to get the appropriate answers in order to get the full scope of the job duties of this position and to effectively do the appropriate job analysis. The Structured Questionnaire method uses a standardized list of work activities, called a task inventory, then jobholders or supervisors may identify as related to the job. It must cover all job related to tasks and behavior. Each task or behavior should be described in terms of features such as difficulty, importance, frequency, time spent and relationship to performance. The disadvantage is that responses may be difficult to interpret and are open-ended. Combining these methods will provide HR with a well-rounded description and analysis for the candidates. Furthermore this allows you to get the perspective from a few different angles. These methods help the HR managers find the ideal candidate for the position. IMPORTANCE OF TASK STATEMENTS AND KSA STATEMENTS: A task is an action designed to contribute a specified result to the accomplishment of an objective. It has an identifiable beginning and end that is a measurable component of the duties and responsibilities of a specific job. Knowing the tasks that have to be performed, helps you to identify the KSA that the candidate must possess in order to perform to the companies standards. In some cases you will train someone of the required KSA. Knowledge statements refer to an organized body of information usually of a factual or procedural nature which, if applied, makes adequate performance on the job possible. A body of information applied directly to the performance of a job function. Skill statements refer to the proficient manual, verbal or mental manipulation of data or things. Skills can be readily measured by a performance test where quantity and quality of performance are tested, usually within an established time limit. Ability statements refer to the power to perform an observable activity at the present time. This means that abilities have been evidenced through activities or behaviors that are similar to those required on the job. The creation of these statements will take considerable thought and insight. However, the rewards of conducting this due diligence before taking on the task of hiring a new employee, makes the process very simple and less stressful. Everything is clearly defined and above all, measurable in the future. RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION: Once the Job analysis, Task statements, KSA statements and the job description are completed, the next step is to search for candidates. I believe the best place to begin the job search is from within the organization. My reason for this is that the employees are already indoctrinated into the organization culture. Internal job postings are a great start to the process of recruiting new employees. They have a great familiarity with the company and may be able to attract potential job candidates. The benefits of internal recruiting can be the cost which tends to be less costly because you are not using an outside service or source. Internal recruiting can promote growth from within the organization. Many large companies encourage internal promotion as a source of friendly corporate culture. External sources can also be beneficial if the company is looking for a fresh start or someone with some new ideas. External recruiting can help to diversify an organization while bringing in needed competencies. Hiring externally can be done through various ways such as Internet job boards, and staffing agencies. External hiring might be more costly but may provide more outstanding candidates. Whichever the organization decide internal or external, the position needed to be filled will determine the order of the search. Once you have started recruiting it is time to view your potential qualified candidates. The key in the selection process is to choose a strategy for screening your candidates so that you are able to view the people that or most qualified for the position. Organizations also make use of many outside agencies when completing the selection process. Drug screening and reference checks are often done by a third party. Many companies are beginning to incorporate assessment tests and activities into the selection process to insure additional training is not necessary for potential candidates. These screenings can be very important in weeding out the wrong candidates and keeping potential good fits for the position in place for the interview/hiring process. PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS: Performance evaluations need to be in place to support decisions made by management and the HR department. When annual reviews come up it is imperative to be able to look back at documentation created throughout the year in order to document areas that need improvement as well as back up reasons for raises and demotions. These evaluations can also be used to teach as they may show areas that need improvement as well as provide backup for recognition of a job well done. The performance evaluations need to be structured and performed in a timely manner as well and managers need to be trained appropriately has to how to conduct these evaluations. Companies might also want to consider individual and peer evaluations as well as another source of employee evaluations just to see how the employee rates themselves compared to their managers as well as to what their peers have to say as well using these evaluations can give the HR department a better comparison on how each employee is doing by allowing others in the department to evaluate each other and to compare them to the managers evaluation of each employee. Although there can be some disadvantages to individual and peer evaluations is that the employee might over state him/herself and with peer evaluations you might get some bad evaluations because someone doesn’t like you. Although they are still good to have and or try in order to get a better review of the employee. COMPENSATION: Compensation is a tool used by management for a variety of purposes to help reach organization goals. Compensation is a systematic approach to providing monetary value to employees in exchange for work performed. Compensation may achieve several purposes assisting in recruitment, job performance, and job satisfaction. Compensation may be adjusted according the business needs, goals, and available resources. Compensation strategies have to be designed to meet the objectives of the company. Many people associate compensation with money but when looking for a job, many compensation packages are designed with a package of products in mind Its not always about the money aspect which a lot of employees tend to think they are which needs to be explained in great detail when hiring new employees. Salary is just one key to total compensation. Benefits and some intangible items help to complete these packages and make many jobs more enticing. Benefits packages that include: †¢ a good heal th plan might attract some employee while stock options entice others. †¢ Non-monetary compensation strategies such as company recognition for performance, fair treatment and safe and healthy work environments and dress codes might attract or retain employees. †¢ Organizations must provide the right balance to attract and retain employees. The balance must also encourage great performance and productivity. These steps need to be maintained in order to keep turnover down and employee moral up. I know of a lot of companies do things for their employees to show their appreciation which could be another great incentive. For example Christmas bonuses if employers can afford them, employee appreciation lunches/dinners, employee of the month etc. I don’t think that I would change anything about my paper because I did do extensive research on a HR Receptionist position to determining the skills, qualifications and experience needed for this type of positions. I think that maybe after seeing Cathy at work I would have hired someone more experienced than she apparently was who has worked in an office environment and possess the skills needed to perform the task at hand more efficiently. Other than that I think I did a pretty decent job at performing the job analysis as well as the recruitment and selection process considering that this is something that I have never done before it was a great learning experience in case I ever have to be put in a position of this magnitude. Being in HR is not an easy job from what I have experienced in this class and it definitely takes a person with skill to be effective in this position and to do it right there is so much information a person in human resources needs to know. I honestly didn’t realize how much actually went into this type of role in a company I always assumed human resources had the easiest job ever and I guess I was definitely wrong on that part and this class has shown me how wrong I was. This class was a great learning experience as far as the field of human resource management and as far as my paper is concerned I wouldn’t change much of anything except for what I had stated above about Cathy. RESOURCES: Achieved on June 11, 2012 â€Å"Managers’ benefits: compensation or perks?† http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=Managers’-benefits:-compensation-or-perks?&id=53577 Achieved on June 12, 2012 â€Å"Without Salary Increases, Will I Lose Top Employees?† http://resources.hrbrainbank.com/without-salary-increases-will-i-lose-top-employees.html Achieved on June 12, 2012 â€Å"Paying for Performance† http://www.inc.com/magazine/20041101/benefits.html Achieved on June 12, 2012 â€Å"The Power of Base Pay† http://www.inc.com/articles/1999/10/19037.html Achieved on May 28, 2012 â€Å"Management: Performance Management† http://www.nd.gov/hrms/managers/guide/perfeval.htmlperson-105678.html Achieved on May 28, 2012 â€Å"External vs. Internal Recruiting† http://www.ere.net/2007/06/13/external-vs-internal-recruiting-who-does-it-better/ Achieved on May 30, 2012 â€Å"Personal Selection† http://www.hr-guide.com/data/G311.htm Achieved on May 16, 2012 â€Å"Job Analysis and Hiring the Right Person† http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/job-analysis-and-hiring-the-right-person-105678.html Achieved on May 17, 2012 â€Å"Zeroing In on What Your Job’s About† http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTCS_02.htm Achieved on May 17, 2012 http://www.doi.gov/hrm/pmanager/st12d.html

Is democracy the best form of governance? Essay

Democracy is debatably , by far the most challenging form of governance for both, politicians and the people. Though democracy is often described as the government elected by the people, there are cases where a country’s decision to change from an authoritarian regime to a democratic one has been forced upon by foreign interventions. However, recent political insurgency in countries where democracy has been imposed shows that for the people to truly accept and respect the ideals of democracy, it must grow naturally. Many argue that interventions can be successful given the right conditions. For instance chances of the democratic transactions being successful if the state has a stable economy is relatively higher. There have been past successes like Germany and Japan after World War II where imposition of democracy has worked. It is also seen that in many cases without intervention, the individuals who were seeking to defend their rights in their homeland would have been unsucc essful. For example the people’s movement in Libya, though it had gained much suport would have been suppressed had it not been for the NATO’s involvement. There is also the concept that promoting democracy promotes peace. If people are given their freedom to air their views and feelings of marginalization are prevented then terrorism is less likely to arise. Thus promoting democracy by imposing it, we increase the chances of a peaceful world. Many believe that democracy is the best form of governance which ensures that the rights of the citizens are not violated and gives them the freedom to express their ideas and thus it is their ‘humanitarian obligation’ to bring democracy to those who do not have it. On the contrary, it is believed that an intervention is very likely to fail as the government is being formed against the country’s will and is less likely to gain support. Democratic governments prove to be successful only when the government is chosen by the people and is more likely to command respect and maintain order. Democracies are not necessarily more peaceful than other form of governments. Just because democracies have not gone to war in the past does not mean that it is less likely to go into war in the future. Invasions, mainly by the western nations, increase the tension between the East and the West and force the formation of terrorist groups which in turn threatens world peace. The 9/11 attack is proof enough to say that imposing democracy fuels terrorist groups. In Osama Bin Laden’s â€Å"letter to the American people† he cited interventions in Somalia, India,  Palestine, Chechnya, Lebanon and Iraq as reasons for the attack. Just because we prioritize and believe on political self determination being an important value, it does not mean that all nations believe in it too. For instance some nations may prioritize on religious value and prefer to be ruled by a government which promises divine authority. And some may believe in stability of the government and might not want it to keep on changing every few years. Countries of the middle east like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and so on can be taken as examples while considering countries which are non-democratic and peaceful. Taking recent happenings into consideration, western efforts to impose democracy has largely failed. For instance in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam the imposition of democracy has led to political instability but still western countries, United States in particular believes that it is their duty to bring democracy to other countries. Trying to transfer the western lifestyle to totally different locations with complex history and traditions is not an easy task. Besides, when people are bullied into following a completely different system, people are most likely to oppose it. Today’s fully functional democratic countries include Spain, Portugal, Greece, etc which were once ruled by dictators and only turned into democracies after homegrown movements and the politically instable countries include Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, etc where democracy was imposed. Thus, we can see that imposing democracy has led to nothing but disruption in the long term. Imposing democracy has caused more disruption than peace. ‘The white man’s burden’ as the movement is most popularly referred to , has caused much tension between the west and the east. Imposing democracy in countries where people prioritize values like religion and stability is not going to be successful as the people are not going to be cooperative. And the government formed that is not formed for the people is, by definition not a democracy. Democracy, even if established by imposition will still be the ‘rule of the majority’ however for the people to truly accept this for m of governance it must grow naturally.

Darwinian Theory and the ‘Life of Pi’ Essay

Darwinian Theory may be used to explain Yann Martel’s novel ‘Life of Pi. ’ While the novel is an aesthetic portrayal of spirituality, purity, and practicality, it is nonetheless not immune to the issues of scientific validity, materiality, and determinism. In this paper, the author will explore the relationship of Darwinian Theory with the core concepts in the novel. These core concepts are, in general, assumed to be in conflict with the principles of Darwinian Theory. However, this assumption may be relaxed as the author sees fit. Novel Summary Piscine ‘Pi’ Molitor Patel lives in Pondicherry, India – a boy described as ‘curious, jolly, and deep-seated with learning. ’ His father is the owner of the Pondicherry Zoo. His mother is an avid reader of various literary works. Much of the protagonist’s learning experience came from school. Hi school is filled with amazing teachers – many of whom became personal mentors of Pi. Although he grew up as a Hindu, he discovered the Catholic faith at the age of 14 from a priest named Father Martin. However, upon meeting Mr. Kumar, a Muslim, he changes his religious orientation by practicing Islam. Pi openly defies the custom of religious conservatism by advocating liberalism in worship – he regards Catholicism, Islam, and Hinduism as legitimate religions. At the age of 16, Pi’s father decides to abandon Prime Minister’s Gandhi due to some political and ethical issues. The family is forced to move to Toronto, Canada. The animals in the zoo are dispersed to various zoos in the United States. On their way to Canada, the boat unexpectedly sinks. Only Pi survives – stuck with a dying hyena and a zebra. While struggling in the shark-infested water, he saves Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger. In the boat, predatory animals prey on herbivores and the carcasses of dead animals. For seven months, Pi hides on a raft behind the boat. He is able to tame Parker using a whistle. Parker seems to develop affection with Pi – Parker becomes the close partner of Pi. While at sea, Pi learns to eat from the sea. However, because the nutrition derived from the sea is insufficient to feed the two, both Pi and Parker become ill. As the health of both Pi and Parker deteriorate, the former loses his sight. Then, they come across another blind man – a person stranded in his lifeboat on the Pacific. The blind man intends to kill and eat Pi. However, the tiger (Parker) attacks and eats the blind man. Pi, however, sheds tears for the blind man, clearing his sight as a consequence. For a long period of time, the two suffered from the scourges of the seas. Then, they come across an island made of algae and populated with the so-called Meerkats. Pi begins to eat algae and gradually regains his strength. Parker also regains his strength by eating Meerkats. For several weeks both Pi and Parker live on the island. Both are very happy and almost optimistic of life. Eventually, Pi finds several sets of corroded human teeth wrapped in tree leaves. Pi is horrified. Pi realizes that during the night the algae become acidic. The island becomes carnivorous – one indicator of which is the sleeping habit of the Meerkats. Meerkats sleep at night to avoid danger. His discovery sends shivers on his body – a feeling of hopelessness and despair run in his mind. The next day, he leaves the island with Parker. After spending so much time in the ocean, Pi finally lands in Mexico. Parker runs off into the woods. Pi is eventually recovered by villagers who immediately take him to a nearby hospital. The shipping company which owned the ship interviewed Pi. Pi narrates his story to the representatives of the company – his 227-day journey on the boat and the fantastic tales of his experiences with Parker, the Bengal tiger, and of course, the ‘dangerous’ island. The representatives of the company do not believe Pi’s story and therefore ask Pi to relate another story. Pi narrates a second story. In the story, the cook of the boat kills both his mother and a sailor with a broken leg. Pi kills the cook. The company representatives realize that Pi’s second story parallels the first. Pi asks the representatives which story they like the most. The representatives agree they like the first story and the one they will use in their report. Darwinian Theory in the Novel In the first part of the novel, Darwinian Theory seems to be contradictory with the core concepts of the story. The story advocates the concepts of spirituality, freedom of conscience, purity, and spiritual origin of humanity as the main determinants of man’s journey in life. In the beginning, Pi’s life is governed by these principles, as evident by his deep-seated commitment to the precepts of spiritual living. Pi believes that the future of humanity depends on man’s commitment to his spiritual origin. Humanity is above materialism, prejudice, and the natural laws of selection, adaptation, and struggle. Hence, humanity is defined not by the peculiarities of deterministic living but by choice and freedom. If one uses Darwinian Theory, one can clearly see the contradictions. Darwinian Theory suggests: We have seen that man incessantly presents individual differences in all parts of his body and in his mental faculties. These differences or variations seem to be induced by the same general causes, and to obey the same laws as with the lower animals. In both cases similar laws of inheritance prevail. Man tends to increase at a greater rate than his means of subsistence; consequently he is occasionally subjected to a severe struggle for existence, and natural selection will have effected whatever lies within its scope (On the Origin of Species, 147). In short, the future of humanity is governed by the principles of struggle, variation, and adaptation. To deny the material origin of man is to deny his nature. The peculiarities of man’s existence, is therefore, clouded by lies which perpetuate in the human psyche. Darwinian Theory presents man in the most material form – man originated from lower forms through a perpetually long periods of time. In his book ‘The Descent of Man,’ Darwin clearly defined the nature of man. According to Darwin, man is an ubiquitous species selected by nature to perpetuate in the world. His main tool for survival is knowledge or technological advancement. However, this ‘advantage’ is not a departure from natural selection, struggle, or adaptation. Rather, it is part of nature – ungoverned by either choice or freedom – and subservient to the logic of evolution. In short, man is related to other species in one way or another. In the novel, Pi’s ingenuous anticipation of problems and its eventual resolution are presented as natural and instinctual. With this, one is forced to refer again to Darwin’s assertion which states: He who is not content to look, like a savage, at the phenomena of nature as disconnected, cannot any longer believe that man is the work of a separate act of creation. He will be forced to admit that the close resemblance of the embryo of man to that, for instance, of a dog- the construction of his skull, limbs and whole frame on the same plan with that of other mammals, independently of the uses to which the parts may be put- the occasional re-appearance of various structures, for instance of several muscles, which man does not normally possess, but which are common to the Quadrumana- and a crowd of analogous facts- all point in the plainest manner to the conclusion that man is the co-descendant with other mammals of a common progenitor (The Descent of Man, 74). Darwinian Theory begins to manifest itself in the second part of the novel. Pi’s struggles in the boat present three concrete principles of Darwinism: struggle, adaptation, and competition. Pi’s struggles are generally linked with the actions of other forms of living organisms – the zebras, hyena, the snake, and the orangutan. The boat represents a small world where the laws of Darwinism govern everything. According to Darwin, it is impossible for a human being to be separated from the discretion of nature, from the actions of other organisms, and the vagrant reality of materialism (On the Origin of Species, 59). The formal rule of human existence is no more different from the formal rule which governs nature. According to Darwin, struggle is the formal rule of existence: As the missletoe is disseminated by birds, its existence depends on birds; and it may metaphorically be said to struggle with other fruit-bearing plants, in order to tempt birds to devour and disseminate its seeds rather than those of other plants. In these several sense, which pass into each other, I use for convenience sake the general term of struggle for existence. A struggle for existence inevitably follows from the high rate at which organic beings tend to increase †¦ for only struggle can ensure the survival of every living organism (On the Origin of Species, 32-33). In short, Pi’s struggles in the boat are not an isolated form of adaptation but a real manifestation of the laws of nature (which Darwin established in his book ‘On the Origin of Species’). Natural selection is likewise manifested in Pi’s adventures in the island. The sleeping habit of the Meerkats is congruent with the environment of the island. Note that during nighttime, the island becomes ‘carnivorous’ and the algae turns into a colony of acidic organisms. In order for the Meerkats to thrive in the island, they must adapt to their environment. Their adaptation will serve as a medium for natural selection – a species capable of reproducing. As Darwin noted: But in the case of an island, or of a country partly surrounded by barriers, into which new and better adapted forms could not freely enter, we should then have places in the economy of nature which would assuredly be better filled up, if some of the original inhabitants were in some manner modified; for, had the area been open to immigration, these same places would have been seized on by intruders. In such case, every slight modification, which in the course of ages chanced to arise, and which in any way favoured the individuals of any of the species, by better adapting them to their altered conditions, would tend to be preserved; and natural selection would thus have free scope for the work of improvement (On the Origin of Species, 42). Note the similarity of Darwin’s assertions to the plot of the story. The propensity of survival depends first and foremost on the ability of organisms to adapt to their environment. Adaptation serves as a medium for natural selection (as in the case of the Meerkats in the novel). Conclusion The novel can be analyzed through the lens of Darwinism. It is clear that the novel contains elements of Darwinism. However, one should note that this form of interpretation is neither deterministic nor perpetual. Other types of interpretation may be used to analyze the novel (such as realism, deconstructionism, structuralism, etc. ) Works Cited Darwin, Charles. On the Origin of Species. London: London Publishing House, 1870/1992. Darwin, Charles. The Descent of Man. New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1882/2001. Martel, Yann. Life of Pi. New York: Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2001.