China and Western Religious Beliefs Essay

In the early human social, Religious includes world explanation, judicial, moral cultivation and mental comfort, and other functions. In modern society, science and judicial have separated from some religious, but the moral training and mental comfort function will continue to exist. Religion’s belief systems and social groups are an important part of human thought culture and social form. 1.1 The History of Christianity The History of Christianity is the study of the religion started by a Jewish prophet from Nazareth named Jesus. Christianity would grow into one of the world’s major religions, impacting all other religions and changing the course of human history. Christian history mainly concerns the Christian religion and Church, up to contemporary times and denominations. Christianity differs most significantly from the other Abrahamic religions in its claim that Jesus Christ is God the Son. The vast majority of Christians believe in a triune God consisting of three unified and distinct persons: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Throughout its history, the religion has weathered schisms and theological disputes that have resulted in many distinct churches. The largest branches of Christianity are the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Protestant Churches. Christianity began spreading initially from Jerusalem, and then throughout the Near East, ultimately becoming the state religion of Armenia in 301 , of Ethiopia in 325,of Georgia in 337, and then the State church of the Roman Empire in 380. Becoming common to all of Europe in the Middle Ages, it expanded throughout the world during Europe’s Age of Exploration. Christianity has thus become the world’s largest religion. 1.2 The History of china religious Confucianism, also known as Confucianism, the Confucian doctrine, otherwise known as Confucianism, but does not refer to religion. Confucius as the master of Confucianism, so there is called Confucianis. Confucian classics formed in times of Confucius, but in different age the interpretation of Confucian classics are very different, so it is difficult get a comprehensive define to the Confucian. Essence of Confucianism can be said of social ethics and social management, ethics, or religious interpretation, but not the religion. Ming and Qing dynasties look the Neo-Confucianism that formed in Song Dynasty as official theory so the Neo-Confucianism has spread as mainstream of Confucianism. Comparison between Chinese and English religious beliefs 2.1 The Similarities They have the same background, the Christian was created When the Jews were ruled by The Roman Empire, Jews look forward to a person just like the farseer said who can take them moving towards freedom. While China, Confucianism and Taoism are created when the people were suffering in pain during the Warring States period, 2.2 The Differences 1. Separation of Man and God in Western religions and unity of that in China original sin is the foundation of Christian theory and practice . Because human ancestors, Adam and eva had sinned, corrupt moral invaded their body, and Transmitted to their descendants, the result is men are guilty, all mankind have sin. because of this people are bound to die, and will were punished in all their life. We can see from the original sin all things of Christianity are classified into two worlds: the human world and God’s world. Person’s world is a world separated from God, and human’s world depends on God’s world, so everything is the communication between the two worlds and its results. Obviously, Christianity preached that man and God, the separation of man and nature. While Chinese religion would emphasize that the harmony between man and nature, issues of life within a confined themselves, to solve problems with people- oriented. 2. Monotheism of western religions and pluralism of China religions Christianity is a strictly monotheistic, think that there only have one master of the universe that is God. According to predetermined level of order and purpose God arrange things of the universe. God as God, but also the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Starting this belief, the Christian establish a complete doctrine including Doctrine of God, creationism, human nature, original sin of Christ on, Salvation. Understanding the knowledge and stories of â€Å"Bible† is a very important part of the western cultural training. Therefore after the formation of Christianity it gradually established a fixed, unified values ​​and outlook on life. Those are met with the religious teaching, whether the regulation or the modern thoughts can not be divorced from the relationship with this religious. In practice, Christianity also starting from system to establish unified church organization such as church in urban and rural areas for christians to pray. China’s religious has given people great freedom, so that people can hold religious sentiment in their hearts. Therefore, the God most Chinese people worship is not uniform. Most Chinese people do not belong to a religious organization, however, are more or less exist a unified spirit from Confucianism Buddhism and Taoism. The religious traditions in China, Confucianism has constituted the soul of Chinese culture in the long course of historical development. Many thinkers and politicians in China are based on the Confucian sense of responsibility to pursue truth, to maintain the orthodox and the implementation of reforms. On the other hand, in addition to Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, the Chinese folk religion and worship of God is also very much prosperity and universal, various gods are the object that believers worship incense. the strong contrast between the conceptual life and practical life resulted in the loss of religious values ​​and alienation in China, and also led to the emergence and spread of a variety of primitive superstitious beliefs and event. It caused abnormal development of the spiritual life, so that a heavy burden put on the reality of Chinese culture, many people have a spiritual emptiness

“Nanotechnology-implications and future” Essay

‘Nanotechnology’ is actually a fairly new idea .Nanotechnology is engineering, science, and technology which is conducted on nanoscale .It is the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale.It is applicable in all the fields of science such as Biology, Materials science ,Physics and Engineering . Nanoscience involves the ability to examine and to control individual atoms and molecules .Scientists currently match the future implications of nanotechnology.Nanoscience or Nanotechnology is able to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of applications. On the other hand , it raises many problems as any new technology including concerns about toxicity and environmental impact of nanomaterials ,and their effects on global economies . Nanorobotics center on self-sufficient machines which operate at nanoscale . There are hopes for applying nanorobotics in medicine ,yet it may not be easy to do such things because of drawbacks of such devices .Scientists on the moment have actually found that some of nanoparticles on which they are working can go through human skin .This could permanently damage our skin cells , causing cancer. If we are using nanoscience in everyday life in future , then it could affect the environment very much , so we don’t have that much advanced facilities to stop nanoparticles from going through them .Nanotechnology can make our life luxurious , but we may even lose an identity as humanity .

Burials, Houses, Women and men in the European Neolithic Essay

Burials, Houses, Women and men in the European Neolithic - Essay Example Hence their processual approach to understanding the meaning and importance of these megalith structures still remains unproven. Amid these competing claims and counterclaims regarding the monoliths, Ian Hodder seeks to adopt a more robust framework of analysis for interpreting the importance and functions of these ancient structures. Ian Hodder identifies the different forms of tombs and houses by the differences apparent in their architectural styles and construction techniques. The long houses and long burial mounds are given special attention, for these structures are spread across continental Europe, spanning modern day Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Neatherlands and beyond. Based on the shape, size, location, orientation and the likely human population at the time of their construction, the author arrives at the most likely historical and anthropological significance of these structures. While long houses, long burial mounds and tombs are found all across Europe, no two structures are identical. In fact, the uniqueness associated with each of these archaological sites are what give their broader indication. The other task the author carries out is to ascertain the social and interpersonal implication of these structures. Determining the relation of long houses and tombs with respect to their surrounding environment is much easier when compared to finding the social interactions within these ancient spaces of living. This is so because the monoliths have withstood the passage of time while the smaller sized household utilities such as pottery, objects that served as furniture and food leftovers have largely been destroyed by the elements. As a result it is very difficult to estimate the number of people who took shelter in these houses, their relation to one another and what other function did these houses serve? Nevertheless, the author tries

Upstreaming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Upstreaming - Essay Example Therefore, this paper will analyze the process Anne May undergoes after her son’s death and the significance of embracing life in a phenomenal swim of faith. The memories of her son made Anne May unable to get over his death. Her son had fallen out of the boat and drowned while they were fishing with his father. The images of his son drowning could not leave her mind, which resulted in nightmares almost every day until they became her companion. In her dreams, she could see â€Å"her son drowning in the water, his skinny arms flailing the waves, his mouth opening to scream, but no sound coming forth† (Brant 50). This dreams kept the memories of her son alive; thus, she welcomed them. However, Anne May enters another process where she blames herself for her son’s death. Although she had not been there when the accident occurred, Anne May felt that it was her duty to protect her son. â€Å"It is my fault, she said out loud. She thought of all the things she should have done to prevent Simon’s leaving. She should have placated Tony, she should have lived alone, she should have pretended to be straight, and she should have never been an alcoholic, she should have never loved, she should have never been born (Brant 53). This hurt her and made it difficult for her to forgiven herself, as well as her ex-husband, Tony who desperately begged for forgiveness. The joy of her son’s birth made Anne May stop drinking. Her desire to have a drink ended when she saw Simon. However, his death made her thirst for the drink and hated attending meetings. â€Å"She wanted to drink and drink and drink until it was all over† (Brant 52). She finally buys a bottle of wine at a liquor store and decides to travel as she thinks about her past life, about her alcoholic father and how he made her mother live a miserable life. While standing on a rock at Sauble Falls, she watched the fish as

History of interior desin Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History of interior desin - Research Paper Example However, that should not be understood by the student or the reader that this level of interaction between cultures is something of a new paradigm. Rather, this has existed since the beginning of time and is evidenced within many of the ruins and remnants of empires that span the globe. As a function of understanding the means by which interior design and architecture impacted upon the past, this particular analysis will look at the case of two of the following mosques: the Umayyd Mosque (also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus – Islam’s fourth holiest site) as well as The Great Mosque of Cordoba. However, rather than merely discussing the means by which to cultures impacted upon the development of architecture and interior design within these mosques, the analysis will also seek to can pair and contrast the means by which these cultures interacted within the respective environments/geographies. With regards to the first mosque which will be analyzed within this brie f essay, that of the Umayyd Mosque in Damascus (pictured below in figure 1.0 and figure 2.0), this particular site was one that was revered by Christians prior to the Muslim conquest of Damascus. The juxtaposition of three unique religions exists within this particular mosque. For instance, during, a temple to Jupiter was built upon the very grounds that the current mosque now occupies. Several centuries later, during the Christian era of the Roman Empire, this table was converted and expanded into the Cathedral of St. John. Likewise, during the Muslim conquest of the sixth century, the Umayyd Mosque was expanded and utilized many of the same components that had served the prior two religions. Within such an understanding, the reader can come to a clear appreciation for why the interior elements of design and architecture that are exhibited within this particular mosque are so varied and nuanced. Likewise, the in the images below, the reader can distinctly note the shape of the colu mns within figure 1 are highly indicative of the Roman. Whereas the dome and crescent pictured to the left of the image are of course highly indicative of Islamic styles. Moreover, the support mechanisms and decorations that the building exhibits are also indicative of the very same semi-arch style that was utilized within the Roman aqueducts throughout their Empire. Likewise, with respect to image two, a clear and distinct level correlation between the Imperial columns and the decorations exhibited in and around John the Baptist shrine evoke a clear and distinct level of contrast between Christian interior design, Roman interior design, and Islamic interior design interpretations. Figure 1.0 Figure 2.0 With regards to the Great Mosque of Cordoba, and even further level of differentiation can be seen. Whereas some reconstruction to place within The Great Mosque of Damascus, discussed above, the Moorish conquest of Spain and the subsequent control that the Moors derived over the prev ious Cathedral of Vincent, creating something of a unique historical situation. Rather than demolishing the Cathedral of Saint Vincent, the Moorish occupiers requested and were allowed to purchase one half of this cathedral; which they then set about converting to a mosque. In such a

History of Exxon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History of Exxon - Essay Example The Standard Oil Company in 1899 became the holding company for all corporations listed under the trust, but was order by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1911 to separate from 33 American subsidiaries. In 1972, Standard Oil Company (New Jersey) changed its name to Exxon Corporation with other subsidiaries and affiliates, including Humble also adopting the name Exxon. Exxon had established itself in every phase of oil industry before merging with Mobil Company in 1999. Exxon dealt in oil transport via pipelines and also owns a largest fleet of tankers in relation to its peers. Exxon Mobil Corporation comes second after BP as the world largest integrated oil firm. The company runs oil and gas discovery, production, haulage as well as marketing in over 200 countries around the world (ExxonMobil, n.d). The company is also a major player in manufacturing of petrochemicals (Rienstra, Linsley & Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, 2003). In 2014 quarter 4, Exxon Mobil recorded a higher decrease in total revenue year on year by -22.22 percent, which was faster compared with its competitors’ overall decrease of -16.91 over the same period. Exxon Mobil also recorded a net margin of 7.64 percent, thus achieving higher profitability compared to its competitors, including Royal Dutch Shell, BP, and Chevron (CSIMarket,

Discuss the pros and cons of floating against fixed exchange rate Essay

Discuss the pros and cons of floating against fixed exchange rate regime using the Mundell-Fleming and the Dornbusch models - Essay Example With increased supply of money, people will transform that non interest-bearing asset, money into interest bearing assets, bonds. Therefore, the demand for bonds will rise. That will lead to an increase in bond price. (Obstfeld and Rogoff, 1984) Due to the inverse relationship between bond price and market rate of interest, the market rate of interest will fall. This fall in market rate of interest will be followed by a huge capital outflow. Now, same amount of domestic money will run after less amount of foreign currency resulting in domestic currency depreciation. To maintain the domestic currency at a fixed level, the central bank will have to sell its foreign currency reserve in exchange of domestic money. This phenomenon will lead to a contraction in money supply and it will continue till the market rate of interest rises to its initial level, that is, till the initial expansionary monetary policy gets fully crowded out. (Obstfeld, 2000) From the above, it is clear that the monetary policy will be fully ineffective under fixed exchange rate regime. Now, if the government chooses a fiscal expansion through a rise in government expenditure, then income rises. With a rise in income, transaction demand for money increases. With a rise in transaction demand for money, people will sell bonds in order to meet that increased transaction demand. So, bond supply will rise, bond price will fall and market rate of interest will rise. With the increase in market rate of interest a huge capital inflow will occur, resulting in a currency appreciation. In order to maintain the fixed exchange rate the central bank will purchase that extra supply of foreign exchange. It will result in an increase in money supply, increasing the demand for bond, which will eventually lower the initial rise in interest rate to its initial level. However income will be higher than the initial level. So fiscal policy will

MANAGING HUMAN RESOURCES DISCUSS THE ROLE OF PROCEDURE IN MANAGING Essay

MANAGING HUMAN RESOURCES DISCUSS THE ROLE OF PROCEDURE IN MANAGING BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE CONFLICT IN ORGANISATION - Essay Example These are common problems in smaller and bigger organisations with varying degrees of significance; but they could never be ignored. Very few organisations could overlook the need of human resource management today. When a group of people are working for the better part of the day, every day, day after day, together, at the same place, dealing with the same issues, it is not surprising that individual and collective conflicts take place in the world sphere. It becomes part of the daily management to deal with these kind of unpleasant skirmishes; nevertheless, it is also important to manage them correctly so that the managing itself should not leave a residue that would create further problems for not only the individual workers, but also for the organisation itself. Every organisation has realised how important it is to have pleasant situations at the working place and how imperative it is to please the worker. Workers too have understood that never-ending conflicts can bring unpleas antness, mental turmoil, continuous annoyance, loss of efficiency and job and hence, opportunities. So, when both the sides are more understanding, it is not very difficult to adapt some procedures that would deal with any eventuality. We have heard a lot about the Japanese way of treating their workers and the effective procedures they adapt to solve the conflicts at work place. Perhaps it is always necessary for the western society to take a leaf from their in managing their own people. PURPOSE It is necessary to know more about the various dimensions and variables of human resource management and how it should deal with the conflict management. In every organisation conflict management procedure is absolutely necessary, because if conflict management is not effective or is not according to the style and perspective of the company's work, the small problems could branch out into bigger issues and shake the very structure of the organisation. Hence, a study on human resources conflict management is necessary from all the points of view. METHODOLOGY This study depends on the secondary sources like connected books, journals, reports, case studies and sources from the internet. There will not be any primary research in the shape of personal and face to face interviews. This also could be called the limitations of the project. DISCUSSION "Conflict persists at all levels of contemporary corporate life, including the top. Yet conflict rarely escapes the boundaries of executive contexts to escalate into large-scale public disputes or firings the kinds of events that receive widespread media attention," Morrill (1995, p.1). Resolving conflict situations is definitely not an easy task and needs patience, understanding, kindness and more than that, a set of procedures. It is imperative that the person should be a skilled communicator, who can create an open communication environment, where both the parties feel comfortable and ready to discuss the matter. Listening to the complaints of both the sides is the first procedure in solving any complaint. It is also important to keep an open mind while listening or discussing. It is necessary to venture into discussion only after the complete matter and the diverse viewpoints are totally understood by the negotiator. It is necessary for

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example According to the research findings, business ethics is based on moral behavior and aims at conducting business activities in a just and fair manner. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the duty or obligation of a company towards the people, societies, communities, and environment that may be affected by the activities of the business. For example, reducing the environmental impacts of the operations of a business is one common aim of the business, especially in cases of companies whose operations affect the environment in a hazardous way like the automobile companies. In short, both terms are based on the social concepts of morality and responsibility. Business ethics involve the application of moral and ethical values in a business and CSR is extended form of business ethics in which these values are expressed and embedded in the organization through programmes and policies involving the stakeholder groups. CSR involves conducting ethical activities and business ethics involves conducting activities ethically. So, the underlying essence of the two remains similar. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a term related to the social responsibilities that a company has towards the community in which it operates. In contrast, business ethics is based on the factor of conscience. Business ethics is related to morality and differentiating between right and wrong and conducting the business operations by focusing on the rights and avoiding the wrongs. Using ethics in business implies that the company is obliged to set business policies, rules and conduct its activities in a just and right manner so that the activities of the company le ad to the good of every entity which is, directly and indirectly, related to the business. These entities include all the internal and external stakeholder groups of the company and the society as a whole. Business ethics, in the modern business environment, has emerged as a preliminary necessity that should be taken up by every company, irrespective of the industry or its level of operation in order to conduct its business in a legally and socially compliant manner. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), on the other hand, is the additional responsibilities that a business should take up in order to create sustainability and a positive brand image for itself.

Memo for ABC Complete Kitchens Inc Essay Example for Free

Memo for ABC Complete Kitchens Inc Essay â€Å"Great organizations demand a high level of commitment by the people involved†- Bill Gates. Introduction Having the right man for the right job is imperative for corporate success. The person that installs the cabinetry for ABC Inc. is probably not the same person you want managing the financial responsibilities and obligations. Employees of ABC Complete Kitchens Inc. encompass a similar work ethic, professionalism and accountability however; their skills vary and need to be accommodated suitably within the company. Maintaining this level of expectation is imperative to achieve organizational success. Maturity, health, financial stability and the ability to compensate accordingly to current and long term fiscal challenges is the responsibility of the financial manager and within this organization or for ABC Inc. the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The CFO assesses, directs, monitors, controls, develops strategies, plans for current and long term financial goals and most importantly determines the organizations investment decisions. The CFO and/or financial manager must â€Å"weigh the costs and benefits of all investments and projects and decide which of them qualify as good uses of the money† (Northcentral University, 2011. 7; 709). This is money invested by others as well as yourselves within this company. There are three main tasks financial managers are responsible for beyond applying management  standards to financial capital or income of this conglomerate. These consist of; making (preferably good) investment decisions, financial decisions and managing the company’s cash flow on a day to day and a long term basis. In order to stand behind these investment decisions, it is imperative to understand the terminology and processes within the financial systems development. Assets Assets are items of ownership that can be converted into cash or have an exchange value. They are investments this company has made. From an accounting point of view, assets can be divided further into two categories, current and long-term assets. Current assets are cash or other liquid items that can be turned into cash within one year. Marketable securities are short term, low risk investments such as, the current stock you hold and what it is worth or can be sold at. Accounts receivable are debts owed to this company by consumers for products and services provided already on credit. Inventories are assets comprised of raw materials such as cabinetry, sinks, and appliances including kitchens being currently installed that ABC Inc. still owns. There are other current assets that we will view on our balance sheet later on and they are mostly prepaid expenses and deferred assets as well as expenditures for future costs such as insurance, rent and interest. Intangible assets have no physical existence. These can include intellectual property or employees who attain knowledge and skill (NCU, 2011. 7:13). If the employee leaves to go to another organization, this is considered an intangible asset. Perception of the company within the community is important. Take for example the communities perception of the company. Wal-Mart and most recently Target with their credit card theft issue experienced intangible assets. Copyrights, patents and goodwill are also intangible assets. â€Å"Recently, I was asked if I was going to fire an employee who made a mistake that cost the company $600,000. No, I replied, I just spent $600,000 training him. Why would I want somebody to hire his experience?†-Thomas J. Watson (founder of IBM). Liabilities A liability is an obligation to creditors, an entity arising from past transactions, where the settlement can result in the transfer of assets,  services or other yielding of benefits in the future. They include any type of borrowing from persons or banks for improving on a business or increasing personal income. Liabilities of this company are duties or responsibilities that require settlement by future use of assets at or by a specific date, over a short or long time period or possibly on demand. Liabilities are categorized as current and long-term classification. Classifying liabilities as either current or long term will assist ABC Inc’s CFO assess if the risk of these liabilities will involve disbursement of cash or further company assets in the near or distant future. A current liability will be satisfied within one year. Diving deeper into the definition of current liabilities, a company also identifies them as debts that are expected to be taken care of with current assets or with the use of other current liabilities. Accounts payable are considered the total sum of monies or obligations owed to purveyors for goods and/or services purchased with credit. When accounts payable are paid off, it represents a negative cash flow for the company. Short-term debt otherwise known as notes payable is the reimbursement that will occur within the next year to satisfy a debt. Items that are known monies of the company that have not been paid such as the salary for employees or taxes and deferred or unearned profit that has been received for products that have not been distributed are classified within the current liability category (NCU, 2011. 7:23-24). Long-term liabilities are debts payable over a longer period of time and unlike current liabilities, extend beyond one year. Examples of these are long-term debts, a capitol lease and deferred taxes. Long-term debt involves the obligation of our company to compensate our providers for a period of time that extends beyond one year. Currently, ABC Inc’s long-term debt consists of the construction of buildings overseas as well as most of our products utilized in the assembly of the kitchens. A capitol lease is a contract that requires this organization to make scheduled payments in exchange for the use of a certain asset. An agreement is made between ABC Inc. and another proprietor to compensate for use of things such as equipment, the plant or property. ABC Inc. needs to bear this risk and act as if it is owned as a company asset. Deferred taxes are taxes this company owes but has yet to pay. They appear as a liability because eventually they will be paid for however currently the company has exceeded its financial  income. Owners Equity or Shareholders Equity Owners or shareholders equity is the ownerships interest in a corporation in the form of common or preferred stock. This amount is calculated and identified as shareholders equity, net worth or book value (Averkamp, 2013). The equity a company has is determined by taking the total assets and subtracting the total liabilities. Equity is the quantity of ABC Inc’s assets that you as shareholders own, as opposed to what the company borrowed. Owner’s equity is also classified as net worth or net assets; it’s your interest as owners in this company. Equity can be considered as the calculation of a company’s money that is left over if an asset were converted to cash and all of the current and long-term liabilities against it are paid. Equity is the stock this company and you as individuals possess, it is the value of the assets that you the proprietor actually own. Assets are equal to equity plus liabilities, thus indicating how much of the company’s asset s belong to or are owned and by whom. The Balance Sheet The balance or statement of financial position lists the company’s assets and liabilities, providing a model of the corporation’s financial position at any given time. The balance sheet summarizes the remainder of all the assets, liabilities and overall worth of a company’s accounts as of a specific date, usually the last day of the accounting period or the last day of the quarter or fiscal year (Thomsett, 2011). The fundamental accounting equation is; the sum of all asset account balances is equal to the sum of liabilities plus net worth accounts. It can at times be utilized and analyzed as an estimate of the liquidation worth of the corporation, aiding in foreseeing the value that would be left if the assets were bought and liabilities remunerated. A balance sheet must provide a fair and valid view of an organization’s state of affairs as well as abiding by the provisions of GAAP in its preparation. A balance sheet states: What assets the company owns How assets are paid for What the company owes or what they are liable for Amount left after satisfying their debts Balance Sheet Analysis and Current Ratio Analyzing the balance sheet assesses the company’s value, control and short term cash needs. The balance sheet is a quantitative summary of a company’s financial situation or condition at a specific point in time, including but not limited to assets, liabilities and net worth. The first part of a balance sheet shows all the productive assets a company owns, and the second part shows all the financing procedures, the liabilities and the shareholders equity. This is better seen from the table demonstrated on the next page. The asset accounts are added together, providing the total amount of the corporation’s properties prior to being decreased by debts and obligations. The balance sheet is comprised of assets and liabilities, each with similar sub-groups providing a final explanation of the balance sheet subsection for reference. The total of all liabilities plus net worth accounts is always equal to the total of all assets, WITHOUT EXCEPTION! â€Å"How is the balance accomplished? The sum of liabilities and net worth is always equal to the value of all asset accounts because of double-entry bookkeeping. Every entry has a debit and a credit and these are equal in value. They may also be thought of as a plus and a minus. At any time, the sum of all accounts in the corporate books will add up to zero, because debits and credits offset one another â€Å"(Thomsett, 2013). It is important to remember that creditors often compare a company’s current assets and current liabilities to evaluate whether or not the company has adequate working capital to endure their short-term financial needs. This comparison can be summarized in the company’s current ratio. The current ratio is the percentage of current assets in relation to their current liabilities. A higher current ratio gives the implication of the company experiencing less risk of a cash deficit in the near future (NCU, 2011. 7:727). The Income Statement The income statement shows the company’s net income or profitability during a specific period of time. The income statement can also be referred to as the profit and loss, or â€Å"PL† statement, and the net income is also referred to as the company’s earnings (NCU, 2011). The income statement is based on the accounting equation that; income equals revenue minus expenses which in turn illustrates the value of the owner’s equity as increasing or decreasing. The income statement analysis explains how the profitability of  the company relates to the company’s shares. Different ratios are used providing information on ABC Inc’s operation and worth (NCU, 2011). Conclusion This leaves us now analyzing not only the national but also the international fiscal aspects of ABC Complete Kitchens Incorporated. Generating sales overseas is taking this company to new heights within the business world. The income statement or statement of financial performance catalogs the company’s revenues and expenses. It is putting our name on the map while increasing profit, employment opportunities and as the Board of Directors; you are responsible for maintaining this stature. This position is not only exciting, it is manageable as well. As a project manager I foresee significant advancement within all of the departments. If everyone involved collaborates cohesively, communicates respectfully and complies with ABC Complete Kitchen Incorporated’s mission and vision, the finality will be a company that ultimately produces an exceptional product with complete customer and corporate satisfaction. References Averkamp, H. (2013). What is owners equity? Accounting Coach, LLC. Fort Atkinson, WI Retrieved from: http://www.accountingcoach.com/privacy-policy (2011). SKS 5000- Business strategies for organizational effectiveness within the global perspective. Pearson Learning Solutions ISBN: 9780558870447 (2013). List of key accounting terms and definitions. InvestorGuide Staff. Retrieved from: http://www.investorguide.com/article/13789/list-of-key-accounting- terms-and-definitions/ Thomsett, M., C. (2013). The balance sheet. Getting Started in Stock Investing and Trading Retrieved from: http://www.investorguide.com/article/12689/the-balance-sheet-ws/

The Amo Model Theoritical Framework Commerce Essay

The Amo Model Theoritical Framework Commerce Essay Every organization in a public or private sector, struggle for survival and this survival can be gotten if there is a motivated workforce to ensure the organizations objectives are met. Most organizations tend to neglect and ignore the up-keep of their employees which might affect employee performance and organizational productivity. There are complaints about low performance and productivity in most organizations in Nigeria. Researchers like Akinyele (2010) are of the opinion that low performance and productivity in most organizations in Nigeria is caused by the organizations where they operate. Additionally, Akinyele (2010) is of the opinion that about 80% of low productivity and performance is caused by the work environment of the organization and so, suggests that when the environment of an organization is conducive, it confirms that the well-being of the employees will be improved and would lead to higher productivity for the organization (Akinyele, 2007). Organizations find it difficult to perform up to standard in order to meet their objectives due to the fact that there is low performance and productivity. The reason for low organizational performance and productivity in Nigeria according to Ahiauzu (1999) is that, employees perform better when they are managing their own businesses other than working in an organization. With this, they end up coming late to work, show little or no creativity and are slow in accepting change. This indicates that there is a missing factor which motivates employees that is not present. Also, there are other issues that affect performance and productivity in some organizations In Nigeria which relates to cultural background, belief system and web of kingship. Again, Keller (2006) suggests that when you give your employees the best, they in turn give it back to the organization. For example, in relation to the organization, there have been a clear case of low performance because of its managerial style and leadership calamity, the way funds are managed and this is affecting the performance of the employees and the organization (Babalola, 2012). Line managers are actively responsible for the well-being and welfare of their employees Boxall and Purcell (2003) because they are the most important assets of an organization (Armstrong 2012). When employees feel they are not working for themselves and are not motivated in any way, they tend to be disengaged and disconnected with the work and its environment especially when they notice they are neglected by their employers and line managers. For improving the well-being and performance of employees, Boxall and Purcell (2003) as illustrated in the AMO model below suggest that for effective employee and organizational performance, line managers should be able to present, apply, direct and monitor all human resource activities to help improve organizational and employee performance. THE AMO MODEL THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK Most organizations tend to neglect the well-being of their employees and due to this, they end up not performing well which in turn affects the performance of the organization. This, can be caused by either the managerial style of the line managers, not having a conducive work environment or even the employees themselves. The AMO model is an illustration of how employees can be motivated by the line managers using the HR policies and practices involved so as to enhance performance and well-being. The term AMO means A=Ability, M=Motivation, O= opportunity. Ability refers to the practices and policies that ensure the employees in an organization get the best and are prepared with the skills to take on any job in the organization, with the assumption that jobs would be challenging. Organizations should ensure that their employees have the necessary skills to be able to use their discretionary practice whereby they are able to participate with minimum supervision. This is why Huselid (19 95) and Appelbaum et al., (2000) state that organizations must ensure accurate recruitment and selection process to recruit capable and skilled workers and also ensure necessary training. In order for employees to use their discretionary practice, they need to be motivated with either an extrinsic, intrinsic or trust factor (Appelbaum et al., 2000). Extrinsic this can be financial such as performance pay or commission, incentive pay. Intrinsic pay comes from inner satisfaction and finally, when an organization can enable an environment that is trustworthy and encouraging, then employees feel valued and wanted. If all these motivational factors are absent, then employees tend to be absent or likely leave the job. The opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process in an organization gives employees the sense of involvement, engagement and enhances well-being (Appelbaum et al., 2000). According to Wood and Wall (2007), Boxall and Macky (2009) and Appelbaum et al., (2000) , i t is the distinguishing feature that differentiates High performance work practices whereby the decision making process should be de-centralized and shared rather than the control of hierarchy. According to Wood and Wall (2007), there are different ways in which employees should be given the opportunity and chance to be involved either being in a self-managed team or the opportunity for their voice to be heard. RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT It is important to consider the organization used in this research work. In 2004, FIFA (The Federation Internationale De Football Association) the world football governing body recommended the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) to create an avenue for the establishment of the Nigerian Football League (NFL) which would be an independent body but also would still be a member of the NFA. The processes and procedures of acquiring an office including the office of the chairman and vice chairman, board members and other departments was then put in place in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. In 2006, the NFL was then in search of sponsors since it is operating as a non-profit making organization but to no avail due to the fact that it lacked legal backup. It was reported to the NFA and the Ministry of Sports and later, the NFL was granted their license to become a corporate body and was immediately incorporated as a Limited Liability Company in April 2006. The title sponsor i mmediately after the incorporation was awarded to Nigerias biggest telecommunication company for four years and then, the NFL was changed to NPL (Nigerian Premier League). The Nigerian Premier League (NPL) consists of 40 staff and 20 premier league clubs that is spread all over Nigeria and it is in line with the international best practice for the benefit of its stakeholders. Due to the fact that the football body (NPL) is a non-profit making organization, there might be significant impact on the well-being of its workforce having in mind that they are working for an organization that generates no profit and how they are motivated would be at stake unlike a profit making organization whereby the desire of the organization is to make profit. In a country like Nigeria where most of the workforce work not for the experience but for the money would also affect organizations that are non-profit making like the NPL. As money is known to be an extrinsic motivational factor in Herzberg 2 factor theory and by paraventure the company experiences a downturn in finance and it is not able to meet the financial expectation of its workforce, productivity will fall to its minimum as employee performance will be reduced due to lack of no financial benefit or extrinsic motivation. In Nigeria, most organizations are of the opinion that since employees work for the money and not the experience, it should be seriously considered by the line managers so as to create ways to intrinsically motivate the employees. This is why the purpose of this research would benefit the Nigerian Premier League on how to motivate the employees thereby using the elements from the AMO Model by Purcell et. al., (2003) mentioned in this study that it is necessary to intrinsically motivate the workforce, which in turn can lead to career progression. The NPL is faced with a challenge which is now affecting the well-being and performance of the employees (For example, absenteeism, low performance, finance) and as well, the organization (Babalola, 2012). In this case, it can be caused by lack of engaging the employees using the human resource practices mentioned in the Black Bo x, the managerial style of the managers, cultural differences which can generate conflict Aluko (2003) lack of finance and again, remember they are working for the only thing that motivates them which is the money and it is not available. CONCEPT OF WELL-BEING Well being according to Ryan and Deci (2000) is where the employee is fully engaged (Committed), fully functioning (Active) and focuses on self-actualization (Realization of Potentials). CIPD (2006) defines well-being as creating a good working environment to promote the employee state of mind that allows the employee to develop and attain the full ability to perform for the benefit of the organization. Having this in mind, the managerial procedures in organizations tend to have an impact on the workforce of an organization because of the way they are followed and in turn can have an effect on the performance outcome of the organization and the workforce AMO Model Purcell et al. (2003) using the HR practices. Researchers suggest here that there may be a significant correlation between Human Resource management and the performance outcome of the organization (Becker and Gerhard 1996; Huselid 1995). However, well-being is part of the human resource process and its relationship has been ignored thereby affecting organizational performance. According to Pfeffer (1998), the problem facing human resource management should not be, having the idea of how HRM practices enhance the outcome of an organization but instead understanding how it affects employee well-being, performance and engagement which if present increases productivity. In the light of this research, employee well-being and performance would be discussed using human resource practices, such as organizational commitment, training and development, ability and skills, motivation and job satisfaction and discretionary behavior, which help to promote a good work life balance in an organization (The AMO Model, See figure 1.1) Purcell et al., (2003). From the above model, the Human Resource practices might influence employee well-being if taking into consideration and can continuously develop and increase performance and productivity. If the management of any organization can actually generate a good working environment, the workforce would in turn respond with high motivation and satisfaction which can help the company attain high performance and enhance productivity. Despite the fact that organizations vary, ways of motivation also vary. The aim of most organizations is to make profit in one way or the other be it a profit making organization or non-profit making organization but most non-profit making organizations, spend more and dont really make a profit but this can be achieved if only organizations take into consideration the well-being of their employees thereby using the HR elements mentioned by Purcell et al., (2003) to improve well-being and performance. CONCEPT OF PERFORMANCE Performance according to Stoner (2002) is vital to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization, which shows how well the organizations objectives are achieved. Performance in an organization can be negatively impacted upon by different factors which can hinder the progress of the organization. In Nigeria, the impact of organizational performance can be caused by poor communication Inedegbor et al., (2012), culture Aluko (2003) and possibly can be caused by the external environment. IOA Model for Organizational Performance. The framework above illustrates an organizations performance which can have different dimensions that consists of the organizations importance, financial stability, and effectiveness of the organization, how efficient the organization is and how well they can react to change from its internal and external environment. It also illustrates that the performance of an organization should be linked to how motivated the organization might be and that resources like finance, technology, and workforce can drastically affect the performance of an organization. Drawing from the research organization (NPL), it indicates that the organization suffers low performance because it lacks the only thing that motivates the employees leading to absenteeism and de-motivation. RESEARCH STUDY AIM This research aims to examine the ability of the AMO Model by Purcell et al., (2003) to explain employee well-being and performance to enhance productivity in the Nigerian Premier League. RESEARCH STUDY OBJECTIVES In order to carry out this research study properly, there are objectives outlined to achieve the aim of this study. The objectives are: To assess the levels of skills/ability, motivation and incentives and opportunity to participate, measure levels of training and development, ability and skills, organizational commitment, and identify discretionary behaviour and performance. To identify significant relationships between these variables To evaluate the employee perceptions of conditions of service and work in relation to AMO to participate in the Nigerian Premier League. Recommendations and conclusions based on my findings. RATIONAL FOR THE STUDY To achieve a positive outcome in an organization, the well-being of employees needs to be taken into consideration because they are seen as the most valuable assets of an organization Armstrong (2008) and the way they are managed has a significant impact on the organizations performance. The duty of the HR is to administer policies and practices used by line managers to engage employees, this is why they are of great importance in any organization despite this long contention between HRM and the organizational performance Guest (2011) due to the fact that regulations and procedures of the HRM is in connection to a recent act in strategy (Brockbank and Ulrich 2005). The aim of this research is to better understand well-being and performance of employees to enhance productivity in organizations especially those facing difficulties like low performance and high turnover, using the AMO Model (Black Box) by (Purcell et al., 2003). The research would in turn have a positive impact on the workforce and organization if the well-being and performance of the workforce are seriously taking into consideration. For the purpose of this study, the concept of employee well being is measured using training and development, ability and skills, organizational commitment, discretionary behavior and it is an attempt to close the gap between employee well-being and performance with the performance of the organization thereby explaining a bit more about the importance of HRM practices which promotes employee well-being at work and is linked to organizational performance. The study of this research on employee well-being and performance in the Nigerian Premier League would be important to the organization because it will enable the organization to understand better the concept of employee well-being and performance and how it can be managed to enhance productivity inside and outside the organization. According to Bujai, Cottini and Nielsen (2008), having an insight on the impact of employee well-being and performance in an organization with regards to engagement and other HR Practices is important in having a working environment that is productive. In order to build a productive workforce, the well-being and performance of the organization either large or small organization should be taking into consideration because most organizations feel its time and money consuming and end up abandoning their workforce. Most managers pay less attention to their workforce and this on the other hand affects the performance and well-being of the organization. This is why it is suggested by Purcell et al., (2003) in the black box (AMO Model) that managers should be careful with the way they manage their workforce. The following chapter illustrates more on the concept of well-being and performance by different authors and why it is important that employers should focus more on their employees to enhance productivity. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW DEFINITION OF WELL-BEING Well-being is a vast concept and has been defined and seen differently by various authors, organizations and how it should be managed is entirely up to the managers of the organization (AMO Model). The CCMD (2002) describes well-being as nurturing a good state of mind that helps the employee to have a good sense of purpose, feelings and fulfillment that is alert and open to new experiences. The theory of well-being by Waterman (1993) indicates that it is way above happiness but the actualization of human potentials or abilities which helps in fulfilling the true nature of an employee. There is this belief that well-being is a psychological state which Ryan and Deci (2000) argues that it is at its best when an employee is fully functioning, fully engaged and shows self actualization and vitality. This has been termed as Eudaimonic well-being. Though there is another form of well-being which is Hedonic well being, this is the subjective well-being that involves life satisfaction, the presence of positive mood and absence of negative mood. Employee well-being has been a great issue and concern in the minds of employers which they believe now is affecting the performance of the workforce. Researchers have carried out a research on human resource practices and the well-being of employers. Employee well-being has been linked to employee engagement because of its similarities and for as long as there is engagement in the workforce, there would be increased well-being and performance. In contrast, Robertson and Cooper (2010) state that employee well-being is basically different to employee engagement and describes employee engagement as the positive behavior of employees that indicate there is an uninterrupted attention giving to the organization by the employees. According to Watson (2010) employee well-being can retain or destroy the engagement level and performance in an organization which shows the connection between engagement and well-being. It further states that employee engagement and well-being either work in isolation or work together. To explain this further, see diagram 1 below. The above diagram explains that when employee well-being and engagement strongly work together, there would be sustained performance, but when engagement and well-being work in isolation, there would be defaults in the organizations performance. An example is that organizations that are finding it difficult to be at their best, their employees try hard to get things working for the organization. Therefore, forfeiting their personal life issues for the organization, may only take the organization for a short period of time which is not going to be sustainable. However, this would lead to employee burnout and disengagement where turnover and under-performance becomes the agenda of the organization (Maslach and Leiter 2008). An article by Gallup (2012), suggests that employee well-being has a significant impact on the bottom line of an organization. This is the reason organizations are engineering new strategies for gaining a sustained workforce. In as much as an organization is active, it is already in the business of managing employee well-being. Employee engagement which helps improve well-being, is a vital aspect of an employee to achieve its objectives and is another way of motivating employees to enhance internal and external performance index (CIPD 2011). Employee engagement has been defined by different authors, still, it cannot be managed (Ferguson 2007). The world is changing and ways to meet up with the demands of the environment which Porter (1987) suggests that it would surely occur is the utmost priority of most big and small organizations despite the industry or sector. According to Cooper and Robertson (2001), employee well-being when in the positive, is an advantage to any organization which indicates that the organizations workforce is healthy. For an organization to be healthy, it means that it fits to survive in the competitive environment where it operates. Currie (2001) is of the opinion that if organizations want to be competitive and be positively sustained in the environment; it must keep the health and well-being of its employees as its core which is vital for performance enhancement, future survival and development of any organization. Moreover, from an organizations point of view, the positive correlation between well-being and performance of the workforce, has been considered by Wright and Cropanzano (2004) and according to Samman (2007), Page and Vellla-Broadrick (2009), it has been reviewed that the importance of well-being and its management and measurement has puzzled researchers. Ortiz (2006) agrees with Armstrong (2008) that empl oyees are assets of an organization while Hermanson (1964) described human assets so as to measure and quantify the value of the workforce. Additionally, Roselender et al., (2006) supports the argument that the well being of an employee when fit is an organizational asset. DETERMINANTS OF WELL-BEING (GENERAL) The concept of employee well-being by Macey and Schneider, (2009); Macleod and Brady, (2008); Bakker et al. (2008) states that employee well-being in recent times both in practice and in research has been creating a lot of interest in the minds of managers. Though employee well-being has been defined differently by different authors, and there are determinants that impact on well-being. According to an article by Watson (2010), employee well-being can be seen as a physical, psychological and social health of an individual. All these must be complete in an employee and this is why the management of many organizations is so concerned about the well-being of their employees because it is of great benefit to the organization and employees. For the workforce, they would feel a sense of balance between their lives at work, at home and for the organization, high level of sustainability and engagement which will reduce turnover (Watson 2010). In essence, its advantage is all about having the workforce on the job and imputing high level of sustained engagement. Work is a significant part of an individuals life and as such, employee engagement and well-being at work are important concepts. Employee well-being, engagement and performance are important aspect of organizational development, as engaged employees are both cognitively and emotionally connected to their work and workplace (Harter and Blacksmith, 2010). The relationship between employee characteristics and business outcomes is assumed to exist, yet the empirical research is limited. For instance engaged employees consistently produce at high levels Moore (2005) yet the unique contribution of employee engagement is yet to be fully revealed. This paper attempts to fill that gap. According to Gallup (2012), organizations that strive hard to succeed in an environment, are implementing new ways for achieving sustainable competitive advantage which is employee well-being because it impacts on the performance of the organization. There are various determinants of well-being. In general, there are different factors that can influence well-being. With reference to the definition of well-being by different authors which in summary states that without well-being, there is a significant impact on the organizations performance or the workforce, many organizations tend to neglect this concept due to the fact that they think about the financial aspect of engaging the employee. Researchers also have claimed that employee engagement is different from work engagement .Work engagement is seen as a positive, fulfilling work related state of mind characterized by dedication, absorption and vigor (Schaufeli et al 2002, pg. 74). Recent research believes that dedication and vigor are the main characteristics of engagement. Vigor can be seen as that high level of energy and mental resilience while working and persistence in the face of challenges ( Dulagi, 2012). Dedication can be seen as a sense of significance, enthusiasm, inspiration, pride and challenge. Employee well-being according to Ryan and Deci (2001) believes that well-being is not best captured by hedonic conceptions of happiness alone. Instead, SDT also employs the concept of eudemonia well-being which is defined as vital, full and as a complimentary approach. Self determination theory is an organismic psychology (Ryan, 1985) one of a part of holistic psychological theories including Jean Piaget and Car l Rogers and thus assumes that people are active organisms with inherent and deeply evolved tendencies toward psychological growth and development. This can be seen clearly in the phenomenon of intrinsic motivation- the natural tendency manifest from birth to seek out challenges, novelty and opportunities to learn. Well-being according to Wright (2005) is a universal term that is mostly used when relating to emotions of individuals and research has consistently shown the importance associated with how employee well-being and job performance of an organization is measured (Wright et al., 2007). According to Wright and Cropanzano (2000), people with sophisticated psychological well-being at work are more prolific than people with ill-psychological well-being. Nonetheless, according to Harter et al., (2002); Schaufeli et al., (2006), it cannot be seen as a vital aspect of engaging an employee. In synergy, Schaufeli et al, (2002); Macey et al. (2009); Mann, (2011); Bakker and Bal, (2010) considers that well-being involves not only the psychological condition of employees due to the fact that Deci and Ryan (2000) sees as the Eudiamonic sensation of employees but also the behavior of employees. In addition, the CIPD (2011) believes that well-being consists of 3 vital units which include reasoning, sentiments and interim. However, it is being conflicted by its problems or difficulties. EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING AND SDT (SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY) In the light of this theory (SDT), Fernet et al., (2012) indicates that the confusion from employees and management attitudes impacts on the self-efficacy of the employees and their motivation to participate. Self-determination theory (SDT) involves a set of related theories that explain human behavior by defining different types of motivation that an individual may engage in for a task or set of activities (Deci and Ryan, 1985). Specifically, Self-determination theory consists of 3 vital psychological needs which should be evident for psychological growth. They are as follows: aptitude, independence and kinship. Deci, E., Ryan, R. (2002). According to the above diagram, Self-determination theory consists of a set of theories mentioned above which is associated with the behaviour of individuals and how they are motivated. It also consists of the psychological needs that when satisfied gives the working environment a sense of intrinsic motivation and human fulfilment (Deci and Ryan, 1985). In essence, the satisfaction of these needs is beneficial for high human functioning (Deci and Ryan, 2000). In an organizational context, the desire for these psychological needs is important. The need for aptitude signifies that the individual is feeling effective in the environment which allows the individual to express its exceptional capabilities (Ryan and Deci 2002, Deci and Ryan, 2000). According to Deci and Ryan (2000), Deci and Ryan (2011), Deci and Ryan (2002), the need for independence is when there is the feeling to act with the desire from within so as to feel psychologically free. Lastly, the need for kinship relates to when the individual feels the sense of belonging in the environment (Ryan and Deci 2002; Van den Broeck et al., 2008). The degree which indicates that if the construct of employee engagement is distended to include the psychological well-being of employees, it shows there would be improved business outcomes. This is why Wright et al, (2007); Danna and Griffin, (1999) suggest that there should be an impact of psychological well-being on productivity and performance if the organization wants to survive. With reference to this study, there is evidence that there is a correlation between the three psychological needs, the employees in general Deci and Ryan, (2000), Baars et al., (2004), well-being that is work-related for example, organizational commitment, discretionary behavior, motivation and job satisfaction which is essential to enhance productivity and performance in an organization. DETERMINANTS OF WELL-BEING AT WORK In an organizational context, the term employee well-being according to Cooper and Robertson (2001) impacts on the performance of the employee and can lead to high productivity or outcome which is an added advantage to organizations that encourages a workforce that is healthy. For an organization to be active and healthy, it then shows that it can survive in its environment or industry where it operates because for an organization to be able to survive in its sector, it is unavoidable to ignore promoting the well-being and performance of its employees which in this case is vital to increase employee performance and this can lead to future organizational development (Currie 2001). In line with this research topic, when employee well-being is introduced into any organization, it is likely to change the environment and pave way for innovation which can create positive organizational performance especially for organizations that are under-performing. Research has shown that it took ages for organizations to create a relationship that has to do with employment due to the fact that the well-being of an employee is seen as their responsibility (Guest 2002; Cooper and Robertson 2001). According to a survey by WERS (2004), it purports that the ability of employees in their work environment has been a disturbing research of interest to concerned employers with regards employment relations (Kersley et al., 2006). The following determinants of well-being at work are listed and discussed below: Organizational Commitment The main aim that differentiates HRM from other managerial roles is that the organizations commitment is the main reason why they exist, which according to Guest (1998) is the core purpose of the human resource management. Organizational commitment has been defined by different authors which makes its definition versatile. Some researchers see organizational commitment as the behavior of individuals because they give their best to ensure the organization achieve its purpose (Becker 1960; Gechman and Weiner, 1977). Others like March and Simon (1958) see it as the attitude of the individual whereby they engage themselves to the organization so as to get rewards and incentives from the organization. Meanwhile, Cook and Wall (1980) refer to organizational commitment as the individuals mood in relation to its employing organization which is related to achieving the aims and objectives of the organization. In the distant past, organizations paid little or no attention to well-being and per formance of employees, making them feel de-motivated, but organizations like Cadbury Family and Lever Brothers made sure that

A Comparison of Telling in Knight’s Tale and Miller’s Tale of Chaucers

The Importance of Telling in Knight’s Tale and Miller’s Tale In the Canterbury Tales, the Knight begins the tale-telling. Although straws were picked, and the order left to "aventure," or "cas," Harry Bailey seems to have pushed fate. The Knight represents the highest caste in the social hierarchy of the fourteenth century, those who rule, those who pray, and those who work. Assuming that the worldly knight would tell the most entertaining and understandable story (that would shorten their pilgrimage to St. Thomas Becket), Harry tells the Knight to begin. The Knight's tale of love, loyalty, and battle is placed in the chivalric romance genre. The courtly romance concerns the mythical kingdom of Theseus, wealthy rulers, and pagan (mythical) gods. Throughout the tale, the Knight and the other characters refer to the concept of the "wheel of fortune." In the beginning of the tale, weeping, broken women plead to Theseus to help them avenge their husbands. Although impoverished, they tell Theseus that they were all at one point wealthy and of high rank. Even though Theseus is glorified and powerful now, the goddess will spin the "wheel of fortune" and he will one day be low. The concept of destiny and the wheel of fortune represents the Knight's acceptance of an incomprehensible world. His inclusion of the mythical gods, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Diana furthers this idea. Emily, Arcite, and Palamon each pray to a diety, asking for help and their unattainable wish. In the end, father Saturn decrees Arcite's death. Thus, paradoxical human em otions and senseless tragedy are safely distanced; they are attributed to the will of the pagan gods. Similarly the love triangle between Arcite, Palamon, and Emily stresses tha... ...night, the Miller's characters are not moral or honorable; they simply want to gratify themselves. While the Knight's story ends with an honorable death and a union between lovers, the Miller's tale ends with humiliation: the cuckholded husband is branded insane, Absolom suffered and prank, and Nicolas a painful burn. Consequently the Miller mocks the Knight's prayer. He wishes the company well, but the content of his tale expresses his laughter. In a way he "paid back" the Knight's tale. The Miller tells his tale momentarily to amuse and and embarrass (the Reeve and his own cameo appearance), while the Knight tells a story strong on "sentence" or meaning. The two different motives reveal the fundamental differences between the two men: the noble Knight can still believe in a higher beautiful world, while the Miller cannot accept it ever existed.

King Tut Essay examples -- essays research papers

King Tutankhamen The Boy King King Tutankhamen ,or King Tut, was one of the youngest kings to reign over any country. “The Boy King'; is best remembered for his magnificent funeral treasures, including his elaborate golden burial mask. King Tut achieved a measure of immortality through his glittering burial treasures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   King Tut was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty who reigned from about 1348 to 1339 BC. His name can be spelled a variety of ways including Tutankhamen, Tutankhamon, or Tutankhamun. There is an enigma, though, surrounding his name. Researchers have no idea where it came from because his parents are unknown. He became king during the period of readjustment that followed the death of his father-in-law, the pharaoh Akhenaton. The boy king married Akhenaton’s third daughter to strengthen his claim to the throne and took the name Tutankhaton meaning “gracious of life is Aton.'; After less than three years of residence at Akhetaton he changed his name to Tutankhamen. Because Tut was only nine or ten when he became pharaoh the direction of the state was devolved onto an older official named Ay. ( He succeeded Tut when he died.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Tut was alive, however the Egyptians had a flair for playing games and telling stories. All Egyptians enjoyed contests and stories, but the wealthy pursued those pastimes with an elegant flourish. Royalty such as Tut, was portrayed on the walls of his tomb playing the game senet, which reenacted the quest for eternal fulfillment after death. This game is played on a checkerboard table with thirty squares arranged in three parallel rows. Each of two players has an equal number of counters (ranging from five to seven) in two series of different shapes. The counters are moved with sticks or small bones.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The goal of the game is to get across the board with your counters following an S-shaped path while outrunning or blocking those of your adversary; the game is won when you get all your counters off the board. The fifteenth square and the last five squares bear images or hieroglyphic inscriptions that denote a special status, either favorable or unfavorable, for the counter that lands on them. Winning this game allows the deceased to overcome any difficulties involved during his journey and to &... ...khamen’s name meant. Imn = Amun, Tut = Image, Ankh = Living. This is the meaning of his last name, Living image of Amun.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   “Can see anything ?'; “Yes,'; Carter replied, “wonderful things.'; Such were the words of Howard Carter on February 17, 1923 as the archaeologist peered into the 3500 year old darkness of Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s burial chamber and forever altered the scope of man’s imagination. Carter and his team of the world’s most eminent archaeological experts uncovered what are undoubtedly among the greatest riches of this or any known time. The name Tutankhamen, in reality a relatively insignificant young king, has become legendary and has furthermore assumed a position in our vocabulary and cultural ethos rivaled by few other figures of ancient history. Of the events which directly followed that momentous day in 1923, we are utterly baffled. By 1929, twenty-two people who had been either directly or indirectly involved in the exhumation of Tut and his treasures were dead, in most cases, of undiagnosable causes. Was this just a flook or was it the curse of King Tutankhamen.

Management and Operations Management Theory Essay -- Business Manageme

Management and Operations Management Theory ABSTRACT This paper defines the four functions of management and the operations management theory. It then provides an analysis of how the functions of management the operations management. THE FOUR FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT Planning: It is an act of formulating a program for a definitive course of action. The management defines a goal and puts forward its strategies to accomplish the objectives defined. Organizing: To divide the work force into specific groups and giving each group a specific task. Organizing also involves ensuring that a smooth flow of information and co-ordination exists between these groups. Thus the basic aim of organizing is to simply divide the work load and define the tasks while setting up deadlines in such a way that although different groups do different things but they all work together with the help of each other towards achieving the same goal which has been predefined. Leading (Motivating): Leading or motivating is simply to influence the employee in such a way that their output for the task given is most competent. This includes communication with the work force, recognizing and dealing with the problems they might be facing and also giving them good incentive to put in their best. Incentives can include best performance awards. Further on leading also comprises of maintaining discipline within the organization. Controlling: This includes the analysis of the rate of achievement as compared to the objectives defined. If the rate of achievement is less than the original objectives, then specific measures are taken to make certain satisfactory results by increasing the efficiency of the output by the work force. If the analysis shows a flaw in the original objectives, then they are to be corrected. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT THEORY Operations management deals with all the operations within an organization. Activities that are included in operations management are quality control, logistics, evaluations, managing purchases, inventory control, product design and production control. Operations management is simply defined as â€Å"The design, operation and improvement of the internal and external systems, resources and technologies that create product and service combinations in any type of organization.† [Robert H. Lowson p.5] It is important for an organization to... ...ciples or functions of management, then their operations management will suffer a blow. As seen from above, it is highly important for any organization, whether manufacturing or non-manufacturing, to act upon the functions of management. A plan, its mode of action, execution and its analysis are important components for an organization. Their impacts on the operations management are positive and effective. As a result one cannot deny the need of implementing these functions of management, for a successful operations management and thus a successful organization. REFERENCES: (1) Robert H. Lowson - Book Title: Strategic Operations Management: The New Competitive Advantage. Publication Year: 2002. Page Number: 5. (2) John N. Pearson , Jeffrey S. Bracker , Richard E. White - Article Title: Operations Management Activities of Small, High Growth Electronics Firms. Journal Title: Journal of Small Business Management. Volume: 28. Issue: 1. Publication Year: 1990. Page Number: 20+. (3) Michael E. Thorn - Article Title: Applications of Technology and Risk Management. Journal Title: SAM Advanced Management Journal. Volume: 66. Issue: 4. Publication Year: 2001. Page Number: 4+. Management and Operations Management Theory Essay -- Business Manageme Management and Operations Management Theory ABSTRACT This paper defines the four functions of management and the operations management theory. It then provides an analysis of how the functions of management the operations management. THE FOUR FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT Planning: It is an act of formulating a program for a definitive course of action. The management defines a goal and puts forward its strategies to accomplish the objectives defined. Organizing: To divide the work force into specific groups and giving each group a specific task. Organizing also involves ensuring that a smooth flow of information and co-ordination exists between these groups. Thus the basic aim of organizing is to simply divide the work load and define the tasks while setting up deadlines in such a way that although different groups do different things but they all work together with the help of each other towards achieving the same goal which has been predefined. Leading (Motivating): Leading or motivating is simply to influence the employee in such a way that their output for the task given is most competent. This includes communication with the work force, recognizing and dealing with the problems they might be facing and also giving them good incentive to put in their best. Incentives can include best performance awards. Further on leading also comprises of maintaining discipline within the organization. Controlling: This includes the analysis of the rate of achievement as compared to the objectives defined. If the rate of achievement is less than the original objectives, then specific measures are taken to make certain satisfactory results by increasing the efficiency of the output by the work force. If the analysis shows a flaw in the original objectives, then they are to be corrected. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT THEORY Operations management deals with all the operations within an organization. Activities that are included in operations management are quality control, logistics, evaluations, managing purchases, inventory control, product design and production control. Operations management is simply defined as â€Å"The design, operation and improvement of the internal and external systems, resources and technologies that create product and service combinations in any type of organization.† [Robert H. Lowson p.5] It is important for an organization to... ...ciples or functions of management, then their operations management will suffer a blow. As seen from above, it is highly important for any organization, whether manufacturing or non-manufacturing, to act upon the functions of management. A plan, its mode of action, execution and its analysis are important components for an organization. Their impacts on the operations management are positive and effective. As a result one cannot deny the need of implementing these functions of management, for a successful operations management and thus a successful organization. REFERENCES: (1) Robert H. Lowson - Book Title: Strategic Operations Management: The New Competitive Advantage. Publication Year: 2002. Page Number: 5. (2) John N. Pearson , Jeffrey S. Bracker , Richard E. White - Article Title: Operations Management Activities of Small, High Growth Electronics Firms. Journal Title: Journal of Small Business Management. Volume: 28. Issue: 1. Publication Year: 1990. Page Number: 20+. (3) Michael E. Thorn - Article Title: Applications of Technology and Risk Management. Journal Title: SAM Advanced Management Journal. Volume: 66. Issue: 4. Publication Year: 2001. Page Number: 4+.

Roman Construction

The ancient Romans were known for their brilliant engineering that have  stood the test of time. They were brilliantly manufactured to make the ancient Romans  more comfortable. Most of the inventions were improvements of older engineering ideas,  inventions, and concepts. The Romans improved the recipe of cement, which was  invented in Egypt, and created concrete. The Romans were greatly influenced by theGreek and the Estrusan.The construction and technology for bringing running water into the cities  were invented in the East. The construction of roads, were common then as it is now.  The Romans improved the design and perfected the construction so well it is used today.  The three examples I choose to write about Roman Engineering are first the Roman  aqueduct.   This construction was used to supply water to the people in the city. The  aqueduct is one of the most brilliant engineering constructions in the ancient world.It set a standard that has not been equal ed Centuries after the fall of Rome.  Many of the cities in Rome, today still use the aqueducts to supply water for the city.  The aqueduct is estimated to be between 40 and a little over 500km in length. It is  29miles (47) km; above ground because most Roman aqueducts ran beneath the surface  of the ground. To build underground makes the water disease free as well as helped the  aqueducts from being attacked by enemies.The Roman aqueducts were sophistically built and remarkably thinly  technically standard. It has a gradient of only 34cm per km, lowering 17m vertically with  its entire length of 50km. Largely powered by gravity, it moves large amounts of 6  million gallons of water a day. The combined aqueducts in Rome supplied around  1million cubic meters which supplied 30 million gallons to the city each day. This is  great engineering feat has not been equaled until the 19th Century.The construction of the Roman aqueducts is the use of Chorobates. The  Ch orobates used in this engineering were used to level terrain before construction. The  Chorobates was a wooden object that was supported by four legs. It had a flat broad top  with an engraved half circle. The half circle was filled with water to make the angle  which there is no water will be measured.The Groma is another tool used in the construction of the aqueduct. It  was used to measure right angles. It consisted of stones that hung off four sticks and was  perpendicular to one another. Distant objects marked out against the group of stones are  placed horizontally. There were nine aqueducts built, in ancient Rome supplying 38  million gallons a day to Rome.  A second example of Roman engineering is the Roman roads. These   roads were an essential to the growth of Rome because they supplied the Roman Empire  to move enemies in War. They were also created to hinder the enemies organizing to  attack Rome. The road, in its greatness was 85,000 km containing 372 links. The  Romans became adept at constructing the roads for political, military and commercial  reasons.The roads were long and important for the stability and expansion of the Roman Empire.   The Roman Roads were built first with Roman Army builders who  cleaned the ground of trees and rocks. They then build a trench where the road was  going to be laid and then filled it with large rocks. They put the large stones, pebbles,  cement and also sand and packed it down making a firm base. They added a layer of  cement that was mixed with broken tiles, paving stones creating the surface of the road.The stones were cut to fit tightly together. They placed kerbstones at the side  of the road to hold the paving stones and create a channel were the water can run.  The third example of Roman engineering, are Roman Bridges. The Romans  were first to build these bridges and make them long lasting. The Roman bridges were  built with stones with an Arch as its basic s tructure. The Romans used a new form of  cement called concrete to build the bridge. The Bridges were built in 142 BC, and was  named the Ponte Rotto.It is the oldest Roman stone bridge built in Rome. The Roman Bridge  characteristics are many they are 5 meters wide. Many have a slope and lean slightly.  Roman bridges have rustic work. The Roman Bridges stonework has a changing stretcher  as well as header courses which consist of a layer of square stones that are laid  horizontally. The end faces outwards, in the next layer of square stones.  The stones are connected with dovetail joint or with metal bars.  Indentions found in the stones were created by the gripping tools used for the  workers to hold onto.   The Romans also used tools such as slaves to move building  blocks of stones as well as levers and pulleys. They used chisels, concrete, plumb bob, a  bronze square, bronze dividers, and bronze foot ruler to build the bridges and the  powerful, and mi ghty city of Rome.Works CitedRoman Architecture- http://www.iol.ie/~coolmine/typ/romans/archie2.htmlThe Roman’s Page.Mark Warner, 2007-Roman Roads-The Downs FM; The amazing podcastOf the downs CE Primary School-Teaching Ideas; Subject: History. http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/history/romanrd.htmChris Trueman; The History of Ancient Rome- History learning site; http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/roman_engineering.htmChris Trueman; Roman Roads-The History of Ancient Rome-History learning site; http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/roman_roads.htm

Personal Affiliations and Networking Essay

I arrive at my place of work at 7. 00am. As soon as I arrive I have a shift change over meeting with the night staff. At this meeting I would be told if there were any problems in the night with any of the service users. Next I collect the keys to my house where I will be working. I work in house 2 where I support two service users. Once I enter the house I wake up the service users by knocking on their doors and calling their name. Once they are up I support them with personal care, this involves showering them, washing their hair and if a male service user, I assist in giving them a shave. I also prompt them to clean their teeth. I always wear gloves with any personal care for infection control and always change them for each service user. I then prepare breakfast, I give the servicers a choice, but usually this would be cereal with coffee. On an afternoon shift dinner is from then menu which the service users both plan with my support. When doing this I always wear protective gloves for hygiene reasons. My next job would then be to administer medication. I also have to wear gloves for this as well for hygiene reasons. I also have to use a medicine pot to put the meds in to pass to the service user. Once I have witnessed the medicines being taken I then sign to say they have been given. Service users normally go to their day centres between 8. 30 and 9. 00am. Once they have gone I do their washing and housework. I also use this time to make appointments if needed. These would include doctors, dentist or even hair appointments. Another role in job is to do finances for the services users. Every shift I will count their money which is locked in a cupboard I collect keys for this from the shift leader. Count the monies to see that there are no discrepancies. I would also take money for food which is done on a weekly basis. This is called cash and balance. I sign on the relevant finance sheet to record that I have done this. At the end of each shift I fill in a record called a daily sheet I record on this what I have done with the service user. These records as well as the finance sheets are confidential as must be always treated as such. This means not discussing with any irrevent people my service users finance situation and any private issues they may have. This is very important. When working with any new service users I would always firstly read their care plans. This allows me to understand the service user’s needs and the way personal care and feeding should be undertaken. It is very important I read this as every service user is different and have different needs. These plans also tell me if the service user has any communication issues i. e. ; unable to speak use sign language etc. When taking a service user out I would always read the risk assessment. This will indicate to me any problems or things needed to do before taking someone out. This could include things like service user not being able to climb stairs use escalators or having a fear of lifts. It also tells me if a service user could get violent or distressed in crowds also if any special equipment is needed this could include wheelchairs or walking aids. If a risk assessment is not available for what I want, for example taking someone to the pictures I would create a new one and get it signed off by a team leader or manager. This is a true account of my duties in my job role as a residential support worker.

Discuss the political, social, and cultural developments of China 1500-1900s

The period between 1500 and 1900 encompasses important years that mark the time that preceded the development of modern China. First oppressed by the Mongolian rule in the 14th century, the nation was taken over by the Ming Dynasty that sought out to rebuild centralized control and reunite the country. The Ming Dynasty was replaced by the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century, signaling the start of the Manchu rule. We will discuss in turn the political, social, and cultural developments in China in that time period. Political Life The Ming DynastyComing to the nation as a break from the hated Mongolian dominance, the Ming Dynasty was started by a Han Chinese farmer and a Buddhist monk. In the early 16th century, its heyday when China conducted intense sea expeditions with the aim to conquer the surrounding area and challenge the Mongol expansion was to a great extent over. The Ming Dynasty had to engage in prolonged wars with Mongols to challenge their dominance and protect its borders. In the meantime, its own coastal areas were often attacked by the Japanese pirates that gave Ming emperors a lot of headache.In the north, even the construction of the world’s best known fortification, the Great Wall, did not prevent the attacks of the Mongols. As a result, the Ming emperors in the 16th-17th century were much weaker than their predecessors, like the powerful Zhu Yuanzhang who founded the dynasty in the early 14th century. In addition, internal conflicts were plaguing the court since â€Å"the harassed emperors abandoned more and more of their responsibilities to eunuchs† (Encarta). The Ming started a war with Japan in 1592 when they sent their troops to help the Korean allies to defend themselves against Toyotomi Hideyoshi.This turned into a prolonged warfare that lasted over seven years and dealt a heavy blow to the Ming’s treasuries. The result was an increase in social tensions all over the country. An example is the peasant rebellions in Nor th China that started in 1628. These revolts finally led to the demise of the Ming Dynasty. A hefty rebellion occurred in 1642 when the dikes of the Huang He were cut by a rebellious group, leading to a flood and a starvation thereafter. The assault on Beijing, the capital used by the Ming, in 1644 resulted in the seizure of the city by the rebels and suicide of the last representative of the dynasty.The Qing Dynasty The Ming was replaced by the Qing Dynasty. As is often the result of a politically weak structure, their rule was in fact a foreign invasion since the Qing rulers were not Han Chinese, but Manchu. In order to be accepted by the Han Chinese majority, they retained a lot of customs of the Chinese and even upheld the Confucian tradition, nevertheless they always remained different from the Han Chinese. Thus, they also imposed some of their customs and traditions on their Chinese subordinates.They forced, for example, the Han to pick up the queue in the Manchu haircut style and to dress in their fashion, in this way replacing the traditional Han pigtail. To this day the Chinese wear â€Å"Qipao (bannermen dress) and Tangzhuang† that actually come from the Manchus (Encarta). It is noteworthy in which way the Manchus forced the Chinese to adopt these styles: the penalty for non-compliance was death. In the political system, the two groups were also separate. As the ruling ethnicity, the Manchus outnumbered the Han Chinese in the highest-ranking offices in the capital.However, there were still a lot of Chinese in other offices in the provinces. The Manchus, as mentioned before, were quick to adopt the philosophy of Confucianism that called on subordinates to obey the emperor. With those means, they were quick to bring the nation to obeyance and reinstate order in the provinces. With that accomplished, the Qing Dynasty also took pains to enlarge the empire through conquests and military raids. They attacked the Mongols, conquering the Outer Mongoli a in the 17th century. In the next century, they added to the empire the territory of Central Asia and set up a protectorate in Tibet.With time, they also gained control of Taiwan. With the efforts of the Qing Dynasty, almost all danger to China Proper had been eradicated. In the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty entered a period of steady decline. Their control of the country became weak, and the nation once again plunged into a state of social tension and economic troubles. The Opium Wars began with the First Opium War in 1840, triggered by the desire of Britain to control the lucrative opium trade in China. The desire of the Western nations to control â€Å"concessions† in China led to unfavorable peace treaty following the First Opium War.The Opium Wars resulted in the Treaty of Nanking in 1842 and the Taiping Rebellion in 1851-1864 and the Boxer Rebellion in the same century. As a result of military campaigns and rebellions, the control of the Qing over the country became e ven weaker. Social Life Under the Manchu rule, the nation was dominated by foreign rulers who imposed their rules and traditions on everything. In addition, they also made efforts to keep themselves separate from the mainstream Chinese life. For example, marriages between the Manchus and the Han Chinese were prohibited.The Chinese could not move permanently into the traditionally Manchu lands, and occupations such as trade or manual labor were reserved only for the Han as the Manchus were prohibited to do these jobs. In many administrative positions, the office was taken by the Manchu person and the Chinese counterpart so that the Manchu official could check in on his Chinese colleague. The Qing rulers also imposed some of their customs and traditions on their Chinese subordinates. They forced, for example, the Han to pick up the queue in the Manchu haircut style and to dress in their fashion, in this way replacing the traditional Han pigtail.To this day the Chinese wear â€Å"Qipa o (bannermen dress) and Tangzhuang† that actually come from the Manchus (Encarta). It is noteworthy in which way the Manchus forced the Chinese to adopt these styles: the penalty for non-compliance was death. Cultural Life The years under the rule of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties were an important period in Chinese culture. The Ming rule is marked by the arrival of the Europeans, among them a lot of Christian preachers. Particularly noteworthy were â€Å"Jesuits, members of a Roman Catholic religious order, showed respect for Chinese culture and overcame the foreigners’ reputation for lawlessness† (Encarta).The Jesuits tried to integrate with the local reality, learning the Chinese language and setting up settlements in the nation from which they could disseminate their religion. One of the important leaders in the Christian community was Mateo Ricci who took effort to learn Chinese and settled down in China. In intellectual life, as said, Confucianism was the dominant influence. The government placed emphasis on conforming to the official interpretation of Confucius’ writings consistent with the one provided by Zhu Xi. For centuries, his interpretation was considered standard, and deviation was not permitted.However, in the later Ming period, a few dissenting ideologies emerged, among them one proposed by â€Å"Wang Yangming, a scholar-official who rejected Zhu Xi's emphasis on the study of external principles and advocated striving for wisdom through cultivation of one’s own innate knowledge† (Encarta). Although the Qing Dynasty was of Manchu, not Chinese origin, they also invested effort in the development of the Chinese culture. Thus, they engaged in projects devoted to Chinese literature in history. In fact, their efforts helped preserve a lot of Chinese ancient literary works.An outstanding effort was made by Emperor Kangxi who â€Å"ordered the creation of the most complete dictionary of Chinese characters eve r put together at the time† (Encarta). The project on compiling the list of the important works related to Chinese culture was undertaken in the reign of Emperor Qianlong. Conclusion China in the period ranging from 1500 to 1900 experienced many events that left a deep imprint on modern China. Torn together by many different rulers, it nevertheless managed to maintain its unique culture and build upon it.It remained loyal to the ideals of Confucianism that were consistently implemented by the powerful monarchs who used the ideology to demand obedience. The rise of the Ming Dynasty was followed by its decline, the end of a cycle that opened the way to new rulers, the Manchus. Even being foreigners, they left a great deal of Chinese customs in place and left China even more culturally developed than it was. Even so, by the end of the nineteenth century, the nation was weakened politically and was heavily influenced by European powers.