Theme Of Conflict In Antigone - 973 Words

Elizabeth Heeb Doctor Pratt Intellectual Heritage I (IH 851) 28 September 2017 Moral Conflict and Internal Change in Antigone Beliefs are not always based on facts that you would find in a textbook-they are something that one believes is true. When I first read Sophocles’ play Antigone, my initial impression of Creon was that his beliefs of the law and the state were rational because of his role as a ruler. But as the play progressed, I began to disagree with his behavior and his values because he only focused on his own moral beliefs rather than considering the beliefs of other people, which could have resolved conflict. Throughout the play, the theme of authority of the state and religion is represented through the individual beliefs of†¦show more content†¦I strongly disagree with Zizek because she is viewed as promoting an authority of herself only because of the gender conflict between men and women. Because of Antigone’s role as a woman in the Theban culture, she is viewed as demanding and stubborn against Creon’s order. But if it were to be a man who opposed Creon, he wo uld be seen as courageous and assertive. Additionally, Antigone justifies her position by claiming that it is her moral duty to bury Polyneices because the last of her kin are gone. She accuses Creon by calling him a tyrant: â€Å"I never heard it was Zeus Who made that announcement. And it wasn’t justice, either. The gods below Didn’t lay down this law for human use. And I never thought your announcements Could give you—a mere human being— Power to trample the gods’ unfailing, Unwritten laws,† (450-456). By Antigone burying Polyneices, she gains the respect and support of people who also believe in honoring the dead and respecting the gods. After Eteocles and Polyneices die in battle, Creon was the next of kin to rule the people of Thebes. After rising to power, he immediately undergoes the destructive effects of power. As a result of this, he becomes irrational in his thoughts and decisions and consequently, he abuses his power. For instance, Creon arrests Ismene solely based on the reason thatShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Conflict In Antigone983 Words   |  4 PagesThe Greek tragedy, Antigone, explores a dramatic conflict between the individual and the state. The epicenter of this tragedy revolves around the juxtaposition of Antigone and Creon—symbols of the moral law and the human law. They embody moral arguments that converge in opposition to one another, but since both parties failed to accept each other’s opinion, both were defeated at the end. This ensures no explicit answer on which side should take precedence over the other, making the play ambiguousRead MoreMain Theme Of Antigone942 Words   |  4 PagesThemes are important to any story; they give the reader a sense of background and understanding when it comes to the events unfolding in the story. Many literary works include multiple themes, all of which convey  important ideas about humanity and the way that society functions. In  Antigone  by Sophocles, themes exist such as determination, the conflict between conscience and law, the conflict between divine and human law, and familial loyalty.  One key and central theme of Antigone is the importanceRead MoreThe Test Of Time By Sophocles1403 Words   |  6 Pagesfew have withstood the test of time as long as Antigone has. Written by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles in 441 B.C, it is almost two and a half thousand years old. How does a piece of writing last that long without becoming irrelevant and antiquated. The answer to that question can be found in the themes and characters of this long enduring masterpiece. Before I jump into this paper, I should probably tell you what Antigone is about. Antigone is a play which takes place shortly after theRead MoreChoices That Mean Life or Death In Antigone1381 Words   |  6 PagesMean Life or Death In Antigone The play Antigone was penned by Sophocles, a Greek writer, sometime in the late 440s B.C. This Greek tragedy uses a combination of literary elements in order to grab the reader’s attention. Two such elements are theme and conflict. Most importantly, Sophocles’s Antigone deals with themes, such as the conflict of family versus state, the conflict of individual versus government, and the conflict of human versus divineRead MoreContrast Between Oedipus the King and Antigone by Sophocles744 Words   |  3 PagesContrast between Oedipus the King and Antigone Sophocles, a famous and renowned Greek dramatist, is the playwright to both the play Oedipus the King and Antigone. Along with Antigone and Oedipus Sophocles had also wrote Electra and Fete. Sophocles wrote many Greek tragedies which are plays in which the main character in the play suffers a tragedy due to some flaw of theirs. An example would be how Oedipus (thinking he is defying a prophecy) murders his father and weds his mother. His flaw was himRead MoreThe Conflict Of Sophocles Antigone1500 Words   |  6 PagesSophocles’ Antigone centers around a familial feud that develops between Antigone and Creon when Antigone decides to bury her brother and Creon’s niece, Polyneices. While Antigone believes that it is her religious and familial duty to bury her brother, Creon objects, citing the Theban civil war which took place right before the events of the play. Adhering to Greek literary tradition, Sophocles ultimately seeks not just to entertain the audience but also to teach a moral lesson, in this case aboutRead MoreSophocles Antigone : The Third Of The Three Theban Tragic Plays1106 Words   |  5 PagesSophocles’s play, Antigone is the third of the three Theban tragic plays and was written around 440 B.C. and is still well known today. Sophocles s play Antigone tells a tragic story about family honor and a sister’s love for her brothers. After Antigone’s two brothers, Polynices and Eteocles died in battle, Creon became the new leader of Thebes. Creon orders that Eteocles have a proper burial while Polynices’s body remain unburied, simply left to rot. Antigone refuses to let her brother’s bodyRead MoreThe Production Of Antigone By Peta Tait Essay1708 Words   |  7 PagesThe production of Antigone by Company B reviewed by Peta Tait is correct in multiple instances even though the production has an incorrect central conflict. Company B’s production is correct when Tait explains how it portrays why C reon did not bury Polyneices’ body and just left it out to the animals instead (71). The production is also correct when implying why Creon treats Antigone and Ismene badly as if they have the dignity of animals (73). By looking at Sophocles’ Antigone, it portrays CreonRead MoreEssay on Moral Conflict in Antigone1349 Words   |  6 PagesThe major moral conflict in Antigone by Sophocles is the conflict over which value is most fundamental. The play presents the moral conflict over whether the gods law or the citys law is more powerful. This seems to be the most prominent theme. The conflict arises mainly between the tragic heroes Antigone and her uncle-in-law Creon, King of Thebes. The city of Thebes had been through a war in which Antigone and her sister Ismene have lost both of their brothers to it, Eteocles and PolyneicesRead MoreEssay about Religion vs. State in â€Å"Antigone820 Words   |  4 PagesThe play â€Å"Antigone† is a tragedy by Sophocles . One main theme of the play is Religion vs. the state. This theme is seen throughout the play. Antigone is the supporter of religion and following the laws of the gods and the king of Thebes, Creon, is the state. In the play Creon has made it against the law to bury Antigone’s brother, something that goes against the laws of the gods, this is the cause of most conflict in the story. This struggle helps to develop the tragic form by giving the reader

A Model Of Christian Charity - 1525 Words

William J. Diaz Prof. Lopez English 473 March 4, 2015 â€Å"TITLE† A Model of Christian Charity is a sermon, or more of a simple speech delivered by Winthrop in order to inspire his fellow Puritans who sailed in order to settle in the New England. This speech was given in order to keep them committed to their new settlement. It was most probably not intended to be a timeless piece of literature that it became later on. John Winthrop’s â€Å"A Model of Christian Charity† is also known as â€Å"A City on a Hill†. It often illustrates the American status which is of the leading and frontrunner nation of the world. It has been quoted by many politicians that America is a beacon of civilization and as a leader and front runner it is the responsibility of this nation to guide the rest of the world going into the future. By analyzing Winthrop’s speech and studying the circumstances in which the speech was delivered helps in the better understanding of the circumstances. It also unveils a much profound and deeper message that he wanted to deliver. John Winthrop was nominated as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Company in the year 1629, and he was given the assignment of leading a flotilla of Puritan early settler to found a community of their own in New England the following year. The speech was delivered to his fellow voyagers on board the Arbella, the leading ship of this fleet, as they set to cruise from their native England. In his speech he laid out very discreet guidelines for theShow MoreRelatedA Model Of Christian Charity, By Herman Melville1659 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A Model of Christian Charity,† but Benjamin Franklin describes in his 1784 essay, â€Å"Information to Those Who Would Remove to America.† Delano hails from the city of Duxbury in Massachusetts and in 1799, he sets out with his crew on another voyage where they encounter a Spanish vessel that has been seized by the negro slaves on board (Melville 35). Delano is a hardworking, self-made man who believes in Christian charity. The ideals Melville wrote about, such as hard work, honesty and Christian charityRead MoreAnalyzing the Major Theme in A Model of Christian Charity818 Words   |  4 PagesAnalyzing the Major Theme in A Model of Christian Charity John Winthrops A Model of Christian Charity illustrates Americas status as the leading nation of the world and the unity of the Americans community. Throughout his speech, Winthrop talked about the bonds and ties, during his speech he talked about the same theme using different words in order to reinforce the idea that a successful colony must keep absolute unity and conformity. The whole speech is presented in the first plural personRead MorePuritans In John Winthrops A Model Of Christian Charity1177 Words   |  5 Pagesto the new world. While on the ship destined for what is now known as America, John Winthrop pulled all the Puritans together and delivered to them a speech bestowed upon him from God. Winthrop’s speech was later recorded and renamed â€Å"A Model of Christian Charity†. Winthrop uses this sermon to motivate the Puritans as they head for the new world. Winthrop persuades the Puritans to not worry about wealth, to love their neighbor as their self, and to promote unity in the church of Christ. Through theseRead MoreCritical Analysis Of John Winthrops Model Of Christian Charity1274 Words   |  6 P agesCOLLECTION 1: JOHN WINTHROP’S â€Å"MODEL OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY† Winthrops sermon, â€Å"Model of Christian Charity,† was filled with biblical rhetoric to inspire and compel his listeners to work together as one body for the good of the entire community and for the pleasure of God. He believed that the world and God would be watching the colony to see if it would truly become what God intended, which to Winthrop was a â€Å"city upon a hill† to be admired and replicated. He used his sermon to persuade his audienceRead MoreJohn Winthrop s Sermon, On The Model Of Christian Charity Essay1879 Words   |  8 Pagesthe government to help regulate the expansion of capital. In addition, the content of this paper will extrapolate on the pragmatic implications of this economic system and its effects on the people involved. John Winthrop’s sermon, â€Å"On the Model of Christian Charity,† establishes a pre-capitalist ideology through the presupposition of Winthrop’s personal/political beliefs, Puritan thought, and the man ifestation of these thoughts actualized in the marginalization of Native Americans. Firstly, John WinthropRead MoreEssay on John Winthrop878 Words   |  4 PagesBay in 1630, where he was the first Governor of the colony, a position he held for twenty years. In April, 1630, aboard the ship Arbella, he led a large party from England for the new world to establish a pure Christian based colony. They hoped to establish communities of pure Christians who collectively swore a covenant with God that would they work for his ends, knowing that in return, He would watch over them. John Winthrop was born in Edwardstone, Suffolk, England, on January 22, 1588Read MoreThe Principle Of Respect For Autonomy1606 Words   |  7 Pagesof a society. Simply by observing the care for the vulnerable, one may understand some of the values, love, and justice of a society (Pellegrino and Thomasma, 126). I agree with what Pellegrino and Thomasma wrote about the challenge that Christians face. Christians, by the secular society, are expected to compromise the call to love and justice that Jesus demonstrated (Pellegrino and Thomasma, 127). It becomes difficult to truly give care to clients as the costs of care rise and hospitals become moreRead MoreGod’s Unconditional Love vs. God’s Unending Anger Essay1181 Words   |  5 PagesEveryone must accept God as their savior or they will go to hell. This is a very familiar message that is preached by Christian religious leaders in places of worship around the world. As simple as this message may seem, the way it is deli vered to the people makes all the difference in either turning them into believers, or scaring them away from religion altogether. John Winthrop and Jonathan Edwards were both religious leaders that lived centuries before the present time. They shared the sameRead MoreDifferences In The Middle England And The New England Colonies797 Words   |  4 Pagesserve as the quintessence of religious righteousness in the New World. Settlers believed â€Å"brotherly affection† and creating a â€Å"community as members of the same body† to be the obligation of a good Christian, thus they settled in a close-knit town formation centered around a church. (A Model of Christian Charity, 1630) Much of what the Puritans did was for the sake of obeying religion. In the Chesapeake area however, the majority of people that settled there were young single men looking for gold. At JamestownRead MoreWinthrop Summary Christian Charity Essay873 Words   |  4 PagesAnna Dean Michelle Steil English 101, Sec 12 22 Oct 2012 A Model of Christian Charity: Summary A Model of Christian Charity is a sermon by John Winthrop. He gives this sermon aboard the Arbella in 1630. John Winthrop began his and his Christians journey with words for guidance and inspiration. He starts his sermon by stating that God created the rich and the poor. He created them for different reasons, in order to manifest his exertion in the areas of mercy, love, gentleness

Training On Safety Measures And Performance †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about theTraining On Safety Measures And Performance. Answer: Training. The most appropriate standard operating procedure to be incorporated in the workplace will be safety measures along with maximum productivity in the industry (Maslow, 2013). The workgroup will apply the standard operating procedure to bring maximum productivity and by applying safety measures the workers will be able to deliver the objectives of the industry (Marylene, 2014). The skills and expertise used by this workgroup will offer training to workers so as to achieve these objectives. The simulated workgroup to be considered in training on safety measures and performance procedures will be the group members whose objectives are oriented in the organizational standard operating procedure. From skill matrix asserted in appendix 2, the following results rate the level of employees based on standard operating Employee 1 Employee 2 Employee 3 Employee 4 Standard operating procedures. 1. Response to safety measures Untrained Learner Operator Trainer 2. How to use safety measure in productivity (Richard, 2013). Operator Untrained Learner Operator 3. Skills to respond to hazards for safety measures. Practitioner Trainer Untrained Trainer References Arnold, J. (2010). Coaching Skills for Leaders in the Workplace: How to Develop, Motivate and Get the Best from Your Staff. How to Books. Kanungo, R.N., Manuel, M. (2014). Work Motivation: Models for Developing Countries. Sage Publication put. Marylene, G. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Work Engagement, Motivation and Self-Determination Theory. OUP USA. Maslow, A.H. (2013). A Theory of Human Motivation. Start Publishing LLC. McGregor, D. (2012). The Human Side of Enterprise. New York, 21. Richard, A. (2013). Job Satisfaction from Herzbergs Two Factor Theory Perspective. Grin publishing

Stages of the Conflicts Resolving

Resolving conflicts, people usually go through four stages. The fourth stage of the conflict resolution process is the stage of enacting the best story related to the experienced problematic situation. Thus, during this stage, people try to resolve the conflict according to the most effective and appropriate variant.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Stages of the Conflicts Resolving specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At this stage, people should successfully use the communication skills and focus on confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension (Jones, 2013). The importance of confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension can be discussed with references to the case of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. The conflict between Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman could be resolved successfully. It is important to note that confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension are successful techniques to make the opposing parties to see the situation from the other perspective and find the peaceful way to resolve the developed conflict. Several variants are discussed as the causes for shooting Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. The first trigger is the racial biases against Trayvon Martin. One more variant is the violent attack of George Zimmerman by Trayvon Martin which made the young man to protect himself and shoot the aggressor (Trayvon Martin Case (George Zimmerman), 2013). The case is not resolved, and it is possible to focus on the role of confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension in resolving the conflict with references to the supposed scenarios. Confrontation is the technique to resolve the problematic situation and overcome communication problems when a person focuses on the fact that there is incongruence between the words and behavior of the opposing party. Pointing out this incongruence, the party pays attention to the person’s possible unwillingness to resolve the conflict peacefully. Thus, suspecting Trayvon Martin as the person whose actions can be potentially threatening for the neighborhoods, George Zimmerman could focus on the opposition between Martin’s words and possible aggressive actions (Jones, 2008). The responsibilities of the neighborhood watchman provided Zimmerman with the opportunities to start the dialogue with Martin and use the technique of confrontation in order to conclude about potential risks for the community. Using the technique of confirmation, Martin and Zimmerman could resolve their conflict successfully because of concentrating on avoiding the misperceptions and misunderstandings associated with the young men’s behaviors. To avoid the situation of following Martin by Zimmerman, it was necessary to begin the conversation.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Giving the necessary information on their action s and intentions, Martin and Zimmerman could predict the development of the conflict. Confirmation along with clarifying the intentions is important to reduce the level of tension between the opposing parties. The concept of comprehension can also be actively applied to the conflict between Martin and Zimmerman. Thus, Zimmerman followed Martin because he discussed the young man as a suspect. This discussion of any person contributes to developing the conflict that is why it was necessary for Martin and Zimmerman to communicate with each other. Martin and Zimmerman had no opportunities to develop an effective dialogue and realize the necessary comprehension. To achieve the understanding in the conflict situation, both the parties should listen attentively to each other, controlling their aggressive intentions and preventing misunderstandings. Moreover, the concept of comprehension is this case is closely associated with reflection and the adequate response to the problem (Jones, 2013 ). The active dialogue between the parties could contribute to resolving the conflict peacefully without using the uncontrolled physical force. From this point, there were chances to resolve the conflict according to the four stages of the conflict resolution strategy and with references to the concepts of confrontation, confirmation, and comprehension. References Jones, T. (2008). Conflict coaching: Conflict management strategies and skills for the individual. USA: SAGE Publications. Jones, T. (2013). Conflict coaching. Web. Trayvon Martin Case (George Zimmerman). (2013). Web.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Stages of the Conflicts Resolving specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Stages of the Conflicts Resolving was written and submitted by user Emilia Z. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Why Sex With Boss Is a Bad Idea for Your Career

Why Sex With Boss Is a Bad Idea for Your Career He may be attractive and give you all the right signals, but having sex with the boss is a bad idea and a potential career killer. Youre not living in isolation with him on a desert island, but sharing a workplace where your illicit relationship affects everyone. Many companies have clear policies on office dating and while relationships between co-workers have become commonplace, an employees affair with the boss still continues to be frowned upon. Even if it turns into something serious and long-lasting, chances are one of you will have to go. Power Playmate Look beyond the physical act of sex with your boss and youll see that power is at the heart of the relationship. Writing for the Times Online, Susie Godson sums it up as a power trip and a huge ego boost and adds, Peel away the perks and what exactly are you left with? The inequity of power, desire to associate with power or attain more power all factor into the situation. Theres also the power that comes from flying in the face of convention and sampling forbidden fruit. Stop and ask yourself: If he wasnt your boss, would you still be attracted to him? Are the excitement and passion based on the fact that although he has control over your life and career, you feel like you have control over him? Do you think that if you sleep with him, hell fast-track you to the top or at least promote you or give you a raise? Or do you just like the buzz that follows you around the workplace because co-workers sense that theres something more to your relationship than supervisor and subordinate? Sex as a Skill Set Sex clouds everyones judgment. You may have been hired because of your skills, your experience, your talent, drive, and enthusiasm. But when youre involved with the boss, you may find your competence in question. Opportunities that come your way, successes you achieve, goals you meet and exceed all may be perceived as arising out of your special relationship with the boss and not your own hard work. You may not get credit where credit is due. And if you end up working for someone else in the same company, that person may be reluctant to believe that youve gotten to where you are based on merit alone. Youll have that relationship with your ex-boss hanging over your head, and it may stunt your career advancement under future supervisors. Some Girl or Another The odds are against an enduring relationship. And when it falls apart, it probably wont wrap itself up with all loose ends tucked in neatly and both parties acting like adults. If the two of you remain in the same workplace and hes still your boss, therell be jealousy on one end or the other, and its going to affect your professional relationship and judgment. He may stall your career out of spite, revenge, or simply because he can, or behave in ways that make it difficult to continue to work for him. Or you may have to sit back, bite your tongue, and watch him launch another steamy affair with someone new under him (in more ways than one.) Because heres the painful truth: many bosses who sleep with their employees dont do it just once. Theyre serial subordinate seducers. As much as youd like to think that youre special the irresistible one he broke all the rules for- its probably not that way. As journalist Dominique Jackson observed in her article An Affair to Forget in Marie Claire, she found out she wasnt the only one to fall for her sexy, dazzling boss when she had dinner with a colleague of his: Great guy. Excellent writer. Underrated, too, said my companion. Trouble is, he always has some girl or other in tow. Usually one of the junior journalists or a secretary. I really dont know how his wife puts up with it. No Employees With Benefits From a purely business standpoint, the relationship is a no-win situation for the company you work for, even if you end up together. Human resources professional Laurie Ruettimann, the founder of Punk Rock HR, says that companies frame the issue of dating under Code of Conduct policies: As an employee, you are not allowed to personally benefit from your role at the office at the expense of the organization. Therefore, you are not allowed to sleep with a subordinate and continue supervising his/her work. Additionally, most companies will not allow you to supervise your family members. The way a friend with benefits is a tricky relationship to manage, an employee with benefits is a liability to the boss who has exceeded the bounds of appropriate behavior and has opened himself up to charges of sexual harassment, even if the sex was consensual. So sex with the boss jeopardizes his position as well as yours. But just suppose its the real thing? After all, according to the Times Online, four out of every ten people meet their spouses at the office. Lets say hes the one. Even if your wildest fantasies come true and you two get married, he cannot continue to supervise you. Someones going to have to leave, and its probably not going to be the boss. Think Before You Act Keep in mind that sex with the boss may poison any other potential future relationships with your co-workers. And since work continues to be the main way in which we meet, socialize with, and get to know people, that would shut the door to many opportunities, both platonic and romantic. As Ruettiman points out, I met my husband at work and weve been together for over a decade. My career wasnt impacted because I am not a drama queen. I used common sense and kept my private dalliances out of my professional role. And finally, for those who say that its sexist to assume the boss is male (since over 36 percent of managers and supervisors are female) and want to view this issue from the perspective of a boss whos female, the truth is theres little difference. The same rules apply. The best advice for any boss, female or male, comes from Marty Nemko in his tips for workplace dating in U.S. News World Report: Think twice about a relationship with your supervisor...Think 10 times before getting involved with a subordinate.

KOZLOWSKI Surname Meaning and Origin

KOZLOWSKI Surname Meaning and Origin The Polish surname Kozlowski is generally considered to be a geographical surname, bestowed upon an individual originally from a place named Kozlow, Kozlowo, or something similar, from the root koziol, meaning he-goat. KozÅ‚owski is the 12th most common surname in Poland. KozÅ‚owska, the  feminine version of the surname, is the 12th most common surname among females. Surname Origin:  Polish Alternate Surname Spellings: KOZLOWSKI, KOZLOWICZ, KOZLOWICZ, KOZLOW, KOZLOW, KOZLOWSKA Where do People With the Surname KOZLOWSKI Live? According to WorldNames publicprofiler, individuals with the Kozlowski last name are found in the greatest numbers in Poland, followed by the United States, Australia and Germany The greatest concentration of individuals named Kozlowski are found in northern and central Poland, especially the voivodeships (provinces)  of Podlaski, Warminsko-Marzurskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Mazowieckie and Wielkopolskie.  The Polish-specific surname distribution map on  moikrewni.pl calculates the population distribution of surnames down to the district level, identifying over 34,000 people with the Kozlowski surname living in Poland, with the majority found in Ã… Ãƒ ³dÃ… º, followed by Bialystok, PoznaÅ„, WrocÅ‚aw, GdaÅ„sk, Bydgoszcz, Krakà ³w and Szczecin. Famous People With the Surname KOZLOWSKI Leon KozÅ‚owski: Polish archaeologist and politician; Prime Minister of Poland 1934–1935Maciej Kozlowski: Polish actorGlen Kozlowski: former NFL wide receiver for the Chicago Bears Genealogy Resources for the Surname KOZLOWSKI Kozlowski Family Genealogy Forum: Search this popular genealogy forum for the Kozlowski surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Kozlowski surname query.FamilySearch - KOZLOWSKI Genealogy: Access over 144,000 free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Kozlowski surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Polish Genealogy Databases Online: Search for information on Kozlowski ancestors in this collection of Polish genealogy databases and indexes from Poland, the United States and other countries. Resources and Further Reading Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1967.Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Bergenfield, NJ: Avotaynu, 2005.Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia.  Bergenfield, NJ:  Avotaynu, 2004.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.Hoffman, William F. Polish Surnames: Origins and Meanings.  Chicago:  Polish Genealogical Society, 1993.Rymut, Kazimierz. Nazwiska Polakow.  Wroclaw: Zaklad Narodowy im. Ossolinskich - Wydawnictwo, 1991.Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

EMPLOYEE RESOURCING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

EMPLOYEE RESOURCING - Essay Example rt will finally attempt to provide necessary recommendations which may affect employee resourcing issues that may help ADT Ltd establish a policy to satisfy all members of staff. The recommendations would be drawn from case studies in UK from a legal stand point with the aim of showing the effectiveness of work-life balance and flexible working for APT Ltd as a measure of motivating the employees as well as motivating them. Employees are the backbone of every organisation hence effective recruitment, improving their performance as well as putting measures that reduce staff turnover are major factors that determine success of business during the contemporary period. More often than not, employ resourcing mainly depends on the available human resources tools and their ability to cope with the environment they will be operating in. Before attempting to give a critical analysis of how ADT Ltd can establish a policy to satisfy all members of staff through striking a fine balance between flexible working and work-life balance, it is imperative to give a definition of employee resourcing for easier understanding of the issues raised in the case study. Recruitment involves searching for and obtaining qualified job candidates and it gives the organisation the opportunity to select the most appropriate persons to fill its job needs (Carrell, R. et al 1995). Effective recruitment often attracts individuals to the organisation and also increases the chances of retaining the individuals once they have been hired. Thus, recruitment efforts seek to satisfy the needs of job applicants as well as the needs of managers hence the need for careful consideration by the HRM. ER in itself is more concerned with people management of how work is done and who would do it. In some cases unemployment rates may be high for instance in UK but still there would be shortages of people with particular skills that are in demand and often the few with those skills often find themselves working

Human Factors Affecting the Safe Operation of the Unmanned Aerial Research Paper

Human Factors Affecting the Safe Operation of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) - Research Paper Example The researcher states that as many as 19 different types of UAVs were operating with the coalition forces in 2005 over Iraq, emphasizing the increasing role of UAVs in today’s war front. Advances in automation enable UAVs to be flown autonomously for long periods of time, which necessitate making their own decisions based on input data fed by remote control into them by the human operator positioned on the ground station. UAVs are set to dominate the military skies in a big way, with at least 90% of reconnaissance aircraft predicted to be made up of UAVs by 2015. However, the increasing dominance of the skies by UAVs has been considerably overshadowed by a marked increase in their accident rates as well in comparison with conventional aircraft, in which the human error emerges as a significant contributing factor. This paper discusses the various types of UAVs, the human errors contributing to UAV mishaps and the various related issues. As per US classification, UAVs are essen tially classified into the following types: i) Micro UAVs ii) Low altitude Long endurance UAVs iii) High altitude long endurance UAVs using a conventional design iv) High altitude long endurance UAVs incorporating a low observable design. Notwithstanding the above, Agostino, Mammone Nelson & Zhou argue that UAVs can be classified into different subgroups in five different ways based on their Performance Characteristics such as Weight, Endurance &Range, Maximum Altitude, Wing Loading or the Engine Type. UAVs can also be categorized depending on their Mission Capabilities. Accordingly, depending on weight, a UAV can be of Super Heavy, Heavy, Medium, Light or Micro category. Table-1 gives the classification by weight of some well known UAVs. As per this classification, Global Hawk is a super heavy UAV of over two tons by weight while Raven is a medium UAV and Dragon Eye a micro UAV of under 5Kg by weight. A comparison of weights of the different types of UAVs on a logarithmic scale is given at Fig-1. According to the endurance and range UAVs are classified to enable the type of UAVs to be selected for a particular mission based on the distance it has to travel and the frequency of refueling needs requiring it to be grounded. While long-endurance UAVs can stay on a sortie for more than 24 hours at a stretch, medium endurance UAVs stay afloat for 5-24 hours and low endurance UAVs can fly only less than 5 hours continuously. The range of long endurance UAVs tends to be high, with around 22,000kms for Global Hawk. The ranges of Gnat and Heron are less than 5000km as shown at Fig-2.

Horror in Frankenstein Essay Example for Free

Horror in Frankenstein Essay There are many forms of tension and horror in this novel. There is a monster, theres grave robbing, the whole story is against religion and it is warning the reader that trying to play God can only have bad consequences. The novel is controversial in its content and it focuses on peoples prejudice and discrimination together with how people judge others too readily. Another thing that could have been scary for the readers at the time is the idea of electricity bringing life. Since electricity was a reasonably new thing, the concept of this new, weird technology described in the book could have been seen as horrific. Also, the atmosphere was a big part of the horror and tension, pathetic fallacy was used when Dr Frankenstein was creating his monster It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, It was strange, at the time of the novel being published, for a woman to write a book quite as horrific as Frankenstein. There were many things which could have influenced Mary Shelley in writing a book of this sort, myths, religion, other novels. She could have been influenced by the legends of the poles when creating Robert Waltons character. She was most likely to have been influenced by scientific research and advances at the time such as discovering electricity. She could have been trying to get people to understand that this type or research and messing around with life and death were wrong. Lastly I think she also had literary influences and I believe that Mary Shelley wanted the novel to be romantic in a way. Mary Shelley creates a lot of tension in the novel, this all starts in letter four from Robert Walton to his sister. She does this very effectively the whole way through the letter, the first line shows this, So strange an accident has happened to us that I cannot forbear recording it it then takes Walton quite a while to get to the point of explaining the accident, this creates a lot of tension. The whole story about Victor Frankenstein and the events in the letter four are told slowly and gradually adding to the sense of tension, mystery and intrigue for the reader. This effect is carried on throughout the whole novel which is, I think, one of the main reasons for the novel being so well known and enjoyed. There are quite a few causes of tension in letter four, another example is when Waltons ship was surrounded by ice, which closed it in scarcely leaving her the sea-room in which she floated. This creates tension by giving the impression of them being trapped in a dangerous environment. After this, the spotting of the creature creates tension, we perceived a low carriage a being which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge. The fact that this is a creature unlike a normal person adds to the tension. Also as the crew and Walton thought that they were alone, being away from civilization, trapped on a boat with a strange creature nearby creates fear as there would be no help at hand if needed. The next thing that created tension was having Dr Frankenstein on board; he was quite a strange person and did not appear normal. When he was found he asked Walton where he was going before he boarded. This, under the circumstances, is a weird question to ask. Walton wrote, You may conceive my astonishment on hearing such a question from a man on the brink of destruction.

Longitude Essay -- essays research papers

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time is written by Dava Sobel. The book is called Longitude because it is about a clock maker who was able to determine longitude. Determining longitude was the superlative scientific question in the eighteenth century that Galileo and Newton were not able to resolve.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The principal inspiration behind the invention completed in this book is that many sailors were lost at seas as a result of their ignorance regarding longitude. So, without the competence to determine longitude, many innocent lives were disintegrated at seas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  England’s Parliament was desperate for an answer to this problem. So, in 1714 England’s Parliament offered 20,000 pounds to anyone who invented a method or a device for measuring longitude and then proved successful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As a result, a Frenchman, sieur de St. Pierre, frowned on the moons of Jupiter as means of determining longitude. He theorized that longitude could be found by the position of the moon and select stars. At the time, Dr. Edmond Halley proved this theory wrong. After many observations, Halley concluded that the moon’s rate of revolution around the earth was accelerating overtime.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Harrison was a simple clockmaker and a self-educated person who was accredited for finding longitude by means of a timeke...

APC 309 Strategic Management Accounting

Module Title: Strategic Management Accounting Module Code: APC309 Individual assignment SUNDERLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL Date: 16/04/2011 Introduction: As Gowthope (2005, p. 148) said that: â€Å"A budget is a plan, expressed in financial and/or more general quantitative terms, which extends forward for a period into the future. Budgets are widely used in organisations of all types and sizes. † –Budgeting actually refers to the process that, after the strategic plan of the business has been made, companies made a short term plan (usually one year) to meet the strategic purpose. Traditional budgeting has offered a lot of contributions in so many years? ractice; no one has a better summary of all advantage of traditional budget as (Umapathy, 1987, p. xxii): â€Å"I believe that budgeting provides managers with a wonderful opportunity to rejuvenate their organisations. There is no other managerial process I am aware of that translates qualitative mission statements and corporat e strategies into action plans, links the short term with the long term, brings together managers from different hierarchical levels and from different functional areas, and at the same time provides continuity by the sheer regularity of the process. . So, many organisations use a „traditional budget? –the short term plan that meet the strategic purpose of the organisation- because of the easiness of preparation and its simplicity to coordinate budget across various departments. But it seems it is more and more unsuitable for the modern business. In this paper, I will give a brief induction for traditional budgeting; and then discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the traditional budgeting; last I will explain and evaluate the alternative approach that will be more accurate and work for today? dynamic markets. In the second part I will tackle the working capital concept by giving some ways to improve parts of Working capital in XYZ limited which is a medium sized manuf acturing business. Today, reducing costs, improving quality, and saving time through all parts of an organisation are the mantra of executives in every industry. In their pursuit of those goals, however, they tend to overlook working capital productivity because it is an indirect measure. They see it as a narrow financial calculation and miss its link to the overall systemic performance of an organisation. As a result, executives forfeit a powerful lens to track improvements across the company. Section 1: Budget and Budgeting: â€Å"Budget reflects a choice – not an easy choice, but the right choice. And when you think about it, the only choice. The choice to take the responsible, prudent path to fiscal stability, economic growth and opportunity. † –George E. Pataki. An American politician. The use of budgets dates back to 1920 where it was used as a financial tool for business enterprises (Hofstede, 1968, p. 20). The budget is an indispensable management tool or as Horngren, T. et al, (2000, p. 178) said: â€Å"the most widely used accounting tool for planning and controlling organisations†. A budget is an estimated plan over a given period of time expressed in monetary terms for the allocation of funds and distribution of scarce resources through internal communication to get the planned activities done. When used properly a well designed budget can be a helpful tool in decision-making, it can ensure the controlling process and performance measurements, facilitate communication, and can act as a motivational tool. (Highered. mcgrawhill, accessed 2011) â€Å"Budgeting may be defined quite simply as the process of compiling budgets and subsequently adhering to them as closely as possible† (Maitland, 2000, p. 1). Though budgeting process is complex, time consuming and requires a lot of decision-making (refer to Appendix, figure. for an outline of the budgetary process), it is an essential part of the strategic planning process that helps communicating the goals of the organization and facilitates, coordinates and controls various departments of the organization in order to steer the company to its desired goals, it involves the annual cycle to plan actions, better coordination and allocation of resources, and at the end measuring and controlling performance with regard to the pla ns agreed. Traditional Budgeting Approach (TBA): There are various methods to prepare a budget. Here we are concerned with the traditional approach to budgeting known also as the incremental budgeting which involves basing next year? s budget on the current year? s results plus an extra amount for estimated growth or inflation (APC309 Workbook, 2008). It is claimed that in many organisations the traditional budgeting remains widespread, and that 99% of European and US companies are using budgets and have no intention of abandoning them, it was also stated that over 60% of those companies claim that they are not highly satisfied with their current budgeting systems and are continuously trying to improve the budgeting process to meet the demands set for management in creating sustainable value (report: Better Budgeting, 2004, p. 2-3). From this perspective it is obvious that traditional budgeting approach and budgets in general hold many benefits as well as problems. Implementing TBA on a static market: When implemented within businesses, such technique will be more suitable for firms where each year? s performance and activities are similar to the previous one and conditions are predictable, an active market that can take up large sales which do not change much in relation with changes in prices and where demand is slack. If we take an example of a company „A? operating in a static market, let? s say that our company is selling „sugar?. So for such company using the TBA (Traditional Budgeting Approach) will be perfect and will work well because first, sugar is a necessary good so the market demand is steady i. e. the buying behavior of sugar does not change much, it is a food basic that people consume on a daily basis, the market demand in this case is predicted and quite unchanged, so „A? an constantly base its expenditures and estimated revenues on those of previous year and that makes it suitable for our company here to be using an annual budget based on historical data, thus, will make it easier to compare actual results with budgets and monitor organizational functions. Second, senior managers won? t be forced to spend an amount of time reviewing budgets. Again, focusing on the benefits of TBA we can say that this approach enhance controlling and is asy to prepare and understand , administratively unambiguous and simple to operate, so this method is cheap. It is probably the simplest method that ensures a quick and low preparation costs, however, I would insist on the point that for any business it? s good to provide and introduce change gradually, therefore, the only major weakness that would limit our company „A? is the fact that senior managers will never be able to have a general and overall picture of the performance, and also some people will be offended when it comes to supervision, humans tend o work at their lowest possible standards especially when there is lack of motivation and rewards, as a matter of fact the budgetary control touch on the culture of blame and mistrust, plus there is a fact that scarce resources will not be allocated effectively and efficiently so that would create an obstacle and prevent employees from performing at their best, and their creative spirit would then be stamp down. Implementing TBA on a dynamic market: â₠¬Å"Fixed budgets don? t work today. A budget is a too static instrument and locks managers into the past – into something they thought last year that it was right. To be effective in a global economy with rapidly shifting market conditions and quick and nimble competitors, organisations have to be able to adapt constantly their priorities and have to put their resources where they can create most value for customers and shareholders. † Juergen H. Daum. (A management and executive adviser) As Juergen explained, budgeting tools that were created to serve businesses back in the manufacturing era where production costs and revenues were foreseeable will not be effective in today? s „information age? where the market is globalised. This traditional annual budgeting system is not suitable or relevant in rapidly changing markets, many companies believe that budgets do not deal with intangible assets like brands and knowledge and fail to focus value (Davies T. and Boczko T. 2005 p. 408). In today? s global market where conditions and demands are unpredictable and hard to be determined in advance, an event like 9/11, the Arab? s revolution, and the earthquake that hit Japan will definitely change the way organisations do their businesses especially those big companies that are opened to the global market, in this matter, adopting a raditional budgeting approach will cause more damages. Considering a company „B? operating in a typical dynamic changing market let? s assume here that „B? is a hotel business where each year? s activities and number of tourists accommodated are completely different than the previous year and hard to be predicted, this kind of businesses system is changeable, adjusted constan tly and boost employees to give their best with waking up their creativity spirits, our company „B? needs a full use of its potentials and should keep innovating in order to survive in its market and that would not be achieved if employees and managers are not motivated. For „B? to become the success that all companies are striving to reach today, it has to avoid relying on historical performances or fix their employees performance on fixed budget to deliver the planned outcome, and if adopting any method of budgeting it should do so by designing it on a „bottom-up? basis. So, in a dynamic market a use of TBA would cause more problems to such companies. TBA is inaccurate for our company „B? where each year is very different to the previous one in terms of activities, cost, and market demand. Here, I would suggest the use of the ZBB (Zero Based Budgeting) approach since the number of tourists change according to seasons and unexpected events worldwide, it will be beneficial to re evaluate all of the company? s activities from a zero base annually and respond to any condition changes within the environment each year. Thus, inefficient and inaccurate activities will be removed and any wasteful cost will be cut which means a better allocation of resources, also, this technique promotes the bottom-up of budgeting which will automatically lead to bring up the motivation of employees. Nevertheless, the weakness of this method is that each pound spent must be justified, and if we have a big company which held too many activities, using a ZBB will generates more work that is hard to managed, and because decisions are made at the budget time, it will be difficult to react and deal with changes that might occur during the year, so here as a suggestion the company while performing the zero based budget may use a rolling budget every year. Furthermore, it will be challenging especially for private organisations that have indefinable activities and discretionary cost to be put into decision packages. There were some argues about the traditional budgeting approach being as a barrier to change. For that Hope and Fraser (1997) suggested a new alternative process to budgeting which is termed as â€Å"Beyond budgeting approach†. They claimed that this approach will free people from the top-down performance contract and allows a use of knowledge and best allocation of resources to satisfy customers and beat competitors. This alternative way of budgeting is about the development of leadership principles and help decision making to be made. The thing about it is that this model does not lead to change in some parts but require a systems transformation. (Refer to appendix, figure: 2 for a budgeting and beyond budgeting model). However, even with this model that will break managers free from the annual performance of budgeting, it has a disadvantage that it underpinned their organisation? s performance transformation. To alleviate all those limitations, companies must seek for alternatives approaches that combines and put in practice the benefits of each approach without forgetting to give priority to employees and managers? otivation, the human aspect behavior plays a crucial part in every business because success of any company nowadays rely on its number one asset which is the human labor (knowledge, know-how, expertise, experience†¦.. etc. ). Section 2: Working Capital: Nowadays, the market requires companies to diversify its products and services within a short time delivery, so, companies are striving to keep o n track with global markets? need and competition from other rivals in order to meet the customers? expectations and satisfy their needs. For that, companies will have to focus its resources and potentials to create the business? value, satisfy the shareholders and balance between its liquidity and profitability, this will be through improving all forms of cash flow and increasing their working capital productivity. In an article from (tutor2u, accessed 2011) working capital is: â€Å"The period of time which elapses between the point at which cash begins to be expended on the production of a product and the collection of cash from a customer† (Refer to appendix, figure. 3 for working capital cycle) Working capital is the concern of all firms; it is defined as the current assets minus the current liabilities (working capital = current assets – current liabilities). While in the APC309 Workbook, (2008) it was said that: â€Å"Working capital required because the company has to pay for goods and services before recovering the money from customers, and represented by the difference between current assets and current liabilities. † Company XYZ: a manufacturing business: Considering XYZ Limited, a medium sized manufacturing business. For such manufacturing businesses, XYZ needs to spend cash to purchase raw materials (inventories) and manufacture them. While waiting for the finished goods to be sold it needs to stock them. After selling the goods it can incur some costs. And before receiving the revenue (cash) it waits for the cash receipts from the customers (accounts receivable) and can delay the payments to vendors (accounts payable). So, working capital is an important source of cash throughout the business cycle. (Refer to Appendix, figure. 4 for a diagram of the Working capital cycle in manufacturing firms). Improving XYZ’s working capital: Focusing on working capital will help XYZ? s manager to create lasting value, examine the organisation? productivity and efficiency, and XYZ will become stronger. Starting with the following formula: (working capital = current assets – current liabilities) to analyze the operating cycle of XYZ in order to improve its working capital. Liquidity assessment: cut-down the operating cycle. Shorten XYZ? s operating cycle and cash holding costs by maintaining a cash balance, this would be done through a trim of the stock on hand – the XYZ company however should pay attention not to be in short of stock which will affect it badly and will be unable to meet its customers? emand-, also, make a consignment of stock obtained, lowering the time needed to manufacture the goods and selling them, and a cut down of cost which will definitely increase their cash. Stock when necessary: reduce inventories. Inventory surplus is one of the ways to neglect any cash sources, so in order to boost cash flow; XYZ would better reduce production time and its inventories and lowering them to avoid over production. By a reduction in inventories meaning made a consignment of stock, managing the supply chain and varying the goods manufactures. Also, to increase profitability, XYZ can benefit from cutting costs through this reduction in both inventories and warehouse space needed. Accounts receivable funding: get paid now. Until the customer pays XYZ, the sale is not considered as achieved. The working capital cycle must be completed or the company will regret making the sale if the customer went away without paying. So, XYZ should take into consideration terms of payments, invoices and well manage the cash. Some ways to improve the cash will be speeding up cash collection, ameliorate the reduction of payment terms and collection processes, besides, a strong credit control and a rigorous collection procedures will help to positively improve profitability. While collecting past due cash, XYZ should secure favorable payment terms, obtain payments, approve new customers and maintain a good relationship with clients that pay on time while keep an eye and be careful from both doubtful and risky clients. Accounts payable: negotiating the best agreements possible. While dealing with suppliers, XYZ should rethink payment terms and avoid early payments. Paying its suppliers before the due date is strongly unacceptable and better be avoided, and accomplished within or after the due date. Raising terms and procedures of payments, and optimizing discount is highly recommended. Seeking an increase in cash flow operation and the company? s profitability will be achieved by asking for longer credit terms from suppliers, and if possible take inventories on consignment. Other ways to improve working capital can be to consider leasing when thinking of purchasing equipments this will improve the amount of cash in short term only but can lead to additional costs in long term. Also, consider outsourcing and benefit from price differences. And always negotiate and try to get discounts, besides there is the possibility of converting debtors? cash into factoring or utilizing a bank loan or overdraft. For a XYZ Limited to have working capital the current assets must exceed the current liabilities, it is managing the use of both current assets and current liabilities to improve the company? s short-term liquidity. There is a direct connection between working capital cycle and business performance. Hence, the most important thing that? s needed to improve and have an efficient working capital cycle is not actually focusing on components of balance sheet that are: inventory, accounts receivable, and accounts payable but is the business cycle TIME that is measured from the time we identify the customer? s need, till we receive the payment of the finished product. Then, by reducing any necessary cash or inventory we will succeed to reduce our working capital cycle. Almost any business performance improvement effort influences the working capital (W. C) cycle productivity of the business here talking about XYZ and will also affect other businesses that deals either directly or indirectly with it. For example if XYZ did not succeed in collecting cash from its clients it cannot be able to pay its suppliers and debtors and that will be bad since the relationship between them and XYZ will be sensitive so, that would build a miss trust and XYZ will find difficulties to be supplied or get credits this later will cause trouble because it will not have any raw materials and the business will then stop operating. Taking XYZ limited as a manufacturing business, any of the ways to improve its W. C that was mentioned above will help cut down costs and boost overall working capital productivity by shrinking inventories and driving down accounts receivable. Also, the results behind paying suppliers before the due date would lead to reduction in working capital productivity. XYZ and should closely track its competitors? improvements to ensure that it is performing better. Furthermore, it can be useful to benchmark itself with regard to other industries for perceptions and opportunities to improve working capital productivity and cash flow. Benchmarking the performance of XYZ? system as a whole more accurately with regard to benchmark with other companies in the same sector would be of benefits. References: -APC309 Module Workbook, 2008. „Strategic Management Accounting Version 1. 0?. University of Sunderland. -Davies T. and Boczko T. , 2005. „Business Accounting And Finance. Second Edition.? Mc Graw Hill Education, p. 408. -Drury C. , (2001) „Management Account ing for Business Decisions. Second Edition.? Thomson Learning. -Gowthope C. , (2005) „Management Accounting for non specialists, 2nd Edition?. Thomson Learning, p. 148. -Hofstede G. H. , (1968) „The Game of Budget Control?. Koninklijke Van Gorcum & Comp. N. V. , Assen, p. 20. -Hope J. and Fraser R. , (1997) „Beyond budgeting: breaking through the barrier to „The third wave. Management Accounting, London. -Horngren Charles T. , Foster G. , Datar M. (2000) „Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis, 10th edition?. Upper Saddle River (NJ). Prentice Hall, p. 178. -Lucey T. (1996) „Management Accounting, 4th Edition?. London: Letts, p. 108. -Maitland I. (2000) „Budgeting for Non-Financial Managers: how to Master and Maintain Effective Budgets?. London. Pearson Education, p. 1. -Satish B. M. (2002) „Working Capital Management and Control: Principles & Practice?. New Age International (P) Limited, Publishers. Web sites: ? Behavioral Aspect of Budgeting: http://highered. mcgraw-hill. com/sites/dl/free/0074711717/57451/Budgeting_Ch09. pdf [Accessed the 25th February 2011] ? Better Budgeting: A report on the Better Budgeting forum from CIMA and ICAEW. (2004), Chartered Institute Of Management Accountants. P. 2-3 http://www. cimaglobal. com/Documents/ImportedDocuments/betterbudgeting_techrpt_2004. pdf [Accessed the 28th February 2011] ? The Beyond Budgeting Round Table (BBRT) www. bbrt. org [Accessed the 5th March 2011] ? Beyond budgeting http://www. juergendaum. com/bb. tm [Accessed 5th March 2011] ? Working capital cycle http://tutor2u. net/business/finance/workingcapital_cycle. htm [Accessed 20th March 2011] http://blog. maia-intelligence. com/2009/06/15/working-capital-management-and-bi-part-ii/ [Accessed 20th March 2011] Appendix: Source: Lucey, 1996, p. 108. Figure. 1: Outline of the budgetary process. Figure. 2: From traditional budgeting model to the emerging management model „beyond budgeting? Source: http://blog. maia-intelligence. com Figure. 3: Working capital cycle. Source: tutor2u. net [accessed 20th March 2011] Figure. 4: working capital cycle for a manufacturing firm

Steppenwolf

The story of Steppenwolf (1927) is the Herman Hesse’s most widely read book. The main character Harry Hiller, Steppenwolf, is influenced by Hesse’s exposure to Western philosophers as well as Indian and Chinese philosophy. Concepts of Eastern spiritual wisdom which Hesse was interested in can be seen in the novel. Following the record of Harry Hiller’s manuscript, Hesse exposes the struggle of human mind through describing the lack of acceptance, rejection, broken dreams and division in the society and individuality to the readers. This is a realistic picture of despair, depression and isolation.Eastern wisdom such as Indian and Chinese philosophy plays an important role in the structure of the novel. The introduction of ‘magic theatre’ in the novel exudes a sense of transcendence from place and time. In effect, ‘magic theatre’ brings about a tinge of Eastern charm and Indian cultural identity. Indian philosophy on the discovery about â €˜centrality of consciousness’ states that dualistic nature exists in individuals. Personal identity of the ‘Witness self’ is the crucial point of our individual nature, and is also utilized in the realization of the Absolute Self.The Indian spiritual and philosophical wisdom sees the finite self characterized by the individual ‘I’. The concept of such relates to physical body and mind, and prevents the individual from engaging with the infinite self. Infinite self expands the finite mind a soul and realizes our true unification with the ‘Godhead’. Hesse incorporates this ideology into the Immortals for example, Hermine, as well as the human part of Steppenwolf. Harry cannot be a peace with himself due to his wolf inner tendencies.He cannot gain peace in society because everyone else is fixated on the finite self. The only way Steppenwolf can achieve unity with the Godhead is through suicide. (Kheper, 2001) The ideology of Chinese phi losophy also can be seen in novel. The themes of Confucianism emphasize the importance of humaneness towards others (ren), righteousness (Yi), integrity and human-heartedness. (Confucianism, n. d. ) Fairness and devotion of one’s life passively for the sake of moral value of ren and yi are considered trademarks of honor. Cheung, 1999) Steppenwolf despises bourgeois society. When he attempts to reveal his true identity, in order to gain acceptance, individuals who are used to order, logic and restraint are frightened. These individuals are the representative of middle class. The middle class’ commitment to respectability, responsibility, and morality reflect the Confucian thought and the sense of honor. Taoist theory argues that individuals move through a series of state of being in order to search for immortality.Taoist theory focuses on the interrelationship between humanity and the cosmos, promoting harmony and peace with nature and the universe. (Herzog,n. d. ) Both teachings of Confucianism and Taoism are present in Steppenwolf. Harry’s numerous encounters and experiences revealed aspects of his true nature and this prepared his participation into the Magic Theatre. In the Magic Theatre, the Steppenwolf is forced to confront his multiple souls, his past and his future. At last, he is told that he simply takes life too seriously.The concept of change in the Magic Theatre mirrors the Taoist theory of changing states. Hesse’s other writing, Siddhartha, tells the story of a young Indian man’s journey of seeking spiritual knowledge and salvation. This book is published in 1921 and it has become the culmination of Hesse’s studies of Eastern philosophy. In Siddhartha Eastern wisdom is an essential foundation for the religious and philosophical ideas of the narrative. (Herzog, n. d. ) Elements of Eastern wisdom such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism can be seen from this work.The ending of Siddhartha turns to be more Taoist ic than Indian. The master of Taoism Lao-Tse says that the gentlest overcomes the strongest. One instance in the writing, Hesse’s description of Siddhartha’s merging into ‘unity’ displays the core idea of the doctrine of Tao. In the novel, it states that ‘real doing is that same as suffering; both are the execution of fate; to wait, to submit. ’ This is the teaching of the Vedanta and of Lao-Tse. Siddhartha delivers himself to God’s will as the result of waking by God.This is synonymous with the idea of accepting the inevitable fate, the enlightened passiveness of the Chinese-Taoistic philosophy and the submission of the Bhagavad-Gita. When Siddhartha dissolved all conflicts after reaching a degree of intensification of feeling, Siddhartha had merged into unity. These words of Hesse can be referred to Lao-Tse’s Tao Te King: ‘Can you discipline your soul to embrace the one without destroying itself? (Herzog, n. d. ) Although Hesse was brought up in a Pietist family, however his later visit to India in 1911 initiated his study of Eastern religions.His discovery of eastern mysteries and religious belief are reflected in his work. Reference List Confucianism (n. d. ) Retrieved at 20th of May From http://confucianism. freehostingguru. com/ cheung L,P (1999), Confucian Ethic of Death with Dignity and its contemporary Relevance Retrieved from http://arts. hkbu. edu. hk/~pclo/e5. pdf Herzog, PH. (n. d. ) Hermann Hesse and China II Chinese influence in Siddhartha; Steppenwolf and the journey to the east. Kheper, (2001), Eastern Philosophy, The centrality of consciousness-the ego and the self, retrieved from http://www. kheper. net/topics/eastern/ego_and_Self. htm

Developing a Website essays

Developing a Website essays 1) To offer some features of the website, the manager must choose between hiring a set of dedicated professionals (e.g., system administrator, maintenance programmer, copywriter/editor, designer, and webmaster) and outsourcing these functions. If the manager makes the human resource investment to hire the group of professionals, they need to be fully utilized to help generate profits. How would you make this decision, and how would it affect the selection of the package of features you offer on The Website writers are as much of human beings as all others and are similarly susceptible to human foibles as others. One of the stories among them is that when a site is submitted to the major search engines, it automatically increases traffic to the site, and that will increase sales from the site and thus profits. On the other side, some experts do not believe this to be true, and this can be checked by querying the search engine on the sites products or services, the site may not even in the top 10 or 20 matches. Competition may however appear there and get more queries. It is also well known that there has to be a good standing in a major search engine to generate traffic and the effect is higher than any major expensive advertising campaign. Most ordinary users of the Web begin their search at one of the major search engines, and the position in the search engines determine to a large extent how many people end up at the There are other forms of advertising for sites, but that is an expensive exercise, and it is cheaper in many instances to improve the ranking under a few important keywords to get the same or better results. The other solution is thought to be in the Yellow Pages, but most of the time it doesn't even get the organization a telephone call. In the Inter...

Free sample - The Change in Oedipus A Psychological Analysis. translation missing

The Change in Oedipus A Psychological Analysis. The Change in Oedipus A Psychological AnalysisThe play of Oedipus began with an energetic, healthy, and wealthy man who was a famous king of Thebes. He was a man with a high strength of mind and courageous. He was a hero and a man of people for the pleasurable things that he did for them. This made him boastful, he could be heard declaring loudly that all knew him and the world too for his fame. At the start, his emotional and psychological state is stable. He is happy because of the honor, and respect he receives for his will power. Oedipus was an adopted child of Polybus the King of Corinth, and his wife Queen Merope, a fact that he did not know. As a grown-up man, someone told him that he was not Polybus’s real son. This triggered a state of mental and emotional instability. This fact makes him to undergo a state of repression as he thinks about his identity and physical appearance (the cause of the clubfeet).Physically, he is a man of strength, handsome, and fully sighted but he has a bodily defect. He has clubfeet (swollen feet), a defect he got when his real father, Laius, the King of Thebes, hanged him to die. This was after the gods’ prophesized that Oedipus would kill Laius, and marry Queen Jocaste (Oedipus’ real mother). Oedipus’s psychological state is agitated by this fact and he is very anxious. He moves from Corinth and goes to Thebes to search for the truth. He is mentally disturbed and feels that he has to know his identity and the reason for his adoption. The prophecy that a man would marry his mother after killing his father gave him overwhelming fear that he runs away from Corinth. On his way to Thebes, he meets a man and because he is irritated, they argue on who should pave way for the other. This act further irritates the psychologically disturbed Oedipus. He relieves his highly charged emotions by killing the man who happens to be Laius, his father. In Thebes, he is desperate to find the truth. The city was in a distressed state. The Sphinx, a monster was killing the people of Thebes after they failed to answer a riddle. He answered the riddle and the monster killed itself. Oedipus got the honor of the people who crowned him the King of Thebes and consequently married the widow of the dead king, Jocaste. At this level, his emotions are at a latent stage. He calms his emotions and temporarily abandons the search for his identity. He is happy as a king and is emotionally satisfied. They give birth to four children; two sons, and two daughters. After the death of Polybus, a messenger comes from Corinth to request Oedipus to take the place of Polybus. Oedipus reveals what the oracles had told him and he feels relive that he had not killed Polybus. At this stage, the psychological and emotional state of Oedipus is unstable. Jocasta told him that his husband was killed by a stranger and not by his own son. Oedipus notices that it was he, who had murdered his father and married his mother. His clubfeet make Jocaste realizes that she has committed incest by marrying her own blood. She kills herself due to shame and denial. On the same note, Oedipus is mentally unstable, angry with the issue, and undecided on what to do. He takes a pin from Jocaste’s dress, pokes his eyes, and blinds himself. This act indicates marks the peak of insanity, and emotional instability of Oedipus. Oedipus and his two daughters are forced to go into exile by the Thebans. They seek refuge in Athens. It is clear that before his death in Athens, he psychologically goes into a state of denial and. Like a dying man, he isolates himself (both from the physical and mental state) aware of imminent death. Just before he died, the divided people of Thebes wanted him to return to Thebes, a fact that made Oedipus to start bargaining. He thinks of his destiny and the gains the Thebans will get from his return. These results into his mental depression die finally he accepts the universal fate of every mortal man-Death.

Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 5

Operations Management - Essay Example In operation, technology is beneficial for handling and developing practices in both product and service distribution and comprehensive supply chain management. In present days, efficient process administration becomes essential for transitioning from traditional to modern industrial economy. The information flow related with the operational processes is a key motivation for employing more and more information technology (IT) based initiatives. The prime motive for implementing IT in operations management is to increase the speed, flexibility, dependability, and quality of operation procedures such as supply chain management, production management, quality management, and inventory management. IT can help to decrease the cost of excess time by reducing unnecessary operations in business (University of Virginia Darden School of Business, 2011). Technology in Operations Management The improvements in technology have changed the crucial features of operations management in several organ isations. Modern tools and technologies have been integrated in the plan and the operation of service and production systems. The ubiquity of IT including computers and internet has become obvious for many operations (Lari, 2002). Technology in Manufacturing Operations In current days, the technological advancements have presented new prospects for organizations to generate competitive advantage. Through employing technology in manufacturing procedure, organisations try to respond quicker to the requirements of customers, accomplish extensive selection of product offering and preserve high level of output. In the operations management of the manufacturing sector, technology can deliver exclusive benefit to organizations by providing superior products and services to the consumers. Technology can provide following benefits for manufacturing operations: Better machine operation: Technology based system can allow organisations to use machine to their highest capacity for manufacturing product faster Flexibility: Technology often improves the flexibility in arranging various works in an orderly way and it allows organisations to respond to the changes rapidly Simplicity of production change: Through technology, organisations can accommodate any modifications in production plan or procedure. Technology enables organisations to manage compound manufacturing operations with lesser effort and preferred quality Expansion of production: Technology helps organisations the flexibility to expand their production with response to the growing demand of market (Mahadevan, 2010). Analysis of Proctor & Gamble Proctor & Gamble which is one of the leading organisations in consumer products seeks to decrease the manufacturing expenses and increase the productivity of the organisation. To sustain in the leading position, Proctor & Gamble (P&G) needs to manufacture products quicker with less overhead expenses. It was necessary for minimizing the manufacturing cost of products. Thus, Proctor & Gamble had employed Predictive Adaptive Control (PAC) technology and ‘Overlapping Feed Technology’ in their manufacturing operations for achieving better speed and constant accuracy on production. P&G selected the Lima manufacturing facility for first implementation of those technologies to improve the material transfer procedure. As a result of PAC and

Social Performance, part 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Performance, part 2 - Essay Example Many financial industries, especially those dealing in financial services, have codes of conduct. The table below shows the codes of a competitor to Pioneer Financial Group and criticism of their codes. COMPANY CODE OF CONDUCT CRITICISM SERVICES OFFERED LINCOLN FINANCIAL GROUP Fairness Respect Employee Ownership Diversity Responsibility Integrity Commitment to Excellence They have stringent do’s and don’t’s, and their employees feel that if something is not specified in the code of conduct, then it is acceptable. Life insurance Annuities Retirement plan services Group protection AF FINANCIAL GROUP Honesty and fair dealing Workplace environment Compliance with laws and regulations Conflict of interest Gifts Records and reporting information Political activities Insider trading Revoked their contract with Lowerell as their independent auditors without giving them notice as this contradicts their code of honesty and fair dealings with other intermediaries Insurance services Loans such as mortgage loans Offers business services such as checking accounts CUNA MUTUAL GROUP Integrity in the workplace Integrity with company resources, information and financial disclosure Integrity while dealing with others Integrity with business conduct Faced with challenges of measuring the effectiveness of their program, though they have ambitious programs and codes of ethics Crop insurance Retirement planning for members and small businesses Insurance for union members Trevino and Nelson (2007) define business ethics as behaviors that are in line with the principles, standards, and norms of practice that are in accordance with the society. Pioneer Financial Group is facing a conflict of interest of some shareholders, side deals done by employees, and corruption. Establishing an ethical business culture is one way of improving the corporate governance. Pioneer Financial Group should have ethical codes that promote ethical behavior. This guides employees in cases where ethical course of action is not clearly known. The codes help the company to communicate their expectations to employees, communities, government, and other stakeholders. The codes do promote market efficiency, build public trust, enhance business reputation, raising awareness on the societal needs, and help the company reinforce and acquaint new employees with their values and culture. Pioneer Financial Group have put in place training programs regarding ethics in the company that are designed to offer real solutions to those employees under ethical dilemma. A code of conduct or ethical code sets out the company's values, ethics, objectives and responsibilities. Pioneer Financial Group will have the following code of conduct: COMPANY CODE OF CONDUCT PIONEER FINANCIAL GROUP (PFG) HOW TO DEAL WITH COMMUNITIES HOW TO DEAL WITH COMPETITORS GOVERNMENT ®ULATORS,EMPLOYEES,SUPPLIERS AND INTERMEDIARIES Take into account community concerns Providing good employment opportunities Su pport communities through Charitable donations Seek competitive advantage through superior products and performance Avoid discussing confidential information with competitors Not engaging in restrictive trade practices that abuse market dominance Not evade tax Report and record all reportable transactions Giving room for employees to air their grievances about the company Encourage freedom of association Providing safe & healthy working environment Rewarding employees who observe ethical behavior Providing quality products and

Nationalisation of Oil Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nationalisation of Oil Industry - Essay Example However, Argentina has been forced recently to reverse its earlier decision to privatize the company by nationalizing 51% of YPF (Minder 2012). This move has been met with a lot of fury from Spain and other major stakeholders who are strongly opposed to move if media reports are anything to go by. The nationalization has been termed a forced purchase. As a result, the Argentine government is required to pay for Rapsol shares. Tracy (2012) reported that the Argentine government made such a move because of Rapsol’s continued failure to invest in gas and oil production in the country, a scenario that has forced Argentina to over-rely on imports to keep up with its high internal demand. For instance, Tracy (2012) reveals that Argentina spent over $9.4 billion in 2011 to import energy from other countries. This was despite the fact that Argentina is considered one of the countries with the largest hydrocarbon reserves in the world. The privatization of YPF snatched away the control of the government over oil and gas usage in the country. It is important for the Argentine government to understand that nationalization of oil supplies in the country has both its advantages and disadvantages. Advantages of Nationalisation to Argentine Government Oil and gas are commodities that contribute massively to the development of the economy of Argentina. As such they are products that should never be in shortage especially now that they are on high demand almost throughout the year. The Argentine government needs to ensure that no shortage of gas and oil is experienced in the country for their economic importance and therefore needs to be in control of the supply of the commodities. One of the main advantages of the move by the Argentine government to nationalize YPF is that it will give the government power to control how gas and oil is utilized in the country. Privatization takes these powers away from the government as has been the case since the Argentine government p rivatized YPF by selling it to the Spanish company, Rapsol. As Tracy (2012) states, the privatization of this YPF gave Rapsol absolute control of how gas and oil are used in Argentina. However, since Rapsol has not been able to adequately invest in equipment to boost productivity as was expected, Argentina has had to depend on energy imports from other countries, this despite its massive potential to produce its own energy. Nationalizing the company will give the argentine government control over the country’s oil and gas resources thereby enabling the government to invest in the petroleum industry and hence reducing its dependency on oil imports. Secondly, nationalization of the company will be of great advantage to the Argentine government in the sense that it will enable the Argentine government to be able to invest heavily in its oil and gas reserves so as to increase the production of oil and gas in the country. Doing this will enable the country become energy sufficient and avoid or reduce its import of energy as noted by Porter (2001). This is based on the fact Argentina is one of the countries that experiencing high-energy demand in the country. However, just as Tracy (2012) pointed out, privatisation of YPF interferes with the sector that used to supply much of Argentina’s gas and oil. As earlier indicated, Argentina spent over $9.4 billion dollars in 2011 alone because of energy shortage in the country. However, a closer look at what caused this shortage points at the inefficiency of

Women in Positions of Power in Northen Ireland

Women in Positions of Power in Northen Ireland Few women have made an impact on politics in Northern Ireland. The political culture and traditions of Northern Ireland politics are very much male-oriented and whilst women have worked hard for change behind the scenes for many years, few have taken the step into standing as candidates in elections, less still successfully winning elections. Following the Belfast Agreement, things may, slowly, be beginning to change. Mo Mowlam writes enthusiastically of the part that women played in the talks leading up to the Agreement: â€Å"one of the most remarkable aspects of the talks process was seeing women, not only in the Women’s Coalition, but also in other parties, sitting alongside their male colleagues and arguing their points. They brought a new quality of debate to the proceeding† (Galligan, Ward Wilford 1999).Nonetheless, despite the election of three women MPs in the first general election (2001) after the Belfast Agreement, women remain massively under-represented in politics in Northern Ireland. This dissertation examines the reasons for this. Chapter two looks at the traditional role of women in politics, both in Northern Ireland and in other parts of the world. Election in the UK and policies towards women of other British parties are examined. The chapter also looks at women’s movements abroad, in the likes of South Africa and Nicaragua and analyses how they have affected the political landscape in their own countries. Chapter three takes a general overview of women in Northern Ireland, commenting on how they have reacted to the traditional view and values of the Church and the State in the province. The formation of the earlier Women’s movements is detailed here – although these groups have remained on the borders on mainstream politics, the fact that women have for decades joined together on particular issues is important in the context of women’s involvement in politics. The difficulties face by women in what is a conservative, traditional and often sexist culture is also discussed. Chapter four looks at the attitudes towards women in politics held by voters in Northern Ireland and analyses whether the small number of women involved is determined by supply or demand factors. Using data from the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, this chapter argues that there is no lack of demand for women to be involved in politics amongst the electorate, rather that a number of factors around the inclination of women to enter into politics and the traditional views that still hold sway in Northern Ireland, are influential. This chapter also makes use of research undertaken in interviewing a number of women councillors in Northern Ireland about their perceptions on why many women avoid political life. Various reason for women to remain outside of representative politics are given – again he traditional culture of Northern Ireland and perceptions about a woman’s role are seen as important, Chapter five examines in details the attitudes and policies of the main political parties in Northern Ireland towards women’s issues and the role of women within the political parties themselves. Parties in Northern Ireland have traditionally focused primarily on constitutional and security issues to the detriment of women’s issues. Party leadership in parties across the political spectrum have been male dominated. This chapter looks at each of the main parties, examining firstly how party structures and leaderships accommodate female members and secondly how party policy makers address (or fail to address)women’s issues. Chapter six provides a conclusion to the dissertation. The situation in Northern Ireland where women have traditionally had difficulties establishing themselves within the formal political process has been mirrored, if perhaps not to such an extent, in other Western democracies. Evidence from UK elections indicates a historical prejudice against women candidates, whilst elsewhere in Europe and across the world, there are examples of women having to draw together on their identity as women to challenge their exclusion from politics. Analysis of general elections in Britain indicates that many fewer women than men are selected as prospective parliamentary candidates and those that are usually chosen for less hopeful seats (Leonard and Mortimore 2001, p97). However, the number of has candidates has grown reasonably steadily since 1996, with parties gradually accepting the need to take steps to increase the number of women selected. The Conservative in particular have found this difficult, largely due to the reluctance of the party leadership to interfere with the autonomy and conservative nature of many of its local associations. The Labour Party has had more success. Its party conference took the decision in1993 to try to increase its number of women MPs by introducing policies of positive discrimination. The introduction of all-women shortlist and quotas proved controversial, with the process being deemed illegal by an industrial tribunal in 1996, yet the drive by Labour to increase women’s representation paid dividends – with the party’s victory in the1997 election, the number of women in the house of Commons doubled to120 (Leonard and Mortimore 2001, p97). Elections for regional assemblies in Scotland and Wales have seen an increase in the number of women winning seats. The systems of proportional representation used in these elections has allowed Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the nationalist policies to ensure that candidates on lists were alternately male and female. As a result over38 per cent of representatives at Holyrood and 40 per cent at Cardiff Bay have been women (Leonard and Mortimore 2001, p98). Elsewhere, women have made direct interventions within their political systems to ensure that they are represented within the political process. In Spain, the Women’s Democratic Movement (WDM) began as an opposition group to the Franco regime and went onto lobby for women’s interests during the country’s democratic transition. It successfully pressured the government into ratifying the Convention for Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). In Iceland the Icelandic Women’s Alliance (IWA) emerged in the 1980s as a group powerful to win 11.1% of a national poll (Fearon 1999 appendix 1). In Sweden, the issue of women’s participation in politics directly compelled women to join together on a cross-party basis in the prelude to the 1994 elections. As a result, Sweden then elected what Faluditerms â€Å"the most female government in the world – a parliament that was41% female with a cabinet that was 50% female. (Fearon 199 9, appendix1). More relevant to the issues around women’s political involvement in Northern Ireland are the examples of South Africa and Nicaragua, where women have acted together to challenge male-dominated political times when their countries have been undergoing periods of transition. In Nicaragua, women achieved political gains during the revolutionary period but, perceiving that these gains were not being fully transferred to the new society after a transitional period, women joined together to form the Nicaraguan National Coalition of Women(NNCW) in January 1996. Under this cross-party coalition women joined together to educate and themselves and prepared themselves to go backend fight elections within their existing parties in October of that year. The aim was to promote the equitable participation of women in the country’s politics, something that was made difficult, as women within the coalition had historically been political or even military enemies. There were certainly so me similarities with Northern Ireland and the group had to strive hard to focus on unity and reaching a consensus. The NNCW was able to agree a minimum agenda emphasising women’s participation in civil and political society. In South Africa, women had become influenced by the experiences of women’s organisations around the world and the ANC Women’s League(ANCWL) sparked a debate across the country about ‘the necessity of organising as women’ (Fearon 2001 appendix1). In September 1991 thirty women’s organisations came together in the Women’s National Coalition(WNC) to discuss the drawing up of a women’s charter on equality. The charter was eventually produced after a huge participatory exercise that included an estimated 2 million women and was made up of twelve articles, one of which called for â€Å"mechanisms to enable women’s participation in civic and political life† (Fearon 2001 appendix 1) The charter was vitally important to the development of women in politics in South Africa as it challenged traditional perceptions and values about the woman’s place in political and civic life. Another success of the WNC was to lobby hard for a ruling passed in 1993 that required all negotiation delegations to reserve space for women. Prior to the formation of the NIWC, the impact that individuals or groups of women had made on Northern Ireland politics had been relatively minimal. There are however a few examples of women who, although not directly involved as representatives in the political process, made their presence known. In the 1970s, two Belfast women, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan won the Nobel Peace Prize for leading a peace movement that aimed to end the violence by way of ‘people power’. Inspired to action following the death of three children in a car chase involving IRA men, the Peace People as the movement was known called on the people of Northern Ireland to reject terrorism and quickly snowballed into a movement that could attract tens of thousands of people onto the streets in outdoor rallies. The movement eventually failed due to internal divisions within the movement, personality clashes and disputes on how to spend the Nobel Prize money. Whilst still surviving today, the Pe ace People is now a small-scale movement that failed to deliver on the hopes that it once raised. Helen McKendry was a brave Belfast woman who campaigned to raise the issue of the so-called ‘disappeared’ victims of the IRA, who had included her own mother Jean McConville, taken from the family home in1972 and never heard of again (Independent, March 2, 2005). Following the IRA ceasefire in 1994, McKendry launched a campaign to have her mother’s body returned and eventually pressured the IRA into giving details about the location of her mother’s body and those of other victims. May Blood was a woman that played a prominent role in the loyalist community for many years, prior to involvement in the NIWC. She was a determined community activist in the Shankhill Road district, concentrating on issues such as housing, welfare, jobs, training, employment and labour relations. Speaking after she had been made across-bench peer in 2000, Baroness Blood stated: â€Å"My life is about serving this community, particularly young people. For years they have just been fodder for the paramilitaries. We want the next generation to be real people with real futures.† (Independent, March 2, 2005). It is worth noting that like May Blood, the trend in Northern Ireland has generally been for women activists to concentrate on community development rather than electoral politics. The situation of women in Northern Ireland is not entirely unique. Whilst the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland affect politics at all levels, the fact remains that women in Northern Irel and share common experiences with women elsewhere in terms of the difficulties that they have making an impact in the political arena. Rightly or wrongly, representative politics around the world remains largely dominated by males, and in this respect women in Northern Ireland face the same challenges as women elsewhere. Analysis of the women’s movement in Northern Ireland or attempters tointegrate women more fully into the political process must understandsome of the cultural traditions and influences that affect women’slives. As Monica McWilliams states: â€Å"the role which both the Church andState play shapes not only the more traditional thinking behind some ofthe major institutions, such as the education system or the judiciary,but it also responsible for the extremely conservative ideology forwhich the Province has become infamous† (Hughes 1991, p91). Theattitude of the Church has certainly been that the primary role ofwomen is that of mothers and housewives and this has been somethingthat has held women back from entering into politics. Issues aroundsexuality, the dissolution of marriage or rights in the home or at workhave seen feminists face opposition from clergy, politicians and as aresult, their communities. Again McWilliams summarises the situationstating, â€Å"in the face of such traditional Catholicism and Protestantfundamentalism, it has proved extremely difficult for women to organisearound issues which are of personal and political influence to them(Hughes 1991,p81). Both the Protestant and Catholic Church have maintained a traditionalline on the domestic role of women. They have exhorted mothers to takeresponsibility for their children by looking after them at home andhave largely opposed political initiatives such as the provision of daycare for children as it poses a challenge to the traditional ideologywhich supports the segregated division of labour in the home. The viewof the Church from half a century ago has remained prevalent in modernday Northern Ireland. Bishop McGean had stated in 1945 that â€Å"the properplace for the baby is in the home and the proper guardian is themother. Nature decided that and God approved of that decision ofnature† (Hughes 1991, p89). Women’s groups in Northern Ireland have made gradual progress ininstigating political and social change. They have begun to createstructures that enable individual women to have some measure of controlover their lives. One example is found in the work of an umbrellaorganisation known as ‘The Women’s Information Day’, along withprojects such as Women’s Aid, the Women’s Education Project and theNorthern Ireland Women’s Rights Movement. All of these groups, formedprior to the establishment of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition,were organised in a non-sectarian way, holding meetings in bothloyalist and nationalist areas and raising controversial issues thatwere sensitive to one another’s beliefs. In 1985, whilst campaigning onchanges to the benefit system, a group of Catholic and Protestant womentravelled to London to lobby their MPs to oppose a propose SocialSecurity Bill and were appalled to find that their own political representatives were more interested in opposing the Anglo-Irishagreement (which had been launched on the same day) and refused to meetthem on the grounds that they were too busy. McWilliams writes thatâ€Å"they returned home to Belfast on the same night more convinced thanever that their political representatives were much less interested inmatters of social and economic concerns† (Hughes 1991, p92). One of the most glaring features of life for women in Northern Irelandhas been the hardship of poverty with all its social, financial andpsychological repercussions. Women in Northern Ireland have come at thetop of research tables listing infant mortality rates, unemployment ordependency on social security (Hughes 1991, p92). It is women who haveexperienced poverty as prisoner’s wives, as widows, as single parents,divorced, separated or unmarried, as managers of unemployed families,as single and elderly women living alone, or as low paid wage earners.As a result, women’s groups such as the Northern Ireland Women’s RightsMovement began to offer advice and information to women, producingleaflet to help women in the face of overpowering bureaucracy.McWilliams writes of the pressures upon women in Northern Irelandstating â€Å"existing from day to day in the North can often become anintolerable strain for women. Not only must they provide a reasonablestandard of liv ing for their kids, but they have the additional anxietyof worrying about husbands and children when they are out of the home.The years of ‘the troubles’ have added to their pressures and manyrespond y using tranquillisers or smoking excessively† (Hughes 1991,p93). Women in Northern Ireland have played a leading role in anti-povertycampaigns, a significant political role which tends to be overlooked bymedia, church leaders and politicians. Such groups have remainednon-hierarchical and have refused to let single individuals becomesolely identified with their campaigns. The non-hierarchical structurehas provided the supportive type of environment that women require andeach group has become knowledgeable about the particular issue underscrutiny. Often the women have maintained links after individualcampaigns have been dissolved. Northern Ireland feminists have played apart in various campaigns and community projects over the last fewdecades. Many cut their political teeth in the civil rights movementsof the 1960s and 1970s and had their first dealings with other feministmovements. Female students at Queens University held a public meetingin1975 which formed an action group ‘with the aim of bringing the roleof women in Northern Ireland into l ine with that of their sisters inBritain’ (Hughes 1991, p93) and went on to form the Northern IrelandWomen’s Rights Movement which successfully campaigned to bring the SexDiscrimination Act to Northern Ireland. There are of course issues that divide women’s groups in NorthernIreland. Many are related to the national question, which as in allareas of politics in the province, remain difficult to overcome.Whether groups are based on single issues such as Women’s Aid or theRape and Incest Line, or more generic groups such as the Derry, Belfastor Falls Road Women’s Centres, the political affiliations of membersmay be surreptitiously agued in order to clarify the line that theymight take on the national question. The sheer weight of issues aroundthe constitution and security in Northern Ireland make it near onimpossible for the issue to be ignored. Disputes have occurred between,for example, the Relative’s Action Committee and Women AgainstImperialism (which largely supports Sinn Fein) and other women’s groupssuch as the Belfast Women’s Collective and the Northern Ireland Women’sRights Movement. The Belfast Women’s Collective argued that it wasvital to work in as wide a range as possible, including areas which maynot initially meet with a big response because they challengetraditional political and religious beliefs (Hughes 1991, p95). TheRelative’s Action Committee, on the other hand, organising around thewithdrawal of political statues for the H Block prisoners took the viewthat the campaign about prisons should be central. Regardless of divisions within women’s movements in Northern Ireland,the fact remains that the there is a level of oppression caused by theunique nature of politics in the province. Many women arepsychologically scarred by the deaths of or injury to loved ones. Manyothers are emotionally burnt out by the years of armed troops presenton the streets. Women on both sides of the sectarian divide have seenthe destruction of family life when family members are arrested underthe Prevention of Terrorism Act and possibly held for long periodswithout trial. Women visiting husbands and son in prison have beensubjected to degrading and humiliating strip searches. They live infear for the lives of their children and have had the constant worrythat they will be caught in crossfire, caught up in a riot or killed byan explosion. On top of all of these factors, women have also had totackle continuing economic exploitation and sexual oppression. Women in Northern Ireland have had to endure an ingrained culture ofconservative sexism that emanates both from the UK and the Republic ofIreland. They have had to fight for equality of opportunity in theworkplace – interestingly, the Equal Opportunities Commission, which isknown to play a more active role in women’s lives than its GBcounterpart, was almost abolished in Northern Ireland (Hughes 1991,p96). An influential factor in the under representation of women in NorthernIreland politics has been the traditional assumption of gender rolesand values held by many within the province. These powerful politicaland cultural restraints support the theory that the lack of women inpolitics is due to supply rather than demand factors – the electoratehas little problem with female candidates, it is getting women intoposition as candidates for public office that is largely the problem. There is general support amongst the Northern Ireland public for womento be involved in politics and indeed this support has grown steadilythroughout the 1990s and the development of the Belfast Agreement. Oneof the key questions included in the 2002 Northern Ireland Life andTimes Survey was did respondents think that the greater number of womenin politics since the formation of the Northern Ireland Assembly makethings better or worse in Northern Ireland politics? Whilst 44 per centof respondents remained neutral on the question, 41 per cent thought ithad made things better, with only 14 per cent thinking it had madethings worse (NI Life and Times Survey 2002). Attitudes towards therole of women in politics shifted markedly from the survey completed adecade earlier. In 1991, only one fifth of men felt that at least onehalf of senior government posts should be held by women. By 2002 thisfigure had doubled to 40 per cent, with support from women rising from38 per cent to 50 per cent (L ife and Times Survey 2002). Research carried out in 1993 sought to use the experience of womencouncillors within Northern Ireland to attempt to gauge exactly why sofew women were involved in politics at the time. In 1989, only 60 ofthe 566 district councillors were women, equating to a mere 10.6 percent (Wilford et al 1993, p341). Following changes after direct rulewas introduced in 1972, many functions of local government had beenreplaced by intermediate bodies appointed by the Secretary of State forNorthern Ireland. This situation reduced the tiers of local governmentwith Wilford et al commenting â€Å"Thus, aspiring politicians enjoy anextremely limited opportunity to run for elected office† (Wilford et al1993, p343). In addition, council meetings throughout the 1980s wouldoften be used by political parties to argue out their constitutionaldifferences rather than focussing on the relevant issues of localpolitics – the symbolic value of politics in Northern Ireland helps toexplain the paucity of women. Interviews with women councillorsrevealed six main reasons that they believed explained the small numberof women in Northern Ireland politics – psychological, familial,organisational, functional, patriarchal and systematic. All have somerelevance. Psychological reasons included a simple lack of self-esteem felt bywomen. The vast majority of women councillors had been prompted orasked to stand for election by other members rather than have theconfidence to stand on their own initiative. It seems exceptional forwomen to deem themselves eligible for candidature, yet this is setagainst a backdrop where with relatively few people willing to standfor election in local politics and being successful would be seeminglyunproblematic. One SDLP councillor commented on the issue: â€Å"it neveroccurred to me to stand†¦we (women) had the traditional view that wewere the back up for men: making the tea and the like† (Wilford et al1993 p344). Familial reasons were most cited reason for non-participation of womenin politics and reaffirm the ideas of traditional cultural valuescontributing to the role of women in Northern Ireland. There is a cleardifferential in the assumed responsibility of men and women for childrearing in Northern Ireland and this impacts strongly on theopportunity for women to enter into public life. At the very least, astrong and supportive partner is needed by women looking to go intopolitics, yet in addition to this it would appear that many women inNorthern Ireland do not simply put family responsibilities firstbecause that is their assumed role – many believe that they actuallyshould put their family first and postpone any political aspirationsuntil their children have reached post-school age. It should also benoted that childcare facilities in Northern Ireland were poor duringthe 1980s and 1990s, a further complication for women that wanted toenter into politics. Organisational reasons for women councillors are similar reasonscommonly cited by women MPs in the UK Parliament – the unsocial hoursthat politician are required to work. Councillors in Northern Irelandfound that childcare made it difficult for them to attend councilbusiness scheduled during the day. At the time of the survey, Sinn Feinwas the only political party in Northern Ireland that paid thechildcare expenses of its councillors (wilford et al 1993, p344). Patriarchal reasons for the limited involvement of women in localpolitics in Northern Ireland are based around the attitude of malecouncillors towards their female counterparts. One councillorinterviewed stated: You’re a thorn as a female councillor. Men don’twant you there; they’d prefer it to be all male. They want to be thedominant ones in the council; it’s true everywhere† (Wilford et alp344). Mnay of the women councillors interviewed felt that they werenot taken seriously because of their sex and this was a hugedisincentive to continuing to take an active role in politics. Manyreferred to the cultural belief ingrained in Northern Ireland about awoman’s place and that the arena of politics was very much a mansworld. There is evidence that women were ‘ghettoised’ into certaincommittees that were less important and more focussed on what weredeemed to be women’s issues – home safety committees serve as anexample. Ag ain, the partisanship of politics in Northern Ireland has tobe seen as a factor here – some of the issues likely to be raised bywomen in particular, like pre-school places, education and the NHS,have a tendency to take a back seat to constitutional and securityissues. Finally, under the label of patriarchal concerns were genuineconcerns of sexual harassment within the arena of council politics.Some female councillors reported patronising language as well as outand out harassment. Systematic and functional reasons for non-participation are also given.The lack of power held by local government in Northern Ireland prior tothe Belfast Agreement has been a disincentive – women are deterred fromsacrificing family life simply due to the fact that there is relativelylittle to do in local politics and little opportunity to instigateeffective change. For the more ambitious women, local government is notseen as a step on the way to better things and many women see the listsof men waiting to become MPs and simply assume that they have littlechance of ever doing so. A final systematic reason for women stayingout of politics is the actual physical risk involved. It is not unheardof for Northern Ireland councillors to be targeted or even murdered byparamilitaries. Much of the research carried out with female councillors supports thetheory that it is indeed supply rather than demand that limits thenumber of women involved in politics in Northern Ireland. With onlythree women MPs being elected between 1972 and 1990 (Wilford et al1993, p345) there is clearly a problem in attracting candidates. In looking at the demand for women in politics, whilst there isevidence that the public has a growing desire to see women involved inpolitics, it is also important to examine the reasons that people inNorthern Ireland think that there are relatively few women involved.The 2002 Life and Times Survey asked for explanations as to why thereare so few women in politics: What is noticeable from this research is that the main factors appearto be based on a conscious choice made by women rather thandiscrimination against them. Women not putting themselves forward ascandidates and putting their families before their political aspirationappear to be more decisive factors than a view that women do not havethe interest in or capability to succeed in politics. Certainly thisattitude has hardened during he 1990s. Whilst in the 1991 survey womensaw the reason for a lack of women as a mixture of barriers andinclination, by 2002 the most important reasons are clearly women’s owninclinations and choices. Another important perception is that aroundwhether or not people assume that women candidates lose votes – in boththe 1991 and 2002 surveys, only around one third of respondents thoughtthat this was the case. One of the obvious solutions to the fact that there are proportionatelyfew women involved inpolitics in Northern Ireland would be theintroduction of positive discrimination policies by the major parties.Howver, whilst there appears to be a view that women involve themselvesin the political process and be encouraged to do so, there is littleevidence that parties should actually be required to blance theircandidate lists with similar numbers of men and women. When questionedas to whether political parties should be required to put forward aproportion of women candidates, only 19 per cent of respondents agreed– 17 per cent of men and 21 per cent of women (Life and Times Survey2002). The more common view was that political parties should beencouraged to put forward a proportion of women candidates – 55 percent agreed with this (52 per cent of men and 57 per cent of women).The survey also asked whether the parties should put more resourcestowards the campaign of women candid ates than men candidates: this metwith a slightly more positive response with 33 per cent of men and 45per cent of women agreeing that more resources should be assigned towomen candidates. A further indicator that there is sufficient demandfor women politicians came from the questions asking respondents tochoose four attributes they would most like to see in Northern Irelandpoliticians and the attributes that they would then use to describeboth male and female politicians. Clearly, the Northern Ireland see women candidates as most likely tohave the attributes that they see as desirable. Whilst male politiciansare seen largely as aggressive, ruthless and crafty, female politiciansare seen as more likely to be honest, approachable and willing tocompromise. Attitudes in Northern Ireland towards women politician are generallyfavourable. These attitudes have noticeably become more positive since1991 and voters are now looking to parties to present them with morewomen candidates both in the Northern Ireland Assembly and atWestminster. Whilst barriers to women entering politics remain, theyappear to have been diluted over the last 10-15 years and whilst thereis still some discrimination against women in politics this haslessened. Perhaps most importantly of all in terms of attitudes towardswomen in politics, there appears to be a consensus that the qualitiesthat women bring to political life are closer to the qualitiesidentified in an ‘ideal’ candidate or representative than are of thoseof men in politics. Other research on specific questions about the role of women inpolitics gives a good insight into the attitudes of the NorthernIreland electorate. Surveys On line asked respondents what proportionof senior government posts should be held by women. Male Female % % A majority 2 3 About half 18 35 At least some 47 38 Nodefinite proportion 31 21 None 2 2 This would suggest that theelectorate is generally happy to see women holding some of the mostimportant posts in government. Again, this would suggest that there isno problem in terms of demand for women to be involved in politics inNorthern Ireland. Opinions of the general involvement of women onpolitics give a similar picture. Asked about women being elected to anational assembly, respondents felt that there should be: Again the broad consensus appears to be in favour of women beinginvolved in politics. Research indicates a slight imbalance in thatwomen appear to be more strongly in favour of a greater political role,but men also are broadly in favour of women’s involvement The attitudes towards