Productive and Counterproductive Behaviors Paper

Productive and Counterproductive Behaviors in the Workplace Employees within an organization can either contribute positively or negatively towards their employing organization’s overall success and effectiveness. The organizations that ream the most productive behaviors from their employees typically incorporate motivational and leadership activities that encourage these behaviors (Jex & Britt, 2008). This paper will define counterproductive and productive behaviors and describe the impact those behaviors have on job performance and the overall performance of an organization.Counterproductive Behaviors Logic says that employees should want to do well in their jobs. But despite this logic, some employees do not. For various reasons employees will sometimes perform counterproductively towards their employer’s overall goals. Examples of these types of behaviors are ineffective job performance, frequent absence from work, unsafe behavior, turnover, theft, violence, substan ce abuse, and sexual harassment (Jex & Britt, 2008). These types of behaviors can result in high costs for organizations.Detecting Counterproductive Behavior The best way employers can detect counterproductive behavior among employees is to perform routine performance appraisals. There are several methods for performing appraisals, including electronic, production data, and subjective appraisals. Each of these systems has pros and cons to it, and are only marginally effective (Jex & Britt, 2008). The truly best way to detect counterproductive behavior is to interact with employees and monitor their job satisfaction. What Causes Counterproductive Behavior?An employee who does not perform well in his or her job may do so for reasons like lack of ability, interruptions from other employees, or poor task design (Jex & Britt, 2008). As well, poor job performance may result from elements in the organizational climate that provoke poor attitude, or, much less often, because of deep psychia tric problems (Jex & Britt, 2008). Once an employer detects a counterproductive behavior among his or her workforce he or she must try to pinpoint the cause of the behavior. One way of doing this is through the attribution process, in which the mployee’s supervisor would evaluate an employee’s current performance against his or her past performance, his or her performance on specific tasks versus his or her overall performance, and his or her performance compared to other employees. By doing this the supervisor can try to determine the cause of the ineffective behavior and whether it is being caused by internal (lack of ability or motivation, poor attitude, or psychiatric issues) or external (coworkers, poor task design, or lack of tools) factors (Jex & Britt, 2008). Responding to Counterproductive BehaviorOnce a behavior is detected and the cause of the behavior is analyzed, employers must decide how to respond to the behavior. The best first response is to have the e mployee’s manger discuss the counterproductive behavior with the employee in question (Jex & Britt, 2008) and determine whether the behavior can be corrected in order for the employee to retain his or her position. Once the discussion takes place the manager and employee can decide whether further training or coaching would encourage improved behavior or whether an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) would be beneficial (Jex & Britt, 2008).Of course, organizations would be best off to prevent counterproductive behaviors from occurring at all. This can be done by going to the effort and expense of hiring the right employees, possibly by utilizing the tools of selection programs to analyze potential employees skills and personalities. As well, employers should nurture their employees’ skills and abilities to encourage productive job performance. Finally, they should also offer employees frequent feedback and measurement of their performance to help keep them on track with respect to organizational expectations (Jex & Britt, 2008).Productive Behaviors Despite the fact that some employees do not contribute positively to the organizations they work for, most employees try to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities and even go above and beyond their required duties at times. Examples of productive behaviors include positive job performance, organizational citizenship, creativity, and innovation (Jex & Britt, 2008). Assessing Productive Behaviors Organizational psychologists use various models to assess job performance.These models evaluate in-role (technical aspects of a given job) and extra-role (skills that transcend the specific content of a job such as communication skills and being a team player) performance by employees (Jex & Britt, 2008). These assessments allow managers to recognize productive employees and encourage and motivate them to continue in their efforts. Predictors of Productive Behaviors There are several methods that organi zations can use when recruiting employees to predict whether candidates will contribute positively to their organization.These include general cognitive ability, level of job experience, and the personality trait of conscientiousness (Jex & Britt, 2008). By evaluating these predictors, organizations can save themselves time and money by hiring the right people who will contribute to organizational goals without excess coaching, training, or need for reprimand. The Affects of Counterproductive and Productive Behaviors Clearly an organization will be affected by the employees that support it. Employees that contribute positively will help the organization move towards its goals, and, if innovation and creativity are present, possibly even surpass their goals.On the other hand, employees who work counterproductively within an organization, will cost management time and may require additional effort to be spent on reputation management, recruitment, and training (Jex & Britt, 2008). Org anizations would be best served to recruit employees with the most potential to work productively by analyzing their job experience, personality, and cognitive ability before offering an individual a job.References Jex, S. M. , & Britt, T. W. (2008). . Organizational Psychology. A Scientist-Practitioner Approach, Second Edition. Retrieved from https://ecampus. phoenix. edu/classroom/ic/classroom. aspx.

Production Possibilities

Production PossibilitiesProduction possibilities frontier (PPF) or more commonly known as transformation curve is a graph that demonstrates the difference between two goods that an economy with scarce resources could produce. There are two primary determinants that may greatly affect the orientation of the PPF of a nation. These are production functions and factor endowments. There is relatively a very big possibility for the PPF of a nation to shift inward. Instances such as the occurrence of war and technological disturbances that may cause technological growth and development to cease are two of the possible causes of a PPF inward shift. The Principle of Diminishing Marginal Returns can also affect the shift of the PPF of a nation. Other factors such as currency devaluation or technological and political innovation can also shift a nation's PPF inward.Figure 1 shows the inward shift of the PPF curve of a nation that has undergone war. Due to the war, the resources of the nation, w hich are primarily used to produce the food and medicine have been devastated. This devastation of the resources leads to decrease in the rate of technological innovations. Moreover, the war also gave rise to the currency devaluation of the nation. By these, it can be concluded that these instances can increase the possibility of the nation's PPF to shift inward.Given a fixed proportion of resources added with another unit of resource needed by a nation for the production of two goods and the machines needed by the nation in the production, the curve of the production possibility frontier of a nation would shift inward to  the left in time – this is due to the law of diminishing marginal returns. The law states that even though other units of resources are added to the nation's tool for production, the marginal output of the nation would decrement until it reaches negative. And when it reaches the negative value, the PPF curve of that nation would shift inward. Currency dev aluation also affects the inward shift of a nation's PPF curve when some of the nation's resources are being purchased from other nations. The decrease in the value of the nation's currency would affect the amount and the value of the resources purchased. Decline in the rate of innovations could also aid in the inward shift of the PPF curve of the nation since technological innovations may help develop and improve the production process.References:Devadoss, S., Song, W. (2003). Factor Market Oligopsony and the Production   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Possibility Frontier Review of International Economics, 11, 729-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   744.RetrievedNovember 5, 2007 from SSRN database.Goodwin, N. R. (2007, October 9). Production possibility frontier. Retrieved November 5,   Ã‚   2007 from http://www.eoearth.org/article/Production_possibility_frontier.Parasuraman, N. S. (2002, May 1). Production-Possibility Frontier (PPF) Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   November 5, 2007, from http://www.geocities.com/parasu41/PPF/.Suranovic, S. M. (2007). International Trade Theory and Policy [Electronic Version]. Retrieved November 5, 2007, from http://internationalecon.com/Trade/Tch60/T60-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   7.php.

Many of the characters in ‘Of Mice and Men’ are lonely Essay

Describe the reasons for their loneliness and explore the different ways they seek comfort. Many of the characters in the novel ‘of Mice and Men’ are lonely because they grew up in an unurturing and unfriendly environment. The reason for this type of negative and depressing attitude is due to the ‘Great Wall Street Crash’. This tormenting economic crash took place at the same time when the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ is set, in the year 1929. Families fell apart as the men were forced to leave behind their roots, and seek employment on ranches in order to bring back stability in their lives again. Relationships were never formed on these ranches as no one had any time nor interest in trying to communicate and bond with the other ranch hands or other residents. The only object the ranchers were attracted to was making money and moving on, therefore there was no stability. Tragically, vast amounts of people committed suicide, as they could not bear to live their lives recounting all their losses. Coincidentally the meaning of the town Soledad is ‘our lady of loneliness’. Loneliness is a spreading disease, which has the power to make the most cheerful people dull and gloomy as they begin to feel isolated. There is no direct cure for loneliness; therefore no one knows how to deal with it. This is the stage where the effected people begin to split into two distinctive groups depending on each individual’s character; the two groups are known as introverts and extroverts. The people that are catogrised in the introvert group suffer the most as they keep all their emotions locked up inside, leading in them taking their anger out on themselves. Whereas the extrovert group has a completely different way of approaching loneliness, they begin to take their anger out on other people in such ways as being aggressive and flirtatious to overcome their feelings. There is a vast comparison between the two groups; if you look at it between characters, which are extroverts and introverts, at one extreme you have Crooks a Negro who is partially crippled, and then you have Curley, a cruel, insensitive extrovert. All humans need to be comforted at the time of need as this is the human desire, therefore, it is not surprising that the characters in this novel also require comfort. Some characters similar to Crooks need friendship-based relationships so that they can communicate with other people. Other characters similar to George and Lennie have their future dream to look forward to and work towards that is their target. The definition of a dream is: ‘Dream n. Train of thoughts, images, or fancies passing through mind during sleep; Conscious indulgence of fancy, reverie, thing of dream-like beauty, charm, goodness, etc.’ (Taken from the Readers Digest Great Encyclopedic Dictionary, Third Edition) A dream is something you indulge in, to escape momentarily from life. This seems to be the context that John Steinbeck intended his characters in Of Mice and Men to dream in. They are all craving for something – in the case of George and Lennie, that something is land. All the dreams in this novel are similar to the Great American Dream, which is that you can achieve anything if you have the mind and desire to do it. However, most of the characters who have dreams know that their dreams may never become reality, but never the less it still provides comfort for them. Crooks is partially crippled, ‘his body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine’, yet self-dependant Negro, he too is very lonely. Crooks’s personality is quite interesting, as he is very defensive and protective of himself: ‘He kept his distance and demanded that others kept theirs.’ Crooks is very cautious about those who approach him, this is as he does not want to be in any more pain than he already is; he is frightened that someone will not only hurt him physically but harm him mentally as well. He is fully aware of his rights, he knows the limitations of what he is allowed to do and what he has not got the right to do. Crooks is lonely as he has not got anyone to talk to due to the colour of his skin, he does not even know how to act around other guys. All he spends his time doing is reading the ‘battered magazines and dirty books’ which were scattered all around his bunk: â€Å"Books ain’t no good, a guy needs somebody – to be near him†¦A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Later on in the chapter we realise that all Crooks is longing for is companionship, however, it is evident to see that Crooks is a bad communicator: â€Å"You got no right to come in my room. This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.† Crooks reacts angrily, his anger is and pride is a defense against the harsh treatment he has been subjected to and experienced for most of his years in life. He has been held back without any real conversation for an eminent amount of time, therefore leading to his language being unwelcoming as it is aggressive and defensive. Loneliness has had a negative effect on Crooks as it has made him verbally aggressive and very protective of what is his and his right. In chapter 4, John Steinbeck does a role reverse, instead of a white man tormenting a Negro, a Negro torments a white man, in this case Lennie. Crooks took a lot of pleasure in torturing Lennie the night George went into town, he had pleasure form teasing Lennie by suggesting that George would not bother to return as he better off without the presence of Lennie: â€Å"I said s’pose George went into town tonight and you never heard of him no more†¦Just s’pose that.† Crooks enjoys having the power over Lennie, he uses persuasive and manipulative language to prove his point, for once in all the time on the ranch he has an advantage over a white man. This inspires him, Crooks is feeling good at this point; he feels self-assured as though he can take on anything: â€Å"†¦Now you jus’ get on out, an’ get out quick. If you don’t, I’m gonna ast the boss not to ever let you come in the barn no more.† Crooks builds up his confidence to such an extent that he forgets his status on the social hierarchy. However, Curley’s wife coldly reminds Crooks of his unsuccessful position as a black man; a ‘nigger’: â€Å"Well, you keep your place here nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easily it ain’t even funny.† This racist statement reminds Crooks of his old self, leading to him remembering that he has ‘reduced himself to nothing’, he ‘pressed his body against the wall’, in shame. Crooks achieves comfort from remembering his childhood; Crooks came from a background full of love and care for each other, he knows what the true value of companionship is: â€Å"I remember when I was a little kid on my old man’s chicken ranch. Had two brothers. They were always near me, always there.† Crooks past childhood is full of affection and love in contrast to Crooks now, an isolated and lonely man who is referred to as a ‘nigger’. Crooks is in vast emotional pain as he knows what he is missing out on, however, some people may argue that he is actually quite advantaged as at least he has old memories to refer back to. Crooks also gets comfort from asking to be allowed to join the dream, which George, Lennie and Crooks hold: â€Å"If you would want a hand to work for nothing- just his keep, why I’d come and lend a hand.† Crooks wants things to go back to as he was a child, he wants to revisit the happy days of his life that are now just a vague memory to him. Crooks knows that the only way he can do this is by joining the dream that George, Lennie and Crooks share. However, Crooks soon finds out when George rejects him from sharing the dream that he is destined to be an old isolated Negro. George Milton is one of the main characters in the novel, ‘Of Mice and Men’, he is quiet, modest and clearly a good worker. George is considered as one of the fortunate characters in this particular novel, this is as he atleast had a chance to experience the true value of companionship and unconditional value with his best friend Lennie Small. His companionship with Lennie ‘staves of loneliness’, as well as giving George a role in life; a clear task to look after Lennie. It is evident to see that at the beginning of the novel George feels superior with this role as it gives him a sense of power over Lennie: â€Å" â€Å" George has learnt vastly from his past experiences with Lennie; this allows George to have a two-way relationship with Lennie, one that of a best friend, and another that of a parent. George feels a sense of duty and responsibility towards Lennie as a parent: â€Å"Don’t really seem to be running, though. You never oughta drink water when it ain’t running, Lennie.† However, as the novel progresses George begins to realise what companionship is, ‘we kinda look after each other’, now this role simply makes George feel different from the rest of the ranch hands as it entitles him to a status. Nevertheless, George still recognises that he is still lonely, despite having a companion, it may be more discrete than others may, but he is still lonely. George and Lennie do not interact on an intellectual level; Slim describes George as a ‘smart little guy’, where as Lennie is described by George as ‘dumb as hell’; therefore the comparison on their intellect is eminent. At times George thinks he is talking to himself, as Lennie never really responds to his questions. Therefore Lennie can never really understand George emotionally or physically. George seeks comfort by the companionship with Lennie, they both look out for each other: â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world’†¦ Lennie broke in. ‘But not us! Because†¦because I got you to look after me, And you got me to look after you, and that’s why.† George relies on his companionship with Lennie to get through the unurturing and unfriendly environment of Soledad: â€Å"†¦it’s a lot nicer to go around with a guy you know’ George values and treasures his special relationship with Lennie, he loves him so much that he can even sacrifice him for Lennie’s own benefit. George also seeks comfort by his simple dream, he wants him and Lennie to have land of their own, and they want to be their own managers and look after each other until they grow old: â€Å"Some day-we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have a little house and a couple of acres†¦when it rains in the winter, we’ll just say the hell with goin’ to work, and we’ll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain comin’ down on the roof†¦Ã¢â‚¬  George’s dream, although extremely similar to Lennie’s, is probably more detailed and complicated. Lennie due to his child-like mentality only thinks as far as ‘tendin’ the rabbits’, whereas George assesses the situation by asking himself if they have got enough money, or when will they be able to achieve the dream, before accepting the dream to become reality. George had made it perfectly clear that the dream that he and Lennie share will only become successful if they both achieve it: â€Å"†¦I knowed we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.† George realised that he just got carried away, he knew from the start that the dream was unattainable; all dreams are unattainable in Soledad, as it is such a disturbing environment. Curley’s wife is possibly the loneliest of all characters in the novel, ‘Of Mice and Men’, throughout the beginning of the novel John Steinbeck gives the readers the impression that Curley’s wife is a ‘tart’: ‘She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the doorframe so that her body was thrown forward’ She is portrayed as tarty through her provocative appearance and flirtatious actions. John Steinbeck deliberately does not give her a name, she is only known as Curley’s wife; therefore a possession of Curley. Curley’s wife has been forced to recognise that her sexuality is the only weapon, the only thing that will ever get her noticed: ‘She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up’ This is mainly the reason for why she is dressed in a sexually provocative manner throughout the novel. Curley’s wife’s complaints of loneliness are likely to be sincere, yet she presents them in a manipulative manner that reduces any sympathy for the character. Her ‘craving for contact is immense’, she is longing for someone to have a conversation with her: â€Å"Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awfully lonely.† However, it seems that everyone is ‘incapable’ of having a faithful conversation with her without it including any ‘sexual content’. John Steinbeck describes Curley’s wife, as so desperate that to experience the true value of a relationship that she would do anything to obtain it: ‘If anyone- a man or a woman- ever gave her a break- treated her like a person- she would be a slave to that person.’ Curley’s wife is prepared to carry out any instructions, or meet any demands for anyone that would for once be able to trust her and become her friend, she would do it to such an extent that she would even follow them as if she was enslaved to them. Curley’s wife has a different type of dream from George and Lennie’s; instead of having something to call her own, she wants fame, fortune and respect: â€Å"Coulda been in the movies, an’ had clothes- all of them nice clothes like they wear. An’ I coulda sat in them big hotels, an’ had pitchers took of me†¦Because this guy says I was a natural.† Curley’s wife’s dream allows her to escape from her tormenting controlled life and seek comfort from what in her point of view could have happened. Curley’s wife is vulnerable, and innocent, she shows her humanity by consoling in Lennie. However, Curley’s wife seems to have a deep regret that she did not take up either of the men on their offers: â€Å"If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet.† Curley’s wife’s vulnerability shows the most at this point, she is so desperate to get away from her usual lifestyle that she takes the words of a complete stranger to be equivalent of that of a gospel: â€Å"He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural.† Curley’s wife’s dream was shattered when the letter that she was waiting for never came, coldly she blamed her mother, accusing her of ‘stealing the letter’. It is understandable that there never was going to be a letter, the men were just taking advantage of the poor innocent girl. Curley’s wife married Curley on impulse; her hasty marriage to Curley proves to be a failed attempt to escape from her own spiral of loneliness, however, it is now that she has come to realise that what she did was immoral; she feels more trapped now then she ever did: â€Å"I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.† Curley’s failure to satisfy his wife both emotionally and physically is another reason why Curley’s wife is so lonely and has so much hatred built up towards him. When Lennie kills Curley’s wife in Chapter 5, John Steinbeck offers the readers a disturbing image. He describes her with more life and vitality as a corpse than he did as a living character, her ‘rouged cheeks’ and ‘reddened lips’ now after her death give her the appearance of life. In death the ‘meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention’ have gone from her face. This represents John Steinbeck’s first concrete praise for Curley’s wife; he writes for the first time that she appears ‘pretty’ and ‘simple’, a more commendable character as a corpse than as a living human being, as she is not her manipulative self. Therefore, concluding that in a way, some may say that Curley’s wife has achieved her dream as she won her innocence back. Loneliness is a major theme in the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’. It is only the two characters George and Lennie who stave of it by their relationship. However, the disadvantaged characters are the ones who suffer the most, it embitters Candy and Crooks, moreover, it kills Curley’s wife. John Steinbeck describes loneliness as part of a human condition in this particular novel, it is something we as humans are born with leading it to be either something we fight or succumb to all our lives: â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world’†¦ Lennie broke in. ‘But not us! Because†¦because I got you to look after me, And you got me to look after you, and that’s why.† However, throughout the novel John Steinbeck does not offer any answers to get rid of loneliness, it only shows how different characters deal with this problem differently.

Personal statement for law school Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Statement of Intent for a Councel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Statement of Intent for a Councel - Essay Example I am sure with these qualities that I possess I will be able to cope up with the external pressures and will be able to come out with flying colors. I consider the global exposure that I have got as one of the big assets of mine. The important aspect of such an asset is that, it allows me to identify the concepts and ideas that could go well in accordance with each country in which they are implemented. As a result, I am confident enough to say that I have the ability to determine the success and impact of an idea in a particular region. My experiences with several regions come from the fact that I have been part of several governmental projects spanning across all parts of the world. With my team, we have expanded over 75 countries implementing developmental projects in different fields varying from judicial transparency, telemedicine to educational centers. I have a strong knowledge about partnering with government through these projects and the results of all those projects have a lways exceeded the expectations of the clients, providing them with the comfort of completing a profitable business. My team consists of 125 members and they are spread out, working across several countries. An important aspect of my team is that they are culturally diverse and hence there practices and customs differ accordingly. As the lead of the team, I have successfully overcome this challenge and instilled within each one of them a sense of unity and sameness. I have made sure to keep the team priorities first before attending to any individual favors. I am very proud that I have built a work environment that fosters growth and understands the differences between country specific challenges and works according to the specific cultural values. My knowledge about the diversities of the cultures, business and government transition processes in different regions and countries will assist me in the discussions and work groups that analyze global issues. My current position is perfo rmance driven. Hence, I have always worked as an indubitable worker, whose primary purpose has always been to give results that exceed expectations. I am sure I would continue with the same intent in this program too. My ability to take complex data and make it measurable and understandable is one of my greatest strengths. My focus is to ensure all outcomes are measurable in such a way that it allows me to analyze current and historical information in a rigorous manner. My working involves dissecting the process on which the data was produced to ensure that the information is not an anomaly but can be used by the team to understand or theorize a highly successful and a measurable outcome. Another aspect of my abilities that I would like to put forth here is my leadership skills. Obviously, one could understand that managing a 125 member team is no small thing. The fact that I have successfully managed such a team speaks in itself for my leadership skills. I am sure that such skills, exercised within this group, will be benefitting mutually. I have sharp inquisitive skills that allow me to identify, strategize and execute on an objective or problem. My daily involvement with the group will ensure a seamless communication between all group members, mentoring and developing skills and hence, gives an opportunity for an

LIberals and Conservatives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Hobbes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hobbes - Essay Example Hobbes’ perspective on human nature as self-interested cooperation is an enduring theory of philosophical anthropology (Wildawski, Chai & Swedlow 161). Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the work of Thomas Hobbes from a social, political and economic perspective in western civilization. The Paradox of Hobbes Even in his own time, Hobbes was considered to have paradoxical views. Though he was perceived as a fierce controversialist and a brusque dogmatist, his main anger was directed against dogmatism of any kind. Similarly, although he was hostile to the intellectual authority of the churches as in the universities, he wanted his own philosophical works to be the authoritative texts within the universities. Though he praised toleration, he advocated an absolute sovereign with total power over intellectual matters. In place of scepticism, Hobbes promoted science although in an extremely sparse form. He cleared away all that he considered doubtful and w as left with a â€Å"a bare a priori materialism, according to which the universe must consist of material objects causally interacting with one another† (Tuck 129), but the real nature of these objects and their interactions is not known. In the same way, in ethics, Thomas Hobbes eliminated all the complicated ethical theories of his orthodox predecessors whether Aristotelians or humanists, and was left with only the bare principle that people are morally entitled to preserve themselves. Hobbes’ Theory of Human Nature as Self-Interested Cooperation Hobbes had few to receive guidance from on the best way to live, other than sceptics such as Montaigne who had always acknowledged the practical necessity of self-preservation. In alignment with the sceptics, Hobbes also concluded that the laws of one’s country are constitutive of one’s general morality, and that whatever is necessary for one’s preservation has to be morally acceptable. He believed in t aking this stance to radical lengths, and considered the sovereign to be responsible even for defining who a human being is, as in stating that â€Å"upon the occasion of some strange and deformed birth, it shall not be decided by Aristotle, or the philosophers, whether the same be a man or no, but by the laws† (Tuck 129). Thomas Hobbes’ Theory of International Relations Hobbes is a standard or mandatory figure in international relations theory, and also forms the core of one of the major traditions. Along with Machiavelli and sometimes with Thucydides, Hobbes stands as an archetypal proponent of ‘Realism’. Usually, scholars proficient in the study of Hobbes’ political philosophy deal with the theory of international relations in a very brief manner, within a few paragraphs or sentences. Modern international theorists interpret Hobbes work in a fixed manner. â€Å"The basic Hobbesian assumption is that there are no objective principles of moralityà ¢â‚¬  (Malcolm 433). Morality is determined only by the sovereign, once the state is formed. Hobbes’ belief was that the state creates morality as well as law, and that there is neither morality nor law outside the state. Hence, the realist view was that ethical standards were not applicable to relations between states. Similar to Machiavelli, Hobbes perceived politics as â€Å"the practical art of obtaining and preserving state power as an end in itself† (Malcolm 433). However, Hobbes reaches a higher level than Machiavelli through his clear account of the role

Language Beliefs and Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Language Beliefs and Learning - Essay Example These transformations have been studied closely and modified to realize the great changes that have been made in our school systems. The transformation of schools, now increasing in momentum is a response to educational practices of the past several decades that have not been effective in promoting the academic achievement of all students (Soto, 2007; Friedman, 2004). Students with close connections to their bilingual/bicultural heritages have been underserved especially by U.S schools. Policy issues regarding how these students are served have evolved around power relations between groups in the broader society and thus have not been effective in addressing the problem. When educators view particular groups of students as having problems in need of remediation, the deficit perspective tends to reinforce social status relations between groups that exist in the wider society (Piper, 2006). According to our chapter readings this week, most of the countries that speak English for example here in the United States, consider bilingualism to be out of the norm. Due to the diversity of culture and languages in schools, most of the children in the world speak more than one language by the time they finish high school. From various researches undertaken, English is observed to be the second language adopted by many students across the world. All languages have a systematic learning approach which makes them easy to learn. For instance, our language consists of twenty-six alphabet letters, morphemes, vowels consonants and digraph blends. In other languages, the same systematic concepts of presenting the language to be learned in their culture are used. It may not always match up with the lettering, but yet it has a way of linking communication with the letters, sounds and symbols in their culture the same way as the American English culture. From previous researches conducted o n languages, it is observed that when students have a  strong background in their primary language, the transition to a second language is easier (Ovando, Collier & Combs, 2011).

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 55

Case Study - Essay Example This implies that Ms. A has progressively lost excessive amount of blood thus resulting in the reduction of her iron levels. Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia especially among women. Iron is a fundamental composition of blood. Among the common causes of the iron-deficiency anemia is excessive blood loss as is the case with Ms. A. heavy menstrual flow among women is the leading cause of iron loss thereby causing the anemia (Fry & Sandler, 1993). Ms. A explains that ever since she was ten she suffered from both menorrhagia and dysmenorrheal. The excessive loss of blood results in the loss of the red blood cells thus reducing the amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a significant component of the red blood responsible for the red pigmentation of the blood. Besides coloring the blood, hemoglobin transports oxygen to the various tissues of the body. Excessive bleeding thus results in the loss of hemoglobin a feature that impairs the functionality of the body tissues since they will not receive adequate amounts of oxygen (Hoffbrand, Moss & Pettit, 2011). Oxygen facilitates metabolism. As such, pe ople with minimal amounts of oxygen will lack adequate energy. Ms. A has noted specific symptoms since the beginning of the current golf season. The symptoms include shortness of breath, lack of energy and enthusiasm among many others. These symptoms are characteristic of iron deficiency anemia. As explained earlier, excessive bleeding results in the loss of hemoglobin a pigment responsible for transporting oxygen to the tissues of the body. The lab report provides succinct symptoms of the iron-deficiency anemia. Key among the components of the lab report is the fact that red blood cell smear showed microcytic and hypochromic cells. This implies that the red blood cells appear pale and thinner than in normal circumstances (Uthman, 1998). Ms. A’s blood appears so owing to the deficiency of hemoglobin in her red

Islamic Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Islamic Finance - Essay Example Agency cost is referred to internal cost of a company, which arises due to conflict of interest between the management and shareholders. The shareholders expect that the management should run the company in such a manner that it increases the shareholder’s value. However, it is observed that the management concentrates on maximizing the wealth of the company and does not take into consideration the interest of the shareholders. This creates a difference between the management and stakeholders. The same problem was observed in the Islamic banks; though the PLS system aimed at increasing the wealth of the investors but it failed to fulfil the expectation of the shareholders (Dar and Presley, 2000). The main rule of PLS system is that the banks provides part of its profit, obtained from investment, to the investor instead of interest. As a result, if the banks fail to earn any profit on the investments, the investors do not get any bonus (Dar and Presley, 2000). The same situation is observed when the company is small to afford high profit and even earn a considerable amount. If a new company invests in the bank, it has the right to earn the profit but the scheme had already dried up the earnings of the financial institutions. This indicates that the company as an investor is not at all profitable and the banks have failed to implement PLS appropriately. This has created misunderstanding between the management of the banks and the investors (small companies) as the payment under this scheme cannot be taken as granted (Abduh and Omah, 2012). When the banks failed to offer higher return on the scheme such as Murabaha financing despite good performance, it is subject to elements of uncertainty. These uncertainties are vague demand for goods and services, business environment that surrounds the world. Moreover, the banks are seen to suppress the profit as the

Comparison of How it happened and The Signalman Essay Example for Free

Comparison of How it happened and The Signalman Essay The atmosphere in How it happened is full of mystery and energy. The plot moves very quickly, imitating the speed of the automobile as in the story it is said the automobile has a horse power of thirty, Then I remember the big motor, with its glaring headlights and litter of polished brass, waiting for me outside. It was my thirty-horse-power Robur, which had only been delivered that day. It also emphasises the lack of control the driver has over it. Whereas the atmosphere in The Signalman creates both suspense and mystery. The appearances of the spirit help to create suspense as we anticipate them to lead us to the climax. However, we find out at the end of the story that the signalman was getting premonitions of his own death. The appearances are really red herrings as it is the signalman himself who dies. Whereas the biggest red herring in How it happened is how the narrator speaks from memory in the first person, fooling us into believing he must still be alive. This makes the twist at the end so much more powerful. The difference of experience between the first time reader, who is fooled into believing the narrator must still be alive and the 2nd time reader who is able to pick out things that are ironic, for example, I can live it again. The 2nd time reader knows hes dead when hes saying it. Dickens creates a strong atmosphere through the characterisation of his characters as well as his long complex sentences that can be difficult to understand. This is because of the 150 year cultural gap of reading the story. This makes differences with the way we read the story. For example, The monstrous thought came into my mind, as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man. The word monstrous meant abnormal in 1866. This also shows Dickenss effort to create psychological state. He also describes things very ambiguously, for example, I resumed my downward way, and stepping out upon the level of the railroad, and drawing nearer to him, saw that he was a dark sallow man, with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows. His post was in as solitary and dismal a place as ever I saw. The words underlined make the signalman difficult to imagine because if everything is dark, you would not be able to make out his features. The title How it happened is deliberately allusive to draw the reader in. But, it does immediately introduce suspense as we wonder what it refers to. Whereas the title The Signalman conveys urgency. The characterisation created in How it happened is that the narrator characterises himself as a risk taker, admitting one often does foolish things to the reader. This adds to his sense of honesty but also makes us question his decision taking. Also, it provides tension between two ways of behaving which should interest us. Whereas the characterisation created in The Signalman is a bit different because both the characters remain shrouded in mystery and this adds to the sense of curiosity that surrounds the story. We dont know the protagonist intimately to picture him in our mind. The themes in The Signalman include death, the supernatural and reason. Dickens sometimes uses the convention of quotation marks and sometimes does not. This reflects the contrasts of rationality and supernatural goings on. The narrator tries to give reasons to the visions that the signalman has, yet the final image of the story is of the narrator seeing the image of the signalman and the ghost himself. Dickens cleverly manipulates tension to give the final image the haunting effect. Whereas in How it happened, Arthur Conan Doyle was an apparent rationalist and he believed that after your death, you could continue to live on as a spirit. It was also believed that these spirits could communicate with the living through people known as mediums. This belief is present in the story where the narrator has survived his death in order to tell us how it happened. This idea is given more credit when we know that the story originally started with the line, This story was told to me by a medium . The story How it happened was written in 1918 and involves a high-powered automobile. This suggests to us the story must have been written about the present at the time. It is also set in London. At that time, London was still the centre of an empire and this important as the story involves aspects of modernism. Whereas the setting of The Signalman is important as Dickens goes to a lot of effort to make the story seem ghostly and surreal. Dickens was writing this story involving trains because they were the biggest and finest machines at the time and by writing the story to do with railway system he is challenging it. Dickens was also in a famous train crash. The Signalmans job is a job of life and death. The one in the story has a reputation for being good at the job. The signalman works in a cutting and that the descent into this place is described as if one is descending to the underworld of Greek Mythology. The clammy stone and that fact that it becomes oozoer and wetter helps create this sense. They key aspect of the cutting is its remoteness. The tunnel as well is described as having wet stains, suggesting that this is a place you would not want to visit. This helps to make an eerie atmosphere and makes it easier for us to imagine spirits and other ghostly aspects. The story is an intensely human story about psychological differences between two people whereas How it happened is about dealing with the physical and spirit world. The narrative voice in How it happened is in the first person and we tend to trust its honesty about the first person. This is because the narrator admits to not remembering everything clearly. I can remember some things upon that evening most distinctly, and others are like some vague, broken dreams. This is what makes it so difficult to tell a connected story. This openness suggests we are going to hear the truth. He also blames neither the car nor Perkins for events but himself. I also remember asking Perkins, my chauffeur, how she had gone, and his saying that he thought she was excellent. The ways he says, Perkins, my chauffeur tell us social standing and class of narrator. The narrator gains a ghostly aspect at the end, when we find out he is dead, and this introduces the idea of Spiritualism that is key to the story. Whereas the narrative voice in The Signalman is also in the first person and we find that until the end of the story we are not sure if we can totally trust it. This is because of the ambiguities in the description of things as well as the lack of information about the narrator himself. But we can tell the visitor is a sceptic. He chooses not to believe that the bell was rung by a ghost without proof. I caught at that. Did it ring your bell yesterday evening when I was here, and you went to the door? As readers, we side with the sceptic. The skill of the story is that most people will not agree the bell rang without sound. There is also an additional piece of irony, the sceptic doesnt believe in the ghost but he says the same things the ghost said like Halloa! Although he does tell us that he is a man who had been shut up within narrow limits until at last set free. But it is difficult to understand this because we dont know if hes referring metaphorically to something else or talking as if he has spent a long time in prison.

Television media, war and truth Essay Example for Free

Television media, war and truth Essay An informed public is the cornerstone of modern society. An informed public during wartime leads to a healthy democracy. Though the media shares a special connection with wartime reporting, disseminating information of major news value, it often keeps the truth masked and reality covered. The media establishment profited by periods of rapid technological change through the 1970s and 80s, and as television reporting grew sophisticated, concepts of truth and reality were shaped by the immediacy of visual content. This essay, in light of the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and Iraq War, will outline how the impact of television coverage during wartime, political manoeuvring, and the atrophy of journalistic standards, has shaped our view of reality and truth. Television coverage of the Vietnam War, as the first televised war, reached audiences around the world. Conflicts of interest between journalistic integrity and nationalistic sentiments served to undermine the medias coverage of the war. The Washington Post announced on Aug. 5, 1964 American Planes Hit North Vietnam After Second Attack on Our Destroyers; Move Taken to Halt New Aggression. Subsequently the New York Times reported President Johnson has ordered retaliatory action against gunboats and certain supporting facilities in North Vietnam after renewed attacks against American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. Though there was no evidence of a second attack by North Vietnam, President Johnson in a speech delivered on Aug. 4, 1964 earned plaudits from the New York Times editorial staff by proclaiming: (they) went to the American people last night with the somber facts.; By reporting claims from Administration officials as absolute truths, American media opened the gates to a bloo dy Vietnam war1. Though the Tet offensive (North Vietnamese soldiers swept through more than one hundred Southern Vietnamese cities) left the U.S victorious, media portrayal was negative. The medias hidden agenda dotted television reportage helping sway public opinion against the war. Television images usurped factual news stories relegating experienced reporters to bystanders and caption writers2. Personal commentary saturated television coverage with statistics pointedly showing an erosion of objectivity. Before the Tet offensive, journalists described 62 percent of their stories as victories for the U.S, 28 percent as defeats, and 2 percent as inconclusive. After Tet, 44 percent of the battles were deemed victories, 32 percent defeats, and 24 percent inconclusive3. In 1998 the airing of a report by CNN and Time Magazine of the U.S Special Forces alleged use of nerve gas against American defectors in the Vietnam War was repudiated by Special Forces veterans groups and high profile intelligence figures. Yet, CNN asserted itself as a credible news organization, saying it was concerned with stories of human affliction4. The Fairness Accuracy In Reporting (national media watchdog set up in 1986 to document media censorship, bias and erroneous reporting), however, declared some television coverage from the Vietnam War a mere fabrication5. The Persian Gulf war ushered in a period of rapid change for American media. Re-structuring of television networks and amendments to federal regulations6 spawned an era of satellite coverage and press pooling. Amended laws ensured television journalists became trusted agents of the U.S military whereby media correspondents were screened7; selective information was aired to U.S audiences. Press freedoms were challenged less for the militarys interest (worried about leaking of strategic intelligence) than the Administrations political agenda. Television coverage was dictated primarily by advancements in digital satellite technology. The Persian Gulf war was the first war to be televised using global satellite networks8. Fluid images were cast, as veteran CNN Bernard Shaw recalls, in peoples faces, due to globalization of television networks. The American Administration, evidence later indicated, utilized television images and newspaper reports to convince the public that Iraqi troops were threatening to invade oil rich Saudi Arabia. Though satellite images taken of Saudi Arabias border detailed a small number of Iraqi troops, U.S newspapers, news magazines and television networks drummed up reportage in line with the Administrations political agenda. Independent press and peace activists argued against the deployment of U.S troops to the area campaigning for a UN peace-keeping force to be sent. But such sentiments did not percolate into the U.S media. Although television coverage saturated airwaves to summon public support for a U.S invasion of the Persian Gulf, television feeds of suffering Kurds, and other Iraqis, prompted large segments of the public against military solutions for conflicts in the Middle East. Mark Rozell Professor of public policy at George Mason University punctuated the impact of wartime television coverage by citing a Gallup Poll: A January 1991 Gallup Poll revealed that 89 percent of the American people identified television as their main source of information about the war; only 8 percent of the American people identified radio and 2 percent newspapers. The U.S led invasion of Iraq saw satellite internet and television, and further sophistication in television equipment, help the myriad U.S news agencies who invested their time in covering the war. Though no formal evidence was tabled about alleged ties between Saddam Hussein and the perpetrators of 9/11, 32% of Americans, in a poll conducted by PIPA/KN9 in 2003, thought Saddam Hussein very likely to be personally involved in the terrorist attacks; 37% thought it was somewhat likely. This misinformation is attributable to the torrent of television broadcasts and print media directed at providing a repetition of incidents surrounding 9/11; repetition is a precursor for propaganda. International polling has suggested public opinion around the world has been strongly against unilateral action in Iraq without UN approval. Of the 38 countries surveyed majority support does not exist for the actions of the U.S10. The obfuscation of truth and deterioration of journalistic integrity was the result of savvy political maneuvering. Oversimplified television coverage of the Middle East has reduced it to a social and political backwater. The depiction of the bloody camera and weeping man (see appendix) represent the reality that wars can bring. The blood on the camera signifies the brutality of war alluding that wars may be captured on film or camera but the reality behind wars (the blood) cannot be captured objectively. The weeping man brings forth emotion involved in losing someone close. Such cultural and social sensitivities are not shown in U.S medias war coverage. Television has proved to be a useful tool for masking truth by producing neatly worded sound-bites. A poll conducted by PIPA/KN in 2003 asked Americans whether a majority of people in the Islamic world (would) favour or oppose the U.S led war efforts to fight terrorism, a plurality of respondents (48%) assumed the Islamic world favoured the war effort. Al Jazeera, brought the coverage of the Iraq war to 40 million Arab viewers, hoping to deliver free and independent news. Founded in 1996, its goal, according to Senior Producer Samir Khader is to educate the Arab masses on democracy, irrespective of the other opinion. Staffed by former members of the newly disbanded BBC Arabic television, all of whom are strong believers of a balanced and fair press, it has come under fire by the Arab and Western worlds for being the mouthpiece of the zionists and a mouthpiece of Osama Bin Laden respectively. The notion of absolute truth and reality of television coverage is undermined by the representations of Al Jazeera as both a mouth piece of the zionists and a mouth piece of Osama Bin Laden11. Al Jazeera cutting to commercials plays a 30-60 second montage of American war planes, American bombs exploding and American army tanks across the desert. These images have come under criticism from U.S Press Officers. Dichotomies of interest will remain affirms U.S military Press Officer Lt. Josh Rushing as long as Al Jazeera U.S media continue to play to their respective audiences: When I watch Al Jazeera I can tell what theyre showing and what theyre not by choice. Its the same thing when I watch Fox at the other end of the spectrum. It benefits Al Jazeera to play to Arab nationalism Just like Fox plays to American patriotism. Because thats their demographic12. Incessantly rolling out television images the media oversimplifies the coverage of war. An informed media covering factual stories free from political slant is increasingly important in a growing democracy. The media coverage of the Vietnam War led to degradation in journalistic integrity; the Persian Gulf conflict deepened political ties between the American Administration and the media; Iraq War is covered by a multitude of U.S news agencies but also an Arabic television news channel. Though the wars were covered by the media in different lights the widening political influence and diminishment of journalistic cannons have been common threads that have shaped our understanding of truth and reality. * * * Bibliography: Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR); Website: [www.fair.org]. John Pilger, Heroes. (Johnathan Cape 1986, Vintage 2001), p.260. Hallin, Daniel C., The Uncensored War: The Media and Vietnam. Los Angles: California University of California Press, 1986. p. 161-162. A. Shah, Media, propaganda and Vietnam. [http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/Media/Propaganda/Vietnam.asp]. Created: Sunday, December 29, 2002; Last Updated: Friday, October 24, 2003. James Rennie, Desert Storm Front: Television News and Narrative Construction in the 1991 Gulf War, Honours Thesis 2004: [http://www.film.queensu.ca/Critical/Rennie2.html]. Capt Jon Mordan, Air Space Power Journal-Chronicles Online Journal (online-only companion to Air Space Power Journal; published quarterly), Document created: 6 June 99. Douglas Kellner, The Persian Gulf TV War. (Boulder, Co.: Westview Press, 1992). Program on International Policy Attitudes/Knowledge Networks; conducts global polls. Gallup Poll International. DVD, Control Room (2003); directed by Jehane Noujaim; (see appendix). Image 1: [http://www.oilempire.us/mediawar.html] Image 2: [http://www.thewe.cc/contents/more/archive2005/january/war_2005_january_images_1.html] Appendix 1: Appendix 2: 1 Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) 2 John Pilger, Heroes. (Johnathan Cape 1986, Vintage 2001), p.260 3 Hallin, Daniel C., The Uncensored War: The Media and Vietnam. Los Angles: California University of California Press, 1986. p. 161-162 4 A. Shah, Media, propaganda and Vietnam. [http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/Media/Propaganda/Vietnam.asp]. Created: Sunday, December 29, 2002; Last Updated: Friday, October 24, 2003 5 Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) 6 James Rennie, Desert Storm Front: Television News and Narrative Construction in the 1991 Gulf War, Honours Thesis 2004: [http://www.film.queensu.ca/Critical/Rennie2.html] 7 Capt Jon Mordan, Air Space Power Journal-Chronicles Online Journal (online-only companion to Air Space Power Journal; published quarterly), Document created: 6 June 99 8 Douglas Kellner, The Persian Gulf TV War. (Boulder, Co.: Westview Press, 1992). 9 Program on International Policy Attitudes/Knowledge Networks 10Gallup Poll International 11 DVD, Control Room (2003); directed by Jehane Noujaim; (see appendix).

The Impact On Marks And Spencer Key Stakeholders Accounting Essay

The Impact On Marks And Spencer Key Stakeholders Accounting Essay Corporate governance means that the companies which are administrated, controlled and directed. It performs how to set and achieve the objectives of the company, how to measured and monitored the risk and how to get the optimized performance. It creates new values to the companies through innovation and gives the control and responsibility appropriate with the risks concerned. It is a main factor to improve the organizational performance and sustainability. Corporate governance reforms should be viewed as an opportunity to improve internal compliance and communications systems which will, in turn, improve the potential profit-making ability of the company and its competitive status in an ever-increasing global market place. The most successful governance-improvements are therefore not undertaken sorely in response to dictates from regulators or pressure from investors. They are undertaken to improve the system of corporate governance within the corporation the system of accountability with all its checks and balances between management, shareholder and the board in the pursuit of yielding greater shareholder-value. The major players in the area of corporate governance can be classified into two groups: 1. External, and 2. Internal. Externally, the pace of corporate governance is set by the Government, investors, financial institutions and customers. Government as the regulator sets the legal, financial and business framework which defines the scope and extent of corporate governance. Internally, corporate boards, the shareholders and employees within the corporation decide how companies are directed and controlled. Corporate governance is a broad and somewhat vague terms which is used to refer to a range of corporate controls and accountability mechanisms designed to meet the aims of all the stakeholders. It is the process of direction, supervision and accountability of corporations. It concerns the theories and practices of the board of directors and its relationships with the shareholders of the company. Corporate governance relates to laws, procedures, practices and implicit rules that deter mine a companys ability to take improved managerial decisions. Entrenching sustainable development within corporate governance have need of companies to recognise and identify with their social impact and environmental and responsibilities and to act accordingly. The process requires using the fact and experience of the management and others in the concern to determine every task related to issues, liabilities, and performance. Launching integrate sustainability corporate governance should sketch the financial with social accounting and reporting through the audit to know the complete scope of the companies of activities. The course of sustainability and corporate governance meets with the new demands and tasks. It holds balance between social and economical goals and between joint and individual goals. The framework of the corporate governance is to utilize the resources. The success of the sustainability depends on to get the right issues and the right voices. It portrays to understand the social and environmental goals. here in this research we are going to assess the corporate governance of Marks and Spencer and the impact on key stakeholders. 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY To examine the quality of the corporate governance and the impact on marks and Spencer key stakeholders. 1.3 SPECIFIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS what is the core objectives of the company in the present scenario ? how the organization tackles sustainability with the governance? what are the roles played internally? 1.4 REVIEW OF LITERATURE A literature review is a text that intends to review the critical points of present acquaintance on a topic. Its ultimate goal is to bring the reader up to date with current literature on a topic and forms the basis for another goal, such as a justification for a the future research in the area. A good literature review is charecterised by: a logical flow of ideas; current and relevant references with consistent, appropriate referencing style: proper use of terminology; and an unbiased and comprehensive view of the previous research on the topic. It helps with all types of assignments as well. The Impact of corporate Governance on auditor independence: A study of audit committees in uk listed companies by Ismail Adelopo in 2010 this research speaks about the changing roles of the audit committees these have to be recognised and incorporated in the regulatory framework for corporate governance in organisations. A case study analysis report of Marks and Spencer plc by Emma Bunce gives us idea about the problems in Marks and Spencer. Best environment practices of Marks and Spencer : A Case Study by Dr. Leigh Sparks gives us wider knowledge about the execution plans carried out in making the goals. Mainstreaming the Corporate Social Responsibility Agenda: A change model grounded in theory and practice Francois Maon and Valerie Swaen gives us idea about corporate social responsibility. 1.5 PROFILE OF THE COMPANY UKs leading retail shop is Marks and Spencer. It provides home products, food, clothing and financial services. People shopping nearly 1.3 million in everyday in above 375 MS stores in the UK and also it manages 28 territories. The company runs with two units such as general merchandise and food. The general merchandise unit classified into menswear, lingerie, home, womens clothing and beauty. These units contributes the vision through value, quality, trust and innovative service. These units develops their own CSR strategy based on brand value. Strategies identified from a mixture of customer research, stakeholders, government, non-government organisations etc. and action plan developed by the stakeholders expectations and pressures. The issues tackled in the strategies are grouped into three areas such as people, products and community. The CSR strategic approach builds good relationships between the employees and the suppliers. It is focusing to enhance and maintain trust. It launches some initiatives on the environment, employability and on health. MS has taken action to improve its impact on society by means of Ready for Work  [1]  . Philosophy of MS is helping others to help themselves. Promoting the highest standards of corporate governance with the help of group secretary and to build sustainable business. Leading the board meeting and have Agenda covers risks, strategies and performance of the business. Ensuring right things in a right time. Facil itating on business risk and strategy. 1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Most of the materials in this research are taken from secondary resources such as Journals, Books, Annual reports and the Internet, Information through Public Report, Bulleting and other Printed Resources supplied by the Company. No primary sources has been used in this research. Secondary data are those which have already been collected by someone else and which have already been passed through statistical process. 1.7 DATA ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT OF THE MARKS AND SPENCER The core objective of the board is to build a sustainable achievement of the business by the means of profitable development and consistent. UK corporate governance code 2010 provides the principles of the UK companies enlisted in the London Stock Exchanges. Diversity of the boards policy includes measurable objectives to implement the policy and to achieve the progress will be reported. MS complied with all provisions of the compliance code with exception in the year ended 31st March, 2012. The board not meet during the short period so it proves that corporate governance not impacted. THE ROLE OF THE BOARD Each and every company must be have an efficient and effective board is responsible for the victory of the company. The governance framework adopts boards responsibilities in the following: providing guidance of the company within the effective control and practical framework which gives risk assessment and management setting up planned aims and to ensure the required human and financial resources to focus its performance with the effective objectives ensuring the standards and values of the companies that to set up duties and responsibilities of the shareholders and others In the appointment of the directors, they are insisted to do and act to improve the development of the company and the benefits of their members. To satisfy this duty, they should regard the positive impacts of the decision making not in the short term, relationships between customers and suppliers, employees interests, the consequences of the environment, desire to sustain the high reputed standard of the business and to need good communication among the company members. The board requirements to logically estimate the environment and impact of the sustainability problems looks the company, as fine as where sustainability wants to be measured in next of kin to problems such as sequence forecasting and performance assessment. Boards are a vital part of governance composition and, at the same time as by way of other governance system, need to hold sustainable growth. There is requiring making sure that panel have the capability to guide with honesty and enjoy the right ability to build difficult resolution and handle danger. The influences of the wider stakeholders obviously need to survive integrated in the governance method. Employee council have partaken in boards used for a mass of years; perchance the most fighting fit identified cases are during Japan and Germany. But, evidently there is a necessitate to appear beyond member of staff council alone and charily select non-executive chief with sustainability proficiency in region such as the surroundings, health and security, consumer relatives or human property, as well as persons from non-business conditions who can carry valuable outlook into the meeting room. These talent and view can permit companies to estimate key strategic sustainability problems more systematically and watch their act more successfully. Non-executive directors want the exact mix together of proficiency, experience and special qualities to enable them to advise, monitor and challenge effectively. Organisations need to be optimistic to cast the network widely in looking for suc h persons and to build up a deeper considerate of what ability are mandatory. The board wants to realistically estimate the personality and importance of the sustainability problems facing the company, as well as where sustainability needs to be measured in relation to the current problems such as progression planning and performance estimatation. The Board consist of nine directors which includes the Chairman, Chief Executive, two executive directors and five non-executive directors who are measured to be of self-governing character and conclusion. This conform with the secret code as readily available is a balance of executive and non-executive directors permit for fair and decision-making. The Non-executive directors have provision concurrence with the company for an early three-year term after which they seek out re-election. The Group also has superior independent directors who offer a communication channel between the Chairman and Non-Executive directors. The Board meets ten times in every year and determines the on the whole group strategy; control its accounting, operating plans and remuneration policies etc. The Board have the committees are the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees. Audit Committee: The Marks and Spencer audit committee includes four independent non-executive directors. At least one member of the committee has fresh and applicable financial experience in accordance with the combined code. It met four times in the year and it functions to present independent guarantee by supervise the honesty of financial statements to shareholders, make another study of effectiveness of internal control and threat management systems; and sustain an appropriate correlation with the companys outside auditors, Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) committee also reassessed the self-government and neutrality of the outside auditors. Remuneration Committee: The Marks and Spencer payment committee covers four independent non-executive directors. It meets eight times in a year. Its position is to suggest to the board a suitable remuneration scheme and make certain that executive directors are remunerated for individual charity. The remuneration of Non-executive directors is resolute by the Chairman and Executive directors. Nomination Committee: MS has a official nomination committee prepared by the Chairman, Chief Executive and five non-executive directors who meet once a year and ensuring that suitable measures are in place for nomination, selection and evaluation of directors. They think about the balance of membership and necessary unify of skills, knowledge, and experience of the Board. Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): MS have changed its attempt in meeting socio environmental tasks. They take action to customers ask for to supply them with information on CSR performance by initiation the Look behind the label movement. This is extremely noticeable advertising and interactions movement planned tell consumers the span they go to certify that the whole lot they wholesale is produced reliably. They shaped the Plan A which is a five-year,  £200m eco-plan incorporated into its day-to-day action in which they prepared a 100 assurances across five areas. They aimed to become carbon unbiased, dispatch no squander to landfills, reduce wrapping by 25% and give confidence recycling, utilize sustainable raw materials, work strictly with home communities using the Marks and Start work understanding programme. This intention who facing employment challenges i.e. homeless and disabled persons  [2]  . The Group also bring in the just partner scheme to assist progress lives of people and local communities. They sustained Breakthrough Cancer Campaign serving to hoist up to  £6m; and also supported Prostate Cancer charity to raise  £90,000 in funds and responsiveness for the disease. Marks and Spencer integrated in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4 Good Indexes and status 20th with a attain of 95% in Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility (BiTC CR) index. Proficient stakeholder advice-giving panels can also assist bridge the opening between an organisations stakeholder commitment and its supremacy, by bringing professional together with senior panel. Companies are all the time more using connoisseur panels to warn how to respond to budding socio environmental problems in a way that is intentionally aligned to the organisations trade model. The reality of a committee in charge to the board permit specific problems to be walk around in more strength than is achievable at board stage, as critical responsibility remainder with the board as a totality. Everywhere this team exist it is critical that they are convincingly integrated into the usual governance composition. King II is the shortened name for the King details on Corporate Governance for South Africa published 2002. It pursues a 1994 report normally famous as King I. Corporation scheduled on South Africas JSE Securities Exchange having complied with King II. It is a position of doctrine. It achieves not determine a comprehensive course of accomplishment. It shapes that the board is accountable for the progression of threat management and that it be obliged to decide the companys desire and broad-mindedness for risk. The board should ensure that review of the development and result of key hazard is carried out yearly. And, significantly, hazard management information must be release annually. It is setting out the subsequent seven features of good corporate governance such as discipline, transparency, self-government, accountability, responsibility, fairness and social accountability. The board of MS brand guides the relationships of the stakeholders. Right thing in a right time with right way will attain the protected future. MS governance also focusing nook and corner of the business. Good governance produces good business and develops long-term performance. THE ROLE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Chairman is accountable in the headship of the board and to ensure effective role in all aspects. The Chairmans commitments are revealed to the board before getting the appointment. Members of the board helps to develop strategic proposals. The chairman motivating the directors to update their knowledge and skills. Meeting location, legal information and up to date governance and customers views reviewed by the shareholders. Chairman evaluates development needs and training in the annual general meeting. He collects information in the form of clear, accurate and timely with the gradual update of the business. Head of the corporate governance and the group secretary carried out accountability of the governance. Governance group comprises internal audit, the company files and documents, insurance, pensions and risks. Board of members reviewed board evaluation in the last year. the board establishes professional advice in the appropriate time to the committees. Promotion of governance has dealt by the group secretary. Governance activities in MS is dedicated to the best in practice. It governs benchmarking, effectiveness and performance for ensuring the future development. In every three years the board has been conducting external review and feedback from the new appointments. The board and its committees sets out the annual report. Collected information resulted in year 2012-13 which deals with core spots of people development and succession, regular commitment with shareholders, body representatives, disclosure and transparency, training, skill and knowledge of the directors, risk bearing, risk tolerance and framework of the board conversation and carry on analysis. The chairman revealed the individual performance and objectives. Remunerations reviewed by the remuneration committees. Ffion Hague has reviewed again the governance reliability in the year of 2011-12. All directors insisted to submit for re-election in the annual general meeting in 2012. Biographies of the directors has given in the annual report pages 40 and 41. The board must present companys prospects and position clearly. The board pertains the reliable approach in the public reports. In the annual report pages 72 and 73 presents what are the responsibilities of the all directors in the preparation of final accounts and auditors report. In order to explain the innovative values of the shareholder dealt in the annual report pages 2 to 37. Going concern statement of the directors has given in the page 72 in the annual report is based on the projections and forecasting cash flows. The board is accountable to shaping the important strategic objectives and its nature. The board must obtain sound internal control and risk management system. The primary role of the nomination committee is ensuring the suitable procedure are nomination, selection, training and evaluation. This committee analysis the Boards structure, diversity, size, succession needs and composition. There to keep required knowledge, skill and experience of the board. It formally meets five times a year. Each appointment considers time and diversity of new policy experiences. The Chairman takes the important role to improve and sustain the business with the great accountability. He ensures some of the parts of board with the non-executive act as critical friends to Chief Executive Marc Bolland and it supports the formulation and execution strategy; bringing perspectives with holding knowledge, independence and experience; seeking decisions and views of the management; acting responsibility to meet sure accountabilities to wider stakeholders and shareholders; and diversifying the recommendations with the right of experience, skills and background. The MS board have met ten times in the year of 2011-12. It has planned for meetings at least one and half years in advance in the financial year. The board of members determines on the whole creation or innovation, disposal or acquisition of corporate assets; how to protect and develop the brand; matters related to public desires and relating to statutory accounts; what are the important alterations in the policy which relates to account, capital, dividend and also determines indicators key performance, operating plans and policy remuneration structure. THE ROLE OF THE INVESTORS Searching the appropriateness of non-executive directors in perceptive the materiality of non-financial problems is critical. Institutional shareholder and fund executive have a liability to produce long-term assessment on behalf of their shareholders, the person investor, savers and pensioners for whom they are eventually working. They must insist that the concern they invest in lay adequate resource into initial governance system that distribute long term importance. Shareholders ought to take governance into financial credit as part of their task decision-making. Institutional shareholder and other investors need to know what questions they must be invite boards. For instance, does the panel have the acquaintance and competencies are essential to comprehend the sustainability inferences of the current market and board works reflect the direction of the prospect strategy? Inquiring the aptness of non-executive directors in accepting the materiality of non-financial problems is vital. Eventually investors call for to request if the board and human being are conveyed. Element of this is launch if governance get together international values. The case under indicates the feedback of shareholder as the retort. Marks Spencer flashed a angry reaction from large institutional shareholders in 2008 after declare that it was come together the responsibility of chairman and chief executive to maintain Sir Stuart Rose at the big business until 2011. Shareholders reacted robustly to the pronouncement and, though they have because been relieved to a certain degree, the thing highlights the aptitude of investors to manipulate and pressure the significance of governance to this society. The Co-operatives liable investment director at the time stated that The configuration obviously leave from preeminent practice. Not have of earlier consultation with shareholders. The leader of equities for lawful universal, one of the largest shareholders emphasised the significance of responsible governance: As set out in the Combined Code we believe strongly in the separation of the roles of chairman and chief executive, believing this allows a much needed balance in the boardroom and prevents the potentially damaging concentration of power. Other governance models The excellence of governance is significant not only for a single person business but also for combined initiatives, joint venture and economic systems. Collaborative proposal and a variety of types of business have seen by a lot of as a way to fruitfully address numerous sustainability challenges. On the other hand, these combined proposal and enterprise do not forever carry their objectives. Basically lots of the challenges are governance system which fails to convey liable decision making. Business performance depends on valuable governance. Firm supposed to produce new traditions for society, stakeholders and attracted parties to hold in the freedom of sustainable result. Ensuring the governance of partnerships is effectual there is require to create encouragement for good firm governance, to ensure firm governance systems grow the trust of central part stakeholders and to fabricate the knowledge and capability of partnerships and its stakeholders to administrate efficiently. New global governance Present economic conditions raise grave problem as to the sufficiency yet bearing of many set ideas of good corporate governance, particularly those originate from global best practice embedded broadly in Anglo-Saxon approaches that contain proved missing. There is a rising emotion that at the present is the right time to counterfeit a supportive approach to the calamity, and to construct a stronger, additional inclusive worldwide financial and economic governance design that will also deal with other overall challenges such as vigour and weather change, safety and violence, and deficiency and fitness issues. THE ROLE OF THE DIRECTORS Directors decided an indemnity from the company in value of responsibility acquired as a effect of its workplace. MS keeps suitable liability insurance to the benefit of directors. There is a separate house-hold task between the decision making responsibility and the board. an individual should not have open minded powers. All directors should allocate adequate time and responsibility. Senior Independent Director directly communicate between the Non-executive directors and the chairman. He is the chairs for the general meetings. He has given payable consideration. Directors records the minutes of the board. He should give a written statement on his resignation for giving circulation. The board of new directors should be have transparent procedures, accurate and formal. As under the Articles of Association of the company all directors looks for election at the first annual general meeting, re-election offered at every three years by the shareholders. All directors should accept training on amalgamation the board and also update their knowledge and skills. They can meet the chief shareholders. THE ROLE OF THE ACCOUNTANTS The primary role of the accountant is to grant transparency in exposure, monetary or else, to shareholders and the wider stakeholder assembly who have an awareness in the performance of the trade. The effort of accountants is evidently crucial to successful governance, in particular in next of kin to its conventional focus on economic performance and book-keeping integrity. To embark on this role accountants should ensure they are memorable with the broad management, risk management, functioning and reputational portion of the company to provide framework to the facts presented in the economic statements. In order to offer independent judgment on a companys financial statements, that is its annual report, accountants should have right to use to data on all company deeds which can be fabric to its monetary position. Accountants running in a business are concerned in quite a few of the governance system, which may comprise nominations committees for the board, payment committees and risk and observance committees as well as the inspection committee. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 describe the audit committee as a committee established by and amongst the board of directors of an issuer for the purpose of overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the issuer and audits of the financial statements of the issuer. Audit committee members are looked with increased prospects from many collections, including shareholders, governing activities of shareholder, supervisory body, the media, and beneficiary board members. The other region where accountants employment in business presently supports good corporate governance is in de-coding instruction for the company and opinionated internal incorporation and loyalty. Accountants carry their dictatorial knowledge and industry standard experience to their clients to drive through best practice. Additionally they interpret the listing needs relevant to its business and lawful structure. Accountants carry a professional strictness in challenging transparency; in order to sustain professional reliability, accountants should follow principles and measures that will emphasize concerns. They should make certain their risk negotiations with organization are strong and industrious and assist the company and the board to prepare for alteration. Accountants are in the most excellent position to make available sovereign challenge to preparation they examine within a company. It is within their specialized conduct to have this task and disagreement practice which is not in the comfort of the long-term sustainability of the business and its stakeholders. Bring into line their detailed approach to set up financial statements with wider governance reviews permits accountants to endow with a full observation on a companys annual and long term performance. Eventually this will afford the company, their stakeholders and people with a truer and additional strong reflection of the dealing performance and its potential impact on wider social, environmental and ethical concerns. MS assured that its prevailing corporate goal is to maximise the long-term shareholder value all the way through sustain by reliable, money-making growth and as well go beyond the outlook of its stakeholders from side to side value creation. They reaffirmed pledge by building a number of superior management alteration take in new persons with the true bring together of skill and knowledge to pick up commodities and services and follow new chance for enlargement. The groups report appears to assemble a balance between the requirements of shareholders and stakeholders in the company. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF STAKEHOLDER COMMITMENT Organisations preserve no longer wish if they wish for engage by way of stakeholders or not, the simply choice they want to obtain is at what time and how fruitfully to take on. Stakeholder commitment is premised on the view that those groups who can affect or are precious by the attainment of an organisations scope  [3]   should given in the chance to remark and input keen on the development of assessment that influence them. In todays the public, whether they are not aggressively wanted out, sooner or later they may claim to be confer with. Situations arise when organisations do not actively engage but are forced to do so by the demands of society as a result of a emergency situation. In retort, organisations occupy crisis-management performance, and are frequently required into a cynical talk with stakeholders, chief to a important and long-lasting failure of reputation. This kind of dealings is often opposed and injurious of belief. significant meeting occurs as soon as organisations, awake of the alteration in the broad society and how they relay to organisational presentation, wish to establish affairs with stakeholders as a way to deal with the force of those modify, such as persons shaped as a outcome of global monetary decline. Organisations can either look for to moderate risk in the course of the use of stakeholder supervision, or develop these new trends to categorize and ascertain new occasion from side to side the use of consequential stakeholder commitment; the end is characterised through a motivation to b e release to alteration. As in the company of some other selling process, the practice for meeting should be regular, logical and realistic. This practice is

Forgotten People of the Blue Highways Essay -- Blue Highways

Forgotten People of the Blue Highways Journeying along the back roads of the blue highways of the road maps, William Least Heat Moon discovers the forgotten people of America in Blue Highways. In the beginning, his trip seems to be motivated by anger and disillusion. But when readers look deeper into the story, they see that Least Heat Moon focuses the attention on how to "climb out of a world which he realized was impersonal and materialistic" (Lyons 63). By avoiding the large cities, he focuses his attention on the forgotten civilizations. His ability to convey feelings with his storytelling doesn't commercialize the people or the stories. According to one critic, "Least Heat Moon has the judgment to step aside and let them tell their own often remarkable stories in their own words" (Perrin, 858). By mapping out his route, Least Heat Moon goes full circle from his hometown of Columbia Missouri to Othello, New Jersey, and back. Feeling as if his life is going nowhere, Least Heat Moon starts his journ ey in the middle of America. Throughout the novel, t...

The Death March Essay -- War, World War II

Plan of Investigation A tactic used in past wars, and also categorized as a war crime, is known as the death march. These marches have often been criticized for being inhumane, and forcing enemy soldiers into â€Å"conditions primitive and unsanitary.† (51 Allen) Both of the death marches studied in this historical investigation occurred in World War II. The first is the Bataan Death March, inflicted upon Americans and Filipinos by the Japanese. The second case studied will be the forced movement of â€Å"undesirables† (i.e. Jews, Homosexuals, blacks, gypsies, etc.) in the numerous Nazi death marches. How and why did the reasons and strategies for the Bataan Death March compare with those of the Nazi death marches? Both cases will be summarized and then analyzed. The justification for these marches will therefore lead to deciphering the extent that these marches helped the instigating countries, and what war would have been like without them. Primary sources, such as â€Å"Aband oned on Bataan,† along with secondary sources such as â€Å"Double Victory† will be utilized to fully comprehend the differences of the two marches. Summary of Evidence 1) Bataan Death March When General MacArthur of the United States surrendered, the Japanese were not prepared for the immense number of US and Filipino prisoners. Their justification for their war crimes comes from their culture. The Japanese were instilled with the idea of fight or death. Surrendering was not an option to the Japanese, because it made one scum, and not even human. In the Japanese perspective, the American soldiers that surrendered had intentionally put themselves in this position. The Japanese did what they were taught; their cultural traditions allowed for the violence an... ...ese Lines in World War II. New York: NAL Caliber, 2009. Print. Allen, Oliver Craig, and Mildred Faye Allen. Abandoned on Bataan: One Man's Story of Survival. Boerne, TX: Crimson Horse Entertainment and Pub., 2002. Print. "American Experience . MacArthur . The Siege of Bataan | PBS." Interview by Edwin Ramsey, Richard Gordon, and Leon Beck. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. 2009. Web. . Holocaust Encyclopedia. "Death Marches." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 06 Jan. 2011. Web. . Nelson, Jim. "The Causes of the Bataan Death March Revisited." 11 May 2007. Web. . Smurthwaite, David. The Pacific War Atlas 1941-1945. New York: HMSO, 1995. Print.

Great Gatsby :: essays papers

Great Gatsby 4 When F. Scott Fitzgerald first published The Great Gatsby, it was named Under the Red, White, and Blue. However, after having revised the novel many times with his many editors, publishers, and personal advisors, Fitzgerald eventually released the book under its contemporary title. Why did Fitzgerald make the change? Under the red white and blue referred to the life of people in America, or under the American flag. His novel is focused on the corruption of the American dream, and the corruption of those residing within. The great Gatsby referred to one of the principle characters in the novel, Jay Gatsby. Why was Gatsby so great that the book was named after him? Jay Gatsby was portrayed by Fitzgerald as the son of God, or of a God. Fitzgerald reminds us of this throughout the novel, and from beginning to end he fills the text with hints as he alludes to Gatsby^s divine spirit. The ^Great Gatsby^ was a great man- Fitzgerald tells the reader that Gatsby was so great he could not have been a man- that he was a heavenly figure. Fitzgerald wanted the reader to believe that the American dream had died, and to further ingrain his belief in our minds, he destroys religion and morality^ but the final and most dismal reality Fitzgerald faces us with is that no man is a great man- the only great man encountered in The Great Gatsby is the son of God- who is superior to man, and cannot be judged by the same rules. An author uses imagery to convey specific thoughts and emotions from his readers. Fitzgerald constantly reminds us that Gatsby is a heavenly figure by associating Gatsby with the moon. The moon is a heavenly body; therefore, Gatsby^s presence brings out the heavens. The first time the narrator, Nick, meets Gatsby, it is at one of Gatsby^s gaudy parties, and ^the moon had risen higher.^(Fitzgerald p.51) just before Nick met Gatsby. When Nick leaves the party, ^a wafer of a moon was shining over Gatsby^s house.^(p.60) After Myrtle had been run over by Daisy, Nick speaks to Gatsby outside Daisy^s house, and Nick ^could think of nothing except the luminosity of his pink suit under the moon.^ The imagery in this location suggests that Gatsby is innocent of the crime he is implicated in, which is the murder of Myrtle. The moon shining down on Gatsby, making his suit radiate, suggests that heaven looks with favor upon Gatsby. Gatsby is linked with the heavens occurs when he describe! d having kissed Daisy for the first time.

“Eve’s Diary” by Mark Twain Essay

â€Å"Eve’s Diary† is a satirical account of the days in the Garden of Eden. Twain recounts the well-known tale of Genesis through a series of journal entries written by Adam and Eve; these personal accounts make for an entertaining and thought-provoking read. Twain’s personifications of gender stereotypes are easily identified but lead the reader into a further exploration of Twain’s deeper purpose. Twain’s writing style explicates the paradoxical relationship between men and women. Furthermore, Adam and Eve’s conflicting perspectives within the journal entries provide an illustration of their magnetic reliance on one another, despite their polar differences. The story begins with Eve on the day after her creation; Twain creates a tone of despair as Eve ponders her situation and existence. â€Å"That is what I AM-an experiment; just an experiment, and nothing more† (Twain 10). As Eve deducts that there must be a counterpart to her existence, her disposition abruptly changes from anguish to optimism. Through this character development, Twain portrays companionship as Eve’s salvation and furthermore, mocks the modern idea of the contingency of a woman’s survival on that of a man’s. Eve’s perception changes as abruptly as her disposition. Once her mind is at ease, she becomes conscious and appreciative of her surroundings. â€Å"This majestic new world is indeed a most noble and beautiful work. And certainly marvelously near to being perfect, notwithstanding the shortness of the time† (Twain 14). Twain uses Eve’s passionate and enthusiastic mentality as a personification of the model of femininity according to nineteenth century stereotypes. The diction and timing of Adam’s introduction exaggerates Eve’s naivety and sets a precedent for Twain’s exploration of their paradoxical relationship.  Eve’s entry reads, â€Å"All the week I tagged around after him and tried to get acquainted. I had to do the talking, because he was shy, but I didn’t mind it. He seemed pleased to have me around, and I used the sociable ‘we’ a good deal, because it seemed to flatter him to be included† (Twain 35). Though it is told from Eve’s perspective, Twain wants the reader to negate Eve’s idealization when reading of her interactions with Adam. When one does so, Adam’s annoyance with Eve is apparent. In addition, Twain makes a considerable effort to portray Adam as haughty, cynical, and drastically unattached in comparison to Eve; Twain uses Adam as a personification of stereotypical conception of masculinity. â€Å"During the last day or two I have taken all the work of naming things off his hands, and this has been a great relief to him, for he has no gift in that line, and is evidently very grateful† (Twain 178). If interpreted in the manner Twain intended, it is clear that Adam has no concern with naming the creatures and is equally indifferent towards Eve. Twain develops these satirical personifications even further to serve two slightly less superficial purposes. Twain uses these conceptions to delve into the profound relationship between men and women but also to denounce them through his diction. Twain’s defiance begins with his decision to give Eve, a woman, the predominant voice in the narrative. He shows further disregard for popular opinion when he tells of the creation of fire. â€Å"I had created something that didn’t exist before; I had added a new thing to the world’s uncountable properties; I realized this, and was proud of my achievement, and was going to run and find him and tell him about it, thinking to raise myself in his esteem-but I reflected, and did not do it. No-he would not care for it† (Twain 67). Twain’s decision to credit such a pivotal aspect of human survival to a woman exhibits either an immense reverence for women or a severe distain for unoriginal thought. Regardless, Twain’s upheaval of the hierarchy of traditional Western gender roles transcends time and leaves the reader to contemplate the validity of gender roles. Ursula LeGuin, a published and renowned author of short stories herself, discusses the prevalence of personification of stereotypical gender roles  within _Adam and Eve’s Diary_. LeGuin argues that Twain’s personifications of gender stereotypes are the most important aspect of any literally analysis of works by Mark Twain (LeGuin 32). Deviating slightly from the focus of LeGuin’s analysis, the most important purpose of â€Å"Eve’s Diary† to be the paradoxical relationship between men and women. As the journal progresses, so does the connection between Adam and Eve. Although their differences remain vast, Adam and Eve demonstrate a dynamic reliance on one another. They compliment one another in a sense of discord; their stereotypical personas seem to become less obtrusive as they grow together. Through Eve, Adam is humbled and learns to be appreciative and observant of his surroundings. Adam has a similar effect on Eve; her interest in aesthetics diminishes and while she remains optimistic, she is not so dangerously naà ¯ve. The story digresses to forty years later, with Adam at Eve’s grave. Adam’s eulogy for his lifeless wife is ingeniously engineered to resonate with nearly every reader. He says, â€Å"Wheresoever she was, THERE was Eden† (Twain 129). Adam, and therefore the male gender collectively, possessed a magnetic dependence on Eve that was as involuntary as the polar differences between the two. Twain accomplished a feat that the laws of nature could not; through â€Å"Adam and Eve’s Diary,† Twain provides an unprecedented look into why men and women attract in circumstances that should naturally repel them from one another. Works Cited LeGuin, Ursula K. Introduction. The Diaries of Adam and Eve. By Mark Twain. New York: Oxford UP, 1996. XXXI-XLI. Twain, Mark. _Adam and Eve’s Diary_ â€Å"Eve’s Diary, Complete.† Project Gutenburg. 14 June 2004. PDF iBook.