Health Care Issues - Patient Safety Improvement - Lessons learned in Essay

Health Care Issues - Patient Safety Improvement - Lessons learned in the aviation industry - Essay Example Then the surgeon, anesthetist and nurse verbally confirm the patient identity, surgical site and procedure. They then check on any anticipated critical events, any essential imaging and any antibiotic administration in the last one hour. Before ht patient leaves the operation room the nurse verbally confirms with the team the name of the procedure recorded, that all instruments used are present, any equipment problems, then the surgeon, anesthetist and nurse review recovery and management of the patient. This arrangement is similar to what happens shortly before a flight. The cabin crew identify themselves by name and role in the flight. They identify the route to which they are going. They then give a brief to the passengers about the plane and what to do and what not to do incase of an emergency. They identify the person to whom the passenger is to contact incase of an emergency. They passengers are notified on every issue this is important as relates to that flight. At the end of the flight all of the crew confirm that all passengers that boarded the flight arrived and safely. Incase of any problem they notify the relevant authority. The initial move of identification is similar to what happens at the surgical room. The surgeon and his crew each identify themselves and their roles so that in the event of an emergency there is no confusion as to who is to do what and when. All the briefing given to the passengers is similar to the information the surgeon and his team give. The arr ival to the destination, and confirmation of the presence of all passengers safely is also similar to what the surgeon, nurse and anesthetist do when ensuring that they have identified the patient well and all equipment used is present. This kind of approach minimizes mistakes in the surgical room. Every one does his or her role when need arises and there is calmness and control of the situation throughout. The patient is better of in the hands of a well organized team

Victory and the Blight Essay Example for Free

Victory and the Blight Essay Victory and the blight, is written by Trinidadian author Earl Lovelace and is a simple tale about a man who lives in Rio Claro, a village in Trinidad. His story is about Victory, a barber, who takes pride and pleasure in his job. Victory, begins his day, by finding his friend Braun and a stranger at his barber shop, even before it has opened for the day. He thinks to himself that this stranger is going to be blight or a stain on his day. Victory is a man who doesn’t believe in taking the short way but believes that things must be done in a smooth process. He also believes in doing his job right, hence his choice of scissors and razor over the clippers. This is also clearly evident in the manner in which he prepares for a haircut and completes the job His barbering skills are a reflection of his attitude and approach to life. The pictures on the walls of Victory’s shop show his interest in sports and there are also pictures of Victory, the winner of long and high jump prizes. As the story continues readers come to know of Victory’s club, the Wanderers, a cricket team, and of the members who are soon to leave it. We also learn of his passion for the sport. As the bench on which Braun and the stranger, Ross, sit collapses he realizes that Ross like him is also a sportsman and also a man who knows what he wants. The story on one level describes a simple incident in a barber shop and Victory’s way of living life. It also speaks of how leaving your homeland changes things, ‘as if they were never there’.

Age of Discovery Events Before the Industrial Revolution

Age of Discovery Events Before the Industrial Revolution Age of discovery-events leading up to the Industrial Revolution, commenting on the following: currency, colonialism, recession, globilism, financial market, management theories and approaches, relationship between the past and present, economy, technology, revolution and people that contributed to the revolution. This paper presents an overview of the factors within the so-called ‘Age of Discovery’ which engendered the industrial revolution in Britain. Although the industrial ‘revolution’ itself is usually periodised in the period 1750-1850, this is by no means a universally agreed principle. Some authorities, such as Berg, propose that what she terms the age of ‘manufactures’ in fact ranged from 1700-1820. (1) As Berg herself explains, ‘†¦industrial growth took place over the whole of the eighteenth century, not just the last quarter of it. There was a substantial growth in the whole range of traditional industries as well as the most obviously exciting cases of cotton and iron.’ (2) If this position is accepted, the age of discovery was contemporaneous with the industrial revolution. Whatever its precise chronological context, it is argued here that the provenance of the industrialization in Britain lays in a diffuse range of developm ents, many of which are far outside the timeframe of industrialization itself. The ideological framework was shaped during the Reformation and early modern period, which also saw the necessary financial and commercial developments take place. This in turn led to colonial expansion, technological growth, and was re-negotiated after foreign revolutions and cyclical recessions, all of which helped drive Britain’s impetus towards industrial expansion and self-sufficiency. The ideological and economic framework was arguably created by successive developments in sociology and financial infrastructure: the so called ‘elective’ or protestant affinity with the idea of capitalism, and the financial ‘revolution’ which followed on the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The supposed pre-disposition of early modern English society towards particular forms of commercial development was proposed by figures such as R.H.Tawney and Max Weber as an ‘elective affinity’ between the protestant ‘asceticism’ and the spirit of capitalism. (3). Although this remains little more than a much-discussed theory, the economic individualism which became institutionalized in Britain during the late seventeenth century is much more tangible. It is also, arguably, profoundly constructive of the industrial revolution. The foundation of the Bank of England, the East India Company, and the proliferation of other large joint-stock ventures su ch as the South Sea Company, gave Britain both the incentive and the financial power to push out into expanding markets, looking for new commodities and raw materials. As Carruthers explains, ‘Improvements in the system of public borrowing were important in explaining the growing financial strength of the English state†¦dramatic enough to be called a â€Å"Financial Revolution.† England was able to borrow more money†¦at lower rates of interest. The borrowing was mostly from domestic sources†¦thanks to the development of trade and commerce, there was in England a growing pool of available capital.’ (4) The setting up of a large sinking fund was partly justified on the grounds of the continuing need to fund military conflict with European and imperial rivals: ‘†¦improvements in revenues allowed for increased borrowing, and together they underwrote higher expenditures and a successful war effort.’ (5) Unfortunately, the British reali zed that even victorious campaigns were ruinously expensive, as Colley relates: ‘†¦the Seven Years War was the most dramatically successful war the British ever fought. They conquered Canada†¦they assumed for themselves the reputation of being the most aggressive, the most affluent, and the most swiftly expanding power in the world†¦yet the euphoria soon soured†¦there was the hard, unpleasant fact of the National Debt which led inexorably to the rise in taxation.’ (6) However, fiscal control by the British government was itself to be a factor in industrialisation. Britain’s overseas military successes factored in the related developments of colonialism and slavery: both had prominent roles in the capital formation which financed the industrial revolution. Simply put, capital generated in the colonies had been steadily accumulating in Britain since the late seventeenth century, and much of it went into joint-stock companies, investment houses, or often directly into the enterprise and fixed capital itself. Much of it also went back overseas: however, when it did so, it often did so to finance orders for British-manufactured goods which further fanned domestic industrialization. The ‘triangular trade’ in British manufacturing output, African slaves, and West Indian produce ultimately concluded in the accretion of private capital reserves back in the UK, all seeking dividends through land or other investment. As Williams points out, ‘†¦the industrial expansion required finance. What man in the first three-quarters o f the eighteenth century was better able to afford the ready capital than a West Indian sugar planter or a Liverpool slave trader?’ (7) Many of the best known names of Britain’s industrial and commercial scene were the net beneficiaries of capital generated overseas, from either colonial or plantation sources. As Williams again indicates, ‘†¦It was the capital accumulated from the West Indian trade that financed James Watt and the steam engine.’ Engineering luminaries such as Boulton and Watt received advances from established plantation interests, as did the architects of the Great Western Railway: one of the leading banking families to transfer capital from their slave owning activities directly into financial services were the Barclays, precursors to the modern day Barclays bank. (8.) The American War of Independence, the eventual abolition of British slavery, and increased competition form South America eventually meant that these forms of revenue fell into decline. However, as Bayly reports, they were soon replaced, not only by new forms of income from other territories, but by massive n ew markets for raw materials and Britain’s industrial output: ‘†¦by 1815 the nation could celebrate an astonishing, indeed providential, recovery of fortunes.’ (9) It has to be recognised however that the capital accumulating in Britain’s investment houses and stock market did not find its way into a managerially static or vernacular economic arena. The eighteenth century also saw the emergence of a range of management theories and theories of the firm, which were implicit in the rationalization of the commercial and manufacturing enterprise. As Williams puts it, ‘†¦laissez-faire became a practice in the new industry long before it penetrated the text books as orthodox economic theory.’ (10) Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus , Robert Torrens and others fashioned the discipline of economics from the remnants of the former ideas of political arithmetic, producing a technical and predictive framework which combined with new technology to give the UK a new form of economic staple. Classical economics has continued to be re-worked and refined ever since. As Cohen and Cyert point out, ‘For the purposes of the classical theory, the profit maximization assumption may be perfectly adequate. It is clear however, that as one asks a different set of questionsthe profit maximization assumption is neither necessary nor sufficient’ (11) It nevertheless continues to pervade contemporary economic thought. New ideas about the economy were not the only intellectual developments creating change in the age of discovery and industrialisation: they were accompanied by new political ideas with profound implications for British expansion. In Marxist parlance, England’s own ‘bourgeois revolution’ – the middle classes wresting power from monarchical or aristocratic control – had already passed in the form of the English Civil War. In the eighteenth century the American and French Revolutions helped determine the character of British growth by shaping domestic political institutions and providing a further impetus for overseas expansion. There was a sense in which the social, economic and political processes bound up with industrialisation had to break down the protocols associated with monarchical and aristocratic control before the transformation could really be achieved. Capitalism had to supplant mercantilism, tariffs and protectionism had to be removed, mar kets had to be open to competition, and the vested interests who opposed it had to be pushed aside. As Williams expresses it, Adam Smith’s economic tour de force in the Wealth of Nations was ‘ †¦the philosophical antecedent of the American Revolution. Both were twin products of the same cause, the brake applied by the mercantile system on the development of the productive power of England and her colonies.’ Consequently, he adds, ‘Adam Smith’s role was to berate intellectually â€Å"the mean and malignant expedients† of a system which the armies of George Washington dealt a mortal wound on the battlefields of America.’ (12) After the loss of the American colonies, the British government seized upon the idea that, in future, administration needed to be more focused on the needs of the market a the necessary accompaniment to industrial expansion. British goods needed markets, and British government needed expertise to obtain and reta in those markets. As Bayly observes, ‘The disasters of the American Civil War had produced an interlocking network of parliamentary committees with their own experts; so administrations also had to know more and be better prepared.’ (13) Britain’s industrial progress was, however, not uniform or linear in nature. As Bayly reports, ‘†¦deepened by cyclical depressions operating in a more integrated world economy and by the continuing splutter of local wars which often marked the advance of settler capitalism into indigenous societies.’ (14) Britain’s technological and managerial expertise could not insulate it from seemingly inevitable financial crises and recession which, as Hilton reports, plagued it throughout its period of supposed industrial might. ‘There had been monetary and commercial disorders in the eighteenth century†¦1788, 1793, 1797†¦but nothing to compare with the crises of 1825-6, 1837-9, 1847-8, 1857, and 1866.’ Perhaps more important than the empirical details of these crises was their impact upon economic and social thinking, and in particular the way in which blame was apportioned for such disasters. A Hilton again explains, ‘†¦contemp orary analysis concentrated on two†¦types of explanation†¦.monetary mismanagement by government or Bank of England, and human avarice and greed.’ (15) The deep and pernicious nature of these crises eventually prompted the creation of the economic governance which still prevails today. In the 1770’s, the Bank of England note replaced the private bank notes which had circulated previously. (16). However, a more unified financial system meant that financial crises were themselves more pervasive and all-embracing. Limited liability legislation, as well as regulation of monopolies, mergers, and competition, helped protect individuals from the worst effects of economic downturns. What the industrial revolution and associated market creation implied for the UK business community was a increasingly close relationship with a globalizing economy. The enormous wealth created by this – for some individuals – meant that the economy was now vulnerable to uphe avals far beyond the control of the London stock market or government. This, arguably, encapsulates the single clearest link between the society which shaped the industrial revolution and contemporary social conditions: i.e., the individuals whose contributions are most important to industrialization were those with the least stake in its benefits. Academic debates as to whether or not a genuine ‘class consciousness’ was engendered by the industrial revolution are, ultimately, inconclusive. Few can realistically deny, however, that industrialisation demanded a massive influx of skilled, semi-skilled, but overwhelmingly unskilled labour, whom technological production could deprive of a skilled wage. As Gray points out, ‘Industrial change was associated with crises of gender and class relations, and struggles over factory regulation can be seen in the context of a gendered class consciousness.’ (17). In other words, both men and women realized that their livelihoods and earning power in an industrial context depended upon whether or not their work was defined as skilled. De-skilling was, it may be argued, the necessary precursor to the enormous industrial profits generated in the factory system: significant surplus value, the disparity between the amount spent to produce an item, and the amount it sold for – could only be maintained at a realistic level if costs were low and margins were wide. It was therefore no accident that unskilled female and child labour were highly significant in populating the new factory system which remains the emblematic representation of the industrial revolution in Britain. The same processes of de-skilling, and an essentially exploitative relationship, arguably feature in the new globalization taking place in the contemporary economy. It is interesting to speculate on whether these common relations of production, the taproot of collectivized and organized labour movements, will produce a new variant on the trade unionism thrown up by the domestic British industrial revo lution. The same may be asked of official intervention in the manufacturing process. As Gray points out, ‘Attempts to regulate factory employment can be traced back, almost to the beginnings of factory production itself. The restructuring of labour markets and employment relations during†¦.indutrialisation was accompanied by a series of overlapping debates about protective labour laws, the poor laws and statutory or customary controls over wages, prices, and commercial practice.’ (18) This historical process is arguably on-going, as successive waves of de-skilled labour are moved around the globalizing economy to meet fluctuating demand, often in uncontrolled conditions. The practices of child and female labour may have stopped in the domestic economy, but they have by no means been eliminated from the global arena. This is notwithstanding the appearance of ‘Third Way’ economics, and the supposed elimination of class difference. Footnotes 1.) Berg, M., (1994), The Age of Manufactures, 1700-1820, Routledge, London, p.2. 2.) Ibid., p.281. 3.) Robertson, H.M., (1933), Aspects of the Rise of Economic Liberalism: A Criticism of Max Weber and His School, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p.208. 4.) Carruthers, B.G., (1996), City of Capital: Politics and Markets in the English Financial Revolution, Princeton University Press, NJ, p.71. 5.) Ibid., p.69. 6.) Colley, L., (1992), Britons: Forging the Nation, 1707-1837, Pimlico, London.  p.101 7.) Williams, E., (1964), Capitalism and Slavery, Andre Deutsch, London. p.98. 8.) Ibid., pp.101-105. 9.) Bayly, C.A., (1989), Imperial Meridian: The British Empire and the World, 1780-1830, Longman, London, p.3. 10.) Williams, op.cit., p.106. 11.) Cohen, K.J., and Cyert, R.M., (1965), Theory of the Firm: Resource Allocation in a Market Economy , Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 12.) Williams, op.cit., p.107. 13.) Bayly, op.cit., p.161. 14. ) Bayly, C.A., (1989), Imperial Meridian: The British Empire and the World, 1780-1830, Longman, London, p.238. 15.) Hilton, B., (1988), The Age of Atonement: the influence of Evangelicalism on Social and Economic Thought, 1783-1865, Clarendon Press, Oxford, p.125. 16.) Bayly, op.cit., p.116. 17.) Gray, R.Q., (1996), The Factory Question and Industrial England, 1830-1860, Cambridge University Press, Canbridge, p.24. 18.) ibid., p.21. Bibliography Bayly, C.A., (1989), Imperial Meridian: The British Empire and the World, 1780-1830, Longman, London. Berg, M., (1994), The Age of Manufactures, 1700-1820, Routledge, London. Carruthers, B.G., (1996), City of Capital: Politics and Markets in the English Financial Revolution, Princeton University Press, NJ. Cohen, K.J., and Cyert, R.M., (1965), Theory of the Firm: Resource Allocation in a Market Economy , Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Colley, L., (1992), Britons: Forging the Nation, 1707-1837, Pimlico, London. Gray, R.Q., (1996), The Factory Question and Industrial England, 1830-1860, Cambridge University Press, Canbridge. Hilton, B., (1988), The Age of Atonement: the influence of Evangelicalism on Social and Economic Thought, 1783-1865, Clarendon Press, Oxford. Jennings, H., (1985), Pandemonium: the Coming of the Machine as Seen by Contemporary Observers, Picador, London. Robertson, H.M., (1933), Aspects of the Rise of Economic Liberalism: A Criticism of Max Weber and His School, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Williams, E., (1964), Capitalism and Slavery, Andre Deutsch, London.

Charlie Chaplin :: essays research papers

When Charlie Chaplin was a little boy, a sheep escaped on its way to a slaughterhouse near where he lived. Charlie and other youngsters chased the sheep around, laughing and having fun. But when it was taken away, Charlie realized the sad finality of death and cried to his mother. That incident paved the way for the theme of Charlie’s future filmmaking career. Comedy mixed with pathos made perfect sense to him. He was also an everyman character, a lost soul, a wanderer - he embodied the American soul. He could be anyone. Chaplin was born Sir Charles Chaplin after his father on April sixteenth, 1989. His mother, Hannah Chaplin, was often put in mental houses and his brother Sydney and him were put into children’s workhouses. His father whom he almost never saw died of alcoholism. Charlie’s childhooCharlie directed and produced it. Its length is six reels, roughly an hour long. The Kid expertly showed Charlie’s use of pathos in his work, if perhaps too much pathos this time The Gold Rush. This 1925 film was a favorite of Chaplin’s. Charlie plays a lone prospector on a gold seeking quest in the Sierra Nevadas. Seeing shelter, he stumbles into a cabin where the villainous Black Larson lives. Black Larson doesn’t like this new guest and tells him to leave, rifle in hand. Charlie tries to leave, but a hilarious wind keeps blowing him back into the cabin. During this escapade in blows another luckier prospector, Big Jim McKay. Jim and Larson fight, and Larson goes off to find food for the trio. Meanwhile, the starving Charlie and Jim have the trademark meal of Charlie’s cooked boot. In this scene, Charlie eats the boot like it were a fine meal at a fine restaurant, twirling the laces around a fork like spaghetti. Later on they bid farewell, and Charlie finds a town with a love interest of his, Georgia. He invites her to a New Years Eve dinner, which she doesn’t come to. At the dinner, we see Charlie dozed off at the table, and he dreams that the Georgia came. Here is another trademark scene, the dance of the dinner rolls. Charlie spears two dinner rolls with his fork, and bowing his head down over them, he makes them dance and twirl. Big Jim shows up at the town now, and sees Charlie, telling him if he they find Black Larson’s cabin, they will find gold and be rich.

Aristotle’s Ideas in the Modern Work Environment

Aristotle in the Modern Work Environment In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, every point, every major idea, and every argument made, is all connected back to the concept that every action seeks an ultimate good. Aristotle felt that there is an intrinsic good that humans aim for and that there is this â€Å"good life† we all mean to have. However, what does it mean to be good? That means something different to everyone; we all inhabit many different roles in our day to day lives, whether we strive to be a good parent, a good sibling, a good student, a good citizen, or a good leader.All emphasize the importance of our own well-being, as well as that of others, and the greater community as a whole. For the purpose of this paper, the focus will be on work relationships, what it means to promote a good work environment, and how Aristotle's ideas relate to the modern work community. First, we will examine the characteristics of a great place to work, and then we will examine how each of Aristotle's main ideas on civic relationships relate to these modern work relationships.Whether the association is that of an employee and an employer, a buyer and a seller, or even a manager and an investor, each relationship has common business ideas and common human needs. Sometimes companies get so caught up in the business ideas that the human needs become null. However, the most successful companies are the ones who are able to excel at both the business practices as well the care of their employees. So what defines a â€Å"great† place to work?Is it the business with the most elaborate holiday parties, the one with the highest paid employees, or perhaps is it the business that places value in the intangibles, such as trust, communication, and strong leadership? To define the traits of a positive work environment, we will examine the Great Place to Work website, who every year, partners with 5,000 plus companies and conducts a survey to find out exactly what a great workplace means. Essentially, a great work environment can be defined by three main factors; employees trust the people they work for, they have pride in what they do, and they enjoy the people they work with.Of these three, it is the mutual trust that employees and employers have in one another that sets the foundation for a successful company. An employer can build trust with their workers by having credibility for the work output and treating them with respect and fairness. This in turn, creates a loyal employee who is dedicated to producing their highest quality of work as well as motivating others to do the same. Whether the business is a small ma-pop store, or a Fortune 500 corporation, all have the ability to achieve a cohesive work environment.The best of both an employee and an employer can be explained by Aristotle's views on happiness, the virtues and deliberation, justice, and friendship. All are interconnected, and when applied to a professional setting, help to promot e an work environment that is beneficial for the company, but more importantly, the human good. Aristotle's most important concept is that of human happiness because happiness in and of itself was reaching the end good. According to him, humans have three parts to their soul.The first is the most basic, a vegetative state in which all living things share in which we are satisfying our most basic of needs. The next level is that reason that is grounded in emotion. The two are grounded in each other, and therefore, can be swayed by each other, such in that our emotions can influence our reason. Aristotle believed that true happiness was engaging the highest activity of the soul, our capacity for thought. He believed that happiness was â€Å"the human good [that proves to be] the activity of the soul in accord with virtue. In other words, a person living life to the fullest was the person pursuing their purpose in life with action, and reaching a certain amount of excellence in that p urpose. In turn, that will bring a true state of happiness. The best way to bring about this state of individual happiness is through community. In terms of a business community, it is the responsibility of the leaders to promote an environment that focuses on establishing a worker's strength, discovering his or her potential, and then developing that potential in order to fulfill that person's purpose.In the business world, we see people all the time who feel their work is not fulfilling and lacking in purpose. These are also the kinds of people we see that show up to work and complete the bare minimum necessary for obtaining their paycheck. An employer who wants to have a successful company needs to promote the kind of work that is in their employees' best interests and allows them to feel useful each and every day. A happy employee will be more invested in the business's day to day operations, as well as the overall success of the organization.The discussion of happiness leads to Aristotle's next major ideas, those of the virtues and deliberation. A happy person will be someone who lives in accordance with the virtues. He is neither too much of one thing, or not enough of another, he is in the middle of two extremes. Aristotle explained the virtues to be a perception of the right thing to do or the appropriate response when faced with a certain situations. The good decision lies in the virtue that is between what Aristotle called the â€Å"vices of excess† and the â€Å"vices of deficiency. For example, cowardliness would be a vice of deficiency, foolhardiness would be a vice of excess, and courage in the middle of these two would be the right decision. Aristotle's virtues can be broken down in two ways: intellectually and morally. Intellectual virtue comes from education, which must be taught over a length of time. Moral virtue, on the other hand, comes from habit. They are virtues that need to be learned, and that is accomplished by actually pract icing it. People become virtuous by performing virtuous acts, and the more they are practiced, the more the virtue becomes a part of one's disposition.Although moral virtues are reactions due to habit or practice to respond in certain ways, Aristotle believed virtues are cultivated through deliberation. One must think about the situation he or she is in, and contemplate as to what good could be achieved in that situation. In deliberation, one must consider the â€Å"ends† he or she is trying to ultimately reach, and make a decision about the best way to go about achieving that end result. Virtues and the deliberative process are involved everyday in the business world.A person's virtues guide his decisions, and decisions have to be made on a daily basis when it comes to a business's operations, finances, resources, customers, or even future goals. A company therefore needs their leader to be virtuous in order to make the kinds of decisions that will be in everyone's best inte rest. A leader that is virtuous will desire to be good and do good, therefore he will make decisions that are fair. This engages one of the fundamental traits of a Great Place to Work, and that is the leader promotes an connection based on trust between himself and his employees.When employees believe their boss is contemplating the best course of action when faced with a certain situation, they can trust him to make a sound and virtuous judgment. The trust that is built here translates into respect for their superiors, and when employees respect the people they work for, the entire organization is given the opportunity to run smoothly and cohesively. Another of Aristotle's virtues that he specifically singles out is justice. It includes all other virtues under its umbrella, because to be just is to consider all the other virtues and act in a virtuous way.In this case, he is not describing the kind of justice to exact on a criminal, but rather justice in that a person gets what he d eserves. Justice must maintain a certain balance in which advantages and disadvantages are equal. In Aristotle's opinion, greed or the desire to have more than one’s due counteracts his idea of distributive justice. In this concept, wealth among the community would be spread out among its members, with everyone receiving their fair share according to their virtue. He believed the economy was not driven by a â€Å"guiding hand† but by reciprocity.A successful economy distributes goods not to satisfy an individual's best interest, but to facilitate exchanges within the community, with the ultimate goal being people living the life they want in accordance with their virtues. The most virtuous people make the most significant contributions to the community, and therefore are of the highest merit. His concept of distributive justice enables the greatest privilege to go to those with the most virtue, and not those with the most money, the most power, or the most inside conne ctions.The best places to work are the ones that are most just. They exhibit all the virtues in the best sense, but most of all, the people within the company benefit from an environment of fairness, for both the employees and the employers. In order to maintain the balance of justice, not one employee is treated with an unfair share of disadvantages and therefore carries too much of a burden. On the other hand, not one employee enjoys an unfair share of advantages and therefore is overly privileged.Everyone is cooperating together and this kind of justice only facilitates the inner workings of a business in a way that contributes to the overall success of the company. It also promotes a fair merit-based system that rewards promotions and other benefits fairly. If employees know that privileges will be handed down based on highest merit, and not unfairly based on seniority, or inside connections, they will be motivated to work hard and produce their best work, which in the end, only builds a more successful business.The last of Aristotle's main ideas we will discuss is friendship, and how in a certain way it connects all of Aristotle's main ideas together. Very simply put, friendship can be defined as wishing each other well and there being a mutual awareness of good will between two individuals. Aristotle then classifies three types of friendships: those based in utility, those based in pleasure, and those based in character. A friendship based in utility, occurs when two people can benefit from each other. By doing the same thing, both gain an equal advantage in the relationship.This kind of friendship is a temporary situation because it is based in two individuals being useful to each other, rather than any enjoyment they have it the person. If the usefulness ends, the purpose of the relationship disappears, and therefore so does the relationship itself. A friendship for pleasure happens when two people enjoy the other's company and have a common interest i n doing a certain activity together. In this case, doing the activity in the company of another makes the activity more enjoyable than if it had be done alone.This kind of friendship is also temporary because the relationship lasts only as long as the two individuals share the common interest. The strongest and most enduring of friendships are also the rarest kind, and those are friendships based in character. This relationship occurs when two people admire the quality of the other person and find common ground in their virtues. They develop a long-lasting friendship that develops over time as they get to know one another. It is a very selfless kind of relationship as there are no motivating factors these individuals seek in one another.They accept each other for who they are and encourage each other to find the â€Å"goodness† in what they pursue. Friendships of character connect the ideas of virtue, justice, and happiness together. The basis of a good friend is that the fri end is good in and of himself. He realizes his best self in accordance with the virtues, and will encourage a friend of similar virtue to seek his best self. He who acts in accordance with all the virtues is just, and justice in its fullest sense is friendliness. Both justice and friendliness inhabit the idea of distributive justice.Not in an economical sense, but friends of utility, pleasure, or goodness equally exchange advantages consistent with the type of friendship they share. If there is an unequal distribution of disadvantages in friendships of utility or pleasure, then the relationship will disintegrate. Therefore, among true friends that is based on character, there is no need for justice. Those who actively engage in friendships are also the happiest. Humans are not meant to live in solitude, and it is by engaging those around them and participating in the community that one will find the good in others, the good in the community, and the good in life.Friendship in the wo rkplace bolsters the idea of camaraderie among employees and employers. When people enjoy the other people they work with, they're surrounded by a positive environment that enables them to work at their highest potential. this doesn't mean that people's work environments have to be filled with their best friends, but instead should feel a friendliness towards their peers out of a sharing their professional lives together and a common interest to meet their business goals.The most likely of friendships to be found in a work environment are friendships of utility or pleasure. Every person within an organization may have separate goals, but all share the same goal of seeing the company do well. The success of the business will benefit everyone as long as they work together. It's also likely that people within the same line of business will share some of the same interests. This commonality between workers can be the foundation for them to work together effectively and support each othe r in their work.The rarest kind of work friendship would be that based in character. It is likely that you may share some of the same professional values, but people are so different that it's rare to come together on a work platform and build a lasting relationship. However, hopefully people within the business can at least appreciate the quality of their peers and superiors, even if they don't fully admire them. The best kinds of work environments are the one that exhibit all Aristotle's main ideas, such as happiness, virtue, deliberation, justice, and friendship, to their fullest.Environments that remain open to dialogue and respect, that recognize differences among people as a unifying force rather than a dividing one and utilize people's strengths to their greatest potential are the kind of work environments that Aristotle would promote. While it may be hard for a business to maintain the best environment all the time, as long as it stays true to its ethical business principles , and as long as its leaders strive to meet the human needs of its employees and well as the goals of the company, then I would consider that a great place to work.

Venus de Willendorf vs. Barbie

Venus de Willendorf is a statuette that first appeared during the Upper Paleolithic period. The exaggerated carvings of the body parts were how the artists of that time viewed women, fat and fertile. History often takes from the past to reinvent the future. Today’s society has the Barbie doll. Ruth Handler created it in 1959. Its long legs and slim figure has been worship by so many, that real women have undergone intense cosmetic surgeries to resemble the doll. Both figurines have gained notoriety based on the representation of women of their era, displayed their own meaning of beauty and cultures’ perception of it. Venus de Willendorf Venus de Willendorf, also known as the Woman of Willendorf, is a type of art statuette that was discovered sum 25,000 years ago. It was discovered in 1908 by the banks of the Danube River near the town of Willendorf in Austria during diggings led by Josef Szombathy. The statuette was carved from a rare oolitic (stone eggs) limestone using a flint tool. This particular type of stone was not available in the area it was located in, thus concluding the statuette was not created locally. Standing 4 3/8 inches (11. 1 centimeters) tall, the figurine is noticeably rounded. It displays obese and voluptuous women’s body parts. It has large pendulous breast as well as a large middle section, thighs, and a pronounced posterior. Her arms are thin and rested high on her breast. There is a braided pattern around the top of the head. Some archeologists identify it as the hair while others say it is a woven hat. The vulva is very detailed, which led scholars to believe the original sculptor had some knowledge about human anatomy. The statuette does not have feet, so it cannot stand on its own. In addition, it does not have facial features, which is consistent with others figures from that era there were found. The large breasts and abdomen along with the detailed nature of the vulva have caused people to believe the Venus is indeed a fertility symbol. The people who carved this statuette lived in a stone-age environment. Fatness and fertility was highly desirable during that time. The Venus was said to have a structure of sexually charged swollen shapes, an epitome of abundant fertility and of eternal sex. She was the woman of all women. For Paleolithic people, accentuating the parts that dealt with reproduction mattered most in the figurines, which is why the breasts and pelvic area were exaggerated most, unlike the buttocks. The artist’s goal was to draw the most attention to those parts. During this era, food was scare so obesity was unlikely. This led artists to believe the sculptor worked from a model, creating a body worth ritualization. Mattel ® Barbie Over the years, Barbie, or Barbie doll, has become a household name for many American families, as well as throughout the world. So, where the idea of Barbie derive? While watching her young daughter play with paper dolls, Ruth Handler noticed she was using her infant like dolls to play adult roles. She shared the idea of creating an adult doll to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of Mattel, who was less than impressed. After coming across a German toy doll called Bild Lilli during her stay in Europe, Handler was determined to make her idea a reality. In March 1959, Barbie, named after Handler’s daughter, Barbara, was born. Barbie stands a slender 11 ? tall, with long legs, perky breasts, high buttocks, flat stomach, barely there hips, and thighs, displaying an exaggerated hourglass figure. She has long thin arms and her feet are created for wearing high heels. She has long flowing hair with a slender face, long neck, high cheekbone, slanted big blue eyes, and comes wearing make-up. There has been much criticism over Barbie’s size. If her measurements were created in human form, the woman would be 5 feet, 9 inches, measuring 36-18-33, a figure impossible to have or achieve naturally. This known fact created a lot of controversy amongst consumers and anorexia groups. Studies show the average size of an American woman is a size 14, the exact opposite of Barbie. Barbie displays the â€Å"ideal† look of modern culture. Paleolithic Culture vs. Modern Culture. The Paleolithic era is the earliest period of human development that began roughly 2 million years ago. There are three successive divisions of the Paleolithic era: Lower, Middle, and Upper. The most notable feature of that time was evolution of the human species, which went from looking like an ape to more humanlike features, which was a very slow process. The Upper Paleolithic era is known for its increased creations of art and ornaments. One of the most famous Venus figurines to come from that era was the Venus of Willendorf. Barbie has allowed little girls to be more feminine and display etiquette. While some consumers see this as a great thing, naysayers believe it hinders, causing them not to want to play outside, get dirty, and depend on men to do the hard work. At the same time, Barbie has displayed women can have any kind of job. She has more than eighty jobs. In addition to being a model and fashion designer, Career Barbie has been a veterinarian, firefighter, astronaut, nurse, and politician. Because Barbie comes with so many accessories, parents believe it may give little girls a shallow mindset that materialistic items are what matter most. During the Paleolithic culture, men were the workers and women took care of home. Barbie has over eighty jobs, thus showing gender equality among careers. In today’s world, women make up a larger percent of employed individuals. Although the figurines display very different characteristics, both are considered beautiful and desirable within their respective cultures. The Venus was a representation of the women of their time and Barbie is a representation of the ideal woman, according to critics. The main differences between both figurines are their sizes and the eras they were discovered or created. The Venus is naked, much like the women of the Stone Age while Barbie comes with hundreds of accessories and clothes. In Often times, history repeats itself and it shows in the creations of these statuettes. Effects on how Society Views Women The Venus de Willendorf as always maintain her size and exaggerated features, for the meaning behind them is unparalleled. Throughout the decades, Barbie has evolved, taking on a more diverse look to appeal to different nationalities, such Native American, African American, Hispanic, Oriental, and more. While the color and some facial features are altered to resemble the people of each ethnicity, one thing has remained the same and that is her unrealistic size. Theories about the usability of the Venus figurines were said to involve religion while other observers saw it as a sex toy for men. As for Barbie, she has always been the definition of beauty, what little girls and some adult women aspire to look like. In today’s culture, thinner women are considered better looking than full-figured women, thus creating a void between women because of their sizes. This has been an ongoing stereotype for quite some time. It has even led to bullying throughout our schools. Critiques feel instead of displaying Barbie in the thinnest form, she should be created in different sizes, showing that beauty does not define your size. Conclusion The Venue of Willendorf, commonly known to some as Nude Woman, is on display at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna. She sits in a glass case and the only thing that allows it to show is the light illuminated from above. The case is places within what looks to be a resemblance of a temple that reads, Venus von Willendorf. Despite the controversies surrounding the perception of Barbie, it continues to be the world’s bestselling doll. The collection of Barbie includes Vintage Barbie, Pop Culture Barbie, Holiday Barbie, Malibu Barbie, and the list goes on. Barbie’s appearance has changed over the years, with the exception of her body shape, of course. It is how we identify her. The same goes for the Venus and her exaggerated curves. Both figures had played a pivotal role in how people of their time view a beautiful woman. Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The sooner we accept this notion, the more we can build up confidence in little girls who will someone day grow to become women.ReferencesGerber, R. (2009). Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her. HarperCollins. McElvaine, R. S. (2000). Eve's Seed: Biology, the Sexes, and the Course of History. McGraw-Hill. Rogers, M. F. (1999). Barbie Culture. SAGE Publications.Sayre, Henry M. (2012). Discovering the Humanities, 3rd Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions. Enger, Crissi. (n.d.). Types of Barbie. eH ow. Retrieved April 11, 2013 from http://www.ehow.com/facts_5491736_types-barbie.html Witcombe, Christopher. (n.d.).The Venus of Willendorf. Art History Resources. Retrieved from March 12, 2013 from http://arthistoryresources.net/willendorf/willendorfwoman.html

Civilization the Romans Essays

Civilization the Romans Essays Civilization the Romans Essay Civilization the Romans Essay Ancient Rome civilization is one of the classical antiquities beside ancient Greece. It grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula 10th century BC. It cantered on city of Rome and located along the Mediterranean Sea. It became one of the largest empires in the ancient world. Body Law Ancient Romans had developed an excellent law system. Until the end of the 18th century, most of Western Europe used this legal system. The root of Romans Law is called Twelve Tables. Today, Roman law is no longer applied in legal practice. However, Roman law is indispensable to understand the legal systems of today. Language Latin was the native language if the Romans. It was an Italic language the grammar relies little on word order, conveying meaning through a system of affixes attached to word stems. Its alphabet was based on the Etruscan alphabet, which was in turn based on the Greek alphabet. It consists almost entirely of Classical Latin. Roman Empire spoken language was Vulgar Latin, which significantly differed from Classical Latin in grammar and vocabulary, and eventually in pronunciation. Technology The Romans had impressive technological. The most outstanding parts are Romans civil engineering and military engineering. Romans use those technologies to construction hundreds of roads, bridge, aqueducts, baths, theatres and arenas. Even today, Colosseum, Pont du Gard, and Pantheon, still remain as testaments to Romans engineering and culture. Conclusion Ancient Rome civilization contributed greatly to the development of law, language and technology in the Western world and its history continues to have a major influence on the world today. The Roman civilization was one of the greatest civilizations in ancient world and it has major impacts on the world today.

Writing Guide on How to Write a Law Essay

Writing Guide on How to Write a Law Essay An essay is a form of an academic activity that allows a professor to evaluate the student’s knowledge on the studied subject. Taking a degree in law? Or studying law as a part of course at high school or college? No matter what is the reason why you need to write a law essay, focus on this academic activity to the fullest extent. Essay writing as an academic activity offers many advantages. Some of them are: You learn to express ideas in a concise and well-structured manner; You increase your knowledge through reliable sources of information; You explore new topics for essays that may be quite specific to the field of study; You build up your critical and analytical thinking skills, and so on. In addition to all the benefits mentioned before, you have the chance to improve your academic performance by writing a good essay in Law. Get motivated to write an essay in Law right now? Don’t omit this law essay writing guide and read it to the end to make no mistake in your essay writing. What You Should Know about Essays in Law Remember you can’t start writing any essay without knowing what type of essays you are required to write. Being quite a specific and the most spread form of the academic activity, essays are divided into different categories. The main types of essays are as follows: Narrative, Descriptive, Expository, Persuasive. Following the Harvard Law School curriculum, a series of writing and research projects is based on legal reasoning. It means that the most popular types of essays are expository and persuasive ones. While expository essays require the exploration of a certain law topic by the use of facts, statistics, and examples, the persuasive essays imply the â€Å"persuasion of a reader’ as the core aim of the activity by the presentation of facts and logical conclusions. Can I Choose Any Topic for My Law Essay? Answers from Our Writers The initial step for good writing any kind of academic paper is choosing a topic. As opposed to term papers, essays can be focused on a less extended range of topics to explore. And in contrast to research papers, essays require such topics that a student can present the analytical skills and own thoughts on the matter of discussion. Some instructors usually suggest a list of topics in accordance with the course readings and materials. But sometimes some professors allow students to brainstorm their ideas and choose any topic he/she would like to investigate. Certainly, the process of choosing the essay topic is much easier when a student already has a list of topics. However, if this does not happen to you, feel free to check the course materials on your own and find a topic you would like to write about. First of all, the topic should be appropriate for the legal studies course. Secondly, you should understand what to focus on while persuading the reader or simply giving an opinion. Thirdly, you should present a sufficient number of academic literature or, in other words, credible sources which prove your opinion on the subject matter. 10 Appropriate Topics Vs. 5 Inappropriate Topics for Your Law Essay The following list of topics has a purpose to guide you in the right direction by means of 10 possible topics for your essays on the law studies course: School Bullying: Will the Legislation of Bullying Laws Solve the Problem of School Bullying? Pros and Cons of Marriage: Do Civil Couples and Married Couples Have Similar Rights Today? Legislation on Prohibiting Infidelity: Is the Enactment of Such Laws Appropriate Nowadays? Juvenile Offenders Vs. Adult Offenders: Are They Punished Equally by Law? Trade of Marijuana or Any Other Drug: Legalize or Not? Sex Discrimination in Law Professions: Is It Top-of-the-Agenda? Is There a Need to Create Specific Legislation Aimed to Regulate the Religious Freedom? 5 Advantages of the Legalization of the Same-Sex Marriages? How to Improve the Law System to Prevent Racism in the Workplace? What Changes Should Be Made in the Regulation of Laws to Prevent Sexism in the Society? The above-mentioned topics are simply examples, yet they can be modified according to your own preferences. Additionally, here are some topics which are not appropriate for the law paper. Most of them are simply irrelevant, unethical or do not require the depth of thought: The Income Tax and Its History; Is the Capital Punishment Appropriate in the 21st Century? Wage Price Controls During the Era of President Nixon; How Tax Levels Influence the Economic Growth; The History of the Voting Procedures. How to Write a Title for My Law Essay to Catch an Eye While writing a title for an essay, you should take into consideration the following functions of a title: Titles inform about what a piece of writing is going to cover; Titles grab the reader’s attention (and only well-invented titles are able to perform it!); Titles reflect on the purpose and tone of writing; Titles contain some keywords that simplify the access to a piece of writing through an online/computer search. Let’s work with the title, â€Å"Legal Regulation of Religious Freedom† Besides providing the key concepts used in the law essay, there is nothing more valuable for a good title to attract the reader’s attention. Only the professor, who has to read an essay, will read it. It does not allow the professor understand the purpose and tone of writing, the student’s attitude towards the problem. Instead, the title â€Å"Why Is Specific Legislation Important for the Regulation of the Religious Freedom?† explains the writer’s attitude and informs the reader concisely about the concepts used in the essay. Additionally, if you are interested in attracting attention to your essay, make it with the help of some words like ‘today’, ‘nowadays’, ‘current’, ‘recent’, etc. Know why it may work for you? The reader can conclude that you write on the modern situation that is closer to him than the issue relevant to the Aristotles era. At least, you can always look at the legal issues from various time perspectives comparing them. It is also interesting to follow. Don’t forget to mention it in your essay title. How to Create a Valid Thesis Statement for My Law Essay The thesis statement is the next detail of any academic form of writing which contains the core concept the writer is going to persuade the reader in or just explain it. The thesis statement becomes substantial when it answers the main question of the topic the student explores. Besides, a well-developed thesis statement allows the reader to understand what the paper will reveal them if they decide to familiarize with it. In the topic â€Å"Why Is Specific Legislation Important for the Regulation of the Religious Freedom,† the thesis statement may sound as following: â€Å"The legislation associated with the regulation of the religious freedom is important as it prevents the emergence of dangerous religious groups.† Only stating that the laws on the regulation of the religious freedom are important is not enough as the main function of the thesis statement is the presentation of reasons that prove one’s attitude towards the issue and serve as evidence for the per suading process. Keeping that in mind, the following algorithm appears to be effective while writing a valid thesis statement: Ask a question: Should the government pass laws which regulate the religious freedom? Answer the question: The government should initiate the laws that regulate the religious freedom. Add the reasons that explain the above-mentioned idea: The government should initiate the laws which regulate the religious freedom because such laws prevent the emergence of dangerous religious groups and cults. In the process of writing, the thesis statement can be slightly changed due to the addition of information that proves or refutes the basic idea of the essay. Work on the thesis statement as required. Where to Search for Credible Sources of Information for My Law Essay? While writing an academic paper, it is advisable for a student to use additional sources besides the course materials. The credible information sources allow the law students to find some case decisions from courts, legal acts and regulations, law reports and journals, constitutions, treaties, and so on. All these sources can be found at: HeinOnline allows the students search for credible law articles; Westlaw offers a variety of court cases; LexisNexis for Law Schools provides the legal, government, business and high-tech information sources. Watch the tutorial on how to use one of the given sources: Additionally, you can consult Google Books or Google Scholar to find the necessary books and peer-reviewed articles online. Meanwhile, a student can categorize the sources by their importance. For instance, some law articles and law digests contain the most valuable information, while such sources as textbooks, editorials, and encyclopedias are considered less important in terms of being a proof for the student’s argumentation. It is recommended to familiarize with the information in the sources to examine facts and explore the question of the essay. At the same time, a student can find the arguments that prove his or her position towards the question or refute it. How to Outline My Law Essay? Logically! Usually, a law essay contains the same parts as any other academic text does. The traditional essay consists of five parts which are an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introductory part usually aims at familiarizing the reader with the general information about the topic and the issue. For instance, the introduction to the essay â€Å"Why Is Specific Legislation Important for the Regulation of the Religious Freedom† may contain the information about the history of the religious freedom being regulated by law. The thesis statement is usually the last sentence of the introduction. The body paragraphs present the explanation of the reasons mentioned in the thesis statement. As for the analyzed topic connected to the religious freedom, the body paragraphs may present some court cases which prove that the lack of religious control leads to the increase of criminal activities among some religious groups that promote human sacrifices. The more evidence the student finds, the more valid his or her arguments become. While exploring the court cases and real historical evidence, a student should ask himself or herself a â€Å"What if†¦?† question; for instance, â€Å"What if the law which demands all churches be legalized and controls all their activities existed?† Suggesting a possible scenario will allow the student to demonstrate the need for the regulation of the religious freedom. One of the body paragraphs for the essay which reveals the topic associated with the regulation of the religious freedom may sound as the following: The implementation of appropriate laws which regulate the religious activity is crucial in order to define whether the new religious groups are dangerous or not. For instance, the activities of the Hernandez Brothers’ cult could have been identified timely, and that could have saved the life of victims if only the police were obliged to check the activities of all the existing religious groups. With that in mind, the need to regulate the religious freedom and intervene in any sort of suspicious religious activity is necessary in order to prevent the spread of criminal acts. Writing a body paragraph may appear tricky for a student at first. However, the process is actually clear. First of all, the body paragraph contains such elements as a topic sentence, one or more details (pieces of evidence), and a concluding sentence. A topic sentence is usually one of the reasons mentioned in the thesis statement, while details are evidence for the reason, and a concluding sentence is a part that summarizes the importance of the discussed argument. The conclusion is the last part of the essay that commonly demonstrates the results of the research and the study of the issue to the reader. The conclusive part usually contains the paraphrased thesis statement and the evidence for it. Checking the Grammar and Detecting Plagiarism After a student finishes writing the essay, it is advisable to check if the paper contains grammar mistakes and plagiarized parts. While checking the essay, a student should also check whether the text corresponds to the professors rubric as well as whether it consists of logically connected parts. Pay attention to the body paragraphs that should be presented in the proper order. A student may read the paper out loud or ask someone to do it. This way help you detect some mistakes that are missed while only reading. Additionally, the word count and the number of pages should also correspond to the paper instructions as well as the citation format should do. Meanwhile, using the additional software aimed at effective grammar checking and plagiarism detection is highly recommended. One of the most effective modern grammar checkers is Grammarly. The program is free to use. Don’t hesitate to benefit from using it on your own. At the same time, the program not only detects mistakes but also improves the academic writing skills. The most efficient software which detects plagiarism is Turnitin. It is probably the most popular tool for detecting plagiarism in the American university surroundings. What Can Help Me Write My Essay in Law? Each educational institution has writing centers which can provide professional advice on the academic writing. However, if a student decides to find information by himself or herself, then many guiding books on the academic writing appear to be helpful in this case. Such sources are divided into various categories starting from books on academic writing for international students to books for professional academic writers. There are many popular sources aimed at helping students with the academic writing process: The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth teaches one how to choose credible sources for the paper, find valid arguments for the reader’s persuasion, and how to generally build the logical text. Writing with Power by Peter Elbow is a guiding book on academic writing that explores various techniques that can improve one’s writing, for instance, the technique of free-writing. Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills by John M. Swales and Christine B. Feak is another book that may contribute to improving the quality of the academic texts. The source is one of the most significant guides on academic writing as it tells the reader about the stages of the writing process and how to organize it while presenting a set of rules and exercises in the field of academic writing. This guide will be helpful for you if you follow all the law essay writing tips immediately after reading them. So look through our advice on how to write an essay in Law and start writing it as required by your instructor properly and academically correctly!

Articles

In 1787. a group of representatives from the 13 colonies met all together to discuss the Articles of Confederations weaknesses and to make a new Constitution. They disputed, debated, and talked about It for 4 months until they created the U. S. Constitution. In my essay, I will discuss some weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and I will also discuss how they resolved It. I will also discuss some weaknesses that remained in the Constitution when it was passed. One of the Articles of Confederations weaknesses was that each state makes their wn money. It was difficult for the states to trade with each other. If the states used the same kind of money, it would encourage more trading between them which is easier than making their own money. Another weakness was that John Jay mentions that the new government would be fair and enough. Thereby, the people were saying that the weakness of the old government which was the Articles of Confederation was unorganized and not fair. It had no federal court system, so each state made up their own laws and had their wn courts which may have led to a corruption. One weakness that remained In the Constitution even when It was passed was that Thomas Jefferson mentions that the only important thing that was not in the Constitution was a Bill of Rights. So, the federalists promised to include a Bill of Rights In the constltuuon once It will pass. The Bill of Right were the first 10 amendments, which included the freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, etc Another weakness was that the Articles of Confederation had only one house of overnment, but the Constitution provides for fair representation in the government.

Functions of management and roles of management Assignment

Functions of management and roles of management - Assignment Example Furthermore, this paper intends to ascertain the primary reasons of McDonald’s behind securing a leading and most profitable fast-food restraint in the world (Sabharwa, 2012). Discussion With the advent of globalization and the rapid development in technology, it is very vital for every organization to adapt new techniques and strategies that would help them in maintaining and retaining a leading position in the market. Accordingly, McDonald’s is considered to be one of the leading fast-food restaurants in the world. The fast-food chain was established in the year 1940 in California USA. Currently, the fast-food chain has a total number of 34,000 stores across the world and it further intends to expand its number of stores in future. It is worth mentioning that at the initially the business faced many challenges from increasing competitors like Burger King and Subway. However, the effective management practice has embraced the fast-food chain to establish itself as a le ading and one of the most renowned fast-food brand around the world. The primary reason behind its success can be attributed to adaption and execution of modern management function within the organization. ... Planning Planning is an important task and is the first function of management. Good planning contributes towards making effective decisions in subsequent stages. Accordingly, McDonald’s has framed and implemented different marketing strategies to seek large customer base and loyalty. The prime focus of the fast-food chain has been to offer products at affordable prices. The fast-food chain has also emphasized on meeting the needs of children by increasing its product line especially meant for the children preferences and expectations. The fast-food chain widely considers promotional activities as an effective tool for increasing its competitiveness at global market segment. The fast-food chain has uses slogans such as â€Å"We love to see you smile,† â€Å"I’m Lovin’ it,† and â€Å"Food, Folks, and Fun,† among others as a medium for promoting its product and services. Another important component of the fast-food chain has been its ability to change its strategies quickly according to the changing business environment (Conrad, Grover, Vinciguerra & McKnight, 2009). Organizing The business model of McDonald’s is slightly different manner than other fast-food chain. The organization is considered to be one of the largest holders of franchisors around the world. After its establishment the organization has almost 34,000 stores and serving millions of customer’s daily worldwide. The strategy of providing franchisee is considered to be one of the most important functions of the company as it has helped the business in managing its brand awareness and expanding its business globally. Leadership The leadership in McDonald’s has always been a prime factor for its success. The organization follows

Project Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Project Environment - Essay Example Project management is usually designed to fit into the scope of the project in question. Some projects are bigger than others and actually may comprise of a series of projects. In this case such projects are commonly referred to as programmes. For instance a project including some construction of an airport, roads leading to the airport, community facilities such as schools as well as a series of other related projects comprises of a really big project and there is a programme. Wembley stadium project is one of the biggest projects in the UK in the recent history (Nicholas, 2004). The Wembley National Stadium Project stretched over a period of 6 years and cost in excess of over ten billion pounds. Lessons learnt from management of the Wembley project as well as other projects serve as great case studies for organisational management especially in regard to how to address the challenges which happen in the process of organisational in change management, conflict resolution, stakeholder management as well as aligning an organisational strategy to the organisational mission. One of the major reasons why projects are conceived is the fact that there are needs in the community, in the organisation or in the society, which needs to be addressed. Project management identifies a pressing need or pressing needs, which it sets out to address by offering the necessary correctional measures. Once the needs have been identified by using the right needs assessment tools, the next step is to prioritise the needs identified in order of priority. Once the deserving cases have been isolated, the project is conceived probably by the change initiators who may include the government, community leaders, the management of the organisation or individuals who have an interest in the project. One of the greatest considerations before initiating a change in form of a project is to analyse the resources required in the project completion. The greatest threat which faces any project prior to initiation or even during the implementation process is the fact that no matter the status of affairs in an organisation or in a given setting there are some people who benefit from the given status. It is such people who pose the greatest threat to the change initiators for project conception in that they offer stiff resistance to the change initiation. Such opponents to change are usually people who benefit from the current state of affairs and see the change as a threat to the status quo, which they benefit from. Therefore there is a need for project managers to identify such people who fail to welcome the change and mange them properly. In some cases those who offer the greatest resistance in case of projects are key stakeholders in the project and therefore their continued resistance to the project may lead to the failure of the project. For example a project like the Wembley National Stadium came under opposition from the local community. Until the standoff between the project management and the local community was resolved it was impossible to move on with the project. In some projects the government may be reluctant to offer the necessary support especially in terms of is suing the right kind of licences. This

Case study on a restaurant operations management (Ks Biryani) Essay

Case study on a restaurant operations management (Ks Biryani) - Essay Example The restaurant currently has 35 working-individuals to meet the appetite of the customers with their delicious variety of food. With the help of these employees, the restaurant serves almost 250 individuals every day. The chain of restaurant comprises of 2 takeaways and a restaurant. Each takeaway counter interacts nearly with 50 individuals each day while the restaurant has the capacity to serve 120 people during its operational time. The company was established in 2006 with an aim to provide its customers with high quality food to satisfy their appetite. Even though the company started with just a takeaway store, it expanded in terms of location and size in its forthcoming years. The company was just in its introductory stage when it opened its second takeaway outlet in 2008 and its third outlet; a restaurant, in the following year. With promising growth and opportunity ahead, the company is planning to inaugurate its third takeaway store in Jeddah; the heart of Saudi Arabia, in the second quarter of 2013. To provide the customers with high quality and delicious food, the company has several expansion plans for the upcoming years. These plans include expansion and opening the company’s takeaway and restaurants at Jeddah Airport to attract as many customers as possible. Another plan of the company is to open their restaurant in the heart of Mecca and Medina; the two most holy places as it promise great business potential. The management of the company is based on hierarchical structure; the employees report to the manager, who then reports to the top management. The hierarchical structure could also be observed in the takeaway stores; two chefs, two cashiers, one cleaner and a delivery boy. The hierarchical structure eventually helps the company to earn 22,500 pounds on monthly basis. The company started its operation in June 2006 and during the next six months the company had to face lots of setbacks. The store was not even able to reach its break-even point due to which the com pany had to re-introduce its takeaway store with completely different marketing strategies. The re-launching decision was taken after critical analysis of the business with consistent feedback from the employees. After changing the marketing strategies, the company’s sales boosted rapidly due to which another location was added within a year. To eliminate any mistake from the senior management, the launching of second takeaway store was done under the guidance of external consultancy which was hired to set the basic operational policies and processes. The hiring of external consultancy was aimed to assure the senior management regarding the structured and transparent work culture in the company. With continuous improvement in terms of sales and stability, the company launched its first restaurant based on the management techniques; risk management, quality management, capacity planning etc. This report would provide extensive knowledge regarding the different operational mana gement concepts applied by the company and the challenges

Role of Mergers & Acquisitions in Organizational Change Research Paper

Role of Mergers & Acquisitions in Organizational Change - Research Paper Example It happens when an organization wants to enter into a new market or wants to lower the cost of production. Other organizations use this method to increase their market share in the market. This report demonstrates the crucial role played by the merger and acquisition in organizational change. Thesis Mergers and acquisitions play a vital role in the organizational change. This role can be developed if it is highlighted and addressed adequately. Introduction Definition Organizational change is the process by which a company or organization goes through change with an aim of remaining more relevant and achieve its goals within the right time, (Cassiman & Colombo, 2006). This change occurs when there is a change in business strategy, when an organization wants to rebrand or when there is a major change in parts the entire organization. These changes are important for an organization to remain relevant in the dynamic market field. The process of organizational change involves making bold changes and it may also involve expansion of the organization. Mergers and acquisitions play a major role in the process of organizational change. The issue of acquisition and mergers involves having a corporate strategy in matter to do with buying, selling and division of companies, (DePamphilis, 2008). This involves companies with similar entities coming together in the process of merger and agreeing on terms and condition of operation. A merger is slightly different from an acquisition. Takeover Acquisition is also known as take over. This process involves buying of the entire business entity. This may end up expanding the company that has bought the business entity, (Finkelstein 2010). Nature of acquisitions The term consolidation refers to a union of two or more companies to form a new joint business initiative. This means that none of the tow companies can survive independent of each other. It is also know n as merger of companies. We have both private and public acquisitions. The key point here is that acquisition and merger are done as part of the company’s strategy either in venturing into a new market of remaining relevant and expansion of the organization. If the target company has been listed in the stock exchange then it’s not a public acquisition acquisitions can either be public or private, (Mikael & Jani, 2011). Acquisitions can also be classified as hostile or friendly. The process of acquisition is very detailed and involves many steps. This is why studies show that 50 per cent of the acquisitions done are successful while others are not. In other words, acquisitions are difficult to achieve. The acquisition is perceived either as friendly or hostile depending on how the idea of buying the target company is communicated. In friendly cases, the negotiations are done in private that every deal is based on mutual agreement with the companies involved. In case of the hostile acquisitions the target company’s boards of directo rs are caught unawares. The company is sold without their knowledge, (Mikael & Jani, 2011). Hostile acquisitions can end up being friendly acquisitions with time. This happens due to improved terms of agreement after the procurement process. When we talk about acquisition, we are referring to a large company or organization procuring a small company. There are instances where the smaller company acquires the control of

Minimum wage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Minimum wage - Essay Example Kiddyland, a nonprofit daycare center, faces space and funding challenges. Larson, being the manager, ought to consider various options and choose the most suitable. Larson may consider implementing a fee program, where parents may pay a small fee for the project (Rowe, 2013). This will serve as the key funding for the program. The fee program may be in the form of a flat fee or a sliding scales plan. In the flat fee program, parents pay equal amounts. A sliding scales fee plan compels parents to pay amounts based on their income capabilities. In the sliding scale program, Larson ought to be cautious not to overcharge parents, in order to sustain the tax exemption from the government. Larson may employ the acquired money to run the most crucial activities of the daycare center. In case of surpluses, the money may be used in acquiring more land, in order to create more space for the daycare activities. Kiddyland daycare center is also church-based. As such, Larson may persuade capable members to donate land for this noble project (Rowe, 2013). High-income members may also opt to sponsor some children, which careful consultations. Additionally, since Kiddyland is nonprofit daycare center, it may qualify for government funding. However, it must conform to the various guidelines set by the Internal Revenue Service (Hopkins & Middlebrook, 2008). Additionally, government grants are extremely competitive, and mostly limited. As such, Larson and other concerned parties ought to sacrifice enough time while pursuing such grants and comply with the set regulations. Larson’s daycare center runs on a limited budget. As such, she ought to consider purchasing various products that sell at reduced prices. The center, being a nonprofit organization, may qualify for tax exemptions. For Kiddyland to qualify for tax exemptions, it must fill an IRS tax exemption form that ought to be approved first (Hopkins & Middlebrook,

Case study on a restaurant operations management (Ks Biryani) Essay

Case study on a restaurant operations management (Ks Biryani) - Essay Example The restaurant currently has 35 working-individuals to meet the appetite of the customers with their delicious variety of food. With the help of these employees, the restaurant serves almost 250 individuals every day. The chain of restaurant comprises of 2 takeaways and a restaurant. Each takeaway counter interacts nearly with 50 individuals each day while the restaurant has the capacity to serve 120 people during its operational time. The company was established in 2006 with an aim to provide its customers with high quality food to satisfy their appetite. Even though the company started with just a takeaway store, it expanded in terms of location and size in its forthcoming years. The company was just in its introductory stage when it opened its second takeaway outlet in 2008 and its third outlet; a restaurant, in the following year. With promising growth and opportunity ahead, the company is planning to inaugurate its third takeaway store in Jeddah; the heart of Saudi Arabia, in the second quarter of 2013. To provide the customers with high quality and delicious food, the company has several expansion plans for the upcoming years. These plans include expansion and opening the company’s takeaway and restaurants at Jeddah Airport to attract as many customers as possible. Another plan of the company is to open their restaurant in the heart of Mecca and Medina; the two most holy places as it promise great business potential. The management of the company is based on hierarchical structure; the employees report to the manager, who then reports to the top management. The hierarchical structure could also be observed in the takeaway stores; two chefs, two cashiers, one cleaner and a delivery boy. The hierarchical structure eventually helps the company to earn 22,500 pounds on monthly basis. The company started its operation in June 2006 and during the next six months the company had to face lots of setbacks. The store was not even able to reach its break-even point due to which the com pany had to re-introduce its takeaway store with completely different marketing strategies. The re-launching decision was taken after critical analysis of the business with consistent feedback from the employees. After changing the marketing strategies, the company’s sales boosted rapidly due to which another location was added within a year. To eliminate any mistake from the senior management, the launching of second takeaway store was done under the guidance of external consultancy which was hired to set the basic operational policies and processes. The hiring of external consultancy was aimed to assure the senior management regarding the structured and transparent work culture in the company. With continuous improvement in terms of sales and stability, the company launched its first restaurant based on the management techniques; risk management, quality management, capacity planning etc. This report would provide extensive knowledge regarding the different operational mana gement concepts applied by the company and the challenges

Minimum wage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Minimum wage - Essay Example Kiddyland, a nonprofit daycare center, faces space and funding challenges. Larson, being the manager, ought to consider various options and choose the most suitable. Larson may consider implementing a fee program, where parents may pay a small fee for the project (Rowe, 2013). This will serve as the key funding for the program. The fee program may be in the form of a flat fee or a sliding scales plan. In the flat fee program, parents pay equal amounts. A sliding scales fee plan compels parents to pay amounts based on their income capabilities. In the sliding scale program, Larson ought to be cautious not to overcharge parents, in order to sustain the tax exemption from the government. Larson may employ the acquired money to run the most crucial activities of the daycare center. In case of surpluses, the money may be used in acquiring more land, in order to create more space for the daycare activities. Kiddyland daycare center is also church-based. As such, Larson may persuade capable members to donate land for this noble project (Rowe, 2013). High-income members may also opt to sponsor some children, which careful consultations. Additionally, since Kiddyland is nonprofit daycare center, it may qualify for government funding. However, it must conform to the various guidelines set by the Internal Revenue Service (Hopkins & Middlebrook, 2008). Additionally, government grants are extremely competitive, and mostly limited. As such, Larson and other concerned parties ought to sacrifice enough time while pursuing such grants and comply with the set regulations. Larson’s daycare center runs on a limited budget. As such, she ought to consider purchasing various products that sell at reduced prices. The center, being a nonprofit organization, may qualify for tax exemptions. For Kiddyland to qualify for tax exemptions, it must fill an IRS tax exemption form that ought to be approved first (Hopkins & Middlebrook,

Statement of Purpose Essay Example for Free

Statement of Purpose Essay This is an interactive PDF form. Please complete the requested information. When done, you may click on the Print button to create a paper copy. The printed form is to be submitted to the graduate program to which you are applying. Print Statement of Purpose (page 1) Personal History Statement (page 2) Name (as given on the graduate application) Last First Middle Term for which application filed: Proposed Graduate Program Fall year Winter year Spring year Please select program This information must be completed by all applicants for admission and submitted with the application. Please type or print clearly. Statement of Purpose Please state your specific interests with respect to the program to which you are applying. The following information should be included in this statement: 1. Your intended area of specialization, career objectives, and research interests and experience. 2. A brief occupational resume if any significant period has elapsed since you were last enrolled in an academic institution. 3. Academic awards, prizes, honors, fellowships or other distinctions you have received. 4. Work experience or activities pertinent to your graduate goals. 5. If pertinent to your proposed field of study, please list your publications and any scholarly or professional organizations in which you hold membership. 11/07 1 Personal History Statement: This information must be completed by all applicants for admission and submitted with the application. Please type or print clearly. Please note that the Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose (previous page). In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree. The information I have given above is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. Signature of Applicant Term of Application 11/07 Please print name 2.

Setting Up a Joint Venture in China

Setting Up a Joint Venture in China FDI into China: Brief history Before 1980, under the presidency of Mao Tse Tong, China was a country completely closed to the world with a rigid and communist government. After that date, Deng Xiao Peng and the post-Mao government established a new foreign economic policy and announced that China would open to the outside world (Pearson, 1991). This new open-door policy only allowed contractual JVs (as lower risks) and China provided foreign investors with a specific partner. In the first years of the countrys opening, only  ¼ of contractual FDI where realized as investors were uncertain of this completely new environment. Moreover, many FDI were fraudulent (Fung, 2002). From 1992, FDI doubled and China started to welcome western multinational enterprises in specific sectors: automobile, petrochemical, telecommunicationsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ but only in selected zones of the country (SEZs: Special Economic Zones). China has quickly become the fastest growing economy and possesses 25% of the worlds population. FDI to China represents more than $80 billion in 2007 which shows that a decline in the economy is almost impossible ($130 billion in 2009) in comparison, FDI to India represent $3 billion per year (Lau, 2007). China: the best place to invest? However, despite the many attractive sides of China as a FDI destination, many western companies have faced failure when doing business in China. Indeed, in the case of JVs, the government provides a Chinese partner to the foreign investors that can face many different roadblocks: unfamiliarity with the business environment, corruptionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Yallapragada, 2003). In front of the rapid and unique economic development of China, some investors have rushed into investing in this promising country that seemed to offer so many advantages, ignoring some essential facts, (that will be developed later in the study) critical for the success of an investment. Since 1990, broad researches have been conducted concerning FDI and more particularly JVs in China and there is a good understanding of FDI mode decisions, the behavior to adopt to lead to a JV, inter partner concernsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ More research needs to be done concerning the factors that lead to success or failure of JVs Dissertation background The main reason behind the topic selection is that it is an area of interest to the author who can research what makes companies chose China as an FDI destination but more specifically what should be looked at to avoid the multiple failures that foreign companies have faced by developing a JV with a Chinese partner. The author aims at giving a more definitive picture of the Chinese FDI environment and that behind the image of China as a very attractive place for FDI, there are complex laws, regulations and a multitude of other factors that are not necessarily looked at by foreign investors and cause failure. Another reason is that this topic covers issues which are very relevant in todays business environment. It is a topic of interest for many business people and more and more academics around the world due to its unique development: 9% growth of the GDP per year since 1978 and 15% growth of the foreign trade per year (Lau, 2007). There is a belief that China could become the worlds largest economy in 25 years. Aims and objectives The overall aim of the dissertation is to study and critically analyse the foreign direct investment (FDI) environment of China by focusing on market-seeking joint-ventures (JVs) in a specific industry: food and beverage (soft). This study will be carried out using and appraising current academic literature and theories on JVs forming in China. Both secondary and primary research will be used. This critical study will be carried by tempting to achieve the following objectives: Identify the motives and determinants of FDI, focusing on market-seeking joint-ventures (JV) in China Identify the environmental regulations that facilitate or slow JVs down in China Identify the barriers to JVs in China and the main causes of failure Identify the key success factors (KSF) of western companies forming JVs with a Chinese partner and how barriers can be overcome The main focus will be on Western companies, especially French firms in the food and beverage industry. Structure of dissertation The study will be divided in 7 chapters: Chapter 1 is an introduction to the dissertation, explaining the background of the topic, the aims and objectives Chapter 2 is a review of the existing literature: journals, newspaper articles, books and Internet-based sources giving more insight into the topic of setting up an  IJV in China Chapter 3 explains the methodology that has been adopted to research and write the dissertation, including secondary and primary research methods Chapter 4 provides with findings and analysis trying to answer the aims and objectives of the dissertation Chapter 5 is a discussion of the findings Chapter 6 concludes the study and gives some recommendations. The author will in this part develop a model for successful IJV setting up in China Chapter 7 is a reflection on learning Chapter 2: Literature Review The following literature review is based on existing sources coming from a hybrid of academic books, journals, newspapers and credible Internet-based sources. This literature review will allow giving more insight into the topic and will also allow identifying any gaps in the existing literature to be covered in further primary research. The literature review will provide the author with a stronger base on which to develop a theory at the end of the dissertation. 2.1 Chinese investment environment 2.1.1 China, the fastest-growing economy The Chinese investment environment has been widely reported in the literature. Most of the authors agree that the Chinese government has made great achievements in terms of FDI since 1980. Lau Bruton (2007) describe China as the fastest-growing economy which can be explained by greater economic liberalization and easier repartition of profit by foreign investors. Fung (2002) explains that the promotion of FDI by the Chinese government has been an important part of the economic reforms since the open-door policy and made China the most important destination for FDI. The authors explain how China has gradually evolved in terms of FDI policy: Stage 1: Gradual and limited opening Stage 2: Active promoting through preferential treatment Stage 3: Promoting FDI in accordance with domestic industrial objectives Ng Tuan (2002), describe China as a FDI-friendly environment that possesses very attractive environmental factors such as the size of the Chinese market, its potential to growà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Argawal Wu (2003) describe China as a key player in the global economy and that its high economic growth has transformed China into one of the worlds largest economy. The transition from a command economy to a market-based economy has been incredibly and remarkably successful. Another factor that made China even more successful in terms of FDI is its entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Fung (2002), Ng Tuan (2002), Yin (2009), Hoa (2010) and many other authors agree to say that China has had many difficulties to become a member of the WTO. After 15 years of high improvements, by reforming its economy and trade to be more market-oriented, by reducing tariffs and non-tariffs barriersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦China finally accessed the WTO in 2001. This accession gave remarkable benefits to China, who was promoted by the organization as a central stage in international trade. The Chinese battle to enter the WTO is described as an example that other nations (eg Russia), could learn from in order to access this organization. 2.1.2 Problems More and more authors in the literature insist on the difficulties to enter China. Being the fastest-growing economy does not mean that any MNE can enter the market easily and without any risk of failure. In front of all the attractive sides of the Chinese investment environment, and after its accession to the WTO that gave trust to foreign investors, many western MNEs (eg: Pepsi) have rushed into entering China and have faced insurmountable problems such as corruption, absence of trust and transparencyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Yallapragada, 2003). Zhang Fu (2008) describe China as a stringent environment that can have a negative impact on FDI. They remind us that even if China is the first recipient of FDI, there is a high disparity in geographical distribution. It is important to determine which region the foreign company is to invest. Indeed, the remarkable economic development of China has developed major problems such as extreme pollution. Because of the environment deterioration caused by FDI in certain regions, the government has put in place very strict laws that foreign investors are not necessarily aware of before setting up their business in China. While many countries in the world are facing an economic downturn, Chinas economy is still expecting to grow by 11% in 2010. However, Tse (2010) explains that despite this fact, the Chinese market is really tough. He explains how the recent clash of Google and the Chinese government; the vulnerability of property rights; the remaining restrictions on foreign ownershipà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ are good reasons that CEOs should take into account before deciding if entering China is a risk worth taking. The authors explain that the decision to physically enter China must be taken really carefully; a lot of research must be followed and more importantly companies must be ready to compromise and comply with Chinese laws. 2.2 Joint-ventures in China 2.2.1 Definition of a JV There is no legal definition of a JV in the literature. A JV is commonly defined as a partnership between two or more companies who create a legal entity to undertake economic activities. In this dissertation, the author focuses on international JV that necessarily includes two or more parties from different countries. Hollensen (2007) defines a JV as an equity partnership typically between two partners. It involves two parents creating a child acting in the market (Hollensen: 339). Figure 2: Equity Non-equity JVs by Hollensen (2007) A non-equity JV is defined by Hollensen as a strategic alliance between partners who do not commit equity or invest into the alliance. It is also called Contractual JV and does not involve the creation of a third entity. This form of JV will not be taken into account in this dissertation. Fung (2002) mentions that CJV were the vehicle of choice in the early opening of the Chinese market as it lowers the risks for the foreign partners. An EJV is a third entity formed by firm A and B. Both firms contribute equity to firm C. This form of JV allows international marketers to access complementary skills and resources, share risks and costs (Clarke Wilson, 2009). According to Hollensen (2007), the JV can be: resource-seeking and based on upstream collaboration (RD and production) market-seeking and based on downstream collaboration (marketing, distribution, sales, service) Both upstream and downstream-based collaboration 2.2.2 JVs in China It is widely reported in the literature that JV has been, from the opening of the Chinese market, a vehicle of choice. Yallapragada et al (2003) define JV in China as a sort of arranged marriage as the government provides a Chinese partner to the foreign investor. The authors mention that most of the JV failed and sustained huge losses or just abandoned the project because of the lack of understanding of the Chinese partner. EJV became increasingly important from 1987, representing more than 60% of all FDI. This tendency is now decreasing as the government encourages FDI in the form of wholly foreign-owned enterprises (Fung, 2002). The literature insists on the cultural differences leading to failure when forming a JV in China. However, there are many other factors to consider, the main important one being the law. The JV laws and regulation are different in China and in Western countries. Indeed, if we take the example of Europe, the regulations are different from a country to another: in France, a JV exists if a new juridical personality is created, has means and capital. In Anglo-Saxon law, a new created entity does not necessarily have juridical personality but is however considered a JV (ChinaOrbit.com). The country of origin of the foreign partner is an important determinant of success or failure of a Sino-foreign JV (Osborn Hagedoorn, 1997; Lin, 2004). Several case studies in the literature give example of the importance of country of origin as a determinant of IJV success in China. Those studies will be used as examples by the author to answer objectives 3 and 4 of the dissertation. The case studies include giants in the FB industry: Coca-Cola (Datamonitor, 2009; Mok, 2002), Pepsi-co (Yallapragada, 2003), Danone-Wahaha (Dickinson, 2009), Carrefour (Child, 2006). 2.3 Doing business with China 2.3.1 The cultural gap The unique culture of China is widely reported in the literature as being the main cause of failure for Sino-foreign JVs. It is really important to understand the Chinese culture before investing in China (Stark et al, 2005). Chinese business people are described as being extremely tough negotiators. Some authors in the literature think that negotiating is an art for Chinese business people (Pye, 1982; Lee Lo, 1988; Graham et al 1994). China has a really unique view of the world and if the foreign partner is ignorant of the other parties views of the world, it will create a major problem in the negotiation process (Stark, 2005). For example, Tuttle et al (2009) explain that business in China is more to serve the interest of the state rather than the owners of the business. Mc Kenna Sun (2007); Woo (1999); Herbig Martin (1998); Trombly (2006) and many other authors explain different aspect of Chinese negotiation such as the issues for women to participate in negotiations, the saving-face concept of China, the attitude to adopt when negotiating business (eg: building trust as a first step)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The authors are only describing the Chinese way of doing business. In the framework of this dissertation those information can be used as tips for foreign investors willing to invest in China. Katz (2006), founder of Leadership Crossroads has had a successful experience in productive cooperation across cultures. He has interacted in China with employees, customers, outsourcing partnersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Katz describes in his book the best ways to negotiate international business with China. His study is based on his experience but also on the work of Trompenaar (1997) who divided culture into seven dimensions (Appendix 1). Once again the author describes the unique Chinese culture and the best ways to approach it in a business environment. Using both authors theories together with Hofestede cultural differences, the author will consider wether western culture, especially French culture give the firms an advantage in dealing with the Chinese as many studies shows that cultural misunderstanding causes major problems in IJVs. 2.3.2 GUANXI In the literature, some authors insist on the Guanxi concept when establishing business relationship with China. Zhu Zhang (2007), define Guanxi as the need to establish a relationship either with someone or something (e.g a brand-name). Guanxi mainly is a relationship building and according to the authors, it takes into account several notions: Jianli ganqing: developing connection between people Jiao pengyou: making friends Yanxuing touzi xingwei: continual investment behaviour Chinese business leaders such as Mr. Chang and Mr. Cao, CEOs of telecommunications companies based in Zhengzhou and Xian indicate that the action word for developing Guanxi is Jianli meaning establishing the connection with people but not forcing it by dishonest means. For some Chinese business people, Guanxi is an essential element when doing business in China and is strongly related to the Confucian tradition and collectivist culture (Xin Pearce, 1996). However, other authors in the literature have reported that even if Guanxi has long been the best approach to successfully set up an IJV in China the effect of Guanxi are not only positive. Rahman (2008) explain the risks that exist when establishing a Sino-foreign IJV based on Guanxi (high performance, resource and trade-off risks). The author reminds that Guanxi is necessary when collaborating with a Chinese partner but not sufficient. When a Western company chooses a local Chinese partner according to the size of its Guanxi, it will be beneficial for the companys short term goal of market entry, but its long term goal of succeeding in the IJV will encounter problems. Gu et al (2008) define Guanxi as the durable social connections and networks a firm uses to exchange favors for organisational purposes. The authors draw the benefits and risks of Guanxi and show that Guanxi can be necessary but does not always matter. Even if personal networks are popular all over the world, the authors insist on the uniqueness of China who has distinct ways of operation. 2.4 Critical literature conclusion The literature widely mentions that JV in China fails because of the huge cultural differences between China and the western partner. However, there is a gap in the literature as there are many other aspects that can cause failure and that are not deeply taken into account in the literature: law, bureaucratic roadblocks, corruption, management controlà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The literature tends to concentrate on Sino-American/ Japanese/ British JVs, there is a lack of information about Sino-French JV and the primary research of this dissertation will mainly aim at filling this gap by focusing on the food beverage sector which is not widely reported in the literature. Moreover, the literature describes that ignorance of the other parties culture, regulations, the non-establishment of Guanxià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ are main causes of failure but fails to explain how a two-way dialogue can be established between Chinese and Western leaders to make the JV successful. The dissertation will also point-out what makes cross-cultural relationship successful as it is not clear in the literature. Chapter 3: Methodology 3.1 Data requirements To recap, the overall aim of the study is to acquire a better understanding of the Chinese business environment for a Western company to successfully set a JV up with a Chinese partner. After examining the literature review, the author has identified key research questions that will be answered in chapter 4 of the dissertation to meet the objectives stated in chapter 1: What makes a western MNE chose to deal with a Chinese partner to set up a JV in China? What factor is the most determinant: political, economic, demographic, labour (cost, productivity, education level), ease of access (market, suppliers) etc? What western investors should be aware of before setting up a JV in China in terms of legislation and regulation? Will the JV be private or state owned? What are the positive factors of setting up a JV in China (law, regulation, policies)? What are the negative factors that investors must be aware of to be best prepared? Why culture seem to be the main cause of JV failure? What western investors must know about the Chinese business culture? Does Guanxi always matter? How to overcome the cultural differences and set-up a two-way dialogue? What were the main causes of failure and KSF of Sino-French JVs? What contribution is put by each party in the JV? How each party value the JV? Is it more beneficial for the French firm to own more than the Chinese partner? To answer those questions, the author will analyse the existing academic literature, including articles and case studies that will be used to provide issues and/or solutions that exists in the food and beverage industry. Case studies such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Carrefour, etc. will be analysed. To feel the gap in the literature, the author will also implement real world researches to have an in-depth understanding of the Chinese culture and also, to have a better understanding of Sino-French business relationships as it is not widely reported in the literature. By this mean, the author will be able to collect major primary data provided by experts that have experience in doing business with China. 3.2 Research Design 3.2.1 Review of the fundamental research methodologies 3.2.1.a: Exploratory, causal and descriptive research Wrenn et al (2007) states that there are three main categories of research design: exploratory, causal and descriptive, the can use both qualitative and quantitative methods. An exploratory research design is used to gain more insight and understanding into a topic. It is described by some authors as a detective work when the author as to look for clues to find out what happened or is currently taking place. It required the author to adopt a very flexible attitude to collecting information. Wrenn et al (2007: 34) state that an insatiable curiosity is a valuable trait for exploratory researchers. This type of research is needed when the author has an objective of depth interviews, one of the best ways to acquire desired insight, clarificationsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Exploratory research is a type of qualitative research. A Causal research design is used when there is a need to determine whether two or more variables are causaly related and to what extent. When using causal research, the researcher manipulates the independent variable, measure the dependant variable and control other variables that could have an impact on the dependant variable. This type of research requires the use of quantitative research methods such as statistics (Chi-square analysis, correlation, regression testsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). A descriptive research design seeks to describe a phenomenon. It is used when the researcher has an objective of describing the characteristics of a specific group, estimate the percentage of the population that act, thinkà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the same way, make specific predictions (Wrenn et al, 2007). Descriptive research is the most rigid research design and needs to be very structured. This type of research implicates that the author already have a major knowledge of the topic or research. Descriptive research uses quantitative research methods. 3.2.1.b Qualitative v. Quantitative Qualitative research is defined by Schimdt Hollensen (2006) as an investigation to help understanding and answering questions by collecting evidences. This type of research method allows conducting exploratory researches and requires the use of: Observations: observing and analysing behaviours in their usual contexts Focus groups: group discussion to collect effective data about a group of individuals having the same cultural norms In-Depth interviews: usually individual face-to-face interview to understand what is in a specific persons mind about a specific topic Qualitative research allows the researcher to collect open-ended data and develop themes from the data collected. Quantitative research can be both descriptive and causal. Aliaga Gunderson (2002: 1) define quantitative research as explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analysed using mathematically based methods (in particular statistics). Because quantitative research involves numbers, statistics it is seen as a more realist research method. Quantitative methods are good at looking at cause and effect relationships between two or more variables. The majority of researchers talk about paradigm war when it comes to differentiate qualitative and quantitative methods. They are seen as incompatible (Muijs, 2004). However, more and more commonly, researchers use mixed-method approach. It is a more pragmatic way to collect data, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. In order for a mixed-method approach to be efficient, the researcher needs to consider all the relevant characteristics of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Table 1: Comparison of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE MIXED METHOD General Framework Aim at confirming a hypothesis about a phenomenon Predetermined Rigid style of categorising responses to questions Structured methods  : questionnaires, structured observfations, surveys. Aim at exploring and understanding a phenomenon Emerging Flexible style of categorising responses to questions Semi-structured methods  : participant observation, depth interviews, focus groups Both exploring and confirming a phenomenon Both predetermined and emerging Both rigid and flexible Both structured and semi structured methods Objectives of type of research Descriptive: To describe and quantify a phenomenon Causal  : to predict causal relationships To describe the characteristics of a population Explanatory  : To explain a phenomenon Exploratory  : to describe and explain relationships To report individual experiences To both quantify and describe a phenomenon To both causal and exploratory To both describe a population and an individual Question type Closed-ended Open-ended Both closed and open-ended questions Format of data Numerical data (statistical, assigning values to responses)  : performance, attitude, observational and census data Textual data from interviewees,observations, case studies analysis, video/audio tapes Multiple form of data drawing on all possibilities  : Statistical and text analysis Flexibility of each methods The response of participants does not influence which question is to be asked next The design of the study remains stable Subject to statistical assumptions and conditions The response of participants influences which research question to ask next Some aspects of the study are flexible  : wording (addition or exclusion) of a particualar interview Data collection and research questions are adjusted according to what is learnt Can be both flexible and rigid Table 1 has been realised following two authors theories: Creswell (2003) and Bernard (1995). According to them, it is useful to first consider qualitative and quantitative possibilities for data collection before selecting one, to which the dissertations author has added mixed-method approach. 3.2.2 Choice of research method and justification Desk research has first been used to collect information that already exists in the literature. This information was both internal and external to organizations and help having an in-depth understanding of the subject. Primary research has then been used to fill the gap that secondary research cannot fill. Quantitative methods have not been used as the author wants to explore the topic in depth. According to Muijs (2004), quantitative methods fail when an in depth understanding is needed, when the author wants to really get under the skin of a problem. Moreover, quantitative methods require the author to define the variables to be studied whereas in the authors topic area, unexpected variables can emerge. The author chose to use qualitative research only. Indeed, the dissertation topic requires to specifically knowing what is going on in peoples mind, what are their views and opinion about doing business in China. More specifically, exploratory research has been used as the author needs to gain broad inside into the dissertation topic and achieve a better feeling when investigating. According to Schimdt Hollensen (2006), the most used qualitative research method is focus-group. However, the author chose to make use of individual depth interviews as current information is needed by directly asking questions to specific persons. Depth interviews allow the respondent to openly talk about his/her experience of doing business with a Chinese partner. Depth Interviews can be: Non-directive: the respondent is given freedom to answer by staying within the bounds of the topic Semi-structured: a specific list of topics is covered. The author is looking to establish the meaning of Sino-western/French business relationships from the views of experts. Indeed, in order to understand those relationships better as the literature fails to explain it in depth, the author seeks to listen to different individuals who have experience in the topic area and build an understanding based on their ideas. 3. 3 Research Approach Conclusion Recommendation Diagram 1 shows the plan followed by the author. In stage 1, the author research academic literature in accordance with the topic and develop research questions. Stage 2 is an in-depth analysis of the existing literature to help answering the research questions developed in stage 1. Stage 3 is what the author called real world analysis. This stage will allow the author to collect primary data to fill the gap of secondary research and bring a creative thinking input to the dissertation. Stage 4 consists of an analysis of the theoretical findings and real world findings. By combining both secondary and primary research, the author will be able to answer the research questions and to meet the dissertations objectives. Those findings will then be discussed and the author will conclude by providing western investor with recommendation by drawing a model including all the variables to take into account to successfully set a JV up in China. 3.4 Data collection methods and analysis As mentioned above, the author chose to use exploratory qualitative research only. In exploratory research, the main methods of data collection that is potentially suitable for collecting data are observations, focus groups and depth interviews. Observation is used to understand a phenomenon by observing it in its natural setting. The topic area does not belong to a phenomenon that can be observed by the author. Focus group involves a group of persons that discuss a subject under the direction of a moderator. The author is willing to distinguish individuals as opposed to groups and have the opinion of individuals. The author has selected in-depth interviews as the only method for data collection. As mentioned earlier, this method involves conducting intensive individual interviews with a small number of persons. The reason is that the author wants detailed information about doing business with a Chinese partner, the different stages in the JV forming, the advantages, difficultiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Acquiring detailed information about a specific persons opinion, behaviour, will allow the author to explore new issues in-depth. The sample is divided in two categories and includes: Individuals having experience in doing business with China: executives from French MNEs having formed IJVs in China, Juniors working in China for a French company. Chinese business people. The author has divided the s