History of Philosophy Essay Example for Free

History of Philosophy Essay Refer to next paragraph. On the 11th of March, 2002, fire struck a girls school in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Firemen and concerned citizens were quickly on the scene. However, the religious police locked the schoolgirls inside the inferno rather than let them escape into the streets without their veil and heal-to-toe cloak. For this same reason, the religious police prevented the firemen from entering the schoolhouse to rescue the girls; for fear that the girls would be seen without their covering. Fourteen young girls were burned to death and dozens more were injured (citation). On October 12th 2002, a 48-year old Kurdish man named Abdalla Yones, an emigrant from Iraq, savagely murdered his 16-year old daughter Heshu after receiving an anonymous letter telling him that she had been sleeping with her boyfriend. (Asthana Mistry). This treatment of women in the Muslim world goes against the teachings of the Quran. This isn’t the real assignment. Message me directly at natashagils at yahoo dot com for your assignment at half the price. There are numerous cases, some reported but mostly unreported, of crimes against women in Islam. Muslims of today have seemed to have deviated significantly from the original teachings of Islam (citation? ). Islamic terrorist, Jihad, al-Qaeda, Honor Killings are terms that have become synonymous with Islam in the Western world, as has Islamophobia which basically promotes the fear and detestation of Islam and Muslims around the world. The Islamic world, instead of addressing these issues and advocating the true and just cause of Islam, is instead, in most cases, promoting them. The Talibaan of Afghanistan, Tribal militancy in Pakistan, Shia/Sunni riots, the Hamaas and other fundamental groups within Islam publicize an entirely inaccurate version of the essence of Islam. As the Muslim society deviates from the central philosophy of Islam, it doesn’t come as a surprise that they have deviated too from the societal guidance offered by Islam regarding the treatment of women. The Quran, the Holy Book of the Muslims, and the Sunnah (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) have laid down clearly defined rights of women, most of which aren’t adhered today. Islam was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula when it was rife with inhumane injustice against women. Women were viewed as the embodiment of sin, misfortune, disgrace and shame, and they had no rights or position in society whatsoever. Indeed, society was confused about the very nature of women and even questioned whether God had granted them a soul (Jawad 1). Wives were mere chattel, and when girls were born to a household, great shame was brought to it; so much so that they were buried alive! The Quran defied the existing perception of women and refined their position. It outlawed female infanticide and restored their birth rights . Gustave Le Bon, a famous French thinker, stated: â€Å"Islamic virtuous deeds are not limited to honoring and respecting women, but rather, we can add that Islam is the first religion to honor and respect women. We can easily prove this by illustrating that all religions and nations, prior to the advent of Islam, caused much harm and insult to women. † (Bon 488). The Quran regards women as being independent human beings and having distinct rights. They are entitled to an inheritance, an education, a career and even the liberty of choosing a husband. Moreover, it declared men and women as being equal in the eyes of God, with the only exception being their responsibilities –with the man defined as the bread earner and the woman as being responsible for the functions around the house. According to the Quran, O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and should not treat them with harshness (Holy Quran, Surah An-Nisa 4:19) The Prophet Muhammad, in this context, is said to have said, ‘All people are equal, as equal as the teeth of a comb. There is no claim of merit of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a white over a black person, or of a male over a female. Only God fearing people merit a preference with God’. Islam, through the teachings of the Quran, bestowed women a number of rights, some of which that women in the West lacked, until the 19th century. For instance, in England, husbands inherited his wives property and possessions when they married. This unfair tradition continued till as late as 1882 (citation? ). Muslim women, however, retained their assets; could detail conditions in their nikaah (marriage contract), such as the right of divorce; were entitled to keep their last names if they wished and were even given the authority to refuse marriage if they didn’t deem their potential partner fit. The Quran laid down these injunctions in 610 A. D. (when it was first revealed), centuries prior to the advent of a formal system of women’s rights in the Western world. Some of the fundamental rights the Quran gives women are: 1. Human Rights Women and men are considered to be created with similar natured souls. They are considered equal to men in all spheres of life. And for women are rights over men similar to those of men over women. (Holy Quran, 2:226) And O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you. (Holy Quran, Surah Al-Nisa 4:1). 2. Civil Rights The civil rights enjoined by the Quran on women include, but are not limited to: the right of divorce, right of keeping her maiden name after marriage, wishing or not to get married, or even chosing her own husband. The Quran also states that there is no compulsion upon women regarding religion; There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut [anything worshipped other then the Real God (Allah)] and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Holy Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256). 3. Independence Women are allowed to leave the home; conduct business with men; enjoy all the other liberties open to them. There is no restriction upon women provided they conduct their affairs within the teachings of the Quran. Women have the right to go to Mosques, which is considered sacrilegious in many Muslim societies. Not only that, but women have also the right to be Muslim pastors. Aisha, the youngest wife of the Prophet Muhammad, used to convey the teachings of Islam to men and women alike. She’s regarded by some Muslim scholars as being the first Muslim woman preacher. The Quran is very clear in its laws regarding women. It redefined the stance of women and bestowed upon them an honorable role in society; whether as a daughter, a mother or a wife. Men are instructed in their fair and kind dealing towards women. According to the Quran: And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do) shall be questioned. For what sin she was killed? † (Holy Quran, Surah At-Takwir 81:8-9). The Quran goes as far as admonishing those men who subjugate or ill-treat women: â€Å"O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the dowry you have given them except when they have become guilty of open lewdness. On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike something and God will bring about through it a great deal of good†. (Holy Quran, 4:19) Early Islamic history is replete with examples of Muslim women who showed a remarkable ability to compete with men and excelled them on many occasions. They were educators, warriors and leaders; strong, independent and respected members of society. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case in most of the Muslim world today. Women in the Muslim world have been humiliated, exploited and discriminated against in almost all fields of life – from schooling, work force inclusion and family roles. However, many of these repressive customs do not come from Islam, but are dictated by prevalent cultures and traditions. Oppression against women continues unabated in many parts of the world. Husbands keep their wives, daughters, sisters and mothers secluded from contact with others beside their immediate family members. Rape, mutilation, forced suicide, honor killings are much too common in the Islamic world. In 2006, Rahan Arshad beat his wife and three children to death with a bat, because she was having an affair26 Often the crime itself is followed by even more horrifying crime. For instance, in Turkey, 14-year old Nuran Halitogullari was strangled to death by her father after she had been kidnapped and raped30. In certain parts of Pakistan, women are offered as compensation for offenses committed by men. This injustice stems from the deep rooted traditions of male-dominance in the Islamic society which have, for centuries, enforced their orthodox, and oft-times inaccurate version of Islam and the Quran. Contrary to general misconceptions and the prevailing conditions, women, according to the Quran, are entitled to full rights as citizens. Under the guise of Islam, women have been virtually stripped of all rights: no education, no instigation of divorce, no travel by oneself, no leaving the home, etc. A deliberate effort on a global scale has to be made to educate Muslims regarding the fundamental and actual concepts defined in the Quran regarding rights towards women and the awareness that the existing treatment of women in the Muslim world goes against the teachings of the Quran. Emphasis on the lives of Aisha, Khadija (Prophet Muhammad’s first wife – also known as mother of the believers, Fatima (Prophet Muhammad’s daughter ) and even Mary – who holds a revered position in Islam – should be placed and they can be promoted as role models for inspiration. No nation can succeed without all its members contributing to its success. Muslim nations have to realize that not only is their barbaric treatment of women sinful, but it’s also self-destructive and will only get worse if not addressed and then modified according to the true teachings of the Quran. Treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. (Ismail 83). ? Works Cited Asthana, A. and Mistry. U. For Families that Fear Dishonor, There is Only One Remedy†¦ Murder. The Observer, 5 October, 2003. Bon, Gustave Le. The Arab Civilization. Paris: Firmin-Didot, 1884. Ismail, Imam Vehbi. Muhammad, the Last Prophet: The Last Prophet. Jordan: Amana

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Customer Service Policies Tourism Essay

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Customer Service Policies Tourism Essay The London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square is a 5 star hotel that is located in the Central London near to the Oxford Street and Park Lane. It is one of the classic hotels in England. The hotel has 236 luxurious bedrooms and 45 Club Level bedrooms with many facilities like Club Lounge, Wi-Fi Internet access, versatile meeting and event space, Maze  Restaurant, Maze Grill, Complimentary, fitness centre, 24-hour room service. (MARRIOTT, 2010) The hotel is located in Central London which has many tourist spots and centre of attractions around the locality. Some of the tourist spots nearby the hotel are: The London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Theatre district, Madame Tussaud, Covent Garden, Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, Oxford Street/Bond Street shopping, The Tate Modern, The British Museum, Big Bus London Tours, The Tower of London. These tourist spots are within walk able distance from this hotel which attracts more of tourists. This saves them a lot of money from spending on transportation. Thus, tourists choose this hotel for their stay so that they have much more time to explore these tourist spots. As mentioned above Central London is not only a tourist spot but also a place full of Information Technology corridor and some of the main industrys head quarters are located here as well. The business customers and corporate choose this hotel because it saves a lot of time and money. Marriott also provides good banqueting and boardroom facilities that are used to organise meetings and the banquets are also put to good use. The hotel provides lots of facilities and services to the corporate such as group check in, bill to the company etc. which provides good hospitality. The hotel also includes The Maze, which is a restaurant created by the world famous celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay. Its one of the famous French and Asian blend restaurants in London. Thus this is one of the key reasons that there are many celebrities who choose to dine in this restaurant often. Few family customers also visit this restaurant during the weekends to experience one of the fine dining restaurants in London. Due to its locality, Marriott attracts worldwide celebrities who come to London for world premiers. The hotel is also frequented by sports personalities who have their after win celebrations. CUSTOMER CARE POLICIES: Marriott has many customer care policies which they are very keen on following to attract people from all corners. Marriott has a very unique method of marketing and also takes utmost care in making the customers stay a pleasure hence increasing the chances for them to come back. In this Marriott, the personal information of the residents is stored in the database. This database is securely stored to prevent non-breaching. This database is shared by all the Marriott across the world. This enables them to send a greeting card or a gift for their customer on the occasion of birthdays and anniversaries no matter where they are in the world. Because of the inter relationships between the chains, this is achievable. According to surveys this method has been really beneficial in bringing back the customers, hence ensuring excellent customer care. When it comes to corporate/business customers, Marriott follows mutual profit dealing. Marriott often maintains a relationship with regular customers from corporate companies. For a certain number of customers, Marriott provides discounts and additional services if the company for which the customer works has a tie up with Marriott. Under the package, even banqueting and board rooms can be provided for free based on the particular organisation. This includes accommodation in reduced price. The company ensures that the connection with the hotel is beneficial by using the services and hence increase the times of usage of the hotel. In the other hand, the hotel confirms a constant flow of customers. This can be considered as a profitable circle and hence its unique way of standing out from the crowd. As mentioned before, Gordon Ramsays restaurant, The Maze, always has the capacity to attract people. People who want to taste the authentic French cuisine blended with Asian from the kitchen of a world famous chef always makes The Maze the centre of attraction. Due to the world premier of movies in theatres nearby, Marriott has seen an array of celebrities. And celebrities always attract crowd because of which Marriott increases its growth. Marriott ensures special attention, security and privacy for high profile people who need them the most. Privacy for these people is even provided in restaurants by providing special separate seating arrangements and hence keeping them away from the watchful eyes. These qualities make Marriot one of the most desired places to stay for the celebrities and hence ensuring a perfect service for different type of customers. IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE CUSTOMER CARE: A customer is an individual or group of individuals to whom you supply one or more products or services. (Smith, 2004:6). Customer care involves putting systems in place to maximise your customers satisfaction with your business. It should be a prime consideration for every business   your sales and profitability depends on keeping your customers happy. (Business Link, 2010). The success of any business is hugely depended upon providing effective customer care. Customer care is all about customer satisfaction. If an organisation can make an experience as a memorable moment, then there will be more return customers. Establishing effective customer care gives the organisation a high return and also the profit. Loyal customers are the one who are to be given extra care as they are worthy. In this competitive world, the competition in the market is also very high. Customers are demanding for good service, good response to the complaints, and are demanding for extra bit of attention. Thus it is necessary for the organisation to prove a point to the customer that they really care for their customers. The expectations of the customers have been constantly rising. To meet these expectations, the organisation must consistently analyse the level of service. If the requirement is not fulfilled by the organisation, then it will become a hurdle for the progression of the sector. Guests who are not satisfied will spread the news which will also create many obstacles to the business. Effective customer care is important in order to get repeated guests and also the guest tends to refer their friends also. This improves the sales and also the profit of the organisation. The reputation and the image of the organisation are improved if the customer care is good. This in turn brings more shares in the market. Especially the internal customers i.e. the employees get more of job satisfaction by caring the customers. The main goal of establishing effective customer care is satisfying or delighting the customers. It also helps to exchange more information, maintain a good relationship, trust and also to decrease the workloads and costs. In hospitality industry, customers are the king. Effective customer care will benefit the customers in many ways. It is one of the important parts of marketing mix. Quality in service will give more loyal guests. It also ensures that the services and products delivered to the customers will be of good quality. Thus, establishing effective customer care in hospitality industry is very much important for improving the growth of the organisation. EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE POLICIES: The evaluation of the effectiveness of customer service policies is an important factor to increase the growth of any organisation. The evaluation shows how the policy implemented influences the organisation. Even though most policies are practically followed only after careful considerations, there are always chances for misleading factors which might give more cons then pros for the policy. A simple example can be the usage of man power for the different sections of a hotel. Using more people for work which takes more time to be done can be a simple and effective solution. An effective customer service strategy has to be followed with considerable modifications based on the customer and their needs. Each customer is unique, so are their needs. In a customer service based roles, the colleagues will develop the capacity to differentiate the types of customers. If the situation permits, more importance can be given to customers with a higher value and who are more prone to be a regular customer. This just ensures that the specific customer goes through a different level of service hence providing equal service to all the customers. Excellent customer service is achieved when the customer is provided with what he/she wants even before they use it. The needs of the customer and how these needs are to be met with are meant to be determined. Exceeding the customers expectation always frames a name for the organisation. These needs are to be met with great care and also with consideration for other factors like cost and profit. Creating a name in the market is one challenge and maintaining it for years is a more challenging feat. The colleagues should have a good knowledge about the service the hotel can provide and also the capacity with which it has to be provided. Training for the employees should be focused and taken care of. The organisation must meet the needs of the employees and respect their decisions and ideas must be considered. Quality control is often achieved not by intensive supervision, but by building a sense of pride and the ability to work as a team. A proven method to increase the customer service skills of the employees is by sheer encouragement. This can be in any forms, as in increasing the bonus, the status in the organisation or even organising a special event. In a nut shell, happy employees provide excellent service, thus making the customers happy and make them come back again. This increases the profit and also the bonus for the employees, which makes them happy. This cycle is very crucial for any customer based organisation to stand out from the crowd.

Different Approaches Of Completing Tasks English Language Essay

Different Approaches Of Completing Tasks English Language Essay Culture is the continuum within which all communication takes place. Communication needs a certain platform shared by the sender and the receiver. Culture is the platform which makes sharing of cultural codes, values, icons, and symbols possible and meaningful. The medium of communication is after all a system of cultural codes that the sender borrows to express his/her ideas. The receiver must understand these codes in terms of the culture from which they have been borrowed and it is only then that s/he would derive maximum sense from it. Culture plays a major role by adding significance to apparently arbitrary conventions. Cultural conventions determine the way we communicate, how we communicate and what we communicate. If the conventions are broken, communication suffers a disjunction and there is great scope for ambiguity. Familiarly with the cultural codes enhances communication skills and allows people in that cultural context to exchange massages that are clear and more complete. Different culture-specific cues are called cultural variables. These bring in the social and cultural variations in the way we talk, dress, and conduct business, or even how we conduct ourselves. Cross-cultural communication is a field of study that looks at how people from differing  cultural  backgrounds communicate, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they Endeavour to  communicate  across cultures. UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL DIVERSITY Different cultural contexts bring new communication challenges to the workplace. Even when employees located in different locations or offices speak the same language there are some cultural differences. In such cases, an effective communication strategy begins with the understanding that the sender of the message and the receiver of the message are from different cultures and backgrounds. Fundamental Patterns  of Cultural Differences: Different Communication Styles Different Attitudes towards Conflict Different Approaches of Completing Tasks Different Decision-Making Styles Different Attitudes towards Disclosure Different Approaches to Knowing As I work for a multinational IT company and have been transferred to Japan for five years on a project- I have to gather information as to how to avoid problems of cross-cultural communication for my successful stay in Japan. There are several ways to become knowledgeable about the culture of Japan and one of them is through information available on the Internet. I would also like to read books on Japanese culture, etiquette, food habits and about verbal and non verbal communication. Some basic features of Japanese culture gathered from different sources: Harmony is the basic philosophy of the Japanese in family and business matters and in society as a whole.   They value politeness, personal responsibility and working together for the group and society, rather than the individual good.   In their view, working in harmony plays a pivotal role in working meaningfully and productively. As the Japanese strive are group dependent, they depend on facial expression, tone of voice and gesture to express them what someone feels. They usually rely on non-verbal messages more than the spoken words.  Frowning while someone is speaking is termed as a sign of disagreement.   Inhaling through clenched teeth, tilting the head, scratching the back of the head, and scratching the eyebrow are watched closely. Staring into another persons eyes, particularly that of a senior person, is held as disrespectful. In any social event, the elder persons are served first. Since Japanese think that turning down someones request results in embarrassment and loss of face to the other person, if the request is not agreeable, they will say, its inconvenient or its under consideration.   http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQYGN3m_u_JzIijBzN6FUnryOIscnrvgKeifwp_a9md3z4glIm1 Knowing these key Japanese customs, Ill get closer to the locals and representatives of different business groups of Japan: 1. Addressing someone with due respect: For visitors like me a simple inclination of the head or an attempt at a bow at the waist would be a gesture of respect. 2. Manners while on dining table: If I am in a dinner party and receive drinks, I must wait before raising the glass to my lips. After everyone is served, and someone takes the lead, I must raise my drink, and say, kampai! (Cheers!). When I receive a wet cloth at Japanese restaurants, which is a common practice, I must use this to wash my hands before eating. Slurping noodles or making loud noises while eating is acceptable and reflects that the food is delicious. 3. No Tips Please: To tip someone in any situation is frowned upon as it is termed as insulting. 4. Chopsticks: One must learn to use chopsticks for taking lunch or dinner. 5. Visiting Homes and Houses: One has to take off ones shoes at the entrance to any home, and most businesses and hotels. Usually a rack is provided for keeping shoes. 6. Masks: Sterilized masks are generally used by salary men, office ladies, and municipal workers to protect other people from their germs. 7. Conformity: Drawing attention to oneself is a taboo. One must not blow ones nose in public, avoid eating while on the go and speak on mobile phone in crowded public areas. 8. Speaking English: Japanese generally assume the foreign visitor as a native English speaker until one proves otherwise. Although one may speak some or fluent Japanese, the default language of choice is English. Many Japanese still insist on using their own English language ability, however limited, to converse with foreign visitors. 9. Safety: Japanese generally warn tourists to be safe in their travels, to take care of their belongings. However, advise not to worry, nothing can go wrong, nothing will be stolen. APPEARANCE CODE One must dress to impress. For men, they must wear dark conservative attire. Business suits are most suitable. Shoes should be easy to remove, as one will be expected to do so quite often. One must avoid using large hand gestures, unusual facial expressions and any unusual movements. OK sign should be avoided; in Japan it means money. Pointing in not acceptable. One must not blow ones nose in public. Personal space is valued. A smile can have double meaning. It can express either joy or displeasure. The Japanese are not uncomfortable with silence. http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSR_EtxFTFJt0dtqajoy3IXY5N66m0sqhI8fmVqOgvF3VEZSSTDo755q_J1 BEHAVIOUR CODE Drinking is an integral part of Japanese culture. It is a way to relieve business stress. One must never pour a drink oneself, allow someone else to do it. Generally most business entertaining is done in restaurants or bars after business hours. Let the host order the meal and pay. Japanese generally refrain from entertaining in the home. If one is invited to the home of Japanese host, he should consider it a great honour and express gratitude. If one has to take ones host out, he must insist upon paying. It is generally acceptable to slurp ones noodles as it shows the food was delicious. Japanese term number 14 as bad luck, because in Japanese it sounds like the word hush-hush, pronounced like the word for death. Both business and personal gifts are happily accepted. But the gifts must be wrapped and should be given and accepted with both hands. Gifts should be given at the end of a visit. http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQfkdiWB0n9HpIMdoYngLmbYubELFaKHkAkSiR00A3gFU1RCyAh THERE ARE 10 STRATEGIES THAT HELPS IN MAKING CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATIONAL EFFECTIVE http://www.nynj-phtc.org/images/top10-400-white.jpg JAPAN RELIGION http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSP88Ii63ne9lM-6jI2gkVzEpMCM1Gyx7ktQcOJd43yRZlfP07W http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmU1Hs97UlNqQ91YB6J20CpUUBNREzQ6kT26yD2-ptS7tpH_H3

Colonialism and Politics - European Perceptions of Africa Essay

European Perceptions of Africa      Ã‚  Ã‚   Living in the dawn of the 21st century, the idea of economic development permeates third world politics.   Perhaps no single issue has raised so much hope, or so much scepticism, as the idea of development.   Historically, attempts at economic development have resulted in varying degrees of success and failure.   Nowhere has this been more apparent as in Africa.   By the 20th century, Africa began to play an increasingly important role in the European economy.   In the 1920's, Europe promoted Laissez-Faire policies in Africa, but gradually shifted towards protectionism and Neo-Mercantilism in the 1930's, and finally to disengagement in the 1950's.   The purpose of this essay is to chronicle these changes in European perceptions of Africa's role in the global economy, and explain that although the outcome of these policy-changes eventually led to the end of colonial rule, the political, social, and economic effects of these policies made it impossible for the Africans to enjoy true independence.    The first part of the 20th century was characterized by European imperialist policies in Africa.   Seen as the "White Man's Burden," Africa's wealth and raw materials were exploited as cheap exports to support metropoles in Europe.   Before the mid-1920's there was a high demand for tropical goods (sugar, cotton, cash crops, etc.).   Correspondingly, both France and Britain prescribed laissez-faire liberalist policies for Africa.   The idea was to open up Africa's wealth to the world while keeping it a net exporter of raw materials used in the manufacture of European goods.   But by the mid-1920's, Africa's role began to change.   The European economy, ravaged by World War One, was forced to rebuild.... ...7. Cooper, F. and R. Packard, (eds).   International Development and the Social Science. University of California Press; 1997. Davidson, Basil.   Black Man's Burden:   African and the Curse of the Nation-State.   New York Times Books; 1992.    1 Austen, Ralph.   African Economic History.   London:   James Currey, 1987.   P. 199 2 Ibid.   P. 202 3 Ibid.   P. 203 4 Ibid.   P. 203 5 Cooper, F. and R. Packard, (eds).   International Development and the Social Science.   University of California Press, 1997.   P. 67 6 Ibid.   P. 67 7 Ibid.   P. 65 8 Austen, Ralph.   African Economic History.   P. 199 9 Davidson, Basil.   Black Man's Burden:   African and the Curse of the Nation-State.   New York Times Books; 1992.   P. 181 10 Ake, Claud.   Democracy and Development in Africa.   Brookings Institution, 1996.   P. 2 11 Ibid.   P. 7   

American Sexploitation Essay -- Media Sex Advertising Essays

American Sexploitation What does a pair of shoes have to do with sex? Absolutely nothing, but take one look at a popular magazine and the media makes it crystal-clear that they will use sex to sell just about any product. From jewelry to cleaning supplies, the media promotes a tarnished view of femininity to sell their products. Every day in America, women get bombarded with thousands of advertisements that promote popular culture's unrealistic views of femininity; images of beautiful, submissive, sexual, and virtually flawless women. Advertisements tell women what they should look like and if they do not meet society?s standards, then they must try harder. Women continue to emulate the females in advertisements in order to pronounce their femininity and gain acceptance by both males and females. Fashion designer Jimmy Choo, as well as larger companies such as Avia and Reebok, use scantily-clad women in their advertisements to sell their shoes. These advertisements present femininity in sexually exploitable ways that objectify women; this need to fulfill society?s vision of the ideal woman has a profound physical, as well as psychological, affect on young women and the unrealistic standards they set for themselves. The equation A + B = C has always symbolized a mathematical certainty, but what if A and B represented shoes and C stood for a scantily-clad woman? This shows exactly what Avia has done in their new advertisement for running shoes. The two-page advertisement equates Avia?s new running shoes with a beautiful woman. A picture of a tattooed, shirtless, muscular man jogging appears above a large ?A? on the first page. Beside picture ?A? lies a picture of a sleek black, white and gray running shoe with a... ... young women face, they do contribute to them by making it acceptable to market women?s bodies and misrepresent femininity in order to sell their products. Clearly, advertisers not only sell their products, but they also manipulatively sell values and concepts of the socially constructed ideals of femininity in America. Works Cited Avia. Advertisement. Maxim Nov. 2002: 23-4. Jimmy Choo. Advertisement. Cosmopolitan Jan. 2003: 132. Kilbourne, Jean. ?Beauty? and the Beast of Advertising.? Reading Culture. 3rd ed. Ed. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 1999. 178-81. Reebok Classic. Advertisement. For Him Magazine Mar. 2002: 125. See Reebok?s Classic Campaign. Reebok. 13 Jan. 2003 . Still Killing Us Softly 3. Narr. Jean Kilbourne. Ed. Sut Jally. Media Education, 2000.

Sociology and Tutor Marked Assignment

Foundation Course in Humanities and Social Sciences Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) Course Code: BSHF-101 Assignment Code: BSHF-101/AST/TMA/2012-13 Total Marks: 100 A. Descriptive Category Questions (DCQ) answer any two in 500 words each: 1. Analyse the evolution of man as a tool making animal. 20 2. Does the post – Industrial society differ from the Industrial society? Explain 20 3. Analyse the role of Gandhi in the National Movement. 20 4.How do you assess the performance of Indian Economy during the initial years of Globalization (since 1991)? 20 B. Middle Category Questions (MCQ) answer any four in 250 words each: 5. Discuss the achievements of Renaissance in the field of art and architecture. 12 6. Has the Indian Economy made any progress in the field of Distributive justice? 12 7. Discuss the directive Principles of State policies. Discuss the fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. How are the different? 12 8.What role do non-state actors play in the dem ocratic process? Discuss. 12 9. What role does coordination play in the management of organizations? Discuss. 12 10. Discuss the concept of governance. Is fostering openness in the system a part of good governance. 12 11. How do you look at the concept of ‘Human Security’? D iscuss. 12 12. Discuss the concept of â€Å"Digital Divide†. How do you think it can be bridged? 12 C. Short Category Questions (SCQ) 6+6 a) b) c) d) Secularism Bharatnatyam Ellora Paintings Kyoto Protocol 4

Mis Five Forces Analysis

A Five Forces Analysis of Allscripts, An Electronic Health Records (EHR) technology company Robert A. Brinker GBA 530 – Management Information Systems Professor Billie Whitfield February 6, 2012 The purpose of this paper is to identify competitive forces at work based on Michael Porter’s Five Competitive Forces from his Competitive Analysis Model (McNurlin, 2009) and provide recommendations to Allscripts, an electronic health records (EHR) technology company, as to business technology related improvements.Reviewing the United States healthcare industry would be a massive undertaking, so I will narrow my analysis specifically to an industry that has great momentum, the Health Information Technology (HIT) industry. The healthcare industry was said to be in a makeover year in 2010. (PwC, 2010) â€Å"The U. S. health care sector includes more than 780,000 hospitals, doctor offices, emergency care units, nursing homes, and social services providers with combined annual reve nue of more than $2 trillion†. Hoovers, 2011) Many of these healthcare sector participants are very fragmented and information shared between them is either insufficient or non-existent. Most experts agree that the current spending on healthcare is unsustainable now representing 17. 3 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Many factors are driving the high cost healthcare, but one thing is certain in that the delivery of healthcare hasn’t changed much over the last century at the patient and physician level. The delivery of healthcare is an antiquated paper driven process and in much need of modernization.The demand for HIT has been fueled by new Healthcare Reform legislation and incentives known as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act or HITECH, passed by President Obama in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The intent of the HITECH Act is to promote the modernization of the healthcare sy stem to improve the quality of patient care and decrease overall costs by bringing technology to the practice of medicine. â€Å"More than $88. 6 billion was spent by healthcare providers in 2010 on developing nd implementing electronic health records (EHR), health Information exchanges (HIE), and other HIT initiatives†. (PwC, 2010) The HIT industry has incredible momentum and such high demand that HIT companies are entering the marketplace at an significant rate. Although this industry has become very competitive and saturated over the last 2 years, there are several prominent companies leading the EHR industry. Among them are Allscripts, GE Centricity, and eClinicalWorks, which have been researched for this paper. Below are specific areas where key competitive forces are at work relative to Porter’s Five Forces Competitive Analysis Model.Threat of new entrants Suppliers of EHR systems and software to hospitals and physician practices were initially few in number earl ier in the decade, but it has become a fiercely competitive industry. Privately owned small businesses now dominate the supply and demand for electronic medical records (EMRs) over the last several years. (Folino, 2009) As stated earlier government regulations have had a great impact on the threat of new entrants given the passing of new healthcare related regulations and proposed financial incentives issued to medical practices that implement EHR technology in their practices.Also, the increase in new entrants is certainly due to the low capital investments required to produce EHR products to the marketplace. In the past significant investments in large servers and data storage was required, which has been replaced in large part by internet based cloud technology. This trend is very likely to continue as cloud technology grows in acceptance and prices decrease. Threat of substitutes Overall, with demand for EHR systems growing it appears to be a very lucrative industry with substan tial growth potential.As with most technologies cost will begin to fall as more and more suppliers enter the marketplace. As the prices begin to fall more hospitals and physicians will find it more cost-effective to implement EHR, however as of now the cost to implement an EHR system is prohibitive for many, especially for small medical practices that dominate the healthcare landscape such as in New Jersey. As technology evolves through innovations such as cloud based technology and prices drop it can have a positive impact on substitute EHR products by improving affordability and ease of implementation.In short, there will be simple and lower costs alternatives available. Bargaining power of suppliers Supplier integration is becoming a trend in the EHR marketplace as well, such as a recent partnership between eClinicalWorks and Dell computers. Dave Garets, president and CEO of HIMSS Analytics, a Chicago based healthcare information technology company, is a healthcare analyst who ha s had 30 years of experience in the IT field. He said that â€Å"partnerships like the one between Dell and eClinicalWorks are strategic and a good idea for larger corporations. (Folino, 2009) These supplier integrations are important as most EHR systems are software based and of course need compatible hardware systems on which to execute the final EHR product to the end-user, the healthcare provider. Compatibility issues abound and have so far been a challenge, particularly with the iPad, a trendy device which is fast becoming the hardware tool of choice for many applications. Healthcare providers have to shop separately for EHR software offered by EHR vendors and the computer hardware, which is offered by computer companies. Bargaining power of buyersOf Porter’s Five Forces, this one is quite evident. There is a large concentration of buyers in the EHR market, such as medical groups, primary care and specialist practices, hospitals, etc. and they have a lot of EHR vendors to choose from. Although buyers are not tremendously educated they can be selective. GE Healthcare markets its Centricity EHR system using a brand message that says, â€Å"Build new standards of Excellence, by building new standards of efficiency. † (GE Healthcare, 2012) This messaging can help buyers perceive the value through increase excellence and efficiencies.Online demonstrations are also a critical aspect of EHR companies attracting buyers. Features such as ease of use and medical practice application can be realized online very easily. This can help healthcare providers determine if an EHR system is worth further exploration. Intensity of rivalry Growth in this industry is very likely to continue as the need for modernization of healthcare continues and the a tipping point is reached where the adoption of EHR systems becomes a must for physicians practices and hospital systems.Currently the adoption rate is low but federal incentives continue to fuel an intense rivalr y amongst competitors in the health information technology arena and the degree of differentiation among companies in this space appears to be minimal. â€Å"Regardless of HIT's potential advantages, clinicians in the country's many small primary care practices can be overwhelmed by it and will need to be convinced that EHRs are affordable, enhance efficiency, and improve care. Then, they will need extensive, ongoing support. (O’Malley, 2011) Lyons Advisors, LLC, an IT consultant also states that â€Å"IT professionals will be most effective if they are helped to understand how a medical practice is different from other worksites†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Lyons, 2011) It appears obvious to me that a clear differentiator for companies in the EHR market would be to increase the education, training, and ongoing support of healthcare providers through the implementation of the EHR system. This needs to be done so by IT professionals educated on the inner workings and needs of the medical community that are their customers.As a result of this review and research, I submit the following recommendations to Allscripts: †¢ Consider integration partnerships with hardware technology companies with tablet type computer products, as portability will be important for healthcare providers as they move throughout their practices, the hospitals, nursing homes etc. Once such partnership could be with Apple and compatibility with its iPad. This partnership would go far to elevate Allscripts as an innovator and differentiate itself from its rivals. Make online demos accessible to healthcare professionals so they experience the intuitiveness and application of the Allscripts EHR system to their practices. Online demos could be made available to healthcare providers through You Tube, company websites, medical society websites, etc. †¢ Differentiate and promote the Allscripts brand from competitors by educating IT staff on the medical and clinical needs of healthcare profess ionals, so that IT staff truly understands the specific needs of their customers relative to EHR application.This would bridge the gap that currently exists between the technology and real efficiencies and patient care improvements. It could also minimize likely decreases in revenue as their patient load decreases throughout the implementation phase. Allscripts is a leader in the health IT arena, but like most companies there is much room for improvement to stay competitive in a lucrative, but fiercely competitive marketplace. A marketplace that has a long future as the need for the modernization of the U. S. ealthcare system takes shape, as it is behind the curve compared to almost every other service industry. America and patients alike deserve healthcare that is cost-effective, efficient, and innovative. References McNurlin, B. C. , Sprague, R. H. , Jr. , & Bui, T. (2009). Information Systems Management in Practice (8th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Top health indu stry issues of 2011. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) at http://www. pwc. com accessed on January 30, 2012 View: Making over healthcare. 2010) Issue 14. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) at http://www. pwc. com accessed on January 30, 2012 Healthcare Industry Description. Hoovers. Retrieved at http://www. hoovers. com/industry/health-care/1374-1. html on September 18, 2011 Big Business Eyes EMR Industry. By Lauren Folino, Oct 6, 2009. Access at http://www. inc. com/news/articles/2009/10/emr. html on February 4, 2012 Introduction of an Electronic Medical Record System into Physician Practice Offices: Why Is It so #%! &-ing Hard for Everybody? —Part III.Joseph P. Lyons, MA, CPA,* and Stephen Klasko, MD, MBA. Information Systems (2011) Tapping the Unmet Potential of Health Information Technology O'Malley, Ann. The New England Journal of Medicine 364. A12 (Mar 24, 2011): 1090-1091 Allscripts corporate website, accessed at http://www. allscripts. com on February 3, 2012 eClinicalWorks corp orate website, accessed at http://www. eclinicalworks. com on February 3, 2012 GE Healthcare corporate website, accessed at http://www. gehealthcare. com on February 3, 2012