4 Easy Ways to Increase Time on Site and Keep Your Visitors Around

One of the most worrying facts for website owners is that most people leave a new website in under a minute. Those visitors will see very little of your content, so they arent likely to remember you a day or a week later. This means you need to do everything you can to increase time on site.Fortunately, it isnt hard to encourage people to stick around. Using a few simple techniques, you can greatly improve the chance that new visitors will spend plenty of time reading your content, exploring your products, and so on. Even better, these methods can be used on just about any type of site.In this guide, well introduce four smart ways for you to increase time on site. By the time were done, youll know how to hook your sites visitors and keep them coming back. Lets jump right in! Using a site like Pingdom, you can find out how quickly your website loads.Its simple to build a WordPress website that looks amazing and contains plenty of high-quality content. However, all that effort will be for naught if your site doesnt also perform well. Keeping people on your site for as long as possible is important for improving conversions and other key metrics, and its no secret that slow pages drive visitors away  (especially for eCommerce sites).The first thing youll want to do is check your sites loading time. This can be done using a tool such as Pingdom. Just enter your sites URL, and youll get a snapshot of how well its performing. If the results arent promising – especially if the load time is more than two seconds – you may want to make some changes.There are a lot of ways to improve your sites performance, but here are a few key techniques:Optimize your images. Using a plugin like Optimole, you can make your images smaller (and faster to load).Use a caching plugin. Caching tools such as W3 Total Cache  will deliver pages to your visitors more quickly when properly configured.Employ Gzip compression. This simple fix compresses your sites data and is inc luded in most caching plugins (for example, WP Super Cache).Weve written extensively about how to speed up your WordPress site in the past, so wed suggest checking out those articles as well. After all, theres no such thing as a site that performs too well.2. Provide content suggestions to keep people readingPresenting your visitors with related content prompts them to stay longer.If your site contains a lot of content – for example, if its a blog or a news site – you want to encourage people to read as much as possible. However, holding visitors attention isnt easy. If youd like them to spend more time browsing, youll often need to give them a little push.Suggesting related content for visitors to read is a smart way to increase time on site. By this, we mean including a short section on each post or article showcasing other relevant pieces. That way, people wont have to go searching for something else to read on another site.There are two main methods for including c ontent suggestions on your site:Display popular posts. Sometimes it pays to show off your best and most popular content since thats whats most likely to attract attention. You can do this with many plugins, including Jetpack.Show related posts.  If your site contains content on many different topics, you may want to show visitors pieces that are directly relevant to what theyre currently reading. Jetpack can do this too, or you can get a dedicated solution like Yet Another Related Posts Plugin (YARPP).Using either of these strategies is a great way to keep people hooked on your site and expose them to as much of your content as you can.3. Use exit intent pop-ups to dissuade visitors from leavingExit intent pop-ups can encourage people to stick around by presenting special offers.If you really want to increase time on site, its important to give visitors a reason to stay. Exit intent pop-ups can be an effective way to do that. This kind of pop-up appears when a user tries to leave your site (usually when they move their cursor to the very top of the screen), and attempts to convince them not to go.Exit intent pop-ups work best when you use them to offer something specific to the visitor. You can provide a special coupon or discount, promote an intriguing piece of content, or encourage them to sign up for a free newsletter. Of course, its also important not to annoy people, so youll want to avoid making these pop-ups too intrusive or hard to close.There are plenty of solutions you can use to create exit intent pop-ups. The Sumo List Builder, for example, enables you to set exactly when your pop-ups appear and customize what they contain. For more help implementing this technique, check out our guide on adding exit intent pop-ups to your WordPress site.4. Make smart use of internal linksLinking to other pages and posts on your site helps to increase time on site.Finally, its crucial to include plenty of internal links on your website. By ‘internal, we sim ply mean links to other content or pages within your site. This is an important consideration for Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and a smart way to increase time on site.In a nutshell, this works the same way providing content suggestions does. By offering lots of internal links, you direct people to other parts of your site and encourage them to explore everything you have to offer. If you send them away to another site, by contrast, they may never come back.Actually adding internal links to your content is simple, but youll want to pay attention to how theyre incorporated. For best results, try following key best practices, such as optimizing the anchor text and only linking to relevant content. The premium version of Yoast SEO can help a lot with this strategy by automatically suggesting related posts that are a good target for internal links.Use these four methods to increase time on siteWere willing to bet that you spent a lot of time building and perfecting your site. Whats more, it probably takes just as much effort to maintain it. For all that work to pay off, you need to keep visitors around as long as possible. That way, you have the best chance to make a strong impression.Fortunately, as a WordPress user, there are a few easy ways to increase time on site. You can:Optimize your websites performance to improve load times.Provide content suggestions to keep people reading.Use exit intent popups to dissuade visitors from leaving.Make smart use of internal links.Do you have any questions about the techniques weve introduced in this post? Ask away in the comments section below! How to increase your website's time on site to keep your visitors around longer

Them Ther is Fighin Words

Them Ther is Fighin Words Free Online Research Papers â€Å"Nigger†. It’s the first word that appears on Barry Noreen’s Gazette article, Use Fighting Words, and You Should Expect a Fight, but instead, it’s written as n-. The word is â€Å"such a distasteful racist epithet, The Gazette doesn’t want it to appear† (Noreen, para.2). The article covers a local story about four boys in Monument’s own Creekside Middle School. It’s explained that three young Caucasian boys approached an African-American boy and began taunting and racially harassing him by chanting KKK, â€Å"Nigger†, and waving a hood in front of his face. This African-American boy in response to being disgraced fought back and managed to get one of his white classmates in a headlock. The tussle was broken up, but was followed with harassment charges against only two of the instigators and a misdemeanor assault charge against the young black child. That’s right; a misdemeanor charge was put on the African-Ame rican boy defending his pride after being rudely attacked by his white classmates. The entire situation, regardless of whether or not the behavior was wrong, can be broken down by the sociological perspective and analyzed into different parts of culture, socialization, group interaction and different forms of social control, maybe then the boys’ actions can be better understood. To start off, including the word â€Å"Nigger† in this paper, to most people, breaks common acceptable folkways and obliges proscriptive norms. Norms are the â€Å"rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members†, proscriptive norms are those not to be done while prescriptive norms tell what should be done. Using that particular word is a proscriptive norm, it should not be done. Similarly, folkways are â€Å"norms for routine or casual interaction† (Macionis, p.72). Norms and folkways are created by society to regulate, guide, and control everyday interactions not only between people, but between societies and nations. They can be seen in a variety of ways; clothing, hand or body movements, facial expressions and of course language. Language is a very powerful means of social control because almost every word has a considerable symbolic meaning that expresses or evokes an emotion. The word â€Å"Nigger† is simply considered a rude racial slur intended to offend someone. The easiest way to control someone is to make them feel inferior and demoralized, which is what racially offensive words are intended to do. Noreen states in his article that â€Å"[in] the real world, if you utter fighting words you should be prepared for what comes next, because it might just be a punch† (Noreen, para.12). In a utopian world the African-American child would’ve just walked away, but in today’s light, when you’ve been offended you defend yourself. The reason the word is even considered offensive is because of the socialization process, which includes the way a child is taught how to perceive him/herself. Noreen reports that the mother of the African-American child â€Å"told police she was proud of how he stood up for himself† (Noreen, para.8). From this statement, it’s made obvious that the black child was brought up in a household that embraces their race and understands racial judgments to be offensive. The child identifies and knows himself as an African-American, and when he was harassed because of it he was under attack, not just his race, which is why he fought back. As for the white children, they too understand themselves to be of a certain race and bonded into a peer group because of it. A peer group is known as â€Å"a social group whose members have interests, social position, and age in common† (Macionis, p. 129-130). People involved in a peer group tend to view their own group as dominant and put down other group; which explains why the group of white boys attacked the black boy, he was considered a different peer group and seen as inferior. The white boys had been, at one time, socialized to view African-Americans as below themselves and deemed in necessary to act upon it. Of equal importance influencing behavior and social norms is the Criminal Justice System, laws, and the government. Society’s government has deemed certain punishments for specific behaviors. The young black child was charged with assault because he had in fact physically attacked his white classmate. The white children were also punished, not only with school suspension, but also harassment charges for instigating the situation. The government maintains control by enforcing these punishments although the punishments and intensity of the crime are culturally and nationally based. Most local people agree, however, that the African-American boy did no wrong because he was defending himself and should be released of his charges. Unfortunately the charges will be carried out by the District Attorney’s Office as planned as a way of establishing and maintaining that violence will not be accepted in school settings. The entire situation was not only uncalled for, but it also deteriorated quickly, becoming more than the boys probably originally expected. And although the boys from Creekside Middle School, home of the courageously respectful cougars, have reasonable behaviors according to the sociological analysis, their behaviors violated acceptable norms and abused means of social control. Noreen, Barry. Use Fighting Words and You Should Expect a Fight. Gazette.com. March 15, 2008. March 15, 2008.www.gazette.com/articles/black_34256_article.html/boys_fighting.html Macionis, John J. Sociology, Eleventh Edition. Pearson Education, 2007. New Jersey. Research Papers on "Them Ther is Fighin Words"Hip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementWhere Wild and West Meet19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseBringing Democracy to AfricaUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresCapital PunishmentComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito

Teenage pregnancy Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9000 words

Teenage pregnancy - Literature review Example Legal as well as social and psychological issues and funding are considered. Introduction For those people who have planned and look forward to having a child, the news of a confirmed pregnancy is a very positive event. In the case of some young people however, similar news can come as a shock. There seems to a be a degree of disconnect in some minds between sexually risky behaviour and its possible aftermath. Reactions may well include ‘Why me?’’ together with fear of the reactions from her parents. A girl in such a situation may well feel lonely, scared, ashamed, sad and desperate. She may feel angry with the young man concerned. He may be just as scared of the possible wrath of his parents, but also perhaps of any future responsibilities for which he feels unprepared. He may also find himself on the side-lines or even totally discarded, being allowed little or no part in any decisions to be made. For both of these young parents life choices are suddenly very di fferent from what they were only a few weeks earlier. There are also long term concerns such as future education prospects, housing and all the rest. According to Innocenti, 2001 ‘In the world’s rich nations more than three quarters of a million teenagers will become mothers in the next twelve months.’ As soon as a girl begins to ovulate she is physically open to the possibility of pregnancy, whatever age she is and however prepared or not she is for the impact of a teenage pregnancy. A teenager who is sexually activity is highly likely to become pregnant with a year. This fact has huge implications, physically, psychologically, educationally, social and affects such things as the chances of employment and future marriage opportunities despite then normalisation of sex outside marriage in recent times. The rates of teenage pregnancy vary between the countries of the world, as well as among areas and groups with those countries because of a number of factors. Thes e include such things as: The differences in the levels of sexual activity among young people, which is turn is affected by the social norms of their particular society, which may be in turn be affected by such things as religious ideas and educational levels. The general amount and quality of sex education provided. The availability of, and access to, affordable and acceptable methods of contraception. In the United Kingdom 5% of underage conceptions happen to girls aged under 15 ( Department of Education, 2012). According to Medline (2012) birth in very young mothers carries with it increased risks of low birth weight babies, and prematurity, both linked to the high numbers of teenage mothers who continue to smoke during pregnancy. It can be demonstrated that these low birth weights may also be directly linked to the lack of physical maturity of the mother. This latter fact cannot be altered however good the antenatal care given, but at least medical staff will be prepared for the possibility, and prepared to support a baby with a low birth weight, often born prematurely (Law, 2012). There is also an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (March of Dimes, 2009). According to the Department of

Portfolio Project (350 Points) The Portfolio Project is due at the end Term Paper

Portfolio Project (350 Points) The Portfolio Project is due at the end of Module 8. Read the following description carefully. C - Term Paper Example Lastly, it reflects on how the digital aspects have influenced the rise of secular religions with its popularization. Metzger, M. J., & Flanagin, A. J. (2008). Digital media, youth, and credibility. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. This book portrays the way society has unlimited access to broad spectrums of information through extremely portable and easy to access digital forms as compared to the past. It expounds on the comfort brought by the availability of media tools as forms of entertainment and quality information providers. It also touches on the youth as possible audiences and implementers of the same. In addition, it emphasizes on the need by the youth to use the internet as a health information seeking to tool for their personal gain. Miller, R. (2008). Digital art: Painting with pixels. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books. In this book, the digital form of art is on the spotlight by giving the meaning of this art form then building up on its impact on culture. It diffe rentiates the digital way from the traditional form of artistry by presenting its historic background. Additionally, the book encompasses how technology in the digital world has evolved to give birth to sophisticated outputs in the advertising field. Lastly, it gives insights in to contemporary art and the influence that the tool has on cultural growth. Morgan D. (2008). Key Words in Religion, Media and Culture. Taylor & Francis: London. This book is an introduction to cultural interrelation between the digital media and religion. It gives the extent to which the media tool has affected important concepts within the religious walls. Morgan has incorporated a number of scholars in this book to bring out seasoned rationale revolving around inquisitions on the constitution of culture. it provides a basis in to which future generations may refer to when it comes to leads towards theological explanations in the future through the digital media. Finally, it gives insights in to the curios ity that has led to the inception of secular religions and idol worship as part of the digitally revolutionized culture. Ricardo, F. J. (2009). Cyberculture and new media. Amsterdam: Rodopi. In his book, Ricardo depicts the state of the exposure in which the youths have used the digital forms for their own selfish gains. It reflects how distant the youths have gone in terms of the basic concept of internet use. It highlights on the other ways in which the youths have conveniently applied the virtual concepts to promote moral decay and immoral creations. Ideally, it is a study guide that shows disconnect between self-ideologies and societal culture. Shelly, G. B., Cashman J.T., Gunter A. G., Gunter R.E. (2008). Teachers discovering computers: Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom. Boston, Mass: Thomson/Course Technology. The projections in this book explain the transformation of the educational sector concerning dynamic approaches of advanced learning. It covers o n digitized media concepts in relation to the advancement in technological forms of simplified learning. It also depicts the ease within which instructors find their carriers to be more fulfilling than that of past tutors because of the remarkable aspect of simplified learning. Straubhaar, J. D., LaRose, R., & Davenport, L. (2012). Media now: Understanding media, culture, and technology. Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. This book

Managing a Multigenerational Workforce Term Paper

Managing a Multigenerational Workforce - Term Paper Example rce could be challenging as well as interesting because if it is not properly understood, it would create a hazardous situation in between different age groups, leading into creating instability as well as conflicts. Based on different skills s as well as diversified ways of communication, these groups must be segregated accordingly. These diversified age groups could create a rich talented workforce, which in turn, would prove to be quite beneficial for the organisations in future. However, it should be too much challenging also for its remarkable diversity, which should be managed properly, otherwise the situation becomes fatal (Fallon, 2014). It has been earlier mentioned that multigenerational workforce could create positive and negative impacts on the overall performance of organizations belonging to this modern day context. From the perspective of positive impacts, an effective management of a multigenerational workforce could result in facilitating the modern organizations to reap several significant benefits. These benefits could be duly measured in the form of increasing the profitability level, attaining greater competitive position and ensuring long-term sustainability among others. On the other hand, from the standpoint of negative impacts, the implications of the above stated subject matter could be reckoned as decreased level of overall business or operational performance, ineffective decision making and most vitally mis-utilization of certain valuable resources like human resources. Thus, with this concern, it should be managed in an effective manner for enabling the modern organizations to reap several signi ficant benefits including taking wise decisions about developing the performance of the employees and taking deliberate efforts towards sustaining in this competitive business settings. While discussing about the management of a multigenerational workforce, it will be vita to mention that in this 21st century, operations performed within the

Managing People And Absence Management Management Essay

Managing People And Absence Management Management Essay INTRODUCTION Managing attendance at work is recognised as being an increasing priority for all employers. Both short term and long term absences have a significant impact upon the efficiency and resources of any company and the management of such absences can have a significant effect on both the company and the individuals who are involved. The focus will be on Coleg Sir Gar and how they deal with absence. One of the key challenges facing organisations is how to manage absence effectively to ensure that those who are genuinely sick are fully supported, and that the small minority whose absence is not health-related is deterred. UK legislation places a duty on employers to safeguard employee health, safety and welfare, in addition to which there are rising expectations among staff of what employers should be providing in terms of working conditions and benefits. Adopting an approach to sickness absence management that is both supportive of the genuinely sick and that acts as a deterrent to the few whose absence is not health-related is difficult to achieve, but a crucial element of successful management practice. While the majority of absence is thought to be genuine and related to ill-health, a number of factors appear to have an impact on absence levels. These include motivation, work levels and morale within teams. Individuals perceive their work as stressful due to factors such as overwork, heavy administrative loads and relationships within their teams. Many individuals who feel valued in their roles are less likely to take sick leave as they appreciate that their contribution is important to their organisation. Other causes of absence include needing to take time off for domestic responsibilities such as childcare. Although most organisation have in place a policy relating to special leave aimed at coping with domestic emergencies, awareness of this leave does not appear to be high. The presence and implementation of a good sickness absence policy is an important first step to managing absence well. Ideally, a policy should be clearly understandable and take into account different causes of absence and develop appropriate ways of dealing with these. It is also vital for an organisation to accept that a certain level of employee absence is an inevitable feature of working life. Appropriate support should be offered to employees who are absent and unable to work for health reasons, and a policy should ideally recognise that employees may sometimes need to be absent for reasons other than health, and that this should not be counted as sickness. MANAGING PEOPLE Absence is very expensive. The CIPD annual survey Absence Management 2009 was based on replies from 642 employers in organisations employing a total of more than 1.9 million employees. The average cost of absence per employee per year was  £692, which is a slight increase from the previous years figure of  £666. The annual cost of absence, as last year, is highest in the public sector, averaging  £784 per employee per year; however, this represents a reduction from the previous years figure of  £906 per employee per year. Manufacturing and production employers recorded the next highest cost at  £754 per employee per year, a slight fall from the figure for the year before of  £759. Absence costs among non-profit organisations also fell slightly to  £698 from  £741 per employee per year. Private services organisations recorded the lowest annual absence costs, averaging  £666 compared with the previous years figure of  £663. For an organisation with 1000 employees, t his is nearly three quarters of a million pounds per year. But direct costs are only a part of the problem. Absence disrupts production, operations, customer service and morale. Organisations have to spend extra money on temporary cover or overtime as a result. And unchecked absence can lead to bad feeling, conflict and disciplinary action, including dismissal. And that can lead to tribunal hearings, and even compensation payments, if organisations are unable to demonstrate that they have acted fairly. Why measure absence? A key element of managing absence effectively is accurate measurement and monitoring. An organisation must assess if it has a problem with absence, its extent and the best way to tackle it. Only 41% of employers monitor the cost of employee absence, a figure which has remained low over the last few years. Employers should collect and use data to identify particular patterns of absence and underlying causes, for example, the management style of a particular manager or an increase in workloads. It can also provide evidence of how absence impacts on the bottom line and why it is worth investing in an effective absence management programme. There are a number of measures that can be used to assess absence, each of which gives information about different aspects of absence. There are two aspects to absence in Coleg Sir Gar: 1. Total time lost 2. How that time is distributed. Total time lost This is the crudest measure and the one used most often. To calculate this, the total number of days that could be worked in the organisation is added. Then the number of days that were lost due to absence are deducted and expressed as a fraction of the total. In a sense, this is the cost of the extra people that the organisation has to employ purely because of absence. For example, an organisation of 1000 people with an absence rate of 3.5 per cent has to employ 35 more people than would otherwise be necessary, just to cover the absence. How that time is distributed Many organisations only measure the total time lost. Yet this figure can describe several quite different problems. In a department of 30 people, an absence rate of 3.5 per cent could result from one person being away for a year with a longà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœterm illness, with no other absence in the department, or it could result from everyone taking small amounts of time off. Or it could result from a few people taking quite long absences. Before you can define the problem, you have to ask: Who is being absent? How often are they being absent? How long are they being absent for? Bradford Factor The Bradford Factor identifies persistent short-term absence for individuals, by measuring the number of spells of absence, and is therefore a useful measure of the disruption caused by this type of absence. It is calculated using the formula: S x S x D S = number of spells of absence in 52 weeks taken by an individual D = number of days of absence in 52 weeks taken by that individual For example: 10 one-day absences: 10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000 1 ten-day absence: 1 x 1 x 10 = 10 5 two-day absences: 5 x 5 x 10 = 250 2 five-day absences: 2 x 2 x 10 = 40 The trigger points will differ between organisations. As for all unauthorised absence, the underlying causes will need to be identified. So should we try to manage absence? After all, if someone is ill, they are ill. The answer is that we should. And there are several reasons for this. Stopping theft of working time. Some people do take unauthorised time off for no reason other than personal gain. These people are stealing. They are stealing from their employer, because they are being paid for work they are not doing, and they are putting unfair extra work on to their colleagues. Stopping this theft of time is a clear moral and legal imperative. Some people take time off because they have a problem. This may be a personal problem, or a problem affecting someone close to them. By investigating the absence, managers can find out about such problems. In many cases, the organisation will then be able to offer support to the employee. In the longer term, this will reduce absence and help the employee. Some people take time off because of stress or unhappiness with work. It is very likely that these problems will be affecting performance generally, quite apart from affecting attendance. Investigating the absence may uncover such problems and enable the manager to address them, resulting in better performance in general and less absence. There must be no question of trying to coerce someone who is genuinely and unavoidably ill into coming to work. But in this case it is still important that the organisation knows the facts and so is able to plan its response accordingly. The sick employee may well suffer unnecessary extra stress and anxiety if he or she is not sure how the organisation views the illness. Directly confronting the illness, and being clear about the organisations attitude to it, will not only help the organisation know what it has to deal with, it can help the employee deal with the illness, too. Confronting and discussing absence not only helps the organisation, it helps the absentee. What causes absence? First, the causes of absence should be looked at to provide insight into the problem and to illustrate the areas where policy has an influence. Research shows that the causes of absence fall into the following four distinct clusters: The general health and lifestyle of employees and its impact on attendance at work has been a popular topic for research. Virtually all studies demonstrate a clear link, for example, between smoking and increased absence. Similarly research shows a strong link with excessive alcohol use and absence. For a proportion of employees there is a strong direct relationship between absence and poor health, but for others nonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ medical factors are equally important. Absence management polices need to discriminate between those who are unavoidably absent due to illness and those whose health is affected by factors over which the employer can have some influence. Employers who are able to support health education programmes which promote healthier lifestyles and actions such as providing healthy meals at work, encouraging exercise and aiding those who wish to give up smoking will all benefit from the improved general health of employees and reduced staff sickness rates. Some aspects of the working environment affect the wellà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ being of staff. Research into how work is organised has shown the importance of team working with absence being lower where people work in small collaborative teams. Absence can also be a way of avoiding aspects of work that are emotionally demanding or stressful. The long hours culture also has an adverse impact on absence. A strong link exists between those who consistently work more than their contracted hours and both psychological and physical sickness levels. Management actions such as team working, awareness of health and safety issues and discouraging the working of excessive hours can all help to reduce the adverse impact of these factors. How employees feel about their working lives has been shown to be an important influence on attendance. Research has demonstrated that organisational commitment has a directly beneficial effect on absence and through this to business outcomes. The major influence on the creation of this commitment has been identified as the line manager and the quality of their relationship with their staff. The sensitive handling of change within organisations, often in the hands of line managers, is also essential as various features of the change process are associated with deterioration in employees health. These include uncertainty, lack of control, role ambiguity and job insecurity which can lead directly to reduce physical and mental health. Stress and absence are generally also shown to be related, although in the field of research the definition of stress is problematic and whether it should it be regarded as psychological or as a series of physiological symptoms has not yet been resolved. C areer satisfaction is one of the more powerful predictors of absence behaviour. Absence is higher among those expressing dissatisfaction with their careers. Among those who have marketable skills and are often absent the likelihood of them resigning is high. A link also exists between resigning and attendance behaviour. Those with poor attendance records are more likely to express an intention to leave and there is evidence that those with high absence rates are indeed at a greater risk of leaving. What policies need to contain? Good policies should clearly define the roles and responsibilities of key factors such as line managers, senior managers, the HR function, the occupational health function and the individuals themselves. They should also establish procedures to ensure that each case is treated in the same way and that standardised information on absence is collected. The first step to managing absence effectively is to ensure that you have a clear policy in place that supports your organisations business objectives and culture. Legislation requires employers to provide staff with information on any terms and conditions relating to incapacity for work due to sickness or injury, including any provision for sick pay. Effective absence policies must spell out employees rights and obligations when taking time off from work due to sickness. The policy should: provide details of contractual sick pay terms and its relationship with statutory sick pay outline the process employees must follow if taking time off sick covering when and whom employees should notify if they are not able to attend work include when (after how many days) employees need a self-certificate form contain details of when they require a fit note from their doctor explain that adjustments may be appropriate to assist the employee in returning to work as soon as is practicable mention that the organisation reserves the right to require employees to attend an examination by a company doctor and (with the workers consent) to request a report from the employees doctor include provisions for return-to-work interviews as these have been identified as the most effective intervention to manage short-term absence. Sickness absence policies are put in place to manage sickness absence. Staff are expected to maintain a satisfactory record of attendance. However, the aim is to balance the sensitive nature of individual sickness and ill health against its needs to achieve its objectives. As a caring employer, the aim is to assist employees to retain or regain good health. It is essential that the procedures be carried out with tact and sensitivity and a realisation that the management of attendance is the joint responsibility of the line manager and the individual member of staff. Human Resources (HR) will be available to advise and support line managers and their staff. Employees may be requested to consent to be examined by the occupational doctor or nurse and to agree to allow Occupational Health to provide a medical report. Employees may also refer themselves to Occupational Health. If a member of staff fails to comply with notification or certification procedures or otherwise abuse the procedu res, the disciplinary procedure may be used. The policy and procedure that apply are: This policy and associated procedure incorporate the following principles. Good faith The policy and procedures will be applied to all members of staff in a consistent manner and without discrimination. Fairness Any action taken will be reasonable and necessary.  Ã‚  Members of staff involved are entitled to be heard with courtesy and respect. Confidentiality Information relating to sickness absence will only be shared with individuals who have a need to know. Representation If issues of attendance arise within these procedures and a formal approach is required to deal with them, a member of staff will be entitled to be accompanied by a trade union representative or by a work colleague.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conclusions Recommendations Accepting absence as unavoidable and inevitable in an organisation creates a culture of poor attendance. This highlights the critical role of managers in communicating clearly the organisations expectations on attendance. Without positive action it is possible to have a culture where absence is just accepted as uncontrollable, or in the worst scenario, viewed as entitlement to extra leave. Overall, it is clear that managing absence is complex, and a successful approach must involve a mix of elements that successfully support those that are genuinely ill and deter the small minority of those that are absent for non-health-related reasons. Line managers are key in terms of implementing the policy, but they must be adequately supported by other areas of the organisation, such as senior management, the HR function and the occupational health function. Further, it is important for line managers to achieve the right balance when managing sickness absence, and to learn to tailor their approach appropriately. For example, in terms of the frequency and type of contact with individuals during long-term sickness absence, what is right for some individuals may not work for others, who may want more or less frequent contact? It is therefore up to line managers to find the appropriate balance between what is perceived as intrusion and support. Communicating the objectives of any attendance policy clearly to all staff members is essential. A policy which is to be credible and successful needs to be understood throughout an organisation and applied consistently and fairly. An individuals case of sick absence, depending on length, can require actions from various individuals and services such as the line manager, senior managers, the HR function, the HR Business Partner, Occupational Health Services and the Employee Assistance Provider. For an attendance policy to be effective in practice it is essential that the respective roles of the individuals and services involved in managing cases of absence are defined. This ensures that cases are handled systematically and efficiently. At any point in an absence it should be known who is responsible for each aspect and what outcomes are to be expected. Once the areas of responsibility are defined the procedures to be applied need to be established. This makes certain that each case i s treated the same way, that similar approaches are used and standardised information collected. Word Count excluding references: 3,090

Male Specific Neurons In Flies Essay -- Biology Fly

Have you watched a fly chase another fly all around the room and ever wonder how they manage to always be so close together even though the prey is trying its best to get away? Well, some scientists wondered. They were intrigued with this "mating chase" of the male fly after the female fly. You could say that the female was trying to play hard to get while the male lustily engages the pursuit. The male nearly always gets his "prey". However, if the female fly tried to chase the male, she would have no such luck. This is due to the sexual dimorphism of the fly. The male fly has a superior visual system to the female which he can use to locate and intercept the female fly in flight; however, the female fly does not have this advantage. The male-specific neurons that control the fly's superior visual system are complicated and intricate. The history behind the study of the fly's neurons begins with a 19th Century scientist by the name of Cajal. He studied neural systems and was the first to isolate nerve cells near the surface of the brain. His work led to a greater study of neurobiology and the passion for attempting to understand the workings of the nervous system. However, real progress in this field did not culminate until Land and Collett established a remarkable theoretical model of the two part visual system of the fly's brain. This model was incredibly close to the actual structure and function of the male fly's visual system. The structure of the male's eyes are even different to the female's. When looking at the two side by side, one can readily see the differences. Even these outer physical differences attribute to the male's superiority with his binocular vision and the ability to keep a target continually in his... ...y will compensate, yaw, pitch, and thrust, to return the target image into the area of male specific neurons. This behavior is found only in male flies, and while female flies are attracted to flickering objects as males are, they do not use have a different system to control yaw torque as males do. The males employ a position- independent system of tracking using yaw adjustments, relying on direction. This allows the males to intercept a target or change direction in tracking without overshooting the target. Females are unable to do this. The males also use pitch and thrust to pursue other flies. The position of the target in the mid-sagittal plane drives the pitch, based on the elevation of the target's image. Thrust relates to the distance between the pursuer and the target. The relationship between target range and velocity is shown to be male-specific behavior.

Case Study the Virgin Group Essay

PROBLEM: * The Virgin Group is so unrelated diversified that it has been criticized by some commentators because it has become an â€Å"endorsement brand that could not always offer real expertise to the businesses which it is associated†. So the real question is â€Å"Can The Virgin Group be good/successful in every business it gets into?† â€Å"Are they really adding a real value to each business/customer? * What will happen if a customer has a bad experience with any of the product lines of the Virgin Brand? Would that influence this customer to never try again another line of this brand? Some commentators have found a big risk with Virgin’s approach stating that: â€Å"The greatest threat is that Virgin Brand may become associated with failure†. Can that be possible? * Richard Branson’s is associated with the Virgin Brand, this sure has been the key to the success of this company, but can also his image fire back toward the Virgin brand if he g ains a bad reputation? What can be the consequences? FACTS: Organizational: * The Virgin Group is one of the UK’s largest private companies. (S) * The Virgin Group included in 2006, 63 businesses such as airlines, health clubs, music stores and trains. Also included Virgin Galactic which promises to take passengers into the sub-orbital space. (S) * The personal image and personality of Richard Branson, the founder of the Group is highly bound up with those of the company. (S ,W) * Branson announced in 2006 his plans to invest $3bn in renewable energy. (S) * Virgin’s partnership with cable company NTL, undertook an expansion into media challenging publicy the way NewsCorp operated in the UK and the effects on British democracy. (S ,W) * Virgin was founded in 1970 as a mail order record business and developed as a private company in music publishing and retailing. (S) * In 1986, Virgin was floated on the stock exchange with a turnover of 362.5 million (Euros). (S) * Branson decided to take the business back into private ownership and the shares were bought back at the original price offer, when the price of the shares began to fall and because of the pressure to create short-term profit. (S ,W) * Virgin’s expansion had often been through joint ventures whereby Virgin provided the brand and its partner provided the majority of the capital. I.e.: For cosmetics and clothing Virgin provided 1,000 (pounds), while its partner Victory Corporation 20m (pounds). (S) * Built business with Virgin Mobile, by forming partnerships with existing wireless operators to sell services under the Virgin brand name. The carrier competences lay in network management. Virgin set out to differentiate itself by offering innovative services. (S) * Virgin has been described as a â€Å"keiretsu† organisation. A structure of loosely linked, autonomous units by self-managed teams that use a common brand name. (S ,W) * Virgin Atlantic, which is owned in 49% by Singapore Airways is one of businesses Branson will never sell, despite of the cyclical nature of this business. He included airline businesses such as Virgin Express (European), Virgin Blue (Australia) and Virgin Nigeria in the group. (S) * Branson has reported about withdrawing from the business which more or less can run by itself now, hoping that his son Sam might become more a of Virgin figurehead. At the same time he launched his initiatives in media and fuel. (W) Environmental: * Branson’s public image and special appearances has contributed to the definition and recognisability of the brand. (O) * Virgin is putting up the Capital for Virgin Fuels and is using the brand to attract the attention to the issues and possibilities that the technology offers. (Different from the other business) (O) * In 2005 announced the establishment of a â€Å"quadruple play† media company providing television, broadband, fixed-lined and mobile communications through the merger of Branson’s UK mobile interests with UK’s two cable companies. (O) * Branson describes Virgin as â€Å"a branded venture capital house†. There was no â€Å"group† as such; Virgin was described as a family rather than a hierarchy. (O) * In 2006 Branson explained the basis upon which he considers opportunities: be global in scope, enhance the brand, be worth doing and have an expectation of a reasonable return on investment. (O) * Branson’s engagement with â€Å"greener† fuels has created a debate on measures to reduce carbon emissions from airplanes. (O) * The public flotation of individual businesses rather than the group as a whole has become an intrinsic part of the â€Å"juggling† of finances that underpins Virgin’s expansion. (T) * Virgin argues that its brand research indicated that people who have had a bad experience will blame that particular Virgin company or product but will be willing to use another Virgin product or service due to the very diversity of the brand. (O , T) * In 2000 Strategic Rail Authority Review voted Virgin Rail on 23rd and 24th place among 25 railway operators what had a great negative impact on Virgin Group overall reputation. (T) Values & Aspirations: * The Virgin name was associated with words such as â€Å"fun†, â€Å"innovative†, â€Å"daring† and â€Å"successful†. It was chosen representing the idea of the company being a virgin in every business it entered. (1) * Establish The Virgin Brand as a major global name. (2) * Virgin won an award for the best wireless operator in the UK. (4) * Branson saw Virgin adding value in the three main ways, aside from the brand: Public relations and marketing skills, its experience with Greenfield start-ups; and Virgin’s understanding of the opportunities presented by â€Å"institutionalized† markets. (3) * Each company is â€Å"ring-fenced†, so no company had no rights over the assets of another; providing not only financial protection, but also to a business ethic aspect. (5) * The increasing conformity between personal interest and business activities could be discerned in the establishment of Virgin Fuels. Branson has stated that by using non-oil-based fuels a Second Gulf War can be prevented. (7) * The line between personal conviction and business interests is everyday more thin. (6) KEY ASSUMPTIONS: * Branson’s taste for his brands of business remains undimmed so will surely continue this way. He has grown his business using the Unrelated Diversification Strategy, which is based in entering new businesses sectors outside the core activities; such as travel, telecommunications, trains, cosmetics. * He will continue investing in â€Å"Green companies† producing ethanol and cellulosic ethanol fuels in competition with the oil industry. He has already started to Go Green, so surely all his companies will follow this new eco-friendly trend. * Branson’s son may be taking the lead of the company in the future. His statements toward leaving the company in the future and let his son take the lead may be to prepare his entire workforce for this moment. * Even though the Virgin Brand is powerful, Branson’s image is strongly related to the company, so if he decides to go, will the next person in charge be able to maintain the same cultural organisation that has identified this company till now? * To be part of the World history, by becoming the most powerful Brand and Company, not only of the UK, but also Europe and make many other businesses in other Continents. * Become a leader of non-oil industry. His high investment in this area confirms his seriousness about this issue. * Continue investing on more R&D in new and innovative technologies in order to expand the company’s position in entertainment and telecommunications market. He is already the leader in the mobile service due to correct strategy and implementation. * Virgin Galactic may become the leading company to send humans to space, making this company be part of the Humankind History. SOLUTIONS: * So far Branson’s strategy has leaded him to success. He must continue making new alliances and also to strengthen the ones that have been made so far. The strategy used by the Virgin Group, based on Unrelated Diversification has been the key element of success of the company. This strategy has created a unique culture and corporate structure needed to build a strong competitive advantage. * The investment of new R&D technologies may make the difference for this company’s future. It has the potential to become a Giant in the IT area. * Continue gaining competitive advantage over the market by identifying themselves as the fun, playful and innovative company they have been so far. This marketing campaign has helped Virgin Brand to gain loyal customers. * Expand the Virgin Brand into new continents. Select another target markets in the Asian and African continents where surely can form alliances with local markets and gain competitive advantage by the strong growth potential.

Legal and Regulation essays

Legal and Regulation essays Asbestos means any of the following fibrous silicates: actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotle, crocidolite or tremolite; fibre means a fibre of asbestos that is more than five micrometres in length and less than three micrometres in width and that has a length to width ratio not less than three to one as viewed in a phase contrast optical microscope at for hundred to five hundred magnification; joint health and safety committee includes a joint health and safety committee includes a joint health and safety committee established under section 9 of the Act, a committee of like nature and the workers or their representatives who participate in an arrangement, program or system conforming to subsection 9 (4) of the Act. Regulation applies, to every employer operating a mine or mining plant for the purpose of mining, crushing, grinding or sifting asbestos and to those workers of such an employer who are likely to inhale or ingest asbestos; to every employer processing, adapting or using asbestos in connection with the manufacturing or assembling of goods or products and to those workers of such an employer who are likely to inhale or ingest asbestos; and to every employer, engaged in the repair, alteration or maintenance of machinery, equipment, aircraft, ships, locomotives, railway cars and vehicles and to those workers of such an employer who are likely to inhale or ingest asbestos, engaged in work on a building that is necessarily incidental to the repair, alteration or maintenance of machinery or equipment and those workers of such an employer who are likely to inhale or ingest asbestos. An employer to whom this Regulation applies shall take every precaution reasonable in the circumstan ces to ensure that every worker who is not an employer and who works in the workplace of the employer is protected and every worker shall comply with the requirements of the employer. ...

Biotechnology Development and the U.S. Economic Hegemony

Biotechnology Development and the U.S. Economic Hegemony Abstract Biotechnology is understood by many to be one of the most promising areas of technological development and among the most probable to bring significant economic and societal gains to the United States in the 21st century. With so much potentially at stake, an international competition has emerged among states and companies to grow and capture the value of biotechnology products.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Biotechnology Development and the U.S. Economic Hegemony specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Competitiveness generally refers to the relative potential of a nation or company to convey goods or services to markets. Evaluations of competitive strength usually rely on indicators such as revenues, market share, and trade. Biotechnology is not a detached industry, but relatively a technology applied across a wide range of products in different industries for which biotechnology products in general ac count for a small fraction of total sales. For this reason, this research reviews national biotechnology research and development (RD) investments and patents as indicators of current U.S. scientific and technological competitiveness and potential markers of future industrial competitiveness in biotechnology products. Introduction Biotechnology is understood by many to be one of the most promising areas of technological development and among the most probable to bring significant economic and societal gains to the United States in the 21st century.1 With so much potentially at stake, an international competition has emerged among states and companies to grow and capture the value of biotechnology products. Competitiveness generally refers to the relative potential of a nation or company to convey goods or services to markets. Evaluations of competitive strength usually rely on indicators such as revenues, market share, and trade. Biotechnology is not a detached industry, but relativ ely a technology applied across a wide range of products in different industries for which biotechnology products in general account for a small fraction of total sales.2 For this reason, this research reviews national biotechnology research and development (RD) investments and patents as indicators of current U.S. scientific and technological competitiveness and potential markers of future industrial competitiveness in biotechnology products. The competitiveness of U.S. developed biotechnology products and processes may finally depend on broad issues, i.e. fair trade practices, protection of intellectual property, regulatory climate, and tax policies.3 The competitiveness of U.S. innovation, however, could largely depend on the ability of biotechnology companies to remain in business.Advertising Looking for research paper on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Because biotechnology is capital concentra ted, staying in business means raising significant amounts of money. Start-up companies’ primary need for cash, together with the desire of venture capitalists in the United States to benefit from the manufacture of high-value-added products (based on innovative technology) have led to the financial community’s substantial involvement in the formation of biotechnology-based firms.4 The United States has led the world in the commercial development of biotechnology because of its strong research base most visibly in biomedical sciences, and the capacity of entrepreneurs to finance their ideas. During the early 1980s, an amalgamation of large scale Federal funding for basic bio-medical research, publicity surrounding commercial potential, and readily available venture capital funding gave way to the formation of numerous dedicated biotechnology companies (DBCs).5 Dedicated biotechnology companies are almost exclusively a U.S. experience as no other country has a distantly comparable number. Biotechnology companies are created specifically to take advantage of the business potential of biotechnology. These companies generally start as research companies with science and technology but without products. They do not undertake RD on practically so wide a scale as established companies. Instead, they focus on definite technologies, particular products, and position markets. The companies must finance the preliminary costs of infrastructure development-including buildings, plants, equipment, and people without the advantage of internally generated revenues. They rely on venture capital, stock offerings, and rapport with established companies for their financing needs.6 Apart from venture capitalists, the federal government has played a vital role in catalyzing U.S. RD efforts. Indeed, the U.S. is the only country in the world that is known to have an integrated national effort focused on biotechnology. The biotechnology sector has enjoyed strong, bipartis an support from the executive branch, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Each year, the President has proposed increased funding for federal biotechnology RD, and each year Congress has provided supplementary funding.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Biotechnology Development and the U.S. Economic Hegemony specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Over the years, the congress is believed to have utilized a total of $9 billion for biotechnology RD intended to bolster continued U.S. technological leadership and to sustain the technology’s development, with the long-term objective of creating high-wage jobs, bolstering economic growth, and wealth creation.7 This has also been for the purpose of addressing vital national needs, renewing U.S. manufacturing leadership and advancing health, the environment, and the overall quality of life.8 National RD investment is an input measure that may give some per spective on how successful a country and the organizations within the nation may become in generating scientific knowledge that can lead to innovative products and processes. However, the long-term value of these investments may be influenced by a range of factors such as: the ability of the scientists carrying out the RD and the tools available to them; the effectiveness of the system (i.e., businesses, supply chains, infrastructure, innovation, climate and government policies) for interpreting RD outcomes into commercial products; the fields of biotechnology pursued; the balance in fundamental research, applied research and development efforts.9 The United States has led and continues to lead, all countries in public investments in biotechnology RD.10 However, the estimated U.S. allocation of global public RD investments in biotechnology has dropped as other nations have come up with similar programs and increased funding. In the closing decade of the 20th century, many nations fo llowed the U.S. example and established formal national biotechnology programs in recognition of the potential contributions that biotechnology may offer for economic growth, job creation, and public health and safety.11 Indeed, a recent research estimates that the total 2005 public global R$D investments increased 10% over the 2004 level, reaching $6.4 billion. International investment levels can be contrasted using varying methods, producing significantly different perspectives on leadership.Advertising Looking for research paper on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For example, using a currency exchange rate comparison, the United States ranks ahead of all others, with federal and state investments of $1.78 billion in 2005 (27.8% of global public a RD investments), followed by Japan ($975 million, 15.2%) and Germany ($563 million, 8.8%). When national investments are regulated using purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates (which seek to balance the purchasing power of currencies in different nations for a given basket of goods and or services), China ranks second in public biotechnology spending in 2005 at $906 million, behind only the united states. Japan drops to third as its PPP-regulated investment drops to $889 million.12 This shows that the United States still maintains the leadership in relation to public investment in biotechnology. Apart from public investments, private investments in biotechnology development come from two major sources, corporation and venture capital investors. Internationally, organizations invested an estima ted $5.3 billion in biotechnology research and development in 2005.13 This figure represents a 19% raise over the 2004 estimate, a growth rate nearly double that of international public research and development. This apparent rise of growth in corporate research and development is undoubtedly an indicator that biotechnology research has attained commercial development. As with public research and development investments, on a PPP comparison basis, the United States led the rest of the world with a projected $1.9 billion investment. In the second position was Japan with $1.7 billion in private investment in biotechnology RD. Statistics show that the private investments of companies based in these two countries account for almost three-fourths of private investment in biotechnology RD in 2005. Additionally, venture capital investment, which is the primary financier of start-up organizations, provides another possible indicator of U.S. international competitiveness. In 2007, venture ca pital for biotechnology reached an estimated $702 million internationally of which U.S.-based organizations received $632 million translating to 90% of the total funding.14 Another indicator of gauging a country’s competitive position is in the assessment of the number of patents issued to individuals or institutions of that country.15 According to the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO), a patent awards ownership rights to a person who â€Å"invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.† 16 By this definition, patents are undoubtedly an indicator of future value and national might in a technology, product or industry. By this measure, the United States position seems to be very strong. United States assignees lead all other countries in patents issues by the USPTO. According to an examination by the USPTO of patents in the United States and in other countries, U.S. origin i nventors and owners have the most biotechnology-related U.S. patents by a wide margin and the most biotechnology-related patent publications internationally, but by a slimmer margin. Additionally, the USPTO analysis established that U.S. assignees have the most biotechnology-related inventions that have patent publications in three or more countries. The figure placed at 31.7% is a strong indication of a more aggressive pursuit of international intellectual property protection and, by supposition, of its professed potential value. By this measurement, the United States is followed by Japan (26.9%), Germany (11.3%), Korea (6.6%), and France (3.6%).17 There has been quick growth in biotechnology patents in the USPTO and European Patent Office (EPO) patent databases. A study conducted in 2007 established that the number of U.S. biotechnology patents in the USPTO and EPO databases grew at a close exponential pace between 1980 and 2004. The study showed that each year from 1990, U.S. ass ignees have taken up an approximate of two-thirds of all patents in the USPTO database. In 2004, U.S. assignees took up 66.9% of USPTO biotechnology patents. An earlier examination of USPTO data, covering patents from 1976 to 2002 also indicated U.S. biotechnology patent leadership, with the United States accounting for over 67% of patents, followed by Japan, Germany, France, and Canada.18 Although patents have shortcomings when it comes to assessing future competitiveness in terms of economic gains, there is no doubt that, the United States is leading in this area. If the recent trend is anything to go by, then there is no doubt that the U.S. will maintain its competitive edge in biotechnology development.19 Conclusion Biotechnology, both as a scientific art and commercial entity is just slightly above two decades old. In that short period, however, it has changed the way scientists perceive living matter and has led to research and development that may lead to commercialization of products that can dramatically bolster human and animal health, the food supply, and the quality of the environment. Developed mainly in U.S. laboratories, many applications of biotechnology are now viewed by companies and governments throughout the world as essential for economic growth in several, seemingly different industries. Since its development, the U.S. has maintained its competitiveness in this crucial sector of the economy. With other nations emerging as serious competitors in this field, the question of whether the U.S. can maintain its competitiveness has remained a question among many people. However, if the available statistics are anything to go by, then there is no doubt that the U.S. will continue holding on to its current position as a world leader in the biotechnology industry. Bibliography Acharya, Rohini.   The Emergence and Growth of Biotechnology. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 1994. Arrighi, Giovanni and Beverly Silver. Chaos and Governance in the Modern World -System: Comparing Hegemonic Transitions. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999. Bergesen, Albert and John Sonnett. â€Å"The Global 500: Mapping the World Economy at Century’s End.† American Behavioral Scientist 44 (2001):1602-1615. Hacking, Andrew.   The Economic Aspects of Biotechnology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986. Kealey, Terrence. The Economic Laws of Scientific Research. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1996. Li, Xin and Lin Yiling. â€Å"Worldwide Biotechnology Development: A Comparative Study of USPTO, EPO, and JPO Patents-1976-2004.† Journal of Biotech Research 9, (December 2007): 231-240. Maddison, Angus. Monitoring the World Economy, 1820-1992. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 1995. Powell, Walter. â€Å"Inter-organizational Collaboration in the Biotechnology Industry.† Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics 120 (1996):197-215. Sassen, Saskia. The Global City:   New Yo rk, London, Tokyo (Princeton:   Princeton University Press, 2001) 26-31. Taylor, Peter. The Way the Modern World Works: World Hegemony to World Impasse. New York: Wiley, 1996. Footnotes Rohini Acharya, The Emergence and Growth of Biotechnology (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 1994), 60. Andrew Hacking, The Economic Aspects of Biotechnology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986) 79-86. Ibid. Saskia Sassen, The Global City:   New York, London, Tokyo (Princeton:   Princeton University Press, 2001) 47-50. Angus Maddison, Monitoring the World Economy, 1820-1992 (Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 1995) 5-10. Ibid, 7. Ibid, 10. Peter Taylor, The Way the Modern World Works: World Hegemony to World Impasse (New York: Wiley, 1996) 81-90. Ibid, 84. Giovanni Arrighi and Silver Beverly, Chaos and Governance in the Modern World-System: Comparing Hegemonic Transitions (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999) 72. Ibid. Albert Bergesen and Sonnett John, â€Å"The Global 500: Mapping the World Economy at Century’s End.† American Behavioral Scientist 44 (2001): 1602-1615. Xin Li and Yiling Lin, â€Å"Worldwide Biotechnology Development: A Comparative Study of USPTO, EPO, and JPO Patents-1976-2004.† Journal of Biotech Research 9, (December 2007): 231-240. Ibid, 232. Ibid, 233. Terrence Kealey, The Economic Laws of Scientific Research (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1996) 12-20. Li and Lin, Journal of Biotech Research, 236. Ibid, 239. Walter Powell, â€Å"Inter-organizational Collaboration in the Biotechnology Industry† Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics 120 (1996):197-215.

Compare between Plato and Karl marx on the topic of human nature Essay

Compare between Plato and Karl marx on the topic of human nature - Essay Example Similarly, it will be somewhat more difficult with respect to Karl Marx, not due to the fact that Marx had no opinion on the issue (quite the opposite in fact), but rather due to the fact that Marx himself never specifically sought to engage on the topic. Rather, Marx would periodically discuss tangential manifestations of human nature with respect to â€Å"essence† and â€Å"biological definitions of man† within his works. To this end, I will seek to synthesize these tangential manifestations as a way of understanding what this author believes to be Karl Marx’s approach to the issue of human nature within his writings. Firstly, when one considers Plato, they necessarily consider his inspiration and teacher – Socrates. Socrates himself was highly interested in the notion of human nature as he so often came at odds with prevailing notions of his time while attempting to break through such staunchly, albeit blindly, held beliefs that the men of his time clun g to with such fervor. Accordingly, due to the fact that Socrates had such a profound impact on Plato, it is not beyond logic to assume that many of Plato’s own views of human nature were themselves borrowed or at the very least inspired from Socrates. One such view of humanity is of course distinctly related through Plato’s allegory of the cave (Plato 44). Although a host of Plato’s writings deal with the topic of human nature, for purposes of this brief analysis, the author will only consider the allegory of the cave due to the length limitations that a more full and complete analysis might entail. It seems to me that such an approach is useful due to the fact that Plato can provide a well reasoned and differentiated view of reality and its relation to the constructs of human nature. Within this work, Plato introduces the reader to a situation in which allegorical prisoners are chained to a cave wall for their entire lives – never seeing anyone or the l ight of day. Rather, all the prisoners are able to discern is the flicker and the shadows of figures that the moving individuals and torches behind them portend. The allegory goes on to explain that if one of these creatures was taken out into the light of day to see the sun, to view the skies, and to feel the warmth of the air, they would likely run frantically back into the bowels of the cave to escape from such perceptions that they might deem as unsavory and wildly foreign. In this way, Plato exhibits an example to the reader in which the reality/nature of the individual is uniquely born out of the perceptions/environment in which they have grown accustomed (Fromm 24). As such, Plato illustrates that encouraging such an individual to action outside of their comfort zone or to think outside of the means by which they have grown accustomed very rarely yields a positive result. In this way, Plato exhibits a very traditional view of human nature as something that is ingrained from t he early experiences and years of an individual’s life and seeks to define and corral the ambitions, thoughts, dreams, and goals, of the individual for the remainder of the life. As this can be understood as a traditional approach to human nature, it must also be understood as

Risk in Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Risk in Human Resource Management - Essay Example The scenario faced by the case Ricci v. DeStefano would be used for this purpose. The circumstances of the case would be discussed and courses of action would be suggested on what could have been done by the government to avoid this lawsuit. In line with providing the appropriate measures with the discussion on the course’s modules, an assessment center would be defined and analyzed in terms of determining how it could help avoid problems in the future. Swanson & Foster wrote in their chapter on A Practical Guide to Conducting Assessment Centers a concise description of an assessment center as both a process and a place. Initially, the aim of assessment centers is to evaluate the performance of sergeants who compete for promotion to the ranks of a lieutenant. The term was defined by the International Task Force on Assessment Center Guidelines (2000) as consisting of â€Å"a standardized evaluation of behavior based on multiple inputs† (Swanson & Foster, 557 in Condrey, 2005). In greater detail, the process specifically involves â€Å"evaluating the behavior of candidates (sergeants) for a specific purpose (promotion) by providing them with multiple independent opportunities (simulations or exercises) to demonstrate abilities and by monitoring them with multiple trained evaluators (assessors), whose individual judgments are pooled to form an overall evaluation of the extent to which the candidates have the skills necessary to succeed as police lieutenants† (Swanson & Foster, 557 in Condrey, 2005). On the other hand, an assessment as a place is a designated appropriate site to serve the purpose and the process identified above. The Ricci v. DeStefano case is a legal action brought about by nineteen city firefighters of New Haven, Connecticut against the city of New Haven for violations of their civil rights and for discriminating against them regarding possible promotions. The firefighters were due to be promoted to managerial