Subordinate Group Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Subordinate Group - Coursework Example It was possible to move from the plantations to the urban areas, but they chose not to do so because, in urban areas, it was not possible to live with one’s family (Hurt, 3). According to records, it was after complete slavery of four generations, that is, in the twentieth century that a ray of hope appeared. By that time, the system of slavery started vanishing, and more and more slaves were getting freed. Though the economic condition was rather pathetic for them, my ancestors were quite happy with the fact that at last, they were being treated as citizens. Admittedly, most of the African American people were living in the Southern United States until that time. However, their economic condition was rather pathetic, and they had no access to schools. However, situations were changing though slowly. As they got freed from bonded labor, my great grandfathers started growing cotton in a rented piece of land. It was possible to pay the rent on the harvest. Thus, what they enjoyed was a much better life as compared to the previous centuries. However, social disparities were too big to ignore. All the laws were against the African Americans. They had to attend separate schools, use separate transportation system, and lodging. My father had his birth in the year 1920, and it was two years thereafter that my whole family shifted from the South to North. My father says there are various reasons that made such a movement the best option at that time. Firstly, the life in South was getting worse because of social oppression. All the laws introduced by the government were intended to increase the social segregation. Secondly, the cotton cultivation did not go profitable as expected as they had to pay excessive rents. So, my grandparents shifted from South to North where there was a better possibility of jobs in industries (Sammis, 52). My grandparents and my father became industrial workers on reaching North.

Life Style Inventory Essay Example for Free

Life Style Inventory Essay As I look at my results from the Life Style Inventory my primary thinking style that I scored the highest in was the affiliative style at 83%. As I looked deeper at this style it fit me to a tee. I have always been warm and sincere because I always try to see the best in other people. My interpersonal relations with peers and subordinates alike have allowed me to be trusted and liked by others. This has helped me to be both diplomatic and tactful in my decisions as a manager. My genuine concern for people and ability to accept change easily has placed me in a leadership position many times just because I am able to listen and feel that people are more important than things. Next we will be looking at my backup personal thinking style and I had a two way tie between Self- Actualization and Humanistic- Encouraging at 75%. In the Humanistic-Encouragement thinking style I love to teach and enjoy sharing knowledge with others. I am very supportive of others and encourage others to strive for excellence and to think for themselves. As a good listener I am supportive of others and always willing to take time with people. Now with Self-Actualization I am a creative thinker and can communicate easily and very aware of my own feelings. I tend to be optimistic and realistic with my judgments and I have a high level of personal integrity. As I look at these three thinking styles I completely agree with them as my strengths. I have always been the equalizer and the manager called upon to best deal with conflict. I value my employees, focus upon perceptions, and know their needs. Honor and Integrity direct my morale fiber and I hold respect as being the most important element that people need in their lives. These styles are all important for training and developing a strong working team and have made me valued as a good leader and well thought of by my peers. When I at look at any of these thinking styles that may be limiting me I would have to turn towards Approval. I feel that I can be overly trusting too fast and too agreeable with others opinions. Whether you are overly seeking approval or accepting others values too much this style can work against you and be called being too generous to a fault. I feel that I would like to have better control upon being overly sympathetic with people. I have the ability to give people too many chances to improve or correct their behavior when in all actuality it would have been better to have cut our losses after the first counseling session failed. Giving an employee a fair chance is fine but when I go too far it can appear like favoritism or special treatment. If the employees know that you are overly sympathetic they will also play to this weakness to get out of the hot seat. The team likes you and shows approval on the surface but really they do not respect you and view you as a push over. I sometimes fight this behavior because there is a fine line between the perception of not caring and being not sympathetic enough and being overly sympathetic to a fault. I always know that you cannot please everyone as a good leader and some may even oppose you, but if upper management sees you as being too soft and overly sympathetic then you are not taking care of the business. Impact on Management Style: Planning When I think of my primary and back up styles of thinking I can see the affiliative style having me motivate my team through using praise and friendliness. This can help me in the planning phase by getting valuable input from my team through building trust and meaningful relationships that are reciprocated. This helps us to feel like a team and make informed decisions from data collected by our team and helps us to build a sound plan of action. Through self-actualization I would use my sound judgment and optimistic and realistic nature to set solid goals. When making company plans my humanistic-encouragement style would have me utilize my knowledge of the company’s needs and the teams needs to make good plans. Being a good listener also makes planning a lot easier. Organizing With my ability to develop and teach others and listening to my team while easily adapting to change I am able to better organize my team by setting SMART goals and using my communication skills to keep my team well informed. By thinking outside of the box and using my creative and original thinking skills I will be able to keep all of my team on the same page with our eye on the target of success. Leading My primary and backup styles give me an excellent leadership skillset in that I listen and set own goals, but I also understand how people feel and make sound judgments. My genuine concern for others and communication skills not only give me great leadership skills but my ability to use my intuition to read people allows for proactive decisions to be made. Perhaps it is my ability to be diplomatic and tactful and see the best in others that allows for me to be respected and well thought of as a leader. Controlling Some people use intimidation and threats to control their team but giving them respect and a sense of ownership of their job allows my coaching and development style to allow peer pressure to control our team. The ability to set common goals and encourage our team to think for themselves, gives ownership and control through respect, honor, and integrity. Never asking my team to do what I am not willing to do myself and giving them the resources and tools needed to be successful keeps the respect and lines of communication open. Genesis of Personal Style: If I was to critically evaluate what has contributed the most to my personal styles it would have to be my family and growing up in the restaurant business. Always being in the public eye and dealing with guests face to face gave me a comfort at an early age of being in front of people and taking the time to listen and enjoy people. I was in the entertainment business and learned how to set goals and run a business by watching the controllable costs and giving quality service so that our guests would return. I developed understanding, humility, confidence, and personal integrity from my family. Growing up in my community and having great friends and families really made a big difference with being sincere, warm, and open. It was sports and Boy Scouts that offered discipline, commitment, and goals to my life. From my relationships built in high school and the Navy to the relationships built in business I continue to learn and strive to improve my styles to compliment my ability to lea d. Conclusion and Reflection: As I look at my Constructive skills I see how my developments of Affiliative, Humanistic-Encouragement, and Self-Actualization styles have all contributed to my ability to be a good leader. My intuitive ability to read behavior and develop teams is second nature to me and my ability to listen and be real to my team has earned me their respect. Now my Passive and Defensive styles show me that dependent and conventional may be an area to watch out for but I felt that approval was the area that concerned me the most. Specifically it may be too easy to become overly sympathetic and this could lead to being overly generous to a fault. Looking at my Aggressive and Defensive Styles I look at oppositional and competitive styles and giving me the ability to question everything and always inspect everything before making a decision, be the best at what we do, and set the benchmark of our industry. I feel that the LSI shows us our strengths and opportunities and while we are always striving to improve our behaviors we must look at our beliefs in why we find our behavior acceptable and seek to make changes here, because in order to improve one’s behavior we must change our beliefs first. I feel that I would like to improve upon being less sympathetic and watch my procrastination by setting clear boundaries a staying to the specific rules. It is important for me not to put things off for tomorrow if I can do it today. I also would like to not get overly involved in team members personal issues that are affecting their work. This exercise helped me to look closely at how other styles can overshadow the positives of other styles and be counterproductive. This has helped me because as I see that several of my styles help me to be a good leader but now I have a better understanding on what other styles can limit my constructive styles ie, if I have a high affiliative and a high power style then I would desire to have close friendships but try to control and dominate these friendships which will result in a negative relationship. Overall this has been a great tool for my future in management and beter understanding my thinking and behavior process.

Lord of the Rings :: essays papers

Lord of the Rings Tolkien's famous book, "The Lord of the Rings", has been repudiated as one of the best fantasies ever written. Tolkien creates a very deep intimacy between the book and the reader, he captures the reader's attention and lures him into the story. One of the ways how this cathartic relationship is created is through the use of reality of the situation in the story. Tolkien has conjured up a fantasy language, to show the actuality this novel may present. Some quotations of this language are: "eleventy-first birthday" "The invitation were limited to twelve-dozen (a number also called a Gross by the hobbits)" "Many young hobbits were included and present by parental permission for hobbits were easy going with their children in the matter of sitting up late." "What may you be wanting?" "It was a cheerless land" "The hobbits were merrymaking happily." Not only does the language create a land but it may also add a bit of humor. This humor can also express the merriness of the people that have been written about. The language, in English is not exactly incorrect but it is odd, strange, and different, which matches the theme and plot. Tolkien, like mostly every other author has one main, specific goal during the exposition of the story, which is to capture the reader's attention. In the beginning of "The Lord of the Rings," Tolkien presents events of happiness, mystery, tales of power, chase, by evil riders, battles, and strange encounters. Through this process, Tolkien has created a grasp upon the reader's attention, although, in the beginning, there is not much of a sort or understanding of the condition and the state of the tale. Later on in the story, in the "Council of Ehond," Tolkien regains control of the story and presents the understanding. At that time, the reader understands the story, and is also eager to read on. Tolkien thought of it better to catch the attention and then promote the comprehension of the tale. The Lord of the Rings is indeed a fantastic book with times of happiness, war, mystery, conflict, and passion. In order to create the full cathartic effect of presenting and expressing the magnitude of the potential of each feeling, emphasis must be exercised. If emphasis was not used, the essence of "The Lord of the Rings" could not be how it is; it would be a monotonous tale without any events of objects with great importance.

Ethics in Grant Essay

Ethics is described as moral principles and obligations that determine the wrongness and correctness of actions. It is associated with values and righteousness of every individual conduct. As a human being we are responsible for our actions and we have moral obligations for the welfare of others. Ethics cover our everyday life from what we think, decisions we make our philosophy and behavior to our everyday actions. In different professional field, standard and code of ethics are practiced to ensure proper conduct and behavior of those involved in the field. Ethics in grant has always been controversial. Issues associated with ethical behavior often arise from grant projects. The involvement of large amount of money causes the issues and suspicion to rise. An example of an issue that may arise from a grant project is commissioning. Commission refers to the fee paid to an employee after venturing to a successful business or closing a deal. However, professional organizations and funders consider commissioning unethical in nature. This is because compensation with regards to commissioning based on charitable contributions and donations are ugly site to see. Unlike salesmen, who get a cut from the proceeds they made, professionals who are involved in grant projects are considered skilled and talented people who lend and utilized their expertise in order to obtain huge support and following for the work and project that an organization is aiming to achieve. These are usually projects that requires huge amount of funding. If commissions are paid in favor of the grant workers in order to generate money, it would seems people are working because of the money involved and not because of the dedication one has to obtain support for the completion of the project In fact, the Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practices of the Association of Fundraising Professional, clearly outlines that compensation based on a percentage of fundraising should not be accepted. Sincerity and honesty is another issue that that is usually associated with Grant projects. Honesty comes into play when errors are committed while the project is being done. This happens when proposals made is not enough for the project to be successful and major changes are needed. Employees often resort to covering things up in an effort to conceal the miscalculations and mistakes done during proposal. Cover up is done because the fear of losing the funder since the original plans agreed upon fail to materialize. Employees then tend to lie and pretend everything runs smoothly. To prevent ethical issues rising from Grant Projects, it is important to be honest and to tell everything that that is going on to the funder. By being honest, one can earn the funder’s trust and trust is important in every project to be successful. Furthermore, Grant makers and funders appreciate sincerity and honesty and they are open to changes from original plans that have been set, since changes that are made will yield promising results for the project. If an error with the project has been discovered, it is necessary to report at once. Also, it would be ethical to issue an apology if things are not carried out properly as promised. With the huge sum of money involved in Grant Projects, it will be helpful for anyone to be honest in every little way to prevent ethical issues from occurring. Sincerity for the project’s completion and the responsibility one owes from the funder and from those who support the organization in building the project should make one realize the misconduct of falling into the temptation the large sum of money brings. One should understand that an arrangement in which one obtain a kickback is unethical. To preserve one’s name and his reputation as a person and professional one must keep away from doing them.

Thoughts/Interpretations/Impressions about Marriage, Family in relation to culture

There can be thousands of interpretations, thoughts and impressions about family, marriage, kinship and marital residence depending on who is doing it and the background from which one has been brought up. But all the views are very interesting and sometimes debatable. In my interpretation, marriage, kinship and family have altered trends of life in many cultures, especially where there have been intercultural or intertribal marriages. These forms of marriage have enlightened many societies about changing roles of men and women.It is a good trial that has passed the test when women from other cultures do duties that have been associated with men and surprisingly the cultural beliefs that have prohibited women from these duties have been abandoned. Women around the world are great and respected leaders, for instant many African cultures are too tough but imagine for the first time in the continent (in Liberia) a woman has been elected president. This is a very positive sign about rigi d cultures that are changing. In some nations racial segregation is rampant.This phenomenon is in existence because of diverse practices or cultures and the languages which play vital roles in many cultures. This denotes the danger of extremism or total observance of culture. This is when people feel outsiders have invaded their culture and it will be a threat to their identity as s group. Strong adherence to culture may divide a society or has already divided many a societies. Indeed many nations in the world have been divided along tribal, racial lines because of extreme adherence of culture and the associated identity. Not only divided communities or societies but armed conflicts and turmoil as well.Many wars and other armed or unarmed conflicts have been fueled by people’s culture and identity versus culture of identity. Part Two Anthropological glasses on the local community Everywhere there are classes but the way they form somehow doesn't follow any blueprint. For inst ance in campus, students have identified themselves into various groups but some factors favor this kind of groupings. For example, smokers identify themselves as soon as they join campus. But it is healthy that identification through color is no longer in existence but a meager percentage of students use it to identify themselves into groups or classes.Nonetheless, there are two or three groups of students that are clearly identified. Class or stratification factor has played part in their formations. These groups include the rich and the poor, those serious in class with their studies and those who are not serious then a few in class of white and black albeit very few identify to these grouping. But the most encouraging trend is that these groupings are not extreme, they are very neutral and they have been neutralized for the reason that there is a lot of sharing right from the library to hostels and from class to the cafeteria.These make a very wide difference when comparing them with the groups which are discussed in the text, the text groupings tend to take an extremism dimension in their cultural setting which when compared to the local community or university are flexible and there is no remarkable degree of separation between the groups. In my observation this form of culture is very different because even ladies intermingle with gentlemen freely and there exists an aura of freedom for all and sundry.Finally institutions like universities and colleges have played an important role in connection to various cultures by bringing these diversities to one main culture without force. For instance color segregation has been dealt with intellectually because there is a lot of sharing within and without class. Part Three Vital lessons in this course There are many lessons that I have learned throughout this cause. Some of these lessons include the factors that have contributed to inequality and segregation and what has been done to counter this phenomenon.How s tratification or class was born and how soon or later it will disappear from society. Any form of identification may severely damage the conscious of some people regarding other cultures. Education can change one’s culture for the better and for the worse if not both. The interest of learning a new culture also encourages the other people of different cultures to have the urge of learning something new but may depend on the expression of one party to the other. Another lesson is how family, kinship and marriage are closely knit in society.As people are crossing borders and oceans for new adventures they are getting absorbed to other cultures and languages and their identity is no longer the same. Language has not been given the intensity it deserves in matters of any culture anywhere. Some people may not totally forget their culture and language but they do not practice, and gradually it disappears. Of course my argument must be clear that this tribal, clan and racial interma rriages are very positive towards promoting harmony anywhere in the world but the factor itself is harmful to the survival of some cultures and languages.And by assurance, this is causing a very hot debate as already many cultures, languages, groups of people and tribes are disappearing or they are totally extinct. One other important lesson is the relationship between environment and man. Environment shapes culture and change in the environment alters the behavior and the living patterns of people thus culture in general. Environment is part in shaping man’s culture and man’s activities have been detrimental to the environment hence cultural change. (Embers 2007)

Explore These Free Online Macroeconomics Textbook Resources

Explore These Free Online Macroeconomics Textbook Resources Today, there are more resources available for economics students than ever before. This new knowledge-rich environment has opened the possibility for enriched learning and has made research more easily and readily accessible to the average economics student. Whether you are seeking to supplement your university studies, dig deeper into your economic research for a project, or drive your self-study of economics, we at About.com have compiled a series of excellent economics resources and assembled them into a comprehensive online macroeconomics textbook. Introduction to About.coms Online Macroeconomics Textbook About.coms online macroeconomics textbook is presented as a set of links to various resources and articles on key macroeconomics topics that are perfect for the economics beginner, undergraduate student, or someone just trying to brush up on the basic macroeconomics concepts. These resources present much of the same information as the classic hardcover textbooks listed on university course syllabi, but  in an easily accessible format that encourages fluid navigation. Also like those expensive economics textbooks that undergo revisions and updates as they are published in subsequent editions, our online macroeconomics textbook resources are always being updated with the latest and most useful information some of which is driven by readers like you!   While every undergraduate-level macroeconomics textbook covers the same core material within its many pages, each does so in a different order depending on the publisher and how the authors choose to present the information. The order we have chosen to present our macroeconomics resources is adapted from Parkin and Bades quintessential text,  Economics. Complete Online Macroeconomics Textbook CHAPTER 1: What is Macroeconomics? Compilation of articles that strive to answer this seemingly simple question, what is economics? CHAPTER 2: Unemployment An examination of the macroeconomics issues surrounding unemployment including, but not limited to, productivity and income growth, supply and demand of labor, and wages. CHAPTER 3: Inflation and Deflation A look at the basic macroeconomics concepts of inflation and deflation, including examinations of price levels, demand-pull inflation, stagflation, and the Phillips curve. CHAPTER 4: Gross Domestic Product Learn about the concept of gross domestic product or GDP, what it measures, and how it is calculated. CHAPTER 5: The Business Cycle Discover one of the keys to understanding how periodic but irregular fluctuations in the economy, what they are, what they mean, and what economic indicators are involved. CHAPTER 6: Aggregate Demand Supply Supply and demand at the macroeconomic level. Learn about aggregate supply and demand and how it influence economic relationships. CHAPTER 7: Consumption Saving Learn to analyze the economic behaviors of consumption versus saving. CHAPTER 8: Fiscal Policy Discover the policies and actions of the United States government that influence the American economy. CHAPTER 9: Money Interest Rates Money makes the world, or rather, the economic go round. Explore the various money-related economic factors that drive the economy. Be sure to check out this chapters subsections for a deeper exploration:- Money- Banks- Demand For Money- Interest Rates CHAPTER 10: Monetary Policy Like federal fiscal policy, the United Statess government also directs monetary policy that impacts the economy.   CHAPTER 11: Wages Unemployment Looking deeper into the drivers of wages and unemployment, be sure to check out the subsections of this chapter for further discussion:- Productivity Income Growth- Demand Supply of Labor- Wages Employment- Unemployment CHAPTER 12: Inflation Looking deeper into the drivers of inflation, be sure to check out the subsections of this chapter for further discussion:- Inflation Price Level- Demand-Pull Inflation- Stagflation- Phillips Curve CHAPTER 13: Recessions Depressions The phases of the business cycle are exaggerated with the occurrence of recessions and depressions. Learn about these deep falls in the economy. CHAPTER 14: Government Deficit Debt Discover the impact government debt and deficit spending has on the economy. CHAPTER 15: International Trade In todays global economy, globalization and international trade along with its concerns regarding tariffs, sanctions, and exchanges rates are consistently among the most debated issues. CHAPTER 16: Balance of Payments Explore the balance of payments and the role it plays in the international economy. CHAPTER 17: Exchange Rates Exchange rates are ever more important to an economys health as international trade continues to be a great influence on domestic economies. CHAPTER 18: Economic Development Beyond the borders of the United States, explore the economic issues faced by developing countries and the third world.

The Electoral Commission If Ghana Past and Present Essays

The Electoral Commission If Ghana Past and Present Essays The Electoral Commission If Ghana Past and Present Essay The Electoral Commission If Ghana Past and Present Essay The hallmark of a democratic system is the willingness of the principal actors/interest in society to accept the inherently uncertain outcomes of the electoral competition. An electoral system is a method by which votes are translated into legislative seats. The Electoral arena in democracy is the most important element of politics; because it is the primary forum of intergroup competition. It is in the house of parliament not in the streets that individuals and groups in multi-ethnic societies are expected to resolve their difference. Ghana’s electoral system has the following basic characteristic: * Universal adult suffrage for citizens who are 18 years or older (it used to be 21 years up to the advent of the Second Republic); * Official registration of voters; * Non-compulsory registration or voting; * Secret ballot; * Registration of political parties; Political parties are not allowed to sponsor candidates for elections to District Assemblies and lower local government units; * Presidential election where the winner requires more than 50% of the valid votes cast; * Parliamentary and local elections on the basis of the first-past-the post; * A run-off election in case no winner emerges on the first ballot; * No minimum voter turn-out required for presidential/parliamentary elections; and * A permanent electoral commission; IMPORTANCE OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM Political institutions shape the rules of the game in which democracy is practiced and is often said that the easiest political institution to manipulate for bad or good is the electoral system. In translating votes cast in an election into seats in the legislature, the choice of electoral system can effectively determine who is elected and which party gains power. Under the current study only two most commonly practiced electoral systems will be thoroughly considered: the First Past the Post and the Proportional Representation systems. Though is a known fact that most country’s political framework are often specified in the constitution and thus difficult to amend, electoral system change can thus be subject to manipulations by unscrupulous majority. Mill (1958) The choice of an electoral system may lead a country to formation of coalition government or a minority government while another may allow one party to assume majority control. 2. 1. 2 ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND PARTY SYSTEM The consequences of an electoral system may go beyond primary effects: Some encourage or enforce the formation of political parties; others recognize only individual candidates, others encourage the relative sizes of political parties in the legislature, so is the internal cohesion and the discipline of political parties; some may allow factionalism, while another system encourage parties to speak with one voice and suppress dissent. Mr. Chairman, I must say past attempts to build democracy without parties have failed. Notable examples are the George Washingtons, General De Gaulle, Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin THE INFLUENCE OF AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM An electoral system can influence the way a party campaign and the behavior of political elite, determine the broader political climate, encourage or retard alliances between/among parties. The electoral system can serve as an incentive for parties and groups to be broadly based and accommodating or to base themselves on narrow appeals to ethnicity or kinship ties. THE ROLE OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS. The framework for the structure of the Electoral Commission of Ghana can be found in 3 articles of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Articles 43(1),52 and actile53. There are three models of election management bodies in the world. 1. The Independent Model of Electoral Management 2. The Governmental Model of Electoral Management 3. And the Mixed Model of Electoral Management Some guiding principles for all EMBs: * Independence . Impartiality. Intergrity. Transparency. Efficiency * Professionalism . Service -mindedness FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION The functions and powers of the Commission are spelt out by the Constitution (see Article 45 in particular) and other laws. They may be summarized as follows: * The compilation of the voters register; * The demarcation and periodic revision of electoral boundaries for national and local elections; * The conduct and supervision of all public elections and referenda; * Voter education; * Setting the dates of public elections; Making regulations for the performance of its functions; * Appointment of staff in consultation with the Public Service Commission; * Issuance of national identity cards; As amended by EC Amendment Act 2003 section 2(d) to undertake the preparation of voter identity cards and in section 12(1c) the issue of voter identity cards to repeal the identity cards Decree 1972. * The registration of political parties and supervision of the election of their national and regional exe cutive members; STATUTORY FUNCTIONS Conduct of election of the officers of certain statutory bodies, including: the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG), the Ghana Medical and Dental Association, the Houses of Chiefs, and the District Assemblies. * Proper storage of election materials * Empowers the Commission to register Ghana citizens living abroad i. e persons in service of Ghana or govt duty or UN missions and their spouse. THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE COMMISSION The EC is a Constitutional body mandated to deliver free and fair elections as a means of advancing the course of democracy and good governance in Ghana. This is to be achieved by: * Developing a professional competent work force that exhibit a high sense of personal integrity. * Building confidence and trust in the electoral system. * Establishing transparency and verifiable electoral process. * Maintaining a high level of accountability of resources made available by the State and Donors. * Treating all stakeholders in elections fairly. Maintaining a reliable and credible voters register and Making the electorate knowledgeable about their rights and responsibilities. ABSTRACT In the early days of democratic elections in most African countries, elections were managed by a department of governments, usually located in a ministry. The changes over a period have increasingly been the establishment of a separate body for purposes of the administration and management of elections. Electo ral Commissions in Africa differs in their structures, functions, powers and the tenure of their members . In spite of this , ideally, the main attribute of an independent electoral commission as in the case of Ghana includes: a practical rather than theoretical legal guarantee of the independent of the commission from government or any other external body, security of tenure of office, commission’s ability to hire, train, reward, discipline and fire it own staff and the provision of adequate resources for the commission to effectively carry out its functions must be guarantee and enforced in law. An overview of the electoral Commission of Ghana, obviously shown an overhaul of the entire set up in order to guarantee transparency, cost-effectiveness election management, use of technology and true collaboration with political parties. In this regard, with the exception of a few things that require secrecy, election administration is seen as public business which must not only be done in the open but must also be opened to public scrutiny. The lessons offered by the Ghanaian experience shown a distinction between a theoretical and practical independent election management body undergoing real structural and non-structural changes in the discharge of its mandates. A condition, I hope other African election administrators are increasingly positioned to an acceptance of this principle.

Visas de trabajo TN para profesionales mexicanos

Visas de trabajo TN para profesionales mexicanos Estados Unidos ofrece visas de trabajo exclusivamente para profesionales mexicanos y canadienses. Estos visados se otorgan al amparo del Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) o NAFTA, por sus siglas en inglà ©s. Requisitos para las visas TN 1. Ser mexicano y tener un pasaporte vigente. 2. Ser elegible para una visa. Si no se cumple este requisito, ser denegada. Tener un tà ­tulo de las profesiones que se pueden acoger a este tipo de visa. Tener una oferta de trabajo para empleo a tiempo completo o a tiempo parcial como un profesional de NAFTA. La oferta puede provenir de una empresa americana o de una extranjera que opere dentro de los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, est explà ­citamente prohibido el autoempleo. Profesiones para obtener la visa TN El listado completo lo publica NAFTA en su pgina oficial en el Apà ©ndice 1603.D.1. Este es el listado de 60 profesiones. En general se necesita tener un tà ­tulo universitario equivalente al Bachelor ´s Degree pero hay excepciones. (Estas agencias pueden validar en Estados Unidos los estudios cursados en Mà ©xico). Entre las profesiones destacan: abogados, arquitectos, bibliotecarios, especialistas en sistemas de computacià ³n, economistas, ingenieros, gerentes de hoteles, diseà ±adores industriales y de interiores, trabajadores sociales, enfermeras o asistentes de investigacià ³n en universidades.Obtener la visa Se realiza la solicitud a la Embajada americana en el DF o al consulado que corresponda. Se inicia el proceso rellenando digitalmente la forma DS-160 para hacer una cita para la entrevista y pagar los aranceles correspondientes para el visado (este dinero no se recupera si la visa es denegada). La cuota es la que corresponde a una visa dentro de la categorà ­a de â€Å"no inmigrante†, categorà ­a TN. En la entrevista se deber acudir con un pasaporte mexicano que expire al menos seis meses despuà ©s de la fecha inicial de expiracià ³n de la visa. Y se deber presentar la carta de empleo de la empresa que requiere al profesional mexicano. Tambià ©n se debern presentar todos los diplomas que acrediten estudios acadà ©micos y todos los documentos que sirvan para probar la experiencia profesional. Antes de acudir a la entrevista, verificar las reglas del consulado sobre el tiempo de antelacià ³n con el que uno debe presentarse. No llevar celular ni ropas de abrigo. Intentar llevar toda la documentacià ³n en un fà ³lder de plstico transparente. Y recordar que no se permite tomar fotos dentro de las oficinas consulares estadounidenses. No se necesita licencia para practicar una determinada profesià ³n en el estado al que se vaya a trabajar. Sin embargo, este requisito sà ­ que puede exigirse despuà ©s de obtener la visa y entrar en Estados Unidos, pero no en el momento de la entrevista para la visa. Este visado est catalogado como una visa â€Å"no inmigrante†. Si es concedida, se entrar en Estados Unidos donde en la frontera se sellar el formulario I-94 de registro de entrada y salida, y que debe conservarse durante toda la estancia en el paà ­s y entregarlo de vuelta a la salida. Validez de la visa La visa ser vlida por un mximo de tres aà ±os. El empleador podr pedir una extensià ³n presentando antes el Servicio de Inmigracià ³n y Naturalizacià ³n (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) el formulario I-129. Tener presente que la fecha mxima de estancia en EU no es la que seà ±ala la visa, sino la que est marcada en el I-94. Quedarse un dà ­a ms de la fecha mxima que se encuentra en el registro de entrada y salida equivale a quedarse sin estatus legal y a que la visa se anule de forma automtica.La extensià ³n de la estancia debe pedirse teniendo en cuenta la fecha del I-94, no la de la visa, para los casos en los que ambas no coinciden. Visa para familiares Se puede conceder una visa de acompaà ±ante para el cà ³nyuge y los hijos solteros menores de 21 aà ±os. No es necesario que sean de nacionalidad mexicana. Los familiares podrn vivir en Estados Unidos y estudiar, pero no podrn trabajar. A tener en cuenta Muchas de las personas que pueden aplicar por una TN podrà ­an tambià ©n hacerlo por una H-1B, pero asà ­ se evitan problemas propios de este à ºltimo tipo de visas, como la loterà ­a cuando el nà ºmero de solicitantes es superior al de visados disponibles. A la hora de encontrar trabajo, en principio es ms fcil en los estados con una tasa de desempleo baja. Porque aunque en Estados Unidos hay en la actualidad una situacià ³n cercana en muchas regiones al pleno empleo, lo cierto es que hay grandes diferencias por estados en la situacià ³n econà ³mica y de empleo. Mexicanos y frontera Es posible para los mexicanos acelerar el paso de control migratorio en la frontera terrestre entre Mà ©xico y USA formando parte del programa SENTRI. Adems, el Global Entry permite tambià ©n hacer ms rpido el control de Inmigracià ³n en aeropuertos. Y por supuesto tambià ©n est la visa lser, tambià ©n conocida como de cruce que facilita el paso migratorio. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Canada - The new global economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Canada - The new global economy - Essay Example Through these trading activities, the country will realize improvement of its local infrastructure, increased job opportunities, and increased revenue collected from traders within and outside the country. Moreover, the country is also set to experience increased supply of goods and services that enhances the living standards of the locals. International trade and relations play an essential role in the growth and development of the Canadian economy. In the recent years, the country has hugely credited its growth and development to international trade and relations with other countries. Through international trade, Canadians can access the international markets and interact with numerous traders from all over the world. According to Bowen, Hollander, & Viaene (2012), the international markets offer various buyers and consumers who purchase Canadian products at relatively fair prices. As a result, traders and producers manage to sell many goods to the international community. Moreover, according to Passaris (2015), Canadians also have access to other essential goods and services from other countries. These products are affordable and are useful for both local consumption and production of other commercial goods. Through this, the country is assured of revenue from trade and consumers are assured of affordable quality go ods and services from other countries. From these, Canadians quickly experience economic growth due to the revenue collected from trade. Moreover, these citizens are also assured of improved living standards since they easily access a range of basic goods at an affordable price. Thus, for the country to enjoy future economic growth and development, they must actively participate in trading activities. Equally important, the country has numerous trade agreements with other countries around the world. The most notable examples of trade relations Canada has with various countries are the North American Free

Disclosures regulations in the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Disclosures regulations in the US - Essay Example This paper will attempt to explain these regulations, as well as provide an example of these regulations by showing how the executives of Pfizer, a pharmaceutical giant, complies with the CFR. Body According to the SEC, all corporations must disclose any renumeration made to the CEO, CFO and the three most highly paid officers (Right2Info). The rules apply to the following disclosures: â€Å"(1) tabular disclosures regarding executive remuneration and director remuneration;(2) narrative description of other types of remuneration and any information material to an understanding of the tabular information, and (3) a Compensation Discussion and Analysis (â€Å"CD&A†)† (17 C.F.R.  § 229.402(b) (2008)) . The way that all companies must disclose this information is through their annual proxy statement, which the SEC's website makes available on-line (17 C.F.R.  § 229.402(b) (2008)). The information on executives in the tabular disclosures required is information about the salary, bonuses, equity awards and deferred compensation. For directors, the disclosures are similar, although not as detailed with regards to the equity awards. The SEC has started requiring, since 2006, that its compensation discussion and analysis (CD&A), that corporations begin disclosing the following with regards to executive compensation: â€Å"(i) the objectives of the company’s remuneration programs; (ii) what the remuneration programs of the company are designed to reward; (iii) what is each element of remuneration; (iv) why the company chooses to pay each element of remuneration; (v) how the company determines the amount for each element of remuneration; and (vi) how each element of remuneration and the company’s decisions regarding that element fit into the company’s overall compensation objectives and affect decisions regarding other elements of remuneration.† (17 C.F.R.  § 229.402(b)(1) (2008)) . The reason why the SEC has started requiri ng this information is so that investors can get the justification for the salaries and bonuses that executives receive, whereas before this requirement, corporations simply had to disclose numerical data without justification. This is important, as a corporation has to make these justifications, especially into today's climate of anger about executive salaries. Investors and the public have a right to know exactly why a certain executive is making a certain salary and receives certain bonuses. Additionally, there are other regulations that are designed to increase transparency about executive and director compensation. For instance, there are regulations that require disclosure regarding â€Å"(i) beneficial ownership of public company securities by persons owning 5% or more of any class of the company’s voting securities and executives and directors; (ii) transactions between the company and related persons (generally defined to include officers, directors, 5% beneficial h olders, and close family members of these individuals); and (iii) disclosure regarding a company’s processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive and director remuneration.† (17 C.F.R.  § 229.407 (2008)). As an example of the disclosures that are required by the SEC under the promulgated CFR rules, one can look to the SEC disclosures for Jeffrey Kindler, who is the CEO of Pfizer. On this website, the company details the remuneration for Mr. Kindler, as well as detailed several pages of justification for why Mr. Kindler is being

Human Resource Management and the Internal Environment Essay

Human Resource Management and the Internal Environment - Essay Example HRM of one form or another are a necessary part of any company as it serves many important needs. HRM management in organisations has an increasing impact on individuals, other organisations and the community. It is important, therefore, to understand how HRM function and the pervasive influences which they exercise over the behaviour of people and organisation. Ulrich and Lake in their book "Organizational Capability: Competing from the inside out" (1990) wrote: Specifically, HRM is concerned with achieving objectives in the areas summarized below. HRM is generally identified therefore as an element or support concept. In certain organisations, however, such as employment agencies, personnel is very much part of the productive process and will be a task function. In other organisations, noticeably in service industries, the role of HRM can also be closely associated with a task function. For example, in the hotel and catering industry many members of the workforce are in direct contact with the customer and are seen as being involved in achieving the objectives of the organisation. People are part of the finished product for which the customer is paying. Customer satisfaction is likely to be affected as much by the courtesy, helpfulness and personal qualities of the staff as by the standard of food and beverage, accommodation or other facilities. This places particular importance on the personnel function. So, different organisations need t o employ different concepts of HRM in order to achieve their goals. In general, Human Resource Management is concerned more with: a long-term rather than a short-term perspective; the psychological contract based on commitment rather than compliance; self-control rather than external controls; an Unitarian rather than a pluralist perspective; an organic rather than a bureaucratic structure; integration with line management rather than specialist or professional roles; and maximum utilisation rather than cost-minimisation. HRM uses different concept providing different models of employees' treatment according to the organizational interests. The hard and soft models of HRM were introduced by John Storey in 1989. He supposes that HRM can be regarded as a "set of interrelated policies with an ideological and philosophical underpinning" (Storey 1989, p.31). The four aspects he underlines are: beliefs and assumptions; a strategic thrust; involvement of line managers; a set of techniques to improve the relationship. John Storey (1989) expresses this as follows: In stereotyped form HRM appears capable of making good each of the main shortcomings of personnel management. Its performance and delivery are integrated into line management: the aim shifts from merely securing compliance to the more ambitious one of winning commitment (Storey 1989, p. 33). Hard and soft approaches are concerned with the business-oriented and human-oriented aspects within an organisational

The Biological Aspects of Aging Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Biological Aspects of Aging - Assignment Example It is, therefore, the renowned essayist and scholar Sir Francis Bacon has rightly stated the relationship between husband and wife in these words: â€Å"Wives are young men's mistresses; companions for middle age; and old men's nurses.† (literaturepage.com) The same applies to husbands too, who look after their elderly wives with extreme sympathy, compassion, and care. However, children should also acknowledge their responsibilities towards the aged and ailing parents; otherwise, their death leaves nothing but the feelings of utter repentance and remorse in the heart of the children. Though it is really worrying to note that dear aunt is suffering from depression, please do not take it to heart too seriously my dear. Man experiences several apparent and hidden changes as soon as he starts growing old. His physical and mental capacities start weakening gradually, which badly tells upon his mind and nerves. You see how certain factors work jointly to make man feeble and helpless. Since he is not ready for that all, he undergoes such disgusting feelings that cause depression, exasperation, and annoyance in him, which pave the way towards his psychological collapse and mental illness. The same is the case with my dear aunt and your kind mother Mrs. Andrew, who is undergoing mental retardation because of elderly years. â€Å"Certain psychological and physiological changes†, Ferrini & Ferrini observe, â€Å"that occur with age affect memory, thinking pro ­cesses, mood, and personality. Some of these changes are perceived as positive by elders. For example, th e elder has accumulated a wealth of experiences, which may result in improved judg ­ment, decision making, or empathy.† (2008: 194) You will also be worried about her weakness and ailment my dear Michael, as she would pretend a bit nagging too these days out of sheer feelings of depression and despair. Since elderly have a lot of experience and a bit wealth too.

Defeating Diabetes one step at a time- the Alpha Gamma Delta Essay

Defeating Diabetes one step at a time- the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation - Essay Example According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 23.6 million people representing 8% of population are diabetic which is increasingly becoming a cause of growing concern and hence in dire need of strong and prompt action. It is in the light of these facts that I intend to take up the cause and help make a difference to the society of which we all are a part of. The cause need to be popularized through media as well as through word of mouth, so as to cause awareness about this critical issue and touch the lives of millions of people worldwide by spreading the word. With a host of opportunities available today, especially with the growth of internet and its rising popularity among the young and the old alike, the cause could be conveniently propagated through blogs, social networking sites, video uploading sites, as well as through other forms of media such as T.V and news advertisements. In order to make a difference you need to have a vision – a vision that inspires change. They say that you need to be the change you want to see and to suffice I’d like to quote these lines: â€Å"Maybe I will never be, All the things that I’d like to be, Now is not the time to cry, Now is the time to find out why† –

Strategic Issues Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Strategic Issues Paper - Essay Example The Aerospace and Defense Industry is also reeling under the pressure of rising fuel prices. This is evident from the fact that the Boeing Aircrafts manufacturing company’s response to the said problem, which pointed at the rise in demand for fuel efficient planes owing to the constant upsurge in global oil prices. Rising fuel consumption and an equally simultaneous rise in fuel prices are a matter of grave concern for the organizations in almost all the sectors of the economy, which are increasingly finding it difficult to cope with such external threats and have been trying to battle these external environmental forces with innovative strategies. The company is over booked with demand for such fuel efficient planes which has far exceeded the supply (Boeing Comments, 2008). Faced by the problem of growing customer concerns about the environmental hazards caused by some of the poisonous substances used in the manufacture of PCs and other similar electronic devises, Dell Computer Electronics, developed and launched its Sustainable Business Development Program, that dealt with such problems, with a promise to contribute towards the cause of greener and cleaner environment and at the same time achieving its overall organizational goals of steady economic development (Dell, 2008) . Several manufacturing companies across the globe, today, are increasingly facing problems from the high rate of penetration of low cost manufacturers from emerging countries especially from India and China. The fact that the cost of production cycle depends largely on the availability of raw materials, as well as, the availability of low cost and cheap labor. These two countries have a talented pool of human resource in abundance which they use to their advantage by producing cost effective and good quality products. The saturation in the Western markets as well as the high cost of labor, is further making things difficult for the western

Defeating Diabetes one step at a time- the Alpha Gamma Delta Essay

Defeating Diabetes one step at a time- the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation - Essay Example According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 23.6 million people representing 8% of population are diabetic which is increasingly becoming a cause of growing concern and hence in dire need of strong and prompt action. It is in the light of these facts that I intend to take up the cause and help make a difference to the society of which we all are a part of. The cause need to be popularized through media as well as through word of mouth, so as to cause awareness about this critical issue and touch the lives of millions of people worldwide by spreading the word. With a host of opportunities available today, especially with the growth of internet and its rising popularity among the young and the old alike, the cause could be conveniently propagated through blogs, social networking sites, video uploading sites, as well as through other forms of media such as T.V and news advertisements. In order to make a difference you need to have a vision – a vision that inspires change. They say that you need to be the change you want to see and to suffice I’d like to quote these lines: â€Å"Maybe I will never be, All the things that I’d like to be, Now is not the time to cry, Now is the time to find out why† –

Is a Government Ban on Human Cloning Wrong Essay

Is a Government Ban on Human Cloning Wrong - Essay Example Human cloning can essentially be beneficial to humanity, as well as to science and technology, if it were guaranteed to be successful every time. However, on the side opposing human cloning, the greatest argument involves the morals and ethics of all human beings involved in the process of cloning a human, which are the cloned child, the egg donor, and the woman carrying the cloned child. Very few cloning experiments involving animals have been successful, and even many of those result in death after some time; as such, there is nothing to suggest that human cloning will be successful since there is more at risk. Attempting to clone a human being involves too many risks, and there is nothing to say that any attempt at human cloning will be a success, which makes any safety risks having been undergone in vain. While trying to clone a human, the cloned child might be born deformed or as a stillborn, and the egg donor and the woman carrying the cloned child might risk future problems wh en trying to naturally conceive children.

The Woman in Black Essay Example for Free

The Woman in Black Essay No reader of The Woman in Black Can be left in doubt about its conscious evocation of the Gothic. It is full of motifs and effects associated with that genre, How far would you agree with this statement of the novel? I agree undeniably, with the above statement, as the novel is a pastiche of the Victorian/Edwardian ghost story which is a sub-genre of the Gothic. Thus consciously evoking the Gothic. However, it could be argued that Susan Hill at times cleverly manipulates the motifs and effects associated with the Gothic genre. It is theses motifs and effects that are present in the gothic genre, which I will discuss in The Women in Black (1983). I will begin by briefly discussing this essay on the genre itself The Gothic genre is a genre that has been burning artistically for centuries, ever since it was more or less invented by Horace Walpole in the classical gothic novel The Castle of Otranto1765 possessed the indispensable and core elements of this genre, it was set to be a benchmark for following work in this field such as The Woman in White (1860) by Wilkie Collins, The Italian (1797) by Ann Radcliff, The Monk'(1796) by Mathew Lewis and Bram Stokers Dracula (1897). The Women in Black is full of Gothic elements and conventions throughout. The reader at first realises the effectiveness of the first person narrative of the novel; this is delivered by Arthur Kipps the main character of the story. Effectively, the reader gains a first hand insight of thoughts, feelings and emotions of Arthur instantly as they happen. Therefore, slowly but gradually the reader becomes attached to Arthur due to the sense of immediacy that they experience with the unfolding of emotions, thoughts and events when Arthur does. This is initially used in the opening chapter Christmas Eve when Arthur states; I was seized by something I cannot possibly describe, an emotion, a desire- no, it was rather more, a knowledge, a simple certainty, which gripped me, Indisputably, the Christmas Eve opening of The Woman in Black echoes the opening of Henry Jamess Turn of the Screw. It is a convention of the ghost Story were in the festive season people gather by the fire and make up lurid inventions about vampires to even rats and bats. In addition the intertextuality of the novel is emphasised with the striking resemblance between Arthur Kipps and Jonathon Harker in Bram Stokers Dracula (1897). Here both are lawyers and both are very rational which is exemplified when Arthur describes himself as a commonsensical man. Another example of the novels intertextuality is one of the chapters actual name; Oh whistle and Ill come to you which is taken from an M.R. James ghost story. These thoroughly present intertextuality continuously imprints on the reader the elements of the novel, the ghost story. This is also agreed by most Enlish critic like (1)Alan Jones who says; Hills novel also shows an eclectic indebtedness to other text. The referential quality of text like Walpoles The Castle of Otranto or Lewiss The Monk, with their nods in the direction of medieval manuscript, Shakespeare, graveyard poetry and so on, finds full measure in the pages of her text. The first attribute acknowledged by the reader as a common Gothic element is the setting of The Women in Black. overall, there are two main settings of the story, one being Monks Piece where Arthur begins the story of The Women in Black. Initially, Monks Piece is presented as place from out of reach from civilisation, an area of remoteness and isolation, a place really distant. Arthur describes its air of remoteness and isolation which makes us feel ourselves to be much further from civilization. The supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events are a key theme in the Gothic genre and The Woman in Black is no exception. In The Woman in Black is the constant emphasis of man versus nature that is repeated throughout. Susan Hill provides an undetectable malevolent and treacherous force, using nature, whether its a fog, sea-freats or a mist. The ultimate felling of supernatural is without a shadow of doubt, created by the fog, one of Londons deadliest peasoupers. The fog slowly, but gradually constructs the sense of the supernatural by creating an illusion of uncertainty for both Arthur and the reader. This is conveyed when Arthur describes the fog. Fog was out door, hanging over the river, creeping in the and out of alleys and passagessly entrance at every opening of a door. This idea of the fog suggests the fog has become an entity by technique of personification used by Hill. This projects the idea that the fog is more than a fog. In that way it is given a beastly presentation especially by the use of the simile like a furred beast. The distinct description of the fog provokes the inevitable thought of the supernatural with its ever-present malevolent force. This idea of the isolation and remoteness is often used in the Gothic. It gives a clear sense of eeriness and vulnerability about Monks Piece. This is the setting were Arthur begins his ghostly narrative in an attempt to Exorcise the haunting of his past. This brings to mind the idea that when Arthur dies, his accounts of events would be found by someone else like the traditional manuscript found by Jonathon Harker in Bram Stokers Dracula. The other main setting of the novel is Eel Marsh House. In comparison with Monks piece, Eel Marsh House has an air of strange sensation, an excitement mingled with alarm. Eel Marsh House is projected as a place that will have you startled with excitement but also vividly perceptive at the same time. This is illustrated in the description when Arthur initially sets eyes on Eel Marsh House by saying; it was a tall, gaunt house that is isolated and uncompromising but also on the other hand Handsome. Nevertheless, Eel Marsh house is so indistinguishable of Monks Piece in the sense of the sheer solitude and loneliness about the place. However, unlike Monks Piece there is evil with a touch of wickedness about Eel Marsh House, this illustrates that Eel Marsh House is an updating of the Gothic castle. It is this Gothic aura that seems to be seducing Arthur. This idea can be unmistakably recognised when Arthur mentions that; I was aware of a heightened of every one of my senses, and Conscious that this extraordinary place was imprinting itself on my mind and deep on my imagination too This cleverly hints the supernatural force that seems to be enveloping itself around Arthur, inevitably, he appears to be addicted to the place and not discouraged by eeriness incorporated by the satanic sea vultures and by the bleakness that is being hurled by the small burial ground near Eel Marsh house which is typical Gothic iconography. This is further emphasised by the condition of the decayed gravestone with patches of greenish-yellow lichen and moss. Moreover, its the indecipherable dates and names on the Drablows graveyard that create mystery, just like how the novels time period and place of setting is left ambiguous. An atmosphere of mystery and suspense is another key Gothic element in the gothic genre and The Woman in Black is no different. The presentation of London in A London Particular establishes the mystery and mood of the novel. The city is presented as dark, evil-smelling, with a foul gloom atmosphere, when these carefully constructed metaphors and adjectives bind, they do paint a vivid image for the reader. In addition, the true sense of mystery and suspense is cemented by the introduction of Jennet Humfrye the Woman in Black herself. At the funeral of Mrs. Drablow, she is described as a woman with some terrible wasting disease a woman with skin that is tautly stretched and strikingly, a woman only a short time away from her own death. This description deployed by Hill illustrates that this is no ordinary woman and inhuman in some sort even to the extent that she is a walking corpse, a curse on Crythin Gifford. Therefore, Hill sustains the key Gothic theme of death and curse in the novel. The novel itself is built around the mystery of the woman and the tragic death of her child. This unravels that Jennets separated from her son because of the social stigma associated with children being born out of wedlock. This is heightened by the inexplicable behaviour of the Woman in Black and more effectively the reaction of those who see and hear of her presence. This is conveyed to the reader when Arthur says I had never in my life been so possessed by it, never known my knees to tremble And my flesh to creep, and then to turn cold as stone. The absolute fear here is over-ridden by the total danger which she has caused him. This utter tantrum is fuelled by the unexplainable event of disappearance by the wasted woman. This high, even overwrought emotion is common in most Gothic novels; it clearly portrays the feeling of impending doom being experience by the character, in this case, Arthur when he is in intense fear and sense of shock as he witnessed the vanishing of The Woman in Black. It is clear that Susan Hill effectively deploys the basics of gothic elements of gothic fiction. However, these elements are altered to appeal to a more modern audience in the case the castle. Therefore it can be said that Eel Marsh House is an updating of the Gothic Castle. Hill effectively sustains her Gothic genre of Gothic horror of contracting the soul, freezing the faculties and nearly annihilating them. This is apparent in The Woman in The Black several times with excessive examples of Arthur and even other characters including Mr. Jerome, when he is in shock, paralysed by fear of the Woman in Black; Mr. Jerome grabbed my wrist and held it in an agonizingly tight grip or collapse with some kind of seizure. Or even more effectively when the sense of danger and horror is built up using Arthurs companion dog Spider, who becomes accustomed to the threat present; Every her of her body was on end, her ears were pricked, her tail erect, the whole of her tense, as if ready to spring This form of reaction defines gothic horror capturing the idea developed by Ann Radcliffe. Another Victorian/Edwardian convention of ghost stories that cements the pastiches of the novel is how the setting is kept ambiguous. This is shown when Mr Bentley sends Arthur to Eel Marsh in-shire? to represent the firm at Mrs Drablows funeral. Moreover, the context of the novel is kept unclear, because the story could be taking place after the First World War or more likely in the Edwardian period due to the lack of cars present and more significantly to the continuous appearances of a pony and trap in the novel as a leitmotif. Overall, Susan hill captures the mood of the Gothic genre and specially the sub-genre the ghost story. Hill shows a great variety of traditional gothic elements with a blend of originality and innovation by overturning the readers expectation of the genre inconsistently within the novel. In the woman in black the oppressor is a woman and the victim is a man, Arthur, threatened by a powerful, impulsive and a tyramical female, where on the other hand most gothic genre have a woman as a victim. Nevertheless, this ingenious thesis by Hill is a pleasant one because undoubtedly the novel is unpredictable while still consciously evoking the gothic.

Challenges To Singapores Education

Challenges To Singapores Education At the Teachers Day Rally last September, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong outlined the challenges to our education system. A key imperative was National Education. Many Singaporeans, especially pupils and younger Singaporeans, knew little of our recent history. They did not know how we became an independent nation, how we triumphed against long odds, or how todays peaceful and prosperous Singapore came about. This ignorance will hinder our effort to develop a shared sense of nationhood. We will not acquire the right instincts to bond together as one nation, or maintain the will to survive and prosper in an uncertain world. For Singapore to thrive beyond the founder generation, we must systematically transmit these instincts and attitudes to succeeding cohorts. Through National Education, we must make these instincts and attitudes part of the cultural DNA which makes us Singaporeans. The Prime Minister set up a committee, chaired by Mr Lim Siong Guan, to study how to introduce National Education into our education system. The Committee has worked out a plan to do so. To take the next step forward, we need the full commitment of every teacher and principal. National Education is not just a book subject. It must appeal to both heart and mind. Unless you are personally convinced of its importance, committed to the cause and have the knowledge and passion to teach National Education competently and whole-heartedly, the plan will fail. Lessons from Other Countries Singaporeans are not unique in needing National Education. Other countries take National Education as a matter of course. Japan is a tightly-knit, cohesive and group-oriented society, with a long history and a strong sense of unique identity. Yet Japanese schools start early to teach pupils Japanese culture, values, history and geography, and even the politics and economics of Japan. As pupils get older, they also learn about the cultures and histories of other countries. In so doing, they understand even better what makes them uniquely Japanese. Japanese schools go to great lengths to instill group instincts and a sense that every student is an equal member of the group. They have strict regulations on school uniforms, school bags and shoes. Students are grouped into teams called hans. Members of each han play together and eat together. They take turns to perform specific responsibilities, whether it is the daily cleaning of school premises or serving lunch. Academically stronger students are expected to help their weaker friends. Those who do not are ostracised. Students organise the school sports day themselves. Competition is based mainly on team events; there are few or no individual events. All students participate, including those with disabilities. Japanese schools do all this not because they believe that all students are the same in every respect or have identical abilities. But they want every student to be equally valued as a member of the group, recognised for his strengths, and for what he can contribute to the group. And so it goes for Japanese society. In US schools, every child is taught the American heritage George Washington, the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement. Students take part in community service. Learning to be a responsible citizen begins young. It is a deliberate inculcating of American political and social values and ideals, to ensure the next generation grows up with these ideas deeply ingrained. It is a process of indoctrination like any other, no less so because the children are brought up to cherish American values of individual liberty. And it is so successful that many Americans are completely convinced that American values are universal values of mankind. If countries like Japan and the US, with long histories and deep roots, have found it essential to pass on national instincts systematically from generation to generation, all the more Singapore, a young country barely one generation old, must make a concerted effort to imbue the right values and instincts in the psyche of our young. Objectives Of National Education National Education aims to develop national cohesion, the instinct for survival and confidence in our future. We cannot offer our next generation any fixed formula for success, or even any set goals in life. They will face new circumstances and problems. They will need to think through and work out their own solutions. But we must equip them with the basic attitudes, values and instincts which make them Singaporeans. This is the common culture that will give them a shared perception of life, and draw them closer together as one people when confronted with serious problems. This will give them a well-founded faith in the countrys future. This is the DNA to be passed from one generation to the next. There are four elements to achieving this objective. First, we must foster in our young a sense of identity, pride and self-respect as Singaporeans. This will strengthen their emotional attachment to the nation, and their sense of rootedness. We are proud of our country. We are proud of what we have achieved together our economic progress, our clean and green environment, our open and clean system of government, our way of life. We are proud that each of us, in his or her own way, contributes to Singapores success. But success must not lead to hubris. We must never be over-bearing or arrogant, or look down on people from other countries. We do not have all the answers for ourselves, much less for other countries. But neither have we any reason to be ashamed to say, I am a Singaporean. In fact, quite the contrary. Second, our young must know the Singapore Story how Singapore succeeded against the odds to become a nation. National Education is not an abstract sermon on general principles of nationhood. It is to do with a special story, our story. It is the story of Singapore, how we came to be one nation. We did not start off with this goal, or even as one people. Nobody imagined this would be the outcome. As a British colony, from 1942 to 1945 for 3Â ½ years of the Japanese Occupation we suffered a traumatic experience of cruelty, brutality, hunger, and deprivation. We lived through the post-war years of Communist-inspired unrest and upheaval. We then joined with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia. Despite pressure and intimidation we stood firm in Malaysia against the communalists. The issue was a fundamental one: equal basic rights and opportunities for all Malaysian citizens under the Malaysian Constitution, and no special rights for anyone in the State of Singapore on the basis of race, language and religion, as was agreed in the State Constitution of Singapore. As a result we suddenly found ourselves out on our own as an independent country, with few means to make a living or defend ourselves. Yet we developed our economy, built up the SAF, educated and housed our people, got them to work together, and gradually became one nation. Year by year we transformed Singapore int o what it is today. Knowing this history is part of being a Singaporean. It is the back-drop which makes sense of our present. It shows what external dangers to watch out for, and where our domestic fault lines lie. It explains what we stand for and believe in, and why we think and act the way we do. It gives us confidence that even when the odds look daunting, with determination and effort we will prevail. Thirdly, our young must understand Singapores unique challenges, constraints and vulnerabilities, which make us different from other countries. Singapore is not as other countries. We will always be small, we will always worry about our water supply, we will always have to work harder and do better than other countries. That is the hand which geography and history have dealt us. Overall it is not a bad hand, nor have we played it badly. We have compensated for these constraints by being more resolute and resourceful, more efficient and productive, and quicker and nimbler than other countries which are better endowed and have larger margins for error. And we have been so successful that sometimes we forget that the underlying realities endure, and have not gone away. Singaporeans need to understand these realities, to work together and support the policies that are necessary to deal with them. Knowing our constraints should make us more determined to overcome them. It is no cause for despair. We overcame more severe difficulties in our first years of nationhood, with far fewer resources, and in more dire circumstances. We are much better placed to tackle them now. Finally, we must instill in our young the core values of our way of life, and the will to prevail, that ensure our continued success and well being. Our core values include the system of meritocracy which guarantees fair and full opportunities for all, multi-racial and multi-religious harmony, and honest and competent government working for the long-term interests of all Singaporeans. We often take these for granted, because things have been this way in Singapore for a long time. But not new citizens, who often come with fresh direct experience of very different societies. Pupils must learn to treasure and uphold these social and political values. If we ever lose them, Singapore will quickly become a very different place. Strategies We need to develop national instincts among pupils at all levels. National Education will begin in schools and continue in post-secondary and tertiary institutions. After ten to fifteen years of education, all students should know the facts about Singapore and feel attached to Singapore, their best home. Those likely to go on to play leadership roles later should at least have had some preliminary preparation for their responsibilities. We will achieve this through both the formal and informal curricula. Formal Curriculum We will introduce National Education content across the formal curriculum. We can do more of this in some subjects than others. The main subjects will be Social Studies and Civics and Moral Education (CME) at the primary level; History, Geography and CME at secondary level; and the General Paper and CME at the Junior Colleges. In addition, Literature and the languages can also be used. Subjects at Primary level In primary schools, we will start teaching Social Studies earlier -beginning from Primary 1 instead of Primary 4. Social Studies will complement Civics and Moral Education. CME will emphasise teaching of values and correct individual behaviour, while Social Studies will give pupils an understanding of Singapore society. Pupils must start early to learn about the society around them, to feel a sense of belonging to family, school and community, to befriend and accept pupils of all races, and to develop a simple, unabashed pride in Singapore. They recite the pledge, sing Majullah Singapura, and recognise our flag. Later they will learn the meaning of the crescent and five stars. But long before that, when they see the helicopter flying past with the state flag on National Day, they should sense that it is a very special occasion. Subjects at Secondary level At secondary level, students currently learn the history of our independence period only in Secondary 1. The O level History syllabus stops in 1963, which perversely omits the vital period leading to our independence. We will extend the O level History syllabus for Singapore to 1971. The period of Merger, Separation and the early years of independence will also be taught in Secondary 2 instead of Secondary 1, so that the students will be a little more mature, and appreciate better what was at stake. At the upper secondary level, we will develop a new Social Studies subject. It will cover issues central to Singapores survival and success our principles of governance, the strategies that have brought Singapore here, the role of key institutions like the SAF, HDB, CPF, EDB and NTUC, and our future challenges. It will use examples from other countries to explain what works and what fails, and derive lessons for Singapore. Subjects at the JC level In the junior colleges, students should start to learn what leadership involves, and to develop a commitment to serve society. Through the General Paper and Civics lessons, they must acquire the sense that they can shape their own future and, more important, that it is their responsibility to shape Singapores future. They must be able to think independently and rationally, and reach informed conclusions about national issues. MOE will take 3-4 years to implement the new syllabi. As the school curriculum is already heavy, we will make the changes without increasing the curriculum load. We want the new syllabi to give teachers more time, not less, to engage in creative ways to bring issues to life for their students. Informal Curriculum National Education is much more than learning facts. Knowing facts in itself will not develop the group spirit and emotional instincts of nation-hood among pupils. This will depend on the informal curriculum. Attitudes and values picked up through team ECAs and group activities, and the rituals of school life, will sink in deeper than anything learnt in the classroom. Each year, schools will also commemorate a few key events that mark defining moments of our history. These will include: Total Defence Day on the 15th of February, the anniversary of the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942, as a reminder of every citizens responsibility to defend Singapore. Racial Harmony Day on the 21st of July, marking the day in 1964 when racial riots broke out, to remind pupils of the importance and fragility of racial harmony. International Friendship Day to stress the importance of good relations with our neighbours, and to remind pupils that such good relations cannot be taken for granted. The actual date will vary from year to year, to mark such occasions like the end of the Second World War in the Pacific, the day Singapore joined the United Nations, or the end of Confrontation and the establishment of diplomatic relations with Indonesia. And finally, National Day on the 9th of August. Schools will arrange regular visits to national institutions and economic facilities, such as Parliament, SAFTI, water treatment works, the port, or the stock exchange. These visits will help to build pride and confidence among our students, and show them how Singapore has overcome our constraints through sheer will and ingenuity. Community service will strengthen social cohesion and civic responsibility among our young. At the lower primary level, we will encourage pupils to do community service within their own school taking care of the school grounds, keeping common areas clean. For the upper primary and secondary levels, a school may adopt an orphanage or old folks home, or take on long-term community projects like keeping a park or a residents corner clean. The Challenge of Teaching National Education I do not underestimate the difficulty you will have teaching National Education in schools. This is not just another school subject for pupils, or another duty for overworked teachers. We seek from pupils not just intellectual comprehension or accumulation of facts, but a personal commitment to Singapore, and an emotional bonding and identification with their fellow Singaporeans. To achieve this, you must yourselves feel passionately for the country, and understand instinctively our collective interests and what we stand for. Only then can you teach with conviction, instill pride and confidence in your students, and help them to acquire the right instincts. The Singapore Story is based on historical facts. We are not talking about an idealised legendary account or a founding myth, but of an accurate understanding of what happened in the past, and what this history means for us today. It is objective history, seen from a Singaporean standpoint. Not all the history books have been written, because hitherto many documents have been locked away in archives. But now 30 years after our independence the archives are starting to be opened, and the documents for this period are becoming available to historians. Progressively, a more complete picture will emerge. But the Singapore Story is also a live story. It concerns not only events which are receding into the past, but developments which continue in the present. Both teachers and pupils must take an interest in current affairs. They should know what is happening in the world or in our region which can affect us; what economic, social and political developments are taking place in Singapore. They should know what the national debate is about, what is at issue. The most vivid lessons in National Education are to be found not in the books, but in what we live through and what we observe happening around us. I am not proposing that students should form mini-political parties in schools, or demonstrate on the streets, as Chinese school students manipulated by Communist agitators did in the 1950s and 1960s. But students and their teachers must be alive to events around them, so that when they later become adults and exercise their duty as citizens to decide the future of the country, they will decide wisely. From time to time, issues will arise which contain lessons for the future for example when Michael Fay had to be caned for vandalism, or Flor Contemplacion was hanged for murder. Whenever this happens, we must make a special effort to get Singaporeans to understand what is going on, why we did what we did, and what it all means for us. Each such episode will be another piece of the Singapore Story. This makes the Singapore Story harder to teach, but also more exciting and relevant. In teaching the Singapore Story, you will have to deal with delicate issues, especially race and religion, and sometimes relations with our neighbours. We must treat such issues sensitively, but we cannot gloss over them. Amnesia is not an option. We cannot pretend that incidents involving race and religion never happened. They are part of our history. This is not a unique problem for us. For example, in America descendants of Unionists and Confederates both study the American Civil War; descendants of slave owners and slaves both learn about slavery and the civil rights movement. America is the stronger country for acknowledging these divisions in its past and coming to terms with them. In Singapores case, different races, owing loyalties to different countries, lived in the same British colony. They were moulded into one Singaporean people by their experiences before and after independence. Two race riots took place in 1964, which had been deliberately instigated to intimidate Singapores Chinese population. Many Chinese and Malays were killed. Riots occurred again in 1969, after independence, a spillover from the May 13 riots in Malaysia. Race relations in Singapore took years to recover from the trauma of these events. Unless pupils know these facts, and learn what they mean, they will never understand why we emphasise racial harmony so strongly, and insist that the majority Chinese community should never make the minority communities feel oppressed. Such ignorance will pose a real risk of racial conflict happening again one day. All Singaporeans, whether Chinese, Malay, Indian or Eurasian, can identify with the ideal of a multi-racial, multi-religious society which Singapores leaders fought for while in Malaysia, and which we have tried to realise as an independent country since 1965. It is because Singaporeans of all races, and especially their leaders, stayed united and refused to be intimidated that we separated from Malaysia. The issues which led to Separation were fundamental, and remain so today. By teaching the history of how we became one people, we will draw our races closer together. But our aim is not to expunge the differences between the ethnic groups. Each community contributes its own unique characteristics and strengths to our society. If Chinese Singaporeans lose their Chinese cultural heritage, or Malay Singaporeans discard their traditional customs and Islamic values, we become a much weaker society. We must create unity in diversity. Conclusion This National Education programme is a major undertaking. Its effects are long term. We will not know for many years how well we have inculcated values, attitudes, and habits that emotionally bond our people to one another, as proud co-owners of their best home, Singapore. As teachers and principals, you carry most of the responsibility for giving your pupils a total education, and for their National Education. The Ministry will back you up with the resources, guidance, and materials that you need. For example, MOE will produce a monthly series of videos for schools, to keep teachers updated on current affairs. The National Education Web Page we are launching will provide more information and be a channel for teachers to discuss ideas and share resources. The moulding of the next generation is in your hands. You must imbue them with a strong sense of national identity and social responsibility. If we fail, all that we have painstakingly built up over decades can unravel and fall apart within a few years. But put our best effort into this vital task, and we will succeed.

Comments on Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau :: Civil Disobedience Essays

Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau    Thoreau's essay entitled "Civil Disobedience" i was an excellent way of educating the public on why people should not settle for a less than perfect government. His belief in demanding a better government was a great reminder that Thomas Jefferson insisted that it was our "duty, to throw off"(2) an unsatisfactory government in the "Declaration of Independence" ii Thoreau's essay also explained why people choose not to do anything about it. Thoreau stated that people "cannot spare the protection of the existing government, and they dread the consequences to their property and families of disobedience to it" (25). So it makes sense that most people would not be willing to risk losing their property, family, or their life. However, we should not feel this way because Jefferson also stated that "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed."(2) Jefferson then went on and stated "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and to institute new Government" (2). It is not as if people do not have problems with the government. We protest the same things that Thoreau did: paying for wars, services that we personally do not use, corruption in our government, etc. Yet our society today does not use productive means to invoke our "Right of the People" and demand a "better government". There are people who actually do choose to abide by some of Thoreau's suggestions for dealing with our government. Many people refuse to pay taxes. Jefferson did claim that "imposing taxes on us without our Consent"(19) was grounds for a request for new government. Is there actual anyone who enjoys paying taxes? Thoreau did not have a problem with paying "for no particular item in the tax-bill"(36). He just did not want to show "allegiance to the State"(36). He believed that he did not join the "incorporated society"(25) that is the State so why should he pay its debts. The people who refuse to pay today simply prefer to keep their money. So according to Jefferson, that is technically ok. There are others who truly believe that there is a need for an improved government. Comments on Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau :: Civil Disobedience Essays Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau    Thoreau's essay entitled "Civil Disobedience" i was an excellent way of educating the public on why people should not settle for a less than perfect government. His belief in demanding a better government was a great reminder that Thomas Jefferson insisted that it was our "duty, to throw off"(2) an unsatisfactory government in the "Declaration of Independence" ii Thoreau's essay also explained why people choose not to do anything about it. Thoreau stated that people "cannot spare the protection of the existing government, and they dread the consequences to their property and families of disobedience to it" (25). So it makes sense that most people would not be willing to risk losing their property, family, or their life. However, we should not feel this way because Jefferson also stated that "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed."(2) Jefferson then went on and stated "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and to institute new Government" (2). It is not as if people do not have problems with the government. We protest the same things that Thoreau did: paying for wars, services that we personally do not use, corruption in our government, etc. Yet our society today does not use productive means to invoke our "Right of the People" and demand a "better government". There are people who actually do choose to abide by some of Thoreau's suggestions for dealing with our government. Many people refuse to pay taxes. Jefferson did claim that "imposing taxes on us without our Consent"(19) was grounds for a request for new government. Is there actual anyone who enjoys paying taxes? Thoreau did not have a problem with paying "for no particular item in the tax-bill"(36). He just did not want to show "allegiance to the State"(36). He believed that he did not join the "incorporated society"(25) that is the State so why should he pay its debts. The people who refuse to pay today simply prefer to keep their money. So according to Jefferson, that is technically ok. There are others who truly believe that there is a need for an improved government.

Affirmative Action Plan Essay

Affirmative action is a plan to promote the efforts of employers, schools and other organizations to recruit and hire groups that have previously been discriminated against. It is important to note that affirmative action programs do not require employers to hire unqualified people for a job. Equal employment opportunity is used to describe policies that prohibit discrimination of any kind. Affirmative action is a program that analyses the make up of the current workforce, establishes guidelines to insure an employer is not underutilizing certain groups and identifies and removes barriers for employment. Equal employment is the legislation that provides the oversight and investigates any allegations of discrimination and unfair treatment. To effectively implement an affirmative action program is important to have management support. This is not the type of program that can be successful at the grass roots level. The first step is to designate a high level manager as the champion. This person will be responsible for setting the overall tone for the program and will ensure that his managers at all levels throughout the organization take part in the implementation process as well as ensuring that the program is being effectively managed. The next decision is what kind of plan will be implemented from the two basic strategies, good faith effort or quota. Good faith focuses on changing the hiring practices that have created these inequities. It is also aimed at removing any obstacles that might be in the way of hiring minorities, women or disabled persons. Quotas are focused on the results and getting certain groups hired by implementing restrictions. Employers are required to meet specific numbers to be successful. Good faith is the preferable strategy because it focuses on a more positive approach while still hiring the best candidate for the job. There are many steps that are needed to roll-out an affirmative action plan. The following are the steps necessary in the development and implementation: 1. It is extremely important to develop the policy statement that will guide the entire program. In many instances this policy statement is also used as a clause on contracts as well as company newsletters and advertisements. Once the policy statement is completed the specific goals and objectives of the affirmative action program need to be established and disseminated throughout the organization. The goal of the program is to remedy the past and continued discrimination in hiring based on race, ethnicity and gender. The goal also addresses creating a work place that embraces the differences. Questions that must be answered are: What is the strategy to obtain the goal and what are the timelines associated with reaching our goal? 2. All the HR processes and job qualification standards to make sure that the job qualifications are consistent with the business need. Job analyses and job descriptions must be reviewed as well to ensure that they too are structured accordingly. Another aspect that should be done to ensure that the right protected groups are being targeted is the workforce analysis. What is the breakdown and make up of the employee population. This will help in the initial efforts. It is also necessary to audit this on an ongoing basis. 3. Detailed program initiates need to be written and communicated. The program should include details on recruiting, hiring and training employees as well as the company’s position on fair employment practices. 4. Develop the training program for HR managers as well as line managers at all levels. All employees must understand their responsibilities as they relate to an effective affirmative action program. How to effectively recruit and hire based on the program. Information should also be included in the company’s code of conduct booklet. Affirmative action should also be covered in employee orientation. 5. Training is the first step in forming a better understanding within the company, however unless the corporate goals and objectives are aligned with each department, the program will be harder to enforce. It is important to tie the affirmative action objectives to an individual’s performance and  part of the review process. This will ensure adherence. 6. The communication plan is another crucial part of the program and involves many steps. Employers should get the word out that they are an equal opportunity employer. Communicating this message is great publicity. Unless it is communicated effectively no one will know. Communications must be used to promote implementation internally. Posters can be put up throughout the facility or special edition newsletters to create enthusiasm for the program. The next level of communication is to go out into the communities by placing advertisements in local papers, talks with the local officials to gain support. Perhaps by establishing an arrangement to get applicant referrals through various state agencies, college placement offices and labor organizations perspective employees can be canvassed. Develop the appropriate communication strategies to target the right candidates for openings. If women are being sought after, then perhaps placing advertisements in a journal or periodical that has a higher female readership. Provide written notification of company affirmative action policy to subcontractors, vendors and suppliers and make sure that the company is partnering with the right mix. Today it is very important to align with other organizations that are minority owned. 7. Establish a training program for incumbents and current employees to supplement their skill set. An on the job training program as well as access to higher education will provide create the environment needed to be successful and will further eliminate obstacles for minorities and women. It is important not only to provide minorities and female employees with the educational opportunity, but to actively encourage participation. 8. Establish programs such as flex hours, child care and working from home to assist working mothers and or fathers with child care issues that would have precluded them from being successful in the past. 9. Design and implement an audit and reporting system to measure the effectiveness of an affirmative action program. If an affirmative action program is found to be deficient, actions must be taken to fix the problems. It is important to monitor an organization’s success on an ongoing basis and provide the necessary coaching when necessary. Diversity goes a long way to enrich our lives. People bring varying levels of experience and knowledge based on their individual backgrounds. It is important to encourage employees and managers to view these differences in a positive light. Affirmative action should have a positive view in the workplace for it to be successful. In avoiding the use of a quota system, employers remove the negative connotation that has historically been associated with a program like this. The diverse culture in our workplace is about finding the right person for the job, not hiring based on a person’s gender or color. The plan will be successful because it will become part of the corporate culture. When management endorses a program such as this and is dedicated to its success, line managers at all levels are also determined to make it work. It is important to communicate the details of the program in a manner that is understandable as well as non-controversial to gain the maximum amount of support. Ensuring that the hiring process removes all obstacles as well as working with contractors and outsource providers that also have affirmative action plans will further the success of the program. References Go to: http://www.apa.org/pubinfo/HowAffirmActBenAmerica.pdf Go to: http://www.fca.gov/Download/AEP%20Inspection%20Report.pdf Go to: http://hr.dop.wa.gov/wfd/guidlines.pdf