Informal Logic

Human beings are endowed with a unique ability; that of being able to reason rationally and logically. However, man’s reasoning is from time to time characterized by errors in reasoning, particularly when presenting arguments (Moore Parker, 2007, p. 40). Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Informal Logic-Fallacies Definition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most instances, these errors in reasoning may follow a common pattern hence forming logical fallacies. There are hundreds of logical fallacies that can be identified depending on their different patterns. Ambiguous claims and the two types of fallacies which originate from problems with ambiguity are composition and division. Ambiguity in reasoning has been identified as one of the most common fallacy that people commit in their day to day engagements. A statement is said to be ambiguous if it can be interpreted in different ways. Ambiguity is characteriz ed by the use of words which ordinarily have more than one meaning. In most instances, ambiguous claims are not obvious. Studies in ambiguity have found that differences in definitions of key claims are at the center of ambiguous statements (Moore Parker, 2007, p. 48). There are different types of ambiguity. The first one is the semantic ambiguity which is characterized by the presence of an ambiguous word or phrase. For instance, if a person says that the average price of a house in the city is $100,000, it is ambiguous because of the word, average. Semantically ambiguous statements can be corrected by replacing the ambiguous word with an unambiguous word or phrase. Syntactic ambiguity is the second type of ambiguity and is normally identified by the presence of ambiguous grammar usage or the general structure of the statement. For instance, if someone says that the police saw the man with binoculars, the statement is syntactically ambiguous. The statement implies that the police were searching for a man who had binoculars or that they used binoculars to locate the man they were looking for. Syntactic ambiguity can be eliminated by restructuring the sentence and the punctuations to enhance clarity. The third type of ambiguity is referred to as the grouping ambiguity which is similar to semantic ambiguity. This ambiguity arises when a claim may be correct in a general sense but false when taken in part (Hurley, 2007, p. 71). For example, if someone claims that secretaries make more money than doctors, it is subject to grouping ambiguity (Moore Parker, 2007, p. 52). It may be true that secretaries combined make more money than doctors as a group. However, individual secretaries do not make more money than individual doctors. Hence, the ambiguity of this sentence is in the use of the words â€Å"secretaries† and â€Å"doctors†.Advertising Looking for essay on rhetoric? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are two major types of fallacies that emanate from problems of ambiguity. These are the fallacies of composition and division. They are both characterized by errors in distinguishing the parts from the whole of a claim. The fallacy in such claim is in believing that what is true of a group of things taken collectively is obviously true of the same things taken individually (Hurley, 2007, p. 83). For instance, a claim that since there has been a series of accidents involving vehicles is as a result of all drivers being careless suffers from the fallacy of division. On the other hand, some statements are true when taken individually but not when taken as a group or collectively. This fallacy is referred to as the fallacy of composition (Moore Parker, 2007, p. 53). For instance, a claim that since a ticket to watch a soccer match in an 80,000-sitter stadium was being sold at $2 implied that the organizers were not intent on collecting a lot of money suffers from the fallacy of composition-what is true of an individual is not necessarily true for the individuals taken collectively. Furthermore, to conclude that individual athletes constituting a winning team in the short relay are the fastest 100 meters runners/sprinters is a fallacy. This claim suffers from the fallacy of division. The success of a team in a relay race depends mostly on the strategy of arranging the team such that the subsequent participants who are handed the baton will always have a time advantage at take off as well as to overtake. The ways of minimizing, if not eliminating the semantic and syntactic ambiguities have been discussed. Fallacies arising from ambiguity together with their relevant examples have also been presented. Human being’s reasoning pattern, therefore, can only be made clearer if ambiguity in arguments and claims are eliminated. References Hurley, P. J. (2007). A succinct introduction to logic and fallacies (10th ed.). Thomson Wadsworth, 71-85 M oore, B. N., Parker, R. (2007). Critical Thinking (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, 39-64Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Informal Logic-Fallacies Definition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Informal Logic-Fallacies Definition was written and submitted by user Isabella Singleton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The World is Flat

The World is Flat Introduction Globalization is the current issue making waves around the world. The trend towards globalization is simply awesome especially in the third world countries. Over the years, some economists have expressed their views in support of globalization while others, have criticized it. However, with due respect accorded both parties over their respective opinions, it is worthy of note here that globalization is an issue that has come to stay particularly with the trend towards it. (Duiker, 306)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The World is Flat specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In his book â€Å"The world is flat,† Thomas Friedman argues in favor of what he calls â€Å"The Dell Theory of conflict prevention.† But William Duiker, who is also a writer, thinks differently. Duiker believes the trend towards globalization may be offset by a simultaneous trend towards fragmentation. This argumentative essay is written in favor of Thomas Friedman’s hypothesis which he calls â€Å"The Dell theory of conflict prevention.† In the course of this essay, Thomas Friedman’s book â€Å"The world is flat† will be summarized and explained to support the argument. Lastly, in the concluding part of the essay, it will be shown how globalization is greatly taking over the world. In developing and developed countries respectively, the issue of globalization is of top priority as no country in the world wants to be left behind. The trend towards Globalization There is barely a country or nation in the present world which has not joined the trend towards globalization or intends to be a part of it in the nearest future. In this 21st century when the world is classified or termed as a global village, global governors, super powers of the world and international organizations like, the United Nations, (UN) European Union, (EU) and the African Union, (AU) are not resting in thei r campaigns to take globalization to the next level. (Duiker, 712) The present world is a highly technological advanced world. Virtually everything in our daily lives is connected to one technology or the other. In the health sector, highly advanced technical tools are used to perform neuron surgeries, plastic surgeries and treat diseases of different kinds. In terms of education, schools have launched websites and portals which enable students pay school fees on the internet from anywhere in the world. There is also an immense improvement in the communication sector as new devices are invented thus making communication easier and cheaper. Today, people communicate through different mediums like, phones and the internet which records a tremendous 20 million users daily. In the agricultural sector, agric products are processed into baked foods and beverages. All these and more are made possible and easy through technological advancement. (Duiker, 432)Advertising Looking for e ssay on rhetoric? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Even in farming, technological equipments enable agricultural systems like; irrigation, cross breeding and rearing of animals or live stocks. The aforementioned examples explain why there is a trend towards globalization and the reader will agree with me that, our every day lives are influenced and made easy due to the advancement in technology. As the world advances so does the need for improvement in our lives arises too thus the desire and clamor for the world to be totally globalized will continue to increase. â€Å"The world is flat† In the first part of Thomas Friedman’s book â€Å"The world is flat,† he tries to show or explain how the world became flat. Literally, Friedman tries to say there is a level playing field for everybody and this means that, there is enough room for every individual, group of people, companies, international forums and go vernments of nations to compete and gain global knowledge. (Duiker, 822) Freidman moves on to use Asian countries like, Japan, China and India as examples to illustrate his point about room created for everyone to progress. However, Friedman attributes this opportunity to what he calls world flatteners. Then he goes ahead to list ten forces which are responsible for the flattening of the world and these forces are; the steroids, the September terrorist attack on the US, (9/11) outsourcing, off shoring, uploading, Netscape’s public date, informing, uploading, in sourcing and work flow software. (Friedman, 671) Friedman tries to show that, these technological advancement which are as a result of globalization are capable of also causing disasters if in the wrong hands and this fact has changed the thinking of many nations thus creating room for anybody to compete and gain global knowledge. (Friedman, 612) Friedman talks about â€Å"America and the flat world† in the seco nd part of his book then in the third part of his book, he talks about â€Å"Developing countries and the flat world.† He shows how America is the world power and is economically at advantage due to her technological advancement. He also highlights the problems and challenges in the American society but he is adamant, optimistic and envisages what the American economy will be like in future. As for developing countries, Friedman in the third part of his book suggests the necessary steps to be taken in order to meet up the high speed of development other countries have attained. He uses Ireland as an example of a willing society and leaders with vision and how these factors helped propel Ireland from a less developed European country to an advanced one. (Duiker, 231) In part four, Friedman talks about â€Å"companies and the flat world† while in part five of his book, â€Å"Geopolitics and the flat world† is discussed. In part four, Friedman explains seven factor s which are responsible for the growth of companies and he advices other smaller companies to emulate the already advanced ones.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The World is Flat specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Then in part five, he talks about international politics of the world and envisages problems that might arise from the flattened world. Here, he suggests the application of â€Å"Dells theory of conflict prevention.† Friedman believes that if flattening is not handled properly, it might also come with its demerits and he cites terrorist and global warming as examples. (Friedman, 421) Conclusion Globalization has demerits just as anything else in life. There are always two sides to every career, scientific discovery and a new technology invented or a world trend like globalization. However, you will agree with me that, the gains or merits that are achieved from globalization greatly supersede the demer its and it is therefore, worth the risk. It can then be inferred that, the trend towards globalization is a right step in the right direction which is worth taking regardless of its disadvantages. This means it requires more than just offsetting a simultaneous trend to fragment globalization. With the constructive argument above, it can be reasonably concluded that, between William Duiker and Thomas Friedman, Friedman is correct amongst the two writers. Duiker, William. Contemporary world history: Georgetown University: Wadsworth, 2010. Print Friedman, Thomas. The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. New York: Allen, 2009. Print.

Response to 3 students posting with 2 references each Coursework

Response to 3 students posting with 2 references each - Coursework Example by Onwuegbuzie & Leech (2005) who supported the assertion that mixed method research is a matter of natural research process that calls for a more extensive utilization of both qualitative and quantitative methods, in unison. I therefore believe that mixed method research attests to the valid need to integrate the strengths in both methods to come up with more conclusive, reliable and valid research findings. It is highly commendable that you have supported your arguments with as many as four (4) references on expounding the discussion on Mixed Method Research. As you cited the research works of Onwuegbuzie & Collins (2007) have likewise noted from the works of Tashakkori and Teddlies (2003) book, SAGE Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social & Behavioral Research, that there are indeed more than 35 mixed methods research designs, which is just amazing and potentially complex. This just goes to show that there are vast research designs that could be utilized to the advantage of researchers, as long as they have the knowledge, awareness, and proper competencies to apply these tools to their advantage. The assertions from Pole’s (2007) discourse was noteworthy in terms of indicating that â€Å"qualitative researchers viewing the world as interconnected, while quantitative researchers rationalizes the world’s views are scientifically based† (p. 36). One thereby agrees that although there is a valid point in the distinctive differences between the interconnected view of the qualitative research method and the more structured, definitive and scientifically based quantitative method; these disparities form the respective strengths and competitive advantages of each method. However, when taken together and integrated in a particular study, merits from both methods are crucial to validate the findings and make the results more conclusive and reliable. The fact that mixed research method is actually not confined to a number of research designs, as argued by Tashakkori

Eating Habits In Relation to Political, Social, and Economical Essay - 161

Eating Habits In Relation to Political, Social, and Economical Environment - Essay Example Social factors dictate the preference for cereals in both pictures. The respective societies from which the two families live hold cereals in higher regard than another foodstuff. Consequently, both families would naturally want to stock up on more cereals than anything else. On the other hand, environmental and economic factors set the two families apart in dieting. Generally, the first family has less food, especially greens, compared to the second family. Harsh weather has led to inadequate food production for the first family while the second family enjoys abundance due to favorable weather for agricultural production (Kennedy et al p134). Secondly, the backgrounds of the pictures suggest that the first family is less endowed with resources compared to the second family. The second family seems to be residing in a fairly posh neighborhood while the first family lives in desolation. In conclusion, economic, political, environmental and social factors dictate the eating habits of people. A harsh environment and weak economy subject the first family to a state of near deprivation. The second family has plenty due to favorable weather and economic factors.

Globalisation is a force for good. Discuss Essay

Globalisation is a force for good. Discuss - Essay Example Considering all the advantages of globalisation, the argument that this concept is a force for good cause remains true. This paper is meant to examine the positive effects of globalisation that resulted in the transformation of major areas like education, technology and business as a relationship with the relevance of international cooperation instilled by globalisation. Make a quick overview of the development around the world that has taken place in the recent two decades and it will be clear how great the aspect of ‘globalisation’ is. It is obvious that the politically segmented world map is now filled with a number of cities and economic hubs where labour and capital are brilliantly invested and operated in a variety of enterprises. This rapid growth in urbanisation and development in the human resource quality meant for economic growth of many countries became a reality through the integration of ideas and efforts from different parts of the world. As such, the commonness in opinion and the willingness to share material and abstract things meant for progress of human communities across political borders can be considered as the basis of globalisation. The interchange and exchange of information and material meant for mutually beneficial prospects between two or more countries constitute globalisation. According to a suggestion, â⠂¬Å"Globalisation is the term used to describe the process of removal of restrictions on foreign trade, investment, innovation in communications and transport systems† (Paul, 2008, p.55). The clear observation of this process will open a chamber of international participation in almost all the walk of economic enterprises. Under the franchisee of globalisation concept, the countries participating in joint economic ventures are supposed to be transparent and liberal among them in order to make the process of

Relationship Between Construction Industry And Global Warming Environmental Sciences Essay

Relationship Between Construction Industry And Global Warming Environmental Sciences Essay Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earths temperature, which cause change in climate. This phenomenon is mainly caused by human activities which emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). It is believed that the use of non-renewable energy has increased the carbon concentration in the atmosphere and has also increased the Earths temperature. Among all the human activities that emit GHGs, construction industry should held responsibilities too. In a recent publication by Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, it was indicated that the largest growth in the carbon emissions has come from electricity generation, transport, industry and above all, from building operation (Radhi, 2009). Therefore, is the operation and construction of building emits CO2, not the building itself. Energy required for a building to operate is mainly on heat ing and cooling purposes. In United States (US), a full 30% of CO2 emission is caused by built environment. While in United Kingdom (UK), energy use related to construction industry amounts to around 55% of national energy consumption, which means the industry is also the source of 55% of CO2 emission (Parsa and Farshchi, 1996). In order to reduce carbon emission, constructing a building with energy efficiency or low carbon emission is a trend in nowadays construction industry. To achieve a building with low or even zero carbon emission, the design and equipment used by the building is crucial and must be energy efficient. For example, instead of using artificial lighting, natural lighting is being use for the same purpose while mechanical ventilation is replaced by natural ventilation. Besides, the issue of global warming has had governments concern. Lots of regulations and restrictions have been amends to reduce carbon or GHGs emission. Among all those regulations, Kyoto Protocal is the one most well known. The purpose of Kyoto Protocal is to reduce the emission of GHGs from industrialised countries by 5.2% of the 1990 levels by a commitment period between 2008 2012 (Hill, 2001). On the other hand, the UK Climate Change Bill will commit the UK law to a target of at least a 60% reduction in CO2 emission by 2050. 1.3 Aim To analyse how construction industry could contribute to global warming and what efforts have been made in order to reduce global warming. 1.4 Objectives To study the factors in which construction industry had caused global warming. To determine the role of governments in setting rules and regulations to reduce global warming. To identify efforts that has been done by local construction industry to follow the green footsteps. 1.5 Background Global warming has been a growing global concern in recent years. Global warming could leads to greenhouse effects, climate change, rise in mean sea level, acid rain and depletion in ozone layer (Parsa and Farshchi, 1996). Global warming is caused by emission of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Among basket of GHGs, CO2 plays the most vital role. Due to the developing of each country, it can be seen that the carbon emission has become more serious. During the 150 years of the industrial age, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased by 31 percent (West, 2009) Carbon emission comes from domestic industry, burning of fossil fuels, transport and many other factors. Among all those sources, burning of fossil fuels or non-renewable energy for electricity generation emits the most carbon dioxide. Besides, CO2 could lead to greenhouse effects as heat from sun and lighting is being trapped in earths atmosphere and causing the rise of temperature in earths surface (Mahwah, 2000). On the other hand, climate change means a change in long term weather pattern. While rise in mean sea level is because of melting of south and north pole ice due to rising temperature. Other than carbon dioxide, release of methane is another factors causes global warming. Over 150 years of industrial age, there has been 151% rise in atmospheric methane level mainly from agricultural activities (West, 2009). Emission of nitrious oxide which is another kind of greenhouse gases also emitted mainly due to various agriculture and industrial process. Besides, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) are also categorised in the basket of greenhouse gases. 1.6 Scope of Study This study will include the definition and cause of global warming, efforts made and role of government in reducing global warming. This study would reveal the awareness of construction industry in global warmings issue and what have been done to reduce it. It is done through observing whether there are increasing numbers of sustainable or green buildings. Besides, since this issue has raised global concern, this study also would show what haven been done by government regard this matter. In order to find out causes of global warming, information would be search online or in library. A case study will be conduct in order to have a further understanding of efforts made to reduce global warming. Zero energy office which is located at Bandar Baru Bangi would be visited and interviewed the relevant personnel. This building is the first completely self-sustainable building in Southeast Asia. The design, equipment and other sustainable items in that building would be studied. Interview wit h the related person should be carrying out if possible to have a deeper understanding on the buildings principal. 1.7 Methodology Stage 1: Literature review This is a stage where a lot of comprehensive review is required to have a broader knowledge about global warming. I will be looking for secondary data source at this stage which is through reading articles or journals from online resources or library. The resources that I am looking forward are mainly on causes of global warming which related to construction industry and rules and regulations set out by government to deal with global warming. Stage 2: Case study In order to have a more in-depth analysis of global warming awareness in construction industry, I will be conducting a case study in Malaysia by searching for energy efficient or low carbon emission building. The building that I found which fit to the requirement is Pusat Tenaga Malaysia located at Bandar Baru Bangi, Kuala Lumpur. I will visit to the building and conduct an interview with the person in charge of the building in order to have a deeper understanding of how it works and its principle. This case study would be used to establish the efforts that have been made to reduce global warming. Stage 3: Evaluation of case study After conducting a case study, I will review and analyse the information and photos collected in the building that I have studied. It is to identify whether the building is really environmentally friendly and is it capable of reducing the impact to environment to minimum. Stage 4: Writing up After doing all the research, understanding and getting enough information, it enables me to writing up the content following the dissertation that I proposed in this stage. Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Introduction In this chapter, issues related to causes of global warming and environmental regulations which are related to construction industry are going to be talked about. When someone mention about global warming, many are pointing fingers to construction industry and recent studies have showed that construction industry do held responsibilities. In construction industry, the energy usage to operate building, embodied energy and construction activities are those which held responsibilities in carbon emissions. However, due to global awareness, many countries have come out with solutions to solve this issue and governments play an important role in this matter. In order to reduce carbon emissions, many rules and regulations have been set to ensure that they are complied by designers and contractors. Such rules and regulations are Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change Act 2008, Carbon Reduction Commitment, Display Energy Certificates and others relevant regulations. Regulations set are mandatory for construction parties to follow and hope that it will reduce carbon emissions and save our earth. 2.2 Definition 2.2.1 Global Warming The meaning of global warming as according to Dr. Spencer (2007) shows that global warming: is the expected slow, gradual warming of the lower layers of the Earths lower atmosphere by the slowly increasing concentrations of man-made greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, and to lesser extent methane. These gases trap infrared radiation, which is heat radiation that cools the Earth. 2.2.2 Construction Industry Construction industry can be divided in to three groups which is heavy and civil engineering construction, general construction and specially trades (Economy Watch, 2010). Besides, based on Economy Watch (2010), construction industry brings the meaning of: This industry is mainly an urban based one which is concerned with preparation as well as construction of real estate properties. The repairing of any existing building or making certain alterations in the same also comes under construction industry. 2.3 Causes of Global Warming by Construction Industry 2.3.1 Facts that Construction Industry Caused Global Warming It is undeniable that construction industry should bear responsibilities for causing of global warming. Activities related to building are responsible for 35% to 45% of CO2 releases into the atmosphere. In Australia, 40% of its country energy is used for heating, cooling, building and demolishing of building (Dixon, 2008). Energy that generated to fulfill all the needs emits CO2. Besides, similar conditions occur in UK whereby about 50% of UKs total CO2 emissions have caused by construction, occupation and maintenance of buildings (Gibbs, 2007). On the other hand, buildings in US responsible for about 38% of the carbon emissions which is 39% of USs energy and 68% of its energy (WBDG, 2009). Although it is proven that construction industry is the main contributor to global warming, among the six gases in GHGs, CO2 is the gases that construction industry should held most responsibility. Another GHGs release by construction industry is CFCs and HFCs which were used in refrigeration in w hich every house have a refrigerator. However, one thing that need to be make clear is that not the building itself release GHGs, but the operation of buildings. 2.3.2 Energy Usage by Building During the lifetime of a building, it required a lot of energy in order to operate it and majority of buildings in the whole world are using electricity that is sourced mainly from coal power plants. For example, buildings produce high heat that radiates outside into the air and most buildings did not structured for such high temperature. In order to solve this problem, air-conditioning has been used. The usage of air-conditioning will increase the energy consumption and in the same time the emissions of CO2. During winter, buildings required some heating in order to keep the occupant warm. Besides, in order to make life easier, many appliances have been invented. One of the useful appliances is lighting. Lighting is essential to a modern society. About 5% of energy and 25% of average home electricity is used for lighting. In addition, approximately 60% of electricity is consumed in commercial sector (Energy Conservation, 2010). Therefore, when someone turns on and off a light, they are releasing GHGs (Environment Support, 2008). Other appliances that most of the people use nowadays is water heater, in order to heat water, energy is required to do so. Furthermore, refrigerators that involved heat exchange that consumes a significant amount of electricity each year is another daily used appliances. Another appliance that able to make our lives easier is washer and dryer to do our laundry everyday. Electricity is required for a washing machine to start doing our laundry. It is believed that around 40% of all the carbon emissions come from power plants (Christodoulou, 2010 ). All of our daily activities in a building required usage of energy which generate from power plants especially from coal. Coal releases the most carbon as compared to natural gas and oil power plants. 2.3.3 Embodied Energy By constructing a sustainable building, zero- carbon building and the like, emissions of carbon by building operations have been reduced. However, the embodied energy in the building materials has been neglect. Embodied energy is the energy used to produce building materials such as cement, steel, aluminium and other materials. However, it is not just as simple as that (Lane, 2010). Embodied energy can be meant by the non-renewable energy used in the acquisition of raw materials, processing, manufacturing, transportation to site and construction. Besides, energy used to transport building products to the site also consider as embodied energy (Giampietro, 2009). For example, a concrete block that located nearby the site will contain lower embodied energy that a concrete block from other states. This is because the energy used for transportation of the concrete block is different (Lane, 2010). Moreover, if a building has high energy efficiency or used less energy, its embodied carbon will be increased. The less carbon been released through constructing a building, the bigger percentage that embodied carbon contributes to the total carbon footprint. For example, a distribution warehouse that used less energy for heating and lighting have an embodied carbon of 60% of its total lifetime carbon footprint. Meanwhile, embodied carbon for supermarket which used a lot of energy contains only 20% of embodied carbon and a house has embodied carbon of 30%. Therefore, different type of building will have different embodied carbon. It is believed that by year 2019, embodied carbon will make up 100% of a buildings carbon footprint (Lane, 2010). Table below shows the embodied energy for different types of materials. According to the table 2.1, aluminium has the highest embodied energy in terms of MJ/kg which is 227 and the lowest is aggregate which is 0.10. For embodied energy measure in terms of MJ/m3, the highest amount would be copper which is 631164 and lowest is straw bale with a figure of 31. Table 2.1: Embodied energy in different types of materials Source: (Architecture 2030, 2010) 2.3.4 Construction Activities Other than energy used by building to operate and embodied energy, building or construction industry also emits CO2 in another manner which is by its construction activities. It is believed that the size of construction projects will affects the carbon emissions. Table below shows the relationship between civil values and construction carbons. It shows that the higher the civil value, the higher carbon emissions (United Utilities, 2009). Projects with higher civil value means that it is a big projects and big projects often required a lot of plant machinery such as excavators, tower cranes, forklift and other machineries in order to complete the whole construction projects. Besides, larger size of construction projects means that more waste is generated. In year 2004 in UK, the waste going to landfill from construction industry was about 100 million tonnes which was increased for 30 million tonnes since year 2000. This amount is equivalent to one house being buried when three houses was built. Moreover, wastage account for an extra 25% energy for waste (Natural Building Technologies, 2010). Thus, due to the increase of usage of machineries and wastage, carbon emissions for larger construction projects are higher than smaller size project Table 2.2: Relationship between civil value construction carbon Source: (United Utilities, 2009) In addition, below is a bar chart showing that carbon emissions during each breakdown of projects. Table below was made based on comparisons of ten projects. According to the graph, plant emissions have highest carbon emissions as compare to other activities. This is due to usage of diesel by plant machineries and it release high volume of CO2 (Natural Building Technologies, 2010). On the other hand, concrete industry plays an important role in construction activity since most of the part of a building is built using concrete. However, concrete industry also plays an important role in carbon emissions since the concrete industry is responsible for 5% to 7% of all global carbon emissions. Carbon emissions of concrete occur during the production process of concrete (Dixon, 2008). Table 2.3: Breakdown of project CO2 emissions by source Source: (United Utilities, 2009) 2.4 Environmental Regulations 2.4.1 Kyoto Protocol 2.4.1.1 What is Kyoto Protocol? In regard to reduce carbon emissions, Kyoto Protocol was carried out. Kyoto Protocol was a legally binding agreement agreed by many countries in December 1997 and it came into force with Russias ratification on February 16, 2005. Terms in Kyoto required at least fifty five parties to ratify the agreement and total emissions by the parties need to be at least 55% of global production of greenhouse gases (Bloch, 2010). A group of countries known as United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the founder of Kyoto Protocol and they have set a major goal of decreasing global emissions of six critical greenhouse gases levels that are 5.2 percent below what they were in 1990. The Protocol contains of twenty five articles and two Annexes which is Annex A and Annex B. Annex A contain of identification and sources of greenhouse gases while Annex B refer to lists of industrialized countries which agree to the Protocol (Lerner, 2006). Greenhouse gases which contain under Annex A are CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6. Meanwhile, countries that fall under Annex B such as European Union (EU), Canada, Japan, Norway, Australia and other countries. Target to be achieved by each country either reduction, increase or maintain is shown in Table 2.4. Countries such as EU, US, Canada, Hungary, Japan, Poland and Croatia need to achieve carbon reductions due to they are developed countries and economically stable to reduce CO2 in their industrial sector. Besides, EU was taking advantage on a scheme known as bubble. Under this scheme, EU countries can redistribute their emissions targets among themselves whereby some may increase their emissions while others reduce their em issions (UNFCCC, 2010). Meanwhile, for countries that are allow to increase their emissions is due to economic reasons. Those are developing countries and reduce in carbon emissions may affect their economic. Country Target (1990** 2008/2012) EU-15 -8% US -7% Canada, Hungary, Japan, Poland -6% Croatia -5% New Zealand, Russian Federation, Ukraine 0 Norway +1% Australia +8% Iceland +10% Table 2.4: Countries included in Annex B to the Kyoto Protocol and their emissions targets Source: (UNFCCC, 2010) 2.4.1.2 Emissions Trading In order for the countries to meet their target emissions, three market-based mechanisms were introduced. The first mechanism was emissions trading which also known as the carbon market. In this mechanism, Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) represents the allowable emissions by countries. Emissions trading that have been set out in Article 17 mention that for countries which have excess emissions units, they can sell the excess units to countries that are over their targets. The reason for this to be called as carbon market is because carbon is like any other commodity which can be tracked and traded (UNFCCC, 2010). The prices and quantities to be sold will be agreed upon the parties. However, penalties for exceeding the assigned amounts, expected costs required for cleaner technologies investments and amount of carbon emissions available for trading will be the factors that affect the price (Hill, 2001). 2.4.1.3 Joint Implementation (JI) JI that have mentioned in Article 6 explains that a party of Annex B may invest in an emission-reduction project of another Annex B party. This offers a party to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) (UNFCCC, 2010). Therefore, Grubb (Hill, 2001) states that JI enables a party to fulfill their Kyoto commitments by locating investments which can obtain most effective savings while another party able to contribute resources such as technological expertise or manpower. Moreover, the project at which a party is going to have a JI with must obtain approval from both the parties involved. Besides, the JI project must be able to reduce emissions or enhancement of removals by sinks. Projects that start from year 2000 may be eligible as JI projects as long as all the requirements have been fulfilled (UNFCCC, 2010). 2.4.1.4 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Article 12 of Kyoto Protocol is stated about CDM. It is a mechanism which allows a country to establish an emission-reduction project in non-Annex countries which are developing countries (UNFCCC, 2010). The savings in emissions which been obtained can be allocate to the Annex B countries and saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits which equal to one tone of CO2 can be earned. According to UNFCCC, CDM is seen by many as a trailblazer. It is the first global, environmental investment and credit scheme of its kind, providing a standardized emission offset instrument, CERs. Furthermore, an example of a project that has been registered as a CDM project is the Biomass Energy Plant Lumut in Malaysia (Selamat and Abidin,2010) 2.4.2 Part L of Building Regulations 2.4.2.1 Building Regulations Building Regulations are statutory instruments that applied to building works in England and Wales (Planning Portal, 2010). According to Planning Portal, the purpose of Building Regulations is to set standards for design and construction of buildings to ensure safety and health for people in or about those buildings. Besides, there are fourteen parts which include in the Building Regulations. All the parts are in relation to the building design and construction. All the parts in Building Regulations are shown as below: Part A Structure Part B Fire safety Part C Site preparation and resistance to moisture Part D Toxic substances Part E Resistance to the passage of sound Part F Ventilation Part G Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency Part H Drainage and waste disposal Part J Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems Part K Protection from falling, collision and impact Part L Conservation of fuel and power Part M Access to and use of buildings Part N Glazing safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning Part P Electrical safety 2.4.2.2 Part L Conservation of Fuel and Power Part L of Building Regulations is mainly focus on conservation of fuel and power in relation to the issue of carbon emissions. In year 2010, Part L has been revised and the revised version has been published on 30 April 2010. Starting from October 2010, four new approved documents and two compliance guides will be replacing the current versions. After the amendment in this year, the amendments to new dwellings in 2013 will lead to zero carbon in dwellings by 2016 (Cullen, 2010). Under Part L, it has been split into four sections which are sections for new dwellings, existing dwellings, new buildings other than dwellings and existing buildings other than dwellings (Planning Portal, 2010). In this revised Part L, carbon reduction for 25% is applied to dwellings while reductions depend on type of buildings will varies from 16% 40%. Examples for carbon emissions for types of buildings other than dwellings are 16% for hotel, 21% for retail, 22% for shallow-plan building (heated), 26% for supermarkets and deep-plan office (air-conditioned), 27% for school, 36% for warehouse and 40% for shallow-plan office (air-conditioned). Moreover, a design stage carbon dioxide emission rate and building specification is required to be carried out by the regulations to designers. The purpose of doing these is to help building control to understand the compliance strategy (Lane, 2010). On the other hand, Accredited Construction Details (ACD) is encouraged to be used for reduction of thermal bridging in dwellings (Cullen, 2010). If the ACD is not been used, 25% shall be added to the calculated values. Besides, the maximum allowable value for air permeability is 10.0 at completion of the dwelling. In order to meet with the requirement, the design for air permeability must be at most 8.0. However, for small developments, a value of 15.0 is still applicable. Since lightings are a significant component of carbon emissions, therefore for lighting requirements, minimum 75% of light fittings must be of low energy. If the remaining 25% are also low energy light fittings, it will contribute towards meeting the Target Emission Rate (TER) target (Hughes, 2010). U-Value shows how well heat transfer through a building element. The lower U-Value is, the rate of heat flowing through building elements slower (Broxwood, 2008). Therefore in Part L 2010, the limitations for U-value in building elements have decreased as shown in the table 2.5. The U-Value of elements for Part L 2010 have changed because this revised Part L is emphasis on reducing heat loss through party walls, improve thermal bridging and to have a better system efficiency improvements (Hughes, 2010). Table 2.5: New limiting U-Values including for party walls Source: (Hughes, 2010) 2.4.3 Climate Change Act 2008 Climate Change Act 2008 was an Act enforced by UK in regard of climate change. UK was the first country in the world to have a legally binding long-term framework to tackle with issue of global warming or climate change by reducing carbon emissions. Climate Change Act 2008 was that legally binding framework (Defra, 2010). The objectives of setting out such Act are to improve carbon management and create a low-carbon economy in UK and to show UKs leadership internationally (Department of Energy Climate Change, 2010). In order to implement and act as part of this Act, Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has been set up as an independent body. The CCC has recommended that the reduction targets for year 2050 targets should be raised from 60%. Therefore, according to the Act, at least 80% of reduction is required by year 2050 as compared to year 1990 levels (Committee on Climate Change, 2010). However, a reduction in emissions of at least 34% by year 2020 also needs to be achieved. On the other hand, several approach of managing and responding of climate change in UK have been created. Such approaches are: setting ambitious, legally binding targets, taking powers to help meet those targets, strengthening the institutional framework, enhancing the UKs ability to adapt impact of climate change and establishing clear and regular accountability to the UK Parliament and to the developed legislatures. (Department of Energy Climate Change, 2010) 2.4.3.1 Requirements under the Act Besides, carbon budget needs to be prepared in every five years starting from year 2008 -2012. Part 1 for Climate Change Act 2008 states that the carbon budget for budgetary period until year 2020 must at least 26% lower than level in year 1990 and for budgetary period until year 2050, carbon budget must at least 80% lower than year 1990s level. The purpose of having the carbon budget is to make sure that they are on the right track towards 2050 targets. Furthermore, risk assessment and plans to tackle with those risks needs to be carry out by public bodies and statutory as required by governments which obtain powers from the Act. On 30 September 2009, guidance been published by Defra for UK businesses and organizations in regard of ways to measure and report of their GHG emissions. After that on 1 October 2009, guidance has been issued by the government in regard of how companies should report on their GHG emissions. Then by 1 December 2010, contribution reporting that could lead to emissions reductions shall be review. Moreover, Companies Act 2008 could be applied by the governments for the purpose of making mandatory report or explanation on reasons of unfulfilling by 6 April 2012 (Department of Energy Climate Change, 2010). Although emissions of CO2 is using year 1990 as a baseline, not all other GHG use the same baseline. Table 2.6 shows the base year for other GHG emissions. Gas Base year methane 1990 nitrous oxide 1990 hydrofluorocarbons 1995 perfluorocarbons 1995 sulphur hexafluoride 1995 Table 2.6: Base years for targeted greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide Source: (Climate Change Act, 2008) 2.4.4 Agenda 21 2.4.4.1 What is Agenda 21? Due to global awareness, Agenda 21 was established at year 1992 by United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which contain of four sections. It is a plan for having sustainable development in 21st century. Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry and general public are encouraged to get involved. Besides, Agenda 21 also plays as a commitment that was agreed by many governments in the world. International Commission on sustainable Development will be monitored on countries that have pledged to take part in Agenda 21. Furthermore, those countries are also being encouraged to promote Agenda 21 at local and regional levels within their own countries. Agenda 21 is focusing on the conservation and preservation of environments and natural resources (Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment, 2000). It has become an outline to tackle with nowadays environmental issues such as poverty and excessive consumptions, pollutions , deforestation and others. 2.4.4.2 Local Agenda 21 in Hammersmith and Fulham Local Agenda 21 (LA21) is a plan established by local authority following the objective of Agenda 21 which is sustainable development (Srinivas, 2010). For LA21 in Hammersmith and Fulham, the main concerns are on recycling or waste management, air quality of transport, sustainable economy, health or disability, biodiversity and the river thames or waterways. The main objective for Hammersmith and Fulham to adopt LA21 is to create a more sustainable lifestyle and to ensure the benefits of future generations would not be endanger by our decisions today. Besides, LA21 offers alternatives to solve against wrong ways of doing things nowadays such as throwing away piles of rubbish, wastage of resources, polluting air and others (Hammersmith and Fulham, 2005). On the other hand, LA21 in Hammersmith and Fulham have six key elements which are: To supervise and enhance the local authoritys own environmental performance. It can be done through assurance by corporate, training of staff and raised awareness, a system to manage environment and the like. To integrate sustainable development aims into local authoritys policies and activities such as planning of land use, development

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) :: essays research papers

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) Table of Contents (Clicking on the links below will take you to that part of this article) * Life * Philosophical Writings * Theology Life The father of medieval scholasticism and one of the most eminent of English prelates was born at Aost Piedmont in 1033. Anselm died at Canterbury, England on April 21, 1109. While a boy he wished to be a monk, but his father forbade it. When he was about twenty-three Anselm left home to live in Burgundy and France. After three years he went to Bec in Normandy where his celebrated countryman, Lanfranc, was prior. Here he became a monk (1060). He succeeded Lanfranc as prior in 1063, and became abbot in 1078. The abbey had possessions in England, which called Anselm frequently to that country. He was the general choice for archbishop of Canterbury when Lanfranc died (1089). However, the king, William Rufus, preferred to keep the office vacant, and apply its revenues to his own use. In 1093 William fell ill and, literally forced Anselm to receive an appointment at his hands. He was consecrated December 4 of that year. The next four years witnessed a continual struggle between king and ar chbishop over money matters, rights, and privileges. Anselm wished to carry his case to Rome, and in 1097, with much difficulty, obtained permission from the king to go. At Rome he was honored and flattered, but he obtained little practical help in his struggle with the king. He returned to England as soon is he heard of the death of William in 1100. But a difficulty arose over lay investiture and homage from clerics for their benefices. Thought a mild and meek man, Anselm had adopted the Gregorian views of the relation between Church and State, and adhered to them with the steadiness of conscientious conviction. The king, though inclined to be conciliatory, was equally firm from motives of self-interest. He had a high regard for Anselm, always treated him with much consideration, and personal relations between them were generally friendly. Nevertheless there was much vexatious disputing, several fruitless embassies were sent to Rome, and Anselm himself went thither in 1103, remaini ng abroad till 1106. His quarrel with the king was settled by compromise in 1107 and the brief remaining period of his life was peaceful. He was canonized in 1494. Back to Table of Contents Philosophical Writings As a metaphysician Anselm was a realist, and one of his earliest works, De fide Trinitatis, was an attack on the doctrine of the Trinity as expounded by the nominalist Roscelin.

Ibm Case Essay

History By the 1950’s, IBM became the dominant vendor in the computer industry with the release of the IBM 701 along with many other series of mainframes, which are large central processors. Then in the1960’s and 1970’s, the company had to diversify to get on the same level as smaller companies, such as Digital Equipment Corporation, who were introducing microprocessors. This threatened IBM’s position in the computer industry. Their response was coming put with a personal computer, software, and services. In 1981, IBM officially introduced the IBM PC with a compatible hardware platform. This was a large accomplishment for the company. A few years later, on May 1st, 2005, IBM sold its PC division to the Chinese company Lenovo for $655 million in cash and $600 million in Lenovo stock. Then on January 25, 2007, IBM sold their printing systems division for $725 million to Ricoh and created a new Ricoh subsidiary called InfoPrint Solutions Company. Ricoh will now own a 51% share and IBM will own a 49% share. Also in 2007, IBM’s yearly revenue was $98. 8 billion and they had a net income of $10. 8 billion dollars. IBM is run by about 427,000 employees. There are three main people who keep the business running smoothly. The most important one is Samuel J. Palmisano, who is the Chairman, President, and CEO. Another important associate at IBM is Mark Loughridge, who is the SVP and CFO. And lastly, Douglas Elix, who is another SVP, a Group Executive, and is in charge of Sales and Distribution. These three men are vital to the company’s success. Besides them, most of the employees at IBM are IT Specialists, Application Services Consultants, and Managing Consultants. Every company has to have competitors. Competition makes a healthy industry. Some of the top competitors IBM runs against are EDS (Electronic Data Systems Corporation), Hewlett Packerd, and their biggest competitor, Microsoft, whom they are ranked right behind in second place in their industry. IBM has many recent accomplishments within that last few years. One of the major ones was the development of the world’s tiniest nanophotonic switch, which is a device for routing light on a chip scale. Another project they have completed wasweb 2. security concerns with â€Å"SMash,† which is one of their development tools. Another very large project they completed was the design of the microprocessor for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii. All three of those were a good addition to the list of products they already design. This opened up their age range of consumers as well since a lot of children play these video systems. Besides recent accomplishments in their elec tronic field, IBM also had many of their employees win multiple awards for their achievements. They have had three of their employees win Nobel Prizes, which are achievements in either physics, chemistry, literature, peace, economics, medicine and physiology; four have received a Turing Awards, which are awards for technology; five have National Medals of Technology; and five more have received National Medals of Science. These are all very big accomplishments that IBM is very proud of. IBM is currently working on many projects. One of its big ones is Eclipse, which is a platform-independent, Java based software framework. Another is developerWorks, which is a website run by IBM for software developers and IT professionals. It contains large numbers of how-to articles and tutorials, software downloads, code samples, discussion forums, podcasts, blogs, wikis, and other resources. Then there is alphaWorks which is IBM’s source for emerging software technologies. They are also working on more semiconductor designs and manufacturing for them. Open client offering is another project they are working on. It is to run on Windows, Linux and Apples. Used for word processing, presentations, Lotus Notes, instant messaging, blogging, etc†¦ UC2: Unified Communications and Collaboration is an IBM and Cisco joint project. It will offer numerous Eclipse applications developers a unified platform for an easier work environment. Examples of this would be click-to-call and voice mailing. SWOT on Management IBM holds more patentsthan any other U. S. based technology company. IBM’s Project Management Center of Excellence, or PM COE, is first-rate. PM COE is considered IBM’s â€Å"Think Tank†. It is a program that has been set up to define the steps needed to strengthen IBM’s project management capabilities. PM COE combines external industry trends and directions with IBM business, organizational, geographic requirements and insight. Using PM COE, IBM has developed project management policy, practices, methods, and tools (Wikipedia, 2008). For someone to be considered for a management position, they must complete IBM certification or accreditation. To be accepted in to the certification or accreditation process an individual must have done the following. Successfully passed PMI exam (i. e. be a certified PMP). Verifiable documentation and approval for mastery/expertise in a well-defined set of PM skills. Several years of PM experience spanning at least 3 verifiable projects within the immediate 5 years (including specific role, team size, and budget requirements). Verifiable documentation and proof of at least one area of specialty. Demonstrated the use of IBM’s Worldwide Project Management Method (_WWPMM_). Completed extensive classroom and online education and testing. To become a Junior Project Manager, you must go through self assessment and get supervisors authorization to be accredited. Becoming a Senior Project Manager requires going through the rigorous IBM certification process, which involves Candidate preparing a detailed package with proof of above requirements. Package review, approval, and support by at least two levels of Senior Management. Package review and re-verification by PM COE expert. Personal interviews with the PM COE Certification board. Candidates whose experience, skills, knowledge and education are deemed valid, verifiable and accurate, are certified by the board as either Certified Senior Project Manager (CSPM) or Certified Executive Project Manager (CEPM). Senior Project managers must validate their skills and expertise against IBM’s worldwide standards. It is a deliberately long process with multiple checkpoints designed to ensure the integrity, fairness and legitimacy of the certification. This helps IBM maintain customer confidence in their products (Wikipedia, 2008). Since IBM is such a large, diversified, and established company they do not have many weaknesses. One weakness is they have a tendency to â€Å"strong arm† clients that are highly dependent on IBM products (Bradley, 2004). In the future this reputation could lead companies to be hesitant to rely on IBM’s merchandise. This reputation could also create bad enough relationships with current clients to make them transfer to a competitor’s product. IBM has also been known to â€Å"over promise† (Bradley, 2004). Since they are such a large corporation, with many capabilities, they tend to promise unrealistic deadlines to their customers. Businesses don’t like losing money, and opening later then planned is a good way to do that. These delays in their customers start-ups, could also lead to unfavorable relationships that could cause clients to move their business elsewhere. IBM is constantly looking for new opportunities to expand their share of the market, or start a new market. IBM is looking into revolutionizing the prevention of traditional and online fraud and Identity thefts. They are working on a comprehensive anti-fraud program that is going to help banks protect themselves and their customers, while continuing to offer their products and services (IBM, 2006). IBM is also conducting case studies for the automotive industry. The case studies are going to help them change the industry, and become more innovative (Lunani, 2006). Hopefully, the innovations will alleviate some of the stress the industry is under. Management Practices ; Theories SWOT analysis is a very important part of finding out a lot of information pertaining to current management functions within the company. However, it is what the management does after they find their strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats that are the most relevant part of determining a company’s success. The theories and practices the company uses to take advantage of their strengths, try to combat their weaknesses, use opportunities to their best interest, and to defend themselves from threats are the key determinant on what the company’s future looks like. IBM as one of the top companies in the world clearly knows what they are doing. They have taken into careful consideration their SWOT analysis and their management theories and practices are derived from their analysis. Being involved in competitive global competition, the company’s workforce is an essential part to IBM’s success. In knowing of this, IBM has created a list of seven key core workforce capabilities. These capabilities include: Understanding the demographics and capabilities of the workforce, predicting future labor supply and demand, utilizing social networks to increase the visibility and application of knowledge across the organization, enabling individuals to perform work regardless of location, facilitating collaboration across traditional organizational boundaries, driving the rapid development of skills and capabilities to meet changing business conditions, and evaluating employee performance and providing appropriate feedback. IBM has implemented these guidelines so their workforces can constantly adapt to the ever changing global business environment. In addition, workers are paid incentives for their input to keep the employees with a sense of involvement which is important to keeping them excited about IBM. At IBM, the managers believe and in a workforce that is diversified. According to Ron Glover, VP for Global Workforce Diversity at IBM, focuses on what it means to retain a true culture of diversity is IBM’s greatest competitive advantage. From all the way back to World War I, IBM has romoted workforce diversity when they hired disabled veterans to work for the company. Even when no one was using diversity IBM was. Way back in 1953, CEO at the time Thomas Watson sent out a very controversial stating that IBM needs to hire the best people, regardless of their race, ethnic origin, sex. In addition, the company added sexual orientation in 1984. He knew that this would give IBM a competitive advan tage because IBM would then be able to hire talented people the it’s competitors would turn down. (hrmreport. com, 2008) Another way IBM tries to get the best workers is using their program called Extreme Blue. This is an internship program for graduate and undergraduate students. This internationally known program is great for getting students prepared to work for IBM. IBM believes this will give students interested in working for a IBM a realistic perspective on what it would be like to work for them. IBM runs this diverse workforce under a classical management perspective. Money is assumed to be the primary motive and have a traditional compensation plan. The main forms of pay to employees are base pay and valuable other forms of benefits such as retirement plans and insurances. According to the company’s website, â€Å"cash compensation opportunities include base pay, commissions, performance bonuses, awards and other forms of earnings. † In addition to these forms of pay, IBM also offers generous paid vacation and holidays. There are also some benefits to relieve stress and just get away from the company for a little while. These benefits include reduced-prices, cooking lessons, and fitness centers. This management style has worked for them and we think they should stick with the classical approach to management and not move to a behavioral perspective. IBM uses an analyzer strategy which most large companies use. An analyzer strategy is a strategy in which the firm attempts to maintain its current businesses and to be somewhat innovative in new businesses. They use this strategy because they want to produce some new product opportunities while protecting their base of operations. (Griffen, 2007) Management Structure â€Å"The management structure that IBM maintains is an effective internal control structure. This structure has clearly defined lines of responsibility, as well as comprehensive systems and control procedures. This structure is beneficial because it assures customers that their transactions are put through correctly and efficiently. â€Å"(http://sec. edgar-online. com) An important part of IBM’s management structure is a good internal audit program. IBM takes a good amount of time to train its workers correctly. Each employee receives written policies and procedures to ensure that each employee knows exactly what to do under any circumstance or problem that may arise. By doing this everyone is on the same page and everything is done the way they want it done. IBM is now thinking about cutting 13,000 jobs most of which should be mostly in Europe and other headquarters around the world. Ethics With all of the diversity that exists within the company it would be hard for IBM to conduct any work without ethics on their minds. As in any large company there is some sort of unethical behavior going on, however these behaviors have not been detrimental to the company thus far. So far it is obvious that IBM won’t make any large scale unethical decisions such as the like of Enron. The ethics are very important in the business process and will be discussed more in an interview with a former employee. Interview With a Former Employee Flat or tall management structure? â€Å"The structure tends to be taller than most companies, especially within the consulting group. † Management Style? â€Å"The managers take a very classical by the book style to their decisions. Everything that had happened before was documented and later considered protocol, if there was success. † What ethics does IBM use in decision making? â€Å"IBM has well defined guidelines on many ethical issues, and it is required that all new employees review these guidelines. Employees are also required to take an annual review test to comply with IBM corporate policy. In my experience IBM relies on individual managers to make judgment calls on grey areas, and the managers I worked with all took ethic approaches to handling the issue. † What are the area’s for improvement? â€Å"IBM has had difficulties integrating its consulting division, since the acquisition of Price Waterhouse Coopers consulting in 2002. Much effort has been focused on getting full value from this acquisition, and at least initially the purchase was viewed as a misstep. With changes over the last few years, the consulting division has become the bulk of IBM revenue, but there are still opportunities to better leverage the consulting division in light of other IBM business units. IBM has also been severally criticized for its outsourcing practices, and has taken very proactive measures to combat this public criticism. † Any alliances? â€Å"IBM has numerous alliances with companies, all the way from suppliers to working with competitors. The number of alliances in likely in the thousands. † What makes IBM so successful? The ability to solve large scale business problems, especially in the IT sector, by combining various internal specialties and partnerships to create and implement end to end solutions. † Have you witnessed any unethical behavior throughout the company? â€Å"I have not personally witnessed any unethical behavior, but have spoken to a former VP who was put in a position to take an unethical action by someone who wa s very senior in the organization. † Hiring procedures? Promotions procedures? â€Å"Hiring is done at the group level, based upon target numbers that are established at the top of the organization. Final hiring decisions are made at the senior manager level. Promotion decisions occur annually with promotions and compensation based upon the outcome of the decision. Promotion is granted if the employee can show sufficient evidence that he/she is operating at the intended promotion level, and that the results are sustainable (ie. , results must be shown for a relatively long time and consistent time period, in various situations) . The implementation of the corresponding compensation typically occurs six months after promotion decisions are made. The timing of promotions and compensation increases are an area which many employees feel needs to be corrected, and IBM has stated it intends to reduce the total time of the process. † Relationship between managers and subordinates? â€Å"Varies greatly based upon individual relationships. IBM offers many channels to discuss issues, but the design of the promotion/compensation/staffing structure makes it imperative to have a successful working relationship with direct and next level management. † Is there a lot of management restructuring? Yes, at the lower levels, especially in consulting, management roles are very fluid and change frequently in comparison with other companies. Some of this is based on market changes, some on promotions/exits, and some on business results. † What kind of fringe benefits do workers receive? â€Å"Discounts with partner companies, cell and broadband reimbursement, 401k contribution, pension (eliminated in 2006), corporate educatio n, annual bonus (consulting division), extensive health care coverage at low rates. † Is there a lot of communication between the different headquarters? Conclusion It is obvious that IBM is successful because their values and the way they conduct business. This is a direct reflection upon their management structure, style, and practices. They will surely stay on the same track of success for many years to come. As they push forward in their business they are becoming one of the most well known businesses whether it be for technology or consulting around the world. No matter what kind of work a person is in one thing is for certain, everyone can learn from the way IBM conducts their business.

What to the Slave is the Fourth of July Essays - Frederick Douglass

What to the Slave is the Fourth of July Essays - Frederick Douglass What to the Slave is the Fourth of July In the beginning of Fredrick Douglass? famous speech, he?s embarrassed to be asked to speak about our nation?s Independence Day, the Fourth of July. At one point he questions, ?Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here today (pg.503). Douglass requests his audience to be patient and respectful toward him, for he has endured as a former slave. Through much of the first half of the speech, Douglass describes how our fathers must have felt in 1776. Most were still loyal to Great Britain. The public didn?t know which side to take and if taking one, would seal their fate. Douglass is clearly speaking to a crowd of white and black citizens, by constantly reiterating that he respects the men that brought our great nation together. However, during the speech, he suggests that disastrous times are ahead if things don?t change. The United States are still a young nation that may not be forever. There?s a hidden anger during Fredrick Douglass? speech of America. After quoting a passage from the Declaration of Independence, his view on the Fourth of July is obvious. ?Resolved, That these united colonies are, and of right, ought to be free and Independent States? (pg.500). He continues to say to the people, you were granted freedom and you reap the fruits of their success. ?The Fourth of July is the first great fact in your nation?s history? Douglass says (pg. 500). To a slave, there?s no independence and there?s no country they could call their own. Although he believes in our choice for independence, Douglass is upset that freedom did not pertain to all men, including slaves. Americans only validate the facts that highlight their own favors. This is more of a weakness than a patriotic trait. Americans will do whatever it takes to preserve their reputation, but at a cheaply cost. Seeming angered at this point, Douglass tells his audience ?I shall not be charged with slandering Americans? (pg.502). The last half of the speech appears to be filled with animosity towards America. ?Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak today (pg504) he says. Disregarding the fact that there was slavery and sweeping it under the rug, is a great sin and shameful of Americans. At the conclusion of the speech, Douglass believes in hope for America. Again, the United States are still a young nation. The repercussions of slavery are certain. Through globalization and commerce, the old system of walled cities and empires can dissolve along with the old system of slaved labor.

Free Essays on Jumpers Knee

JUMPER’S KNEE TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction A. Mechanism of injury B. Signs and symptoms II. Prevalence of Jumper’s knee in volleyball players III. Anatomy A. Bones B. Ligaments C. Muscles D. Retinaculum E. Nerves F. Vascular supply IV. Medical Interventions A. Medications B. Surgical and Non-surgical repair C. Immobilization V. Rehabilitation A. Treatment concerns B. Operative and non-operative routes C. Specific rehabilitation protocols recommended D. Modalities E. Progression F. Return to activity VI. References Jumper’s Knee 3 Many injuries occur every day, and a common injury is Jumper’s Knee. Jumper’s Knee is another name for patellar tendonitis. This injury is the inflammation of the patellar tendon. Inflammation can also occur in the quadriceps tendon. The quadriceps tendon is where the quadriceps muscles come together and inserts on the superior aspect of the patella. The patellar tendon connects the patella to the tibia. The exact anatomy will be looked at in more depth later in the paper. Information about the causes and symptoms of Jumper’s Knee, the prevalence this injury has to volleyball players, medical interventions, and the rehabilitation will also be addressed. There are many mechanisms that can result in patellar tendonitis. The most common mechanism is constant repetitive jumping. Accelerating to the jump, decelerating before the jump, and landing after the jump are all factors that can cause the inflammation (Roy & Irvin, 1983,p. 342). Other mechanisms include sudden or repetitive eccentric knee extension. The forceful extension may initiate the inflammation and that can lead to the patellar tendon degeneration (Arnheim & Prentice, 2000, p.533). Small tears that develop from the repetitive trauma to the area usually cause the pain that is felt (lipscombclinc.com). Putting unequal l... Free Essays on Jumpers Knee Free Essays on Jumpers Knee JUMPER’S KNEE TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction A. Mechanism of injury B. Signs and symptoms II. Prevalence of Jumper’s knee in volleyball players III. Anatomy A. Bones B. Ligaments C. Muscles D. Retinaculum E. Nerves F. Vascular supply IV. Medical Interventions A. Medications B. Surgical and Non-surgical repair C. Immobilization V. Rehabilitation A. Treatment concerns B. Operative and non-operative routes C. Specific rehabilitation protocols recommended D. Modalities E. Progression F. Return to activity VI. References Jumper’s Knee 3 Many injuries occur every day, and a common injury is Jumper’s Knee. Jumper’s Knee is another name for patellar tendonitis. This injury is the inflammation of the patellar tendon. Inflammation can also occur in the quadriceps tendon. The quadriceps tendon is where the quadriceps muscles come together and inserts on the superior aspect of the patella. The patellar tendon connects the patella to the tibia. The exact anatomy will be looked at in more depth later in the paper. Information about the causes and symptoms of Jumper’s Knee, the prevalence this injury has to volleyball players, medical interventions, and the rehabilitation will also be addressed. There are many mechanisms that can result in patellar tendonitis. The most common mechanism is constant repetitive jumping. Accelerating to the jump, decelerating before the jump, and landing after the jump are all factors that can cause the inflammation (Roy & Irvin, 1983,p. 342). Other mechanisms include sudden or repetitive eccentric knee extension. The forceful extension may initiate the inflammation and that can lead to the patellar tendon degeneration (Arnheim & Prentice, 2000, p.533). Small tears that develop from the repetitive trauma to the area usually cause the pain that is felt (lipscombclinc.com). Putting unequal l...

MGT Week 10 SA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGT Week 10 SA - Essay Example Of importance is the business model that organizations have that gives a strategy dictates the way people respond to various situation in the environment. In combining the notion of the two paragraphs, the notion that leadership and the business model that organizations have work together to enhance the participation of employees. This implies that a combination of all the people in the organization leadership style that enhance participation of employees and a good business models within a culture that creates a conducive environment for all the members, it is possible to optimize on the productivity. The two paragraphs, however, indicate some differences in that while paragraph one indicate the importance of the leadership in enhancing participation and commitment of employees, paragraph two indicates that the a good business model helps an organization to adapt to a change and keeps the employees focused on fulfilling the goals of the company at hand (Ahmad & Gelaidan. 2011). Employee’s Affective Commitment to Change: A Case of Yemen Public Sector.Journal of Organizational Management Studies. Retrieved on August 21st, 2013, from

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF CANAD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF CANAD - Essay Example The first class consists of sedimentary  rocks which form the Earths surface. Some consist of fragments that vary in range and are eroded from older  rocks and deposited as gravel, sand or mud and are then consolidated by burial yielding  conglomerate, sandstone or shale respectively. Others comprise of chemical deposits, for example gypsum or rock salt, which resulted from evaporation of seawater. Still others result from biological activities, for instance cemented shell fragments or coral reefs form limestone. Sedimentary  rocks  make  up  the easternmost ranges of the Canadian Cordillera known as the Mackenzie, Rocky and Franklin mountains, but are common in the western Cordillera as well. Many sedimentary rocks  have petrified remains of animals and plants (fossils), and older  rocks  contain diverse kinds of fossils compared to younger  rocks. Igneous  rocks  originated deep within the Earth as molten rock or magma. Magma that solidified deep within the earth formed platonic rock such as granite, which is a common rock particularly in the coast mountains of the western Cordillera and are widely distributed elsewhere. Magma that emerged as lava and cooled at the Earths surface formed a variety of volcanic rock, which is widespread in the interior plateau region and elsewhere in the western Canadian Cordillera. Metamorphic  rocks  formed when igneous  or sedimentary rocks  were buried deep within the Earth during mountain formation. New minerals grew while old features of the rock were destroyed in response to the high temperatures and pressures encountered in the Earth’s core. Consequently, limestone changed to marble, shale to schist, and platonic rock to gneiss. Metamorphic  rocks  are common in the Shuswap Highland, the Coast Mountains and the Columbia, Omineca and Cariboo ranges of the eastern Cordillera. The presence of metamorphic  rocks  at the surface is the evidence of those parts of the