The Concept of Organizational Commitment in Human Resource Management

Table of Contents Introduction Summary of the background to the topic Discuss Job Turnover Recommendations and conclusion Reference List Introduction There are several factors which influence outcomes in the organization. They range from the financial status of the organization, the business strategies applied by management as well as the environment within which the organization is operating. However it is also true that the performance of the organization is largely attributed to the ability of the employees to effectively undertake their roles.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Concept of Organizational Commitment in Human Resource Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This brings up issues relating to organizational commitment. Organizational commitment can be defined as the bond which ties the employee to the organization. Ultimately, organizational commitment has a direct effect on organization al behavior (Porter, 1976, p90). Summary of the background to the topic The most critical areas influenced by organizational commitment among employees include the behavior and performance of the employees; attitudes and other cognitive constructs affecting job satisfaction; responsibility and finally personal traits such as age. The centrality of this issue in determining organizational outcomes has greatly boosted the concept of organizational commitment in human resource management. This is in line with the fact that human resources management policies must be designed with the aim of ensuring that there is maximum commitment of employees (Porter, 1974, p605). This commitment is seen in terms of the royalty and attachment employees have towards the organization. It is what gives them the will to always go the extra mile in doing that which benefits organization. At the height of it, employees have been found to fully place the interest of the organization well ahead of their own (Niehoff, 1990, p340). Discuss Job Turnover One important benefit of organizational commitment is reduction in job turnover. Whenever employees feel detached from the organization, issues of job dissatisfaction tend to increase meaning that more employees are willing to leave the organization. A high employee turnover in an organization can be disastrous. First it significantly pushes up the recruitment costs which have a direct impact financial impact on the organization. Secondly, the high turnover implies that the more investments in training new recruits will be incurred. These new employees are not only likely to take time adjusting in the system but are more likely to make mistakes in executing their tasks. In this respect then, it is crucial that organizational commitment among employees is achieved as this minimizes the job turnover and consequently reduces these inefficiencies in the organization (O’Reilly, 1986, p495).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Recommendations and conclusion There are several policy issues for consideration towards inculcating organizational commitment among employees. First is the unrivalled fact that for employees to remain royal and committed in an organization, they must be made to feel valued and appropriately recognized. This cuts across several issues but most important is the decision making process. When fully involved in the decision making process, they not only better understand what is expected but also tend to own these decisions giving them the zeal to ensure that they succeed. Again, when these decisions bear fruit a great sense of accomplishment is experienced among employees. Secondly, there should be good communication and feedback channels in the organization. Employees should always have channels which they can use in communicating their concerns as well as views to the management. This give s them confidence that they will be heard. In addition, feedback is crucial because if communicated effectively, it encourages employees to strive to achieve even better results (Perry, 1997, p190). In conclusion, the value of organizational commitment is the hallmark of efficient service delivery by employees. In today’s corporate world characterized by stiff competition, the organization with the most committed employees is likely to have better outcomes. However, it is a double win as employees who are better committed tend to be happier with their jobs resulting in a better society. Reference List Niehoff, B.P., Enz, C.A., Grover, R.A. (1990) .The impact of top-management actions on employee attitudes and perceptions. Group Organization Studies, 15, 3, 337- 352. O’Reilly, III, C., and Chatman, J. (1986). â€Å"Organizational Commitment and Psychological Attachment: The Effects of Compliance, Identification and Internalization on Prosocial Behavior†. Journa l of Applied Psychology, 71, 3, 492-499. Perry, J. (1997). â€Å"Antecedents of Public Service Motivation†. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 7, 2, 181-197.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Concept of Organizational Commitment in Human Resource Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Porter, L.W., Crampon, W. Smith, F. (1976). Organizational commitment and managerial turnover: A longitudinal study. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 15, 87-98 Porter, L.W.; Steers, R.M.; Mowday, R.T.; Boulian, P.V. (1974) Organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and turnover among psychiatric technicians. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1974, 59, 603-609. This report on The Concept of Organizational Commitment in Human Resource Management was written and submitted by user Kayl1e 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 Pastry War (French Mexican War, 1838 to 1839)

The Pastry War (French Mexican War, 1838 to 1839) The â€Å"Pastry War† was fought between France and Mexico from November 1838 to March 1839. The war was nominally fought because French citizens living in Mexico during a prolonged period of strife had their investments ruined and the Mexican government refused any sort of reparations, but it also had to do with long-standing Mexican debt. After a few months of blockades and naval bombardments of the port of Veracruz, the war ended when Mexico agreed to compensate France. Background of the War Mexico had serious growing pains after gaining its independence from Spain in 1821. A succession of governments replaced one another, and the presidency changed hands about 20 times in the first 20 years of independence. Late 1828 was particularly lawless, as forces loyal to rival presidential candidates Manuel Gà ³mez Pedraza and Vicente Guerrero Saldaà ±a fought in the streets after a hotly contested election. It was during this period that a pastry shop belonging to a French national identified only as Monsieur Remontel was allegedly ransacked by drunken army forces. Debts and Reparations In the 1830’s, several French citizens demanded reparations from the Mexican government for damages to their businesses and investments. One of them was Monsieur Remontel, who asked the Mexican government for the princely sum of 60,000 pesos. Mexico owed a great deal of money to European nations, including France, and the chaotic situation in the country seemed to indicate that these debts would never be paid. France, using the claims of its citizens as an excuse, sent a fleet to Mexico in early 1838 and blockaded the main port of Veracruz. The War By November, diplomatic relations between France and Mexico over lifting the blockade had deteriorated. France, which was demanding 600,000 pesos as reparations for the losses of its citizens, began shelling the fort of San Juan de Ulà ºa, which guarded the entrance to the port of Veracruz. Mexico declared war on France, and French troops attacked and captured the city. The Mexicans were outnumbered and outgunned, but still fought valiantly. The Return of Santa Anna The Pastry War marked the return of Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna. Santa Anna had been an important figure in the early period after independence, but had been disgraced after the loss of Texas, seen as an utter fiasco by most of Mexico. In 1838 he was conveniently at his ranch near Veracruz when the war broke out. Santa Anna rushed to Veracruz to lead its defense. Santa Anna and the defenders of Veracruz were soundly routed by superior French forces, but he emerged a hero, partly because he had lost one of his legs during the fighting. He had the leg buried with full military honors. Resolution to the Pastry War With their main port captured, Mexico had no choice but to relent. Through British diplomatic channels, Mexico agreed to pay the full amount of restoration demanded by France, 600,000 pesos. The French withdrew from Veracruz and their fleet returned to France in March of 1839. Aftermath of the War The Pastry War, considered a minor episode in the history of Mexico, nevertheless had several important consequences. Politically, it marked the return of Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna to national prominence. Considered a hero in spite of the fact that he and his men lost the city of Veracruz, Santa Anna was able to regain much of the prestige he had lost after the catastrophe in Texas. Economically, the war was disproportionally disastrous for Mexico, as not only did they have to pay the 600,000 pesos to France, but they had to rebuild Veracruz and lost several months worth of customs revenue from their most important port. The Mexican economy, which had already been a shambles before the war, was hit hard. The Pastry War weakened the Mexican economy and military less than ten years before the much more historically important Mexican-American War broke out. Finally, it established a pattern of French intervention in Mexico which would culminate in the 1864 introduction of Maximilia n of Austria as Emperor of Mexico with the support of French troops.

Not That Big of a Deal

Not That Big of a Deal Not That Big of a Deal Not That Big of a Deal By Maeve Maddox A reader dislikes this commonly heard idiom: This is a losing battle, I’m sure. I constantly hear – and am annoyed by – people expressing reservations about something with phrases like â€Å"It’s not that big of a deal,† or â€Å"It’s not that good of a movie† etc.   As far as I know, the â€Å"of† is superfluous; you just say â€Å"not that big a deal† or â€Å"not that good a movie.†Ã‚   Adding the â€Å"of† seems unnecessary and grating to me.  I’d be interested in your thoughts on this point. The reader is correct in feeling that the â€Å"of† in â€Å"not that big of a deal† is superfluous. As one of the writers at The Grammarphobia blog points out, â€Å"An extra word can be justified if it serves an emphatic or supportive purpose, as in â€Å"first time ever†Ã‚  or â€Å"three different times.† Adding of to â€Å"not that big a deal† and â€Å"not that good a movie† serves no emphatic or supportive purpose. Nevertheless, â€Å"big of a deal† is commonly heard in spoken English and, judging by the Ngram Viewer, seems to be creeping into print. The first year the phrase â€Å"big of a deal† occurs on the Ngram Viewer is 1945. It doesn’t make much of a showing in print until the 1980s, when it shoots upward. The usage may have originated by analogy with the standard construction in which a noun is described by another noun (noun + â€Å"of a† + noun): I have a whale of a tale to tell you, Lads. San Andreas is a disaster of a movie. My girlfriend has been dating a loser of a boyfriend. The dog has made a hell of a mess in the garage. The pattern adjective + â€Å"of a† + noun is also standard- some of the time. For example, some adjectives of quantity are used in this way: One effect of this mechanism is to make it extremely difficult for third party or independent candidates ever to make much of a showing in the Electoral College. But for many researchers, having equal numbers of women and men in the scientific ranks is less of a priority than having a system that is fair and furthers science itself.   Thats more of a commitment than  many emerging market investors want to make. Youd think that  people  would  have had enough of  silly love songs. Big and good are adjectives of quality. â€Å"It wasn’t that good of a supper† is all right as dialect, but its nonstandard. The big of a deal construction may have migrated from dialect to the ranks of colloquialism, but it still has no place in written English, other than in dialogue or direct quotation. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Because Of" and "Due To" How to spell "in lieu of"Dozen: Singular or Plural?

Illegal Immigration. Sepcifically Spanish or Asian Illigell Immigrants Essay

Illegal Immigration. Sepcifically Spanish or Asian Illigell Immigrants - Essay Example Illegal immigrants receive more from public monies than they contribute which lowers the standard of living for legal citizens. Illegal immigrants contribute greatly to the overall population growth and health care, education and employment are the most impacted. Salaries are driven down by illegal immigrants willing to work for much less while their children, illegal and legal, overcrowd the schools. It’s the U.S. taxpayer who is sent the bill for their health care services as well. In addition, the large influx of illegal aliens burdens the already inadequate number of units classified as affordable housing and other welfare resources such as energy, water and land usage (â€Å"Illegal Immigration†, 2003). Illegal immigrants have already broken the law upon arrival into the country and a considerable number break more including selling drugs, theft, murder, rape, etc. while in the country. The cost to the federal court and prison system alone in 2002 attributed to illegal aliens was $1.6 billion. This does not include the costs to state judicial and penal institutions. It costs Arizona, for example, $80 million to jail illegal aliens yearly. According to a 2002 report by Heather MacDonald of the City Journal, â€Å"In Los Angeles, 95 percent of all outstanding warrants for homicide (which total 1,200 to 1,500) target illegal aliens. Up to two-thirds of all fugitive felony warrants (17,000) are for illegal aliens† (McDonald, 2004). Illegal aliens drain social services paid for by legal citizens, $2.5 billion from Medicaid, $2 billion from food aid programs and $2 billion in hospital care from the federal coffers in 2002 alone.

Psychological skills training program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Psychological skills training program - Essay Example This makes it constructive to the team. By doing so, you help the team in making corrections so that they are in line with what is important. Therefore, be honest and specify the kind of goal that needs change. Through this, it is easy to open up the team’s imagination so that they can have a clear view about future expectations. After making the critique, be ready to follow up on the issue to avoid future repetition. Through autonomy, individuals have the freedom and the ability to carry on the training with little disturbance from a team leader. Therefore, it is easy and comfortable to make sound decisions that are beneficial to the whole team A team is like a small family that requires emotional support. This is what each individual needs from the team. It shows a sense of love and commitment to each other. It is always evident when a team member is not in a good position to perform well as per the set targets. An effective climate through emotional support assures the weak member and thus motivation to make improvements. Encouragement gives hope to someone who is losing hope in something. Through this, all trainees are meant to understand that they are working with a purpose to excel. Motivation varies depending on situations. By thinking positively about your trainees, you instill a form of magical power that influences them to behave in a nice way. This encourages them to perform well as compared to a situation when a trainer is always negative about the students. Students tend to follow the attitude and the kind of mind that the trainer gives to them. It is among the best way of motivating individuals to work. In most occasions, students tend to fail because they do not realize the energy in their efforts. As a trainer, it is always good to identify the little efforts that each student puts in the training and be positive in appreciating and praising an improvement. Exercising is an effective way of keeping fit.

Contemporary Management Essay Example for Free

Contemporary Management Essay Trivia: Did you know that 280 years ago, the British government announced if not the world’s first, then certainly the world’s largest prize for innovation at 20,000 pounds reward for anyone who can â€Å"discover the longitude†- according to John Brandt. What is innovation? Why do organizations pay so much on research and development just to develop more of these? In a nutshell: 1. Innovation is something that is created as â€Å"new†. * According to Marion Hembrick: Deliberate use of resources to create something new whether a new product, process, policy or procedure. Ex: An example of an innovation is that of a three-wheel car in 1886 by Mercedes Benz. * People use innovations for competitive advantage or to increase market share or ta have a better system, but is innovation alone essential in an existence of an organization? 2. Innovation is a game changer: Something that is perceived to be different and could contribute to a change in lifestyle. As said by Sheremata in â€Å"Strategy in Network Markets† there are two types of innovation: radical and incremental. -In competing with market leaders, challengers do innovations to gain market shares. * Radical * provide large improvements, costly and risky. Challengers hoping to gain monopoly power. * high possible return and embodies new knowledge * may affect competitive outcome * DISRUPTIVE-can penetrate and be widely accepted or it can fail and may bring about signification loss/cost an organization according to Christensen * Example: radical innovation of a 3-wheel petrol car to a 4-wheel petrol car which change lives and made it so easy with the convenience of driving or riding. * The move of a four wheel car was a game changer because it was an radical innovation that was widely accepted, where it changed lives. * Combined, adapted and improved and introduced as a â€Å"new and independent† innovation replacing the new from the old. * In technology, progress has been achieved through small incremental innovations that build upon each other: Jeff Lill of Microsoft said: A competitor comes in and does something interesting, then we come in and basically clone it and do it marginally better and throw some marketing clout behind it and then relentlessly make it better through the years. That is our strategy and it has worked†. * Incremental * Small or minor improvement. * Sustaining according to Christensen. * Market leaders merely do incremental innovations * Cheaper, doesn’t give impact in market share, but still done for sustainability * Ex: a minor change in a car’s dashboard, door or design. According to Everett Rogers: Innovation has five stages: 1. Knowledge stage- awareness stage 2. Persuasion stage- gather interest through be informed about the dimensions of the innovation 3. Decision- adopt or reject 4. Implementation- using the innovation 5. Confirmation- continue using or acceptance of innovation/ market penetration Innovation comes a long way not only with products. There are lots of successful innovations and there where those that failed as well. Innovation comes in different forms with the hope of improvement in shares, systems, and process. It may be changing the policies in your workplace to gain a more conducive environment. Is innovation important in your industry, because in this fast changing world, innovation plays a very big role in technology, but is it the same with other industries? With your company perhaps? Today the group is going to show you different views of different situations where innovation came distinct. Listen and Decide. Angelmar, R. 1990, Product innovation: A tool for competitive advantage, European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 182-189. den Butter, Frank A. G, Mà ¶hlmann, J.L. Wit, P. 2008, Trade and product innovations as sources for productivity increases: an empirical analysis, Journal of Productivity Analysis, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 201-211. Hambrick, Marion E. Diffusion of Innovation. Encyclopedia of Sports Management and Marketing. Ed. Linda E. Swayne and Mark Dodds. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2011. 388-90. SAGE Reference Online. Web. 2 Feb. 2012 Innovation as a Strategy In Network Markets 2008, , Sage Publications. Jon Hughes 1999, The Innovators Dilemma. Neal Wyatt 2009, A History of Innovation and a Future of Possibility, Reference User Services Quarterly, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 116. Product Innovation and Development in UK, German and Irish Manufacturing, 1997, Long Range Planning, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 315-315 Richard Gray, Stavroula Malla Peter W.B. Phillips 2006, Product innovation in the Canadian canola sector, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 65-7 Sheremata, W.A. 2004, Competing through Innovation in Network Markets: Strategies for Challengers, The Academy of Management Review, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 359-377. . Quality of Presentation Purpose: * to make audience think whether innovation is important or not * to prove that innovation, solely, doesn’t necessarily prove success nor failure * examples shown gave wide perspective and opened awareness to audience that there are different ways of achieving success depending on the industry and situation of the company: innovation may be or may not be important for survival * the presentation portrayed different scenarios to give the audience an overview of the different situations to gauge the risks on the success and failures innovation can give. * To some extent, the group agrees with the survival innovation can bring about, but there are other factors that should be put into consideration with bringing innovation in the market such as: compatibility of innovation in the industry, marketing, and timing * Why?- * Because innovation is dependent on the company or industry that it may give a positive or negative effect on. In conclusion, it depends whether a company needs innovation to live because with the different scenarios and examples presented, it showed that it does not necessarily follow that a company dies because there is no or weak innovation. Structure and Content: * Introduction- a brief overview of the definition of innovation and the introduction of the different views of situations where innovation and none innovation helped or failed in different companies. Answers the question why people or companies innovate. * Why?- proposing different views on whether innovation is needed in a company’s survival or existence * Brief examples: * Innovate and Live- (Apple, Google, 3M, Toyota, Microsoft) * Discussion of the Culture of Innovation * Senior Management Innovators: Steve Jobs * New and well designed products * Steady innovation in technology and tools where there is tough competition * Empowers innovation and balance products to cost requirements * Successful production (TPS) with management hybrid * Take existing products to improve * Didn’t innovate and Live- (COKE) * Not innovative * Used 4 P’s in Marketing-Product, Place, Price, Promotion * Acquisition and Risks of Acquisition * Innovate and Died- (KODAK) * Brief definition and situational examples of disruptive and sustaining innovations * Middle management resistance/CEO whether to innovate or not * Culture, core competencies- core rigid * Didn’t Innovate and Died- (Onetel, Fletcher Jones, Borders) * Reselling Optus-corporate Governance failure * High cost of production (producing) compared to import * Not embracing technology Wrap up: * Reiterating of the definition of innovation, how innovation is perceived in the presentation * How innovation is accepted in the society * Historical innovations: * modeling the different examples and the stands of each of the previous examples presented * going behind the culture of innovation * Today and innovation:survival, acceptance * Globalization in the market place and the build of innovation * The success and decline of different innovations: short term and longterm like facebook, networking, etc. * What affects innovations and how people accept or reject innovation * By-products synergy, networking what waste is produced by the company and finding a market place for the waste produced * Philanthropy * Dynamic management Delivery: Middle and Senior Management Individuals * Make them think whether they need innovation in their company or not may it be in the innovation of products manufactures, process, policy and procedures in the system. * Show them risks of innovation and make the audience aware that innovation may be beneficial for some and may be a cause of bankruptcy for others like KODAK * Why should you care?

Major Themes of the Koran Essay -- Islamic Arabic Religion Essays

Major Themes of the Koran I. NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THE KORAN This is the Book, in which there is no doubt, a guide for the God-fearing, who believe in the unseen and perform the prayer and spend of that which We have bestowed upon them, and who believe in that which is revealed unto thee [Muhammad] and that which was revealed before thee, and are certain of the Hereafter. [2:2-4] It is a glorious Koran, on a guarded tablet. [85:21-22] Lo! We have revealed it, a Koran in Arabic, that ye may understand. [12:2] This is naught else than a reminder and a lecture making plain, to warn whosoever liveth, and that the word may be fulfilled against the disbelievers. [37:69-70] This is indeed a noble Koran, in a Book kept hidden, which none touches save the purified, a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. [61:77-80] We have coined for mankind in this Koran all kinds of similitudes, that haply they may reflect; a Lecture in Arabic, containing no crookedness, that haply they may ward off [evil.] [39:27-28] And when Our clear signs are recited to them, those who look not to encounter Us say, ‘Bring a Koran other than this, or alter it.’ Say: ‘It is not for me to alter it of my own accord. I follow nothing except what is revealed to me.’ [10:15] It is a Koran that We have divided, that thou may recite it unto mankind at intervals, and We have revealed it by [successive] revelations. Say: Believe therein or believe not. Lo! those who were given knowledge before it, when it is read unto them, fall down prostrate on their faces, adoring. [17:106-7] We have inspired in thee a Koran in Arabic, that thou mayest warn the mother-town and those around it, and mayest warn of a day of assembling whereof there is no ... ...re is no God save the One God†¦The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers the like of whom had passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. [5:72-75] O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who taketh them for friends is one of them. Lo! God guideth not wrongdoing folk. [5:51] Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in God nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which God hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the religion of truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low. [9:29] †¦Slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. [9:5]

Objectification of women Essay

Should prostitution be legalised and monitored or illegal and unmonitored? Main Arguments Primoratz â€Å"what’s wrong with prostitution?† ( Vol. 68, No. 264, Apr., 1993 ) Nussbaum â€Å"taking money for bodily services† Yolanda Estes â€Å"moral reflections on prostitution† Sources The philosophy of sex contemporary readings, Alan Soble and Nicholas.P.Power, Rowman & Littlefield, Jan 1, 2002 Prostitution and pornography: â€Å"philosophical debate about the sex industry† Charges against prostitution: an attempt at a philosophical assessment, Chicago journals, Vol. 90, No. 3, Apr., 1980 Lars.O.Ericsson Introduction and thesis I will clearly state how my argument will be structured for prostitution through the various articles and philosophers I have studied. I shall also outline how I will come to my conclusion. Body An outline of my basic arguments will be presented with supporting sub arguments, these will include all the above references. I will use both Primoratz and Nussbaum to back up my conclusion. I will then evaluate and analyse their arguments in order to further support my view for prostitution. Then I will look at views that are opposed to the legalisation of prostitution through Yolanda Estes who defends Kantian ethics. After evaluating this I will come up with various responses. Conclusion Look at objections I was unable to argue against as lack of space, also look  at my overall argument and see implications of accepting the conclusion. Essay plan Although we are sometimes justified in withdrawing or withholding life sustaining treatment for someone who is terminally ill and suffering, we could never be justified in killing such a person? Critically discuss the claim? Intro Define what passive and active euthanasia are and their basic differences, Discuss the various arguments that you will look at and show your point of view for the essay State the part of the world that you will be discussing, both the us and uk Main body Body will be split into two main arguments, my first argument will discuss the moral difference between killing and letting a person die. I will use various references and examples from the articles and books noted. My argument will attempt to show that their can be no yes or no answer to the question as each case is very specific and should be taken on its own merits and not by one law. I will then look at various examples where courts have both ruled for and against passive and active euthanasia, critically discussing the decisions and as to weather they were morally permissible. I will then attempt to add a philosophical standpoint such as utilitarianism or Kantian ethics to further prove my original argument. After this I will also add counter arguments and attempt to provide possible responses in order to strengthen my argument. Conclusion Here I will summarise my viewpoint and show various arguments that I may have added if I had more space. I will then attempt to finish my essay with a quotation from one of the various articles that both agrees with and summarises my stance. Books and articles Euthanasia and physician assisted euthanasia, (Gerald Dworkin, Cambridge University Print, August 28 1998) Euthanasia: a reference handbook Jennifer Fecio Mcdougall, Martha Gormen, 2008) Euthanasia: death with dignity and the law, Hasel Biggs, Hart publishing, jan 1, 2008) Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (why active euthanasia should be allowed, article, 2001, navlo, Brithish medical journal)

Norm Paper

PAPER # 1: BREAKING A NORM NAME: Nisha Tommy A norm is a principle of right action binding upon the members of a group and serving to guide, control, or regulates proper and acceptable behavior. Social norms are group-held beliefs about how members should behave in a given context. Sociologists describe norms as informal understandings that govern society’s behaviors, while psychologists have adopted a more general definition, recognizing smaller group units, like a team or an office, may also endorse norms separate or in addition to cultural or societal expectations.The psychological definition emphasizes social norms' behavioral component, stating norms have two dimensions: how much behavior is exhibited and how much the group approves of that behavior. The people living in the society develop social norms. These norms have its importance and pay a vital role in the socialization of an individual and molding of personality. There are some important functions of social norms, which play essential part in the smooth of the society. These are control behavior, harmonize the society, and law and order. I chose to violate a social norm when riding on the elevator.I did this in a hospital environment where doctors, nurses, technicians, and mostly patients were around me. I monitored the reaction of ten different groups throughout the experiment to get the best result. It is included different nationality and different age group. I rode the elevator ten times but instead of standing the â€Å"normal† way which is facing the door an unspoken social norm I stood the wrong way standing by the door looking at the back of the elevator. I felt very uncomfortable for the first few times but, after that I started enjoying people’s nonverbal reactions.Still it is hard to break a norm by knowingly breaking it. I got various reactions. Some people stare at me as if I was not normal. Some rolled their eyes and others startled their forehead. Some of them as ked me if I was ok. Some couples looked each other and smiled. Some shook their head. Some of them didn’t look at me at all they were looking on the floor. One of the employees asked me â€Å"Do you work here? Which department do you work for? † One person asked me â€Å"Do you have elevators in your country†? One person asked me â€Å"how long have you been in US†? After my answer she made a facial expression.The question â€Å"Are you ok? ’’ contradicted my hypothesis and proved it wrong which was even if I stand the wrong way in the elevator and go against the social norm then people still won’t really react. This experiment proved my hypothesis wrong. While I had thought I wouldn’t get any reactions I did in reality get many reactions from staring to being asked if I was ok. Many people stared at me as though there was something wrong with me or even felt uncomfortable around me. My hypothesis was proven wrong because clea rly breaking a social norm is more significant than I had assumed.The experiment proved a lot about social norms and breaking them. It showed the significance of social norms how much social norms play a role in society and people as individuals act. The social norm I broke was implicit yet it proved to be so great in how people saw me and how they reacted. I standing the wrong way changed the way some people felt in the elevator they started to feel uncomfortable because my actions went against the social norm which is standing facing the door and anything that goes against the social norm is not normal.The gesture was small yet it proved to generate greater reactions. This experiment proves that there are such things as social norms that aren’t even formally stated and as a society rules are set as to how once should behave and when broken one is met reactions and seen as different and â€Å"not normal†. Even in fast paced places where people tend to be too busy or t hey are stressed or even too sick to notice, people notice the breaking of social norms and react toward it because that is how people were taught to look at differently those who don’t follow the social norm.I had believed that in United State where the attitude of minding your business is what people shape their lives around this would not be the case but I was wrong. Adhering to social norms is clearly a big part of people’s lives and shapes the way they act. What surprised me about the results was the way people acted toward me how some people were feeling uncomfortable. This surprised me because they were acting like there might be something wrong with me just because I was standing the wrong way. The man who asked me if I am ok shocked me the most because I didn’t expect anyone to actually ask me this.All of this also shows how the environment plays a role in a person’s life. The social norms of a place which differ from place to place shapes the so ciety it sets the social code. Especially in the case of the man who asked me if I was ok. His behavior and the rest of the experimental group showed how me breaking the social norm affects not only me but the people around me and changes the way I am seen to the world. He would have probably not asked me this is I was standing the right way. But because I violated the social norm his behavior and reactions changed.The groups acted differently because of the variable which made all the difference. One can bring in conformity to explain these results. Society as a whole has learned to conform so as not to be the odd one out. The social based rules that were made people as a whole have learned to change their behavior to conform to the universal social code so they aren’t different. And when they see someone who acts differently they see them as â€Å"weird† different. People like behaviorists would say have been â€Å"shaped† a certain way a socially acceptable w hich is why people reacted the way they did to me.I went against everyone the rules of society by not conforming hence I was the odd one out. If it weren’t for the social norms then maybe I would not have gotten the reactions I did because there wouldn’t be anything to conform too. One can infer that some of the reactions showed the following of the social norm of not being rude. While some of them stared they did not do anything as not to be rude which is in its own way following a social norm of politeness. This experiment has taught me basically a lot more about social norms and society. I got to see firsthand how social norms work and how much they play a role in everyone’s daily lives.I learned how people react toward people who don’t follow the social norms and break them. If this experiment was conducted somewhere else I would say definitely the results would be different, because the place makes the social norms. Every environment is different and society makes rule based on that. What might be acceptable in one place might not be so acceptable in another and vice versa. For example in some place standing away at a decent distance is considered disrespectful that is going against the social norm whereas in America that is not the case. Here standing too close is breaking the social norm.The results might have been more drastic or there might have not been any reaction at all. This experiment helped in providing the significance of social norms. The experiment also proved to show the difference between following and breaking social norms. After breaking the social norm I got to see many reactions which proved my hypothesis wrong and showed how conformity has a strong impact on society. By standing backwards in an elevator I broke the social norm of standing facing the back of the elevator and hence I became the odd one out. I enjoyed doing this experiment as a whole.

Les Miserables Live Concert DVD

Les Miserables Live Concert DVD Les Miserables is the musical based on an 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. The songs of the main characters touch upon the issues of searches for the sense of existence, their moral choices and primary life values. The songs of the characters represent their feelings and thoughts, initiating listeners into their inner worlds and delivering authors’ messages.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Les Miserables: Live Concert DVD specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Fantine’s song â€Å"I Dreamed a Dream† expresses the woman’s pain about her destiny by contrasting a happy dream and her reality. Fantine is one of the central characters of the musical. She is left alone with her illegitimate daughter Cosette and does everything possible for earning living of her child. Fantine’s life can be divided into two parts- before the birth of her daughter and after it. Contrasting the two reali ties, the woman emphasizes the differences between them. The author has chosen the form of a dream for representing Fantine’s youth years because the woman can hardly believe that her life could be different and her happiness in the past seems to her to be so unrealistic as if it were only a night dream. â€Å"I dreamed a dream in time gone by/ When hope was high/ And life worth living/ I dreamed that love would never die/ I dreamed that God would be forgiving† (Les Miserables). Bearing in mind the past time of the whole sentence, a listener can conclude that at present the woman does not consider her life as worth living. The whole song is based on contrasts which help the author to express the indirect complaints of the character. Fantine uses similes and other language means for expressing her feelings. She compares the lover who betrayed her to tigers: â€Å"But the tigers come at night/ With their voices soft as thunder† (Les Miserables). Admitting that her dream was killed with her reality at the end of the song, the woman shows the depths of her despair. Jean Valjean’s song â€Å"Who Am I?† reflects not only the inner conflict of one of the main protagonists as to the moral choice in a concrete situation but also the inner struggle between good and bad in general. The rhetoric questions which are repeated several times in the novel represent the inner dialogue of the main protagonist and his doubts as to the choice between justice and his personal good. Committing a crime long time ago, Valjean manages to escape the punishment but an innocent man can be convicted instead of him. â€Å"If I speak, I am condemned./ If I stay silent, I am damned!† (Les Miserables).Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This definition of the moral dilemma and the two possible ways out proves that the conscience has a signifi cant impact on the moral choices of the main protagonist. The numerous questions which are left without answers are a peculiar feature of the song. The central question of the song â€Å"Who am I?† represents the searches for the self-concept of the character. The rhetorical questions intensify the effect produced by the song and the answers are not clear before the climax of the episode, inducing listeners hesitate about the final decision of Valjean. â€Å"Who am I?/ 24601!† (Les Miserables). Indicating his number as a prisoner, he implies that the condemned are deprived of basic human rights and even their names. The only question which was answered in the song was central to the scene and makes the answers to the rest of the questions insignificant. The song â€Å"Master of the House† of Thenardiers is written in the ironical key and represents their life philosophy of acquiring money by all means. The first part of the song introduces the owner of the inn a nd allows listeners to feel the author’s irony and insincerity of the character. â€Å"Seldom do you see/ Honest men like me/ Agent of good intent/ Whos content to be† (Les Miserables). This presentation sounds like an advertising text and makes the contemporary audience doubt the positive features of the character from the very beginning. Though the singer puts emphasis on doing favours to the customers, listeners can notice various interpretations of making fortune by delivering the services, namely lightening the purse and paying some extra per cents for sleeping with the closed window or looking in the mirror. Enumerating the methods and tricks used by the family for making money, the song not only represents the business strategy of the owners of the inn but also shows their mean-spirited nature. Though some of the services offered by the singer for some extra pay can make listeners smile, this is a wet smile because Thenardier can be regarded as a generalized cha racter of the unfair businessmen. â€Å"Here a little slice, there a little cut/ Three percent for sleeping with the window shut† (Les Miserables). The singer mentions the name of Jesus several times during the song, but considering the context of the situation, it is perceived as one of the cheating tricks and does not sound believable. The song â€Å"Master of the House† by Thenardiers introduces the characters and intensifies listeners’ perception of their future actions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Les Miserables: Live Concert DVD specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Enjolras’ song â€Å"Do You Hear the People Sing?† can be regarded as the hymn of the revolutionary students struggling for better tomorrow. Asking if the listeners or his potential interlocutors in the musical hear the people sing, Enjolras, the leader of the revolutionary group, draws their attention to the proce sses in the society. The song reflects the revolutionary spirit and the mood of Enjolras and his comrades. The singer enumerates some traditional attributes of a revolutionary movement, such as beating of the drums and banners. â€Å"When the beating of your heart/ Echoes the beating of the drums/ There is a life about to start/ When tomorrow comes!† (Les Miserables). Drawing the parallel between beating of the drums and beating of the hearts of the revolutionary students, the author reveals their attitude to the events and their mood. This rhythmic pattern influences listeners’ perception of the song. Along with romanticizing the goals of better tomorrow, improving the life conditions and preventing slavery, the singer points at the price which the revolutionists are ready to pay for their victory. â€Å"The blood of the martyrs/ Will water the meadows of France!† (Les Miserables). Mentioning the victims of the revolution at the end of the song is the climax of the episode, indicating the seriousness of the students’ intentions. The song â€Å"Javert’s Suicide† represents the inner struggle of a misguided inspector before he commits a suicide. The song is intended to show the process of Javert’s reappraisal of life values after his enemy saves his life. The character is unable to find the new sense of existence after the priorities have changed. The inspector cannot understand why Valjean saves him and his life views do not allow him accept this gift. Several damnations mentioned in the song reflect his desperate condition and intensify listeners’ impressions from his monologue. Considering serving to law and justice his primary goal through the whole his life, Javert associates his inner self with the law itself. â€Å"I am the Law and the Law is not mocked† (Les Miserables). This categorical statement represents the character’s life credo which becomes the precondition for his decision to commit a suicide. The limitations of his life views do not allow him to understand the good will of his enemy and to be grateful to him. After expressing his considerations as to Valjean’s choice, the singer starts asking rhetoric questions, intensifying the tension of the situation. â€Å"Ill escape now from the world/ From the world of Jean Valjean./ There is nowhere I can turn/ There is no way to go on.† (Les Miserables). Being unable to adapt to the new circumstances and reappraise his values, Javert expresses his doubts as to the sense of future existence in the song â€Å"Javert’s Suicide† and concluding that his life is not worth living, throws himself into the water after the last word of the song.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Marius’ song â€Å"Empty Chairs at Empty Tables† reflects his grief because of death of his friends and doubts about the sense of the revolution in general. This song is intended to describe not only physical but also moral wounds of the participants of the revolutionary events. In general sense, the empty chairs at empty tables symbolize the emptiness in the character’s soul after the revolution is over. Apologizing for staying alive while his friends are dead, Marius expresses his pain because of this hard loss. Admitting that the grief of the character is unspoken, the author doubles the audience’s impression from listening to the song. Marius’ message is rather philosophical as he doubts the sense of sacrificing young lives to revolutionary mottos. â€Å"Oh my friends, my friends, dont ask me/ What your sacrifice was for† (Les Miserables). The character appeals to his dead friends and it seems to him that he can see their phantoms and it points at his deep psychological trauma. Choosing the words for the song, the author combined the revolutionary terms with the description of the peaceful time, contrasting them. â€Å"The very words that they had sung/ Became their last communion/ On the lonely barricade at dawn† (Les Miserables). On the one hand, incorporating the description of dawn on the barricades, the author contrasts the beauty of the landscape and the ugliness of the revolutionary construction. On the other hand, this description implies that the life continues and the beginning of a new day can be associated with the beginning of a new life. Marius’ song â€Å"Empty Chairs at Empty Tables† establishes the priority of universal value of human life over the revolutionary ideals. The six songs under analysis represent the feelings of the characters, intensifying the audience’s impressions from the musical Les Miserables. Using various language means, namely similes, metaphors and rhetoric questions, the author influences listeners’ perception of the plot lines, strengthening the tension before the climax of the episodes and delivering the author’s messages. Bibliography Schonberg, Claude-Michel and Alain Boublil. Les Miserables. 1995. DVD.

Credit rating agencies should be regulated more strictly to prevent Essay

Credit rating agencies should be regulated more strictly to prevent conflict of interest, but also should allow more new credit agencies to have more objective opinions - Essay Example They have helped financial market fairly well giving out expert opinions to public investors. However, duDuring the financial crisis, three big credit rating agencies, S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch were condemned for precipitating the crisis giving high credit rate to CDOs, which were defaulted. Since then, ratings of the agencies became controversial and financial regulators have sought to ways to impose more regulations on those ratings. Few agencies dominating the rating industry, they are holding too much power in rating market. This settlement allowed only few rates in financial market. If situation keep remain in the rating industry, more financial crisis will happen in near future. Thus, to avoid another critical situation, it is necessary to regulate credit rating agencies more strictly, but also necessary to broaden the market allowing more participants. In the beginning of the industry, credit agencies’ rates had positive impact on financial markets. At that time, many people who didn’t have financial knowledge had difficulties in choosing where to invest their money. The companies who solved the problems were credit rating agencies. They were consisted of financial experts and analyzed companies and gave easily understandable â€Å"ABC† rates. According to them, high credit rating which was closer to â€Å"As† rates indicates that the borrower has a low probability of defaulting on debt, and conversely low credit rating indicates that the borrower has a high probability of defaulting. Investors could get helped in deciding the companies to invest relying on those rates. Essentially, what they have done is facilitating investments by giving easily understandable reliable sources to judge risk of investments. These rates have had a huge impact on financial markets. Since credit agencies have developed and settled in the financial industry, a lot of investors

Circadian Rhythms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Circadian Rhythms - Essay Example Circadian rhythm takes place in wide variety of organisms apart from humans and are controlled by environmental and internal factors. Temperature and light are the common environmental factors. The circadian cycle is controlled by suprachiasmatic nucleus located in hypothalamus region of brain that influences the sleep-wake cycle by receiving signals from retina of eye about light and dark. The photoreceptor cells in retina transmit signals on light activation and deactivation via neurons of retinohypothalamic tract to the SCN, which are further transmitted to pineal gland via the superior cervical ganglion.  Circadian rhythm takes place in wide variety of organisms apart from humans and are controlled by environmental and internal factors. Temperature and light are the common environmental factors. The circadian cycle is controlled by suprachiasmatic nucleus located in hypothalamus region of brain that influences the sleep-wake cycle by receiving signals from retina of eye about l ight and dark. The photoreceptor cells in retina transmit signals on light activation and deactivation via neurons of retinohypothalamic tract to the SCN, which are further transmitted to pineal gland via the superior cervical ganglion.   The superior cervical ganglion releases noradrenaline into pineal cells during dark, which is followed by transformation of serotonin into melatonin. The SCN leads to the release of more melatonin hormone from pineal gland when the light levels are low that in-turn influences the brainstem mechanisms.