Saturday, November 30, 2019

Were The Federalists Democratic Essays - United States, Democracy

Were The Federalists Democratic? The idea of democracy is both vague and is often over-simplified to mean majority rules. In theory, such a notion sounds both just and efficient. However, in practice, the concept of majority rules is much more complex and often difficult to implement. Modern-day versions of democracy, such as the one utilized in the United States, simply guarantees a persons right to voice his or her opinion in all matters involving the public. American democracy merely provides a forum for the expression of such viewpoints; it does not guarantee the ability of any individual to bring about change. The Federalists, who were greatly responsible for the ratification of the beloved Constitution of the United States, recognized the impracticality of Jeffersons town-hall democracy and simple majority rules and settled on a type of government which could merely guarantee an individuals right to representation. In some regards, the Federalists were pragmatic democrats-supporters of democracy who recognized the shortcomings of the voting public while at the same time suggested certain instruments to protect John Q. Public. The Federalists were opposite of idealists; they were realists. And it is this realism that is directly responsible for the success of democracy within the United States. Democracy, the ideal, is held dear by most Americans. What Americans would not dofor the vindication of a fundamental first principle: the right of the people to determine their own future, comments Albert R. Papa in his article The Allure of Civics Book Democracy. While nearly all Americans recognize the benefits of a democratic nation, the Federalists maintain that often times, minority and majority factions of society act contrary to the good of the whole. Madison, a staunch Federalist, defines a faction in The Federalist Papers No. 10 as a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. While Madison maintains that factions, by definition, are detrimental to the good of the whole, he does recognize their right to exist. What could be more democratic than allowing all grou ps to assemble, even those which violate public good? Never does Madison suggest restricting the rights of such groups; Liberty is to faction, what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could be a less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency writes Madison. The pragmatic nature of Madison realizes the corrosive function of factions and he explains within his writings why such entities will not pose problems for America- a larger Republic. He argues that in Republics composed of larger populations, factions fail to play significant roles because of their decreased ability to exert influence on others. The smaller the societythe fewer the distinct parties and interests, the more frequently will a majority be found of the same party; and the smaller the number of indiv iduals composing a majority, and the smaller the compass within which they are placed, the more easily will they concert and execute their plans of oppression, suggests Madison. Although Madison and most Federalists recognize that factions simply exist because of human nature and therefore cannot be eradicated, they believe the system set-up within the United States will prevent factions from dominating the political process. The fact that Madison includes the line whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole in his definition of factions is quite significant. Can the majority ever be wrong? Since most Americans believe that democracy should serve the interests of the majority (majority rules), how can a majority faction ever represent views inconsistent with the good of the whole? Critics of the Federalists Papers argue that Madisons definition of factions is extremely anti-democratic in nature. Even though a factions viewpoints may be destructive to the institution of American government, the governments main role is to represent the will of the people regardless of subsequent effects. However, certainly one

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Business process re engineering The WritePass Journal

Business process re engineering Introduction Business process re engineering IntroductionTHE IMPACT OF BPR ON AN ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE CONCEPT OF BPRADVANTAGES OF BPR DISADVANTAGES OF BPR ROLE OF IS/IT FUNCTION IN BPRIT PROCESSES AND DEVELOPMENTIMPORTANCE OF IS/IT IN BPRCONTRIBUTIONS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMIMPACT OF IS/IT IN AN ORGANIZATIONLIMITATAIONS TO TECHNOLOGYCONCLUSIONRECOMMENDATIONSBIBLIOGRAPHYREFERENCESRelated Introduction A management approach concerned at making the improvements and developments to the business by raising the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes that exist within and across the organisations. The key for an organisation to success the business process reengineering is to look at their business processes from a clean slate prospect in order to determine how they can improve and better build these processes to lead their businesses. THE IMPACT OF BPR ON AN ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE The people and the processes are the foundation of any organizations and business process reengineering renovates an organization in ways that directly affect performance. If the individuals are motivated and working hard, than the processes of the businesses are manageable and the nonessential activities remain, the execution of organization will be poor. The key to transforming how people work is business process reengineering, which becomes visible to be minor changes in processes and can have dramatic effects on cash flow, the delivery of the service and the satisfaction of the customer. The best technique to map and improve the organizations procedures is to take a top down approach, and not undertake a project in isolation. Beginning with mission statements, which define and describe the purpose of the organization, what it apart from others in its sector or an industry. Producing vision statements which define where the organization is going, to provide a clear picture of the desired future position. Establish these into a comprehensible business strategy, which derives thereby the objectives of the project.   Defining behaviours, which makes possible for the organization to obtain its goals. Produce the key power measurements to seek out progress. In relationship of the efficiency improvements to the culture of the organization. Identifying initiatives that will improve performance. CONCEPT OF BPR The concept of BPR generally includes the use of computers, information system and Information technology to organize data, project trends, etc. Many large companies are giving high importance to software integration, they want to build strong links between business systems and make information flow better and avoid to access data stored in multiple systems. Let us take an example, suppose a person wants to place an order over the internet. An integrated software solution take that order, shift it and allocate them to the manufacturing plant on one hand and place order for the raw materials on the basis of the stock, update the financial position of the company with respect to suppliers and the inventory on the other hand and so on. Different names have been given by the people to the integration of ERP, SCM, BPR and CRM. These names include e-business, c-business, m-business and KM etc. There are many softwares that do these integration activities. To name a few software these are known as Baan, Fourth Shift, Frida, JD Edwards One World, Manage 2000, Masterpiece MP/Net, Micro strategy, Oracle e-Business Suite, People Soft and SAP R/3. ADVANTAGES OF BPR It locates the customer at the midpoint of the organisation. It helps to reorganize business functions, identify the core activities and processes as well as inefficient or obsolete ones. It helps them to focus on overall corporate objectives and promotes greater staff involvement. It reduces the new product development and process activity times and can condense the response of the customer as well. It can lead to `quantum leap improvements and developments in business resultsif planned and implemented carefully. It can improve the current industry position, an inefficient and reorganize business processes and can make them the industrial leader. DISADVANTAGES OF BPR It is more suited to products and services that involve logical sequences in production. It may be less suitable for highly variable processes. It may require a high level of investment in IT and requires good teamwork and a high degree of planning and implementation expertise. It can be seen as a real threat to jobs. Success is not automatically guaranteed. ROLE OF IS/IT FUNCTION IN BPR Top management must have the full support to BPR to succeed. The leader must be willing to drive change, even to the point of ruthlessness, if resistance is encountered. â€Å"Although, BPR has its roots in IT management, it is primarily a Business Initiative that has broad consequences in terms of satisfying the needs of customers and the firms other constituents†. (Davenport Stoddard 1994) The IS/IT group may need to play a behind-the-scenes advocacy role; convincing senior management of the power offered by IT and process redesign. It would also need to incorporate the skills of process measurement, analysis, and redesign. It is essential to differentiate between information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) to understand the role that information systems play in today’s business environment. IT is the term employed to describe the hardware of computer, the software, and the tools of infrastructure of network in other words, technology itself. IS describes the broader prospect in which IT is employed by the management to create and the systems of support which make it possible for the organization to chase and achieve its strategic goals. When discussing IS, it is important to consider all three of its dimensions: IT, management, and organizations. As a practical matter, it should be noted that the terms IT and IS are often used interchangeably, particularly by those who are not directly involved in the IS or IT field. Information technology is persistent in all the organizations and society as a whole. Businesses are based on IT and telecommunications to achieve their day-to-day goals. In fact, the collection, storage, and retrieval of data and information are both more sophisticated and more ordinary than they have ever been. The information which a company gathers about its procedures of management is a valuable tool of resource for planning.The organizations are able to create and implement new strategies by the innovative use of existing information technologies and systems of information. For example, FedEx upgraded its parcel tracking system to provide the direct access through the website of the shipment information to its customers. This upgrade reduced the cost to provide the service to the customers and simultaneously increased the quality and the availability of the service. This example shows the possibilities of IS while adopting new strategies. IT PROCESSES AND DEVELOPMENT Today, we find a great number of advances in the IT’s has being employed in the companies. In one way, the remarkable advances in personal computers and the communications make it possible to employees to work outside the office while still being always connected to the office. The employees can work of the house or other places. The communication systems of multi-media, which send and receive audio and video signals, help us by making decisions by employing the email, the transfer of file, or the videoconference. The techniques of computer-aided design/manufacture/technology (CAD/CAM/CAE) take account of the design of products, manufacture, and the coordinating activities of technology. By gaining new IT tools, it enables companies to gain important advantages such as: 1) Cost savings, improvement and recovering the accuracy of exchanging information. 2) Avoiding inherent human errors so complex and repetitive tasks are used. 3) Saving money because it reduces errors and the time it takes to accomplish tasks. 4) Integrating and coordinating several functions immediately. 5) Improving the effectiveness and the effectiveness of organization by elimination delay, the administrative intermediaries, and the unessential stages of transformation and by providing a better access to information. The environment of today quickly requires companies to develop and offer the products which will satisfy the needs for customers. The companies cannot be able to do this if they apply processes with many stages and rare collaboration. Consequently, this environment forces a change of the processes of businesses to the mediation reduced by device and increased collaboration. To diminish the degree of mediation and increase the degree of collaboration, Firstly companies must reduce the degree of mediation in processes. That is, they must convert processes with a great number of stages of intermediary of processes which take part directly in the final results. The IT’s that make this modification easy might be: 1)   Shared databases: Different functions are allowed to take part directly by employing information stored in the data bases. Each function can approach, write, or recover the information of this data base the moment when it is necessary. 2) Imaging technology: Several people may work at the same time on a digitalized image of documents or graphics. 3) Electronic data exchange and electronic funds transference. Furthermore, shared computing resources make it possible for different functions to have access to information at any time. Second, the companies must increase the degree of collaboration in the processes so that the implied functions share information. IT that makes the collaboration easy among the different people can be technologies of communication. These allow the transfer of information by using tools such as the email, the videoconference, and the File Transfer Protocol. IMPORTANCE OF IS/IT IN BPR All organizations would like to grow and extend. In order to reach this growth and prosperity, organizations place long-term goals. Their roles as a financial manager are to be helped to develop the organizational strategies which facilitate and obtain those goals. The future growth and prosperity of any organization is essential in an effective management and use of information technology (IT) and information systems (IS). In today’s organizations, the vast majority of the data to support organizational activities and decisions comes from IS, which incorporates IT, data and information, and business procedures. Organizations with poorly designed information systems face numerous problems. Consider the case of the Hershey Foods Corporation, which found it unable to effectively ship candy for the Halloween season following the implementation of a new computer system. The company faced a 19% drop in profitability because of this problem. Yet at the same time, organizations that effectively design and manage their information systems can gain tremendous benefits. A recent study by Jeanne Ross and Peter Weill found that organizations that effectively manage their IT decision making experience financial performance levels about 20% higher than those with less effective IT management. IS/IT should not be used as a cure-all for organizational problems because technology can create as many problems as it solves if it is not understood properly and its applications are not actively managed. The key to developing a good strategy to achieve an organization’s goals is to build well-designed and well-managed systems. CONTRIBUTIONS OF INFORMATION SYSTEM IS contributes to organizational goals when people use data, information, and information technology through a set of procedures. IMPACT OF IS/IT IN AN ORGANIZATION All medium to large organisations depend on information technology (IT) for their continuous survival. Consider organisations like British Gas, British Telecom, the Power and Water companies having to manually calculate, millions of customer bills every month or quarter. Similar opinion applies to many other organisations such as the high street banks, central and local government. A recent article in the Daily Telegraph IT supplement suggested that many large organisations could last no longer than 24 hours without IT support! There should be a little wonder that attitudes to the development of information systems have changed over the years from an ad hoc almost cavalier approach to a professionally managed, disciplined, planned, and engineering approach. IT can prove to be useful during the process of redesign and reengineering analysis. The graphics software and the tools of CASE can produce the charts of process maps, the spreadsheets and the costing software take account of the analysis of the cost activity-based, the data base can track the satisfaction and the complaints of the customers and display boards of E-mail of â€Å"lamp-shade† can be introduced to capture suggestions of the employees. Moreover the E-mail and the groupware can facilitate the communication and coordination through the geographical and organizational barriers. It is recommended that during the process of implementation stage, companies follow these basis rules: Recognize that IT is only part of the solution: it allows managers to collect, store, analyze, and communicate and distribute information better. Cut and paste the IT tools needed. Bring in an internal or external IT expert: their knowledge, skills, intelligence, and experience are invaluable. After implementation, continually monitor IT performance and keep up with new IT developments. Mentioned below are some examples of the companies experience that show the role and implementation of IS/IT in business process redesigning To exhibit the advantages of BPR, Ford Motor was chosen by Hammer [1990]. By applying the data bases shared in the process of accounts payable, which includes the purchase, receiving, and the accounts payable, Ford reduced its labour of the employees by 75 percent. Hewlett-Packard changed the functioning model of its salesmen. Using the portable computers, they were connected to the data base of the inventory of the company. They obtain the information of period on time, activate and apply directly for promotions, changes of the prices, or discounts. Pointless to say, their time devoted to the customers has increased by 27 percent and sales, of 10 percent. When Citibank transformed its system of analysis of credit by reducing paper dispensation, it obtained an increase of 43 percent at time devoted to gather new customers. The credit of IBM took two weeks to finish a claim of financing because there were five stages to the process. By redesigning the process and while making take part the general practitioners who work with data bases and telecommunications networks, it takes now only four hours. LIMITATAIONS TO TECHNOLOGY There are limits to what a technology may accomplish. For example, when the video conferencing technology of communication became the first time available, much were excited about the prospect to employ the visual communication to finish the need for business trip, or reduce-the least substantially it. While there is no question which the visual communication can be employed for some aspects of communication of businesses, it did not finish the need for travel, partly because of the nature slightly limited of the medium and the human desire for the contact head to head. Still another, and really undefeatable, the question which limits the use of the video conferencing communication is physical distance and the notion of the time zones. Consider a situation where a senior executive in Vancouver tries to arrange a video conference with sales offices in Eastern Canada, Europe, and in Asia. Taking account of the time zones, there is no overlapping time of covering during the normal working hours which will allow parts in these four geographical regions to meet. CONCLUSION To be successful, business process reengineering projects need to be top down, taking in the complete organization, and the full end to end processes. It needs to be supported by tools that make processes easy to track and analyze. BPR is a methodology by which important improvements are obtained, although it requires big changes in organization and work style. This involves the need to change or even increase working styles, job functions, needed knowledge, and organization values. Reengineering requires long-time dedication, resources, and effort. These are made easier by using elements called enablers. Its role is crucial because it allows a company to alter processes in two ways: collaboration grade increase and mediation grade decrease through the implementation of shared databases and communication technologies. So, IT may help companies to obtain important improvements on variables such as costs, quality, and delivery time. Although these are not the only important elements, also bear in mind structural changes, company culture, and human resources. RECOMMENDATIONS BPR must be accompanied by strategic planning, which addresses leveraging IT as a competitive tool. Place the customer at the centre of the reengineering effort concentrate on reengineering fragmented processes that lead to delays or other negative impacts on customer service. BPR must be owned throughout the organization, not driven by a group of outside consultants. Case teams must be comprised of both managers as well as those will actually do the work. The IT group should be an integral part of the reengineering team from the start. BPR must be sponsored by top executives, who are not about to leave or retire. BPR projects must have a timetable, ideally between three to six months, so that the organization is not in a state of limbo. BPR must not ignore corporate culture and must emphasize constant communication and feedback. BIBLIOGRAPHY Berman, Saul, Strategic Direction: Dont Reengineer Without It; Scanning the Horizon for Turbulence, Planning Review, November 1994; Pg. 18. Brown, Tom, De-engineering the Corporation, Industry Week, April 18, 1994; Pg. 18. Cafasso, Rosemary, Rethinking Reengineering, Computerworld, March 15, 1993; Pg. 102. Caldwell, Bruce, Missteps, Miscues Business Reengineering Failures, InformationWeek, June 20, 1994; Pg. 50. Chew, Angie, How Insurance Firms Can Reengineer for Success, Business Times, June 20, 1994; Pg. 11. Cone, Edward, Technology Chief of the Year; All the Right Moves Tom Trainer of Reebok International Successfully Teamed Business Reengineering with Information Technology, InformationWeek, December 26, 1994; Pg. 35. Davenport, Thomas H., Will Participative Makeovers of Business Processes Succeed Where Reengineering Failed? Planning Review, January 1995; Pg. 24. Economist Newspaper Group, Reengineering Reviewed The Economist, June 1994, Pg 24. Ettorre, Barbara, Reengineering Tales from the Front, Management Review, January 1995; Pg. 13. REFERENCES http://jobfunctions.bnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=390451promo=100511tag=bn-left teamtechnology.co.uk/business-process-reengineering.html comp.glam.ac.uk/pages/staff/tdhutchings/chapter1.html#head1 scribd.com/doc/396076/Foundations-of-Information-Systems-in-Business netlib.com/bpr1.shtml#recom entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/100012316_2.html kmbook.com/bpr.htm susanto.id.au/papers/BPEASAP.asp

Friday, November 22, 2019

ENGLISH ESSAY WRITING SERVICE for Students

ENGLISH ESSAY WRITING SERVICE for Students Essay writing is important and mostly crucial part of education process. Through the essays students are able to demonstrate their unique capabilities. The primary goal of essay writing is to determine the ability to organize a well-structured essay in a logical and systematical manner. When the student is lacking such ability, actions must be taken at once. One of the options is to buy custom written papers from online English essay writing service. Professional writers with years of writing experience will write a paper you need including all personal requirements you wish to include. Every essay writing assignment is your chance to improve your paper writing skills. Explore and read more information do as much research as you can and continue writing. Your essay writing skills are promised to be improved. Good English is your primary objective. The second important aspect is proper essay structuring start with introduction and finish up with nice and logical conclusion. For all other assignment writing requests, use professional essay writing service.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Employee Relations And Customer Satisfaction Case Study

Employee Relations And Customer Satisfaction - Case Study Example It is the classification of a society according to the values, interests, and behaviors. It is determined by the social categories’ income, education, wealth among other factors. The higher the classification of a people in society, the greater their ability to afford a better lifestyle. The society is mostly categorized in divisions of high class, the middle class, the working class and the low-class citizens. A higher class of people will desire the banking services of a higher class and vice versa (Beryl, 1996). Subculture, yet another characteristic refers to who share certain values, based on their similar experiences in life and exposure to similar situations. These groups of a society exhibit similar buying characteristics since their taste and preferences in purchasing products and services are influenced by similarity is situations and experiences. These are the characteristics that play a major role in determining the tastes and preferences of individuals or groups of people in the society that also influences the banking services and facilities they seek (Jefferson, 2011). The buyer makes a decision to purchase goods and services by following a process well defined. The buyer first recognizes the needs and wants that they have, which needs to be fulfilled. Information search follows, where the buyer seeks to understand the ranges of products and services that can meet their identified needs. The buyer then embarks on analyzing the alternatives provided to him, based on the potential range of products and services that can meet their needs (Heskett, 2008). The buyer then settles on the product or service to buy. Once he has made the decision on what to purchase, he then goes on and purchases the product, and applies it to fulfill the needs and wants that he had. The last stage of the process is a post-purchase evaluation, where the buyer assesses the products or services he purchased for their suitability to meet his needs.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Walmart -Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Walmart -Planning - Essay Example Overview of planning Planning is considered to be the first step in doing anything. Planning comprises of a scheduled set of activities and tasks which are pre-defined and resources, cost, material, labor and time is also determined in advance for every activity in the planning process. Without planning, there is no set route to follow and everything goes haywire. Chances of discrepancies, inadequacies, risks and gaps increase in the absence of planning process. Planning can take the form of short or long term planning. In the former case, planning is not much in-depth and focuses on achieving short term monetary benefits. Long term planning is meant to gain strategic advantage because all other elements of managing, controlling and organizing are then aligned with that of strategic planning to fulfill desired goals. Wal-Mart’s vision and mission Wal-Mart’s successful operations are attributed to its cost leadership strategy which has always been focused on its customer (Center for Applied Research 2005). While its vision/mission statement goes as "Wal-Mart’s mission is to help people save money so they can live better†, its stores slogans also compliment its vision and mission statement which run as "Wal-Mart. Always low price. Always." Thus, cost effectiveness and providing products and services at rock bottom prices stand at the core of any planning or managing process at Wal-Mart. Planning at Wal-Mart is a mix of both strategic and day-to-day planning. When we talk of strategic goals, it refer to supplier selection, optimizing on technological inputs, use of automation techniques, software and other decisions which provide a competitive edge to it. Daily routine planning involves inventory control and management, quality control, distribution systems, et cetera (Goodstein, Nolan & Pfeiffer 1993, p.131). Application of planning process within Wal-Mart Wal-Mart is considered as a value driven company and this value addition is attri buted to its strategic planning in operational, tactical and contingency categories. It has always decided in advance where it wants to go, how and which activities to focus upon to achieve desired objectives. Wal-Mart’s planning process spans across all of its functions namely store management, finance, human resources, operations, information technology and strategic management. On tactical front, it has always devised plans and means on how to attract customers and stick to its low cost proposition. This is what gives way to its EDLP (Every Day Low Pricing) strategy. In operations side also, Wal-Mart exercises collaborative planning and forecasting relationship (CPFR) with that of its suppliers as it believes that involvement of suppliers in critical decisions helps reduce costs and improve quality. This way, it is able to extract synergies from that of its partners and develop long term relations with them. From financial perspective, separate committee is formed comprisi ng of 3-4 members who meet regularly and discuss issues pertaining to the capital structure, financial status, global policies, acquisitions, investments and annual financing plans. Within strategic planning, the committee also analyzes the basic goals to be achieved and in this respect, reviews its relations with investors, stakeholders, banks, financial institutions and others. Regular monitoring and check on its dividend policy and annual budgeting process enables undeviated implementation of set plans

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Foundations of psychology Essay Example for Free

Foundations of psychology Essay (a) Conceptually, reasoning is characterized by various attitudes, emotions, feelings or even assumptions. These are the psychological factors that occur psychologically as parameters that help to develop a logical conclusion in ones reasoning. Rationality in reasoning is what yields a final resolution. However, such reasoning is brought to a state of imbalance in which the different assumptions, feelings and attitudes tend to shape the outcome responses. Perhaps however, each of the attributes could be controlled by aspects of various stimuli that respond to the three stage of classical conditioning. Initially, an aspect of anxiety of wanting to create some reflective thinking occurs. This is because of the desire to come to a logical conclusion of the problem held in the reasoning. The unconditioned stimulus before the reasoning was to arrive at a phenomenon based on the results of the reasoning. The driving force then throws an imbalance in the cognitive state of the brain senses with a basic aim of arriving towards an imperative solution based on the foundations of the question in the reasoning. A state of confusion occurs basically due to inability of making the correct choice of solutions. The solution should be independent of the external environment. Additionally, the choices to the solution also consider that reasoning may have various solutions. However, a conflict exists between the set of decisions alternatives due to the inability of making the most rational decision instantly. However, the principles of classical conditioning help to develop various stimuli corresponding to the various decision alternatives. Each stimulus (like a defensive censor) evokes one another to finally reach at an equilibrium consensus which the cognitive personality chooses as the best decision variable (Anne, 1999) A state of ambivalence follows the above stage of confusion. Ambivalence develops from the emotional perceptions and seeks to give a feeling of no specific inclination in any of the decision alternatives persuaded in the reasoning process. This is however a defense mechanism since it denies the strong efforts of strong feelings in the decision alternatives thus lessening the probable pain which one would have encountered in decision making (Michael, 1977) (b) Role of memory in reasoning The human memory is an important element in cognitive reasoning. Memory is what aligns the different aspects involved in reasoning to yield a correspondence between one another. The attitudes, feelings and assumptions ought to be construed in a dimension that brings reflective ties to one another. Memory can be said as the pivot entry between the functional relationships in all elements that define reasoning. The fundamental scope of reasoning is comprised of various complimentary processes that depend on one another. The philosophical and psychological standpoints have pinpointed on memory and reasoning as working in an integrated system and none can replace one another. Memory acts as an object that brings a tie and conjoins the various independent processes that are involved in the process of reasoning. It is also the object that provides subjective interactions and explorations among the wide scope of the cognitive processes to arrive at a balance of interest which is the defining choice/decision variable of the reasoning process (Thomson, 2001) Conceptually, the association that exists in human reasoning is brought about by the organization and content interaction of the human memory. It helps to bring about a scope of interpretation about the various processes that are involved in the human cognition. Consequently, memory is influential as a trajectory object for the integration of the various processes in the reasoning processes that finally strikes a balance in the choice of decision to follow. (c) Obstacles in reasoning There are various obstacles that could hinder the process of effective reasoning. These include; Mental entrenchment: This is a situation that occurs when the mind is framed in models that represent various problems, problem contexts or perhaps the possible procedures for use in solving a particular problem. When a person involved in reasoning has entrenched mind sets, they may develop methods that creates a solution to the problem in question but which does not provide the most optimal and effective solutions to such problems (Mark, 2007) Either, functional fixedness is an obstacle in effective thinking/reasoning. This case arises when an individual who has an ability of doing specific things extends such methods in creating the decisions in reasoning. He is unable to develop methodologies that addresses a certain problem in question but rather has to refer to what models his/her mind (Mark, 2007) Stereotypes: Stereotypes are those fundamental generalizations that are unsupported by rationality held by the members within a certain setting or the contemporary society. Stereotypes could be learned during childhood. Individuals accustomed to various senses of stereotypical thinking always make generalized choice and decisions in their reasoning process. Negative transfers: This is the condition when the procedures that are to be used in solving a current problem occurs in the future as harder problems that are perhaps unsolvable. This is a contrast of positive transfer that implies the former process for solving gone problems make the current problem easy to solve. These obstacles are highly involved in obstructing the critique of critical and effective thinking by bringing the wrong illusions and impressions in the reasoning process. (d) Types of reasoning involved in the experience Generally, there are various reasoning involved in an experience. Each differs in terms of flow of precepts and hypothetical developments. The process of reasoning within the given set of experience is important in giving the rationality behind the choice of one decision at the expense of the others. However, various types of reasoning are used in the reasoning process. These include; Abduction: This is the process through which a hypothesis statement about an experience is made. It seeks to formulate the fundamental scope of levels with which such a problem/experience occurs and the possible influential factors behind it. The cause and the effect reasoning: This is the mode of reasoning which seeks to relate the starting point of an experience or a problem of interest. It involves establishing the causes and effects and then trying to relate how each affects one another or how each is related to the other. (Manktelow, 1999) Comparative reasoning: This is the reasoning precept that seeks to draw a comparative analogy by comparing and relating one thing with the corresponding alternative. It then seeks to strike a balance of stability between such relationships. Deductive reasoning: It is the reasoning that involves establishing the generalized parameters and then moving towards a drive in the specific rules. Inductive reasoning: This is that which involves establishing the specific parameters and then driving towards the generalized rules. (e) Methods of enhancing effective reasoning in this experience. Critical thinking is that which goes beyond logical reasoning. It is that which works towards scrutinizing arguments by support of empirical evidence. Enhancing reasoning is a combination of various tools that promote the cognitive precepts of the human brain. These include; Physical exercise: Physical exercise is highly supportive in the functionality of the brain. A functional brain is a brain that has the cognitive power of critical and effective reasoning. Taking physical exercise helps to refresh the nervous system whose central context is the brain faculty (Robert, 1991) Taking adequate sleep: It is of necessity that a person takes enough sleep that brings relaxation to the reasoning and thinking autonomies. The mind set that could be infiltrated by sleep and stress is prone to inadequate reasoning. Various decisions by the human reasoning can only be ploughed in by a sober and a relaxed cognitive personality. Neurofeedback process: This is the process through which the precepts of human reasoning are controlled by reflecting back to what presumes a certain reasoning obligation. It is the sensational process of developing a raw feedback to the mind that causes fatal relaxation before engaging into fresh models of reasoning (Anne, 1999) Avoiding reasoning distracters: This is achieved through adequate payment of attention. Though a complex pattern involved in the brain function, it can be ensured by the proper payment of attention to the reasoning process that would then help to withdraw all possible abstractions and therefore driving towards concrete decisions. Reference Anne, T (1999) Critical Reasoning in Ethics. London, Routledge Manktelow, K (1999) Reasoning and Thinking. London. Psychology Press Mark, R (2007) The Psychology of Reasoning, London, Routeldge. Michael, S (1977) Reasoning. New York, McGraw Hill Robert, A (1991) Practical Reasoning. London, Routledge Thomson, A (2001) Critical Reasoning: A Practical Introduction. London, Routlege

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Knowledge as a Double Edged Sword in the novels Oryx and Crake as well

Is knowledge, which is the base of human ingenuity and intelligence, also the factor which will bring upon humanity’s impending destruction? Knowledge today plays a key role in almost every facet of human existence, from food, to water, to providing the foundation for every piece technological equipment ever constructed. Knowledge though has also provided us with ever more imaginative and efficient means of killing and destroying each other and the planet, these means include nuclear weapons, and of course biological warfare. Therefore knowledge plays the role of the doubled-edged sword, bringing humanity luxuries and power beyond conception, as well as arming us with the tools to completely eradicate all life. In the novel of Oryx and Crake, a slightly more advanced civilization than ours, where biotechnology has brought numerous wonders to the world is brought into perspective. This civilization, wrought by corruption, has eliminated disease, and now is making synthetic viru ses in order to cash in on the destruction, the perfect scheme. One of the protagonists, Crake, discovers this scheme, and with this knowledge, seeks to destroy the corrupted civilization, by performing the same atrocity. With Crake’s synthetic virus, he eliminates the entirety of human race, with the tools knowledge supplied him with. In the novel A Canticle for Leibowitz the human race is just an insignificant remnant of its former glory, after it obliterated itself with the use of nuclear weapons. This novel shows humanity’s rise out of the ashes, with focus being placed on the Order of St. Leibowitz, the sole caretakers’ of the hated knowledge from the age past. With the knowledge contained with the Order, humanity experiences a renaissance, in which ulte... ...prized knowledge above all else. In both Oryx and Crake and A Canticle for Leibowitz, knowledged acts as a doubled-edged sword bringing wonders and inventions that truly make life easy, and at the same time bringing death and destruction in the form of weapons and military advancements. It is quite evident in both novels that knowledge acts a god, to be worshiped and studied, and as a god, chooses when to deal out good and bad deeds. Knowledge provided mankind with miracles and massacres. Knowledge itself is not lethal, mankind is the hand that directs the pathways of knowledge. Humans cause massacres, with the aide of knowledge. But if mankind is truly born evil, than it is only a matter of time for it to destroys itself. As mankind delves more deeply in the the endless mine of knowledge, it must take caution, as it has within its grasp to become gods†¦or demons.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Hawthorne, Brown and Poe Essay

The gothic component of the American Romantic Period of 1800-1860 produced several eerie and gothic works by talented literary minds. Three such pieces, â€Å"The tell-tale heart,† â€Å"The Birthmark,† and Wieland were written by Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Charles Brockden Brown. These works of fiction delve into the minds of seemingly unstable protagonists, and in so doing participated in the general Romantic theme of reacting against reason. These authors also adhered further to the Romantic notion of elevating the human spirit as persons in need not of salvation but of being aroused to a truer relationship with the self. Thesis: The main characters of each story defy the conventions of the time through gothic settings, anti-religious demonstrations and revolutionary psychological insights that lead to a better understanding of the dark side of human capabilities. A. Wieland by Charles Brockden Brown 1. Wrote extensively on an array of topics 2. Ushered in the ideas of the American Romantic Period 3. Strong psychological state of female character 4. Weak psychological state of male characters 5. External force having the power to awaken his true character B. â€Å"The tell-tale heart† by Edgar Allan Poe 1. Psychologically challenged character 2. More insight into the inner workings of the unsound mind 3. Takes the reader into uncharted territory 4. Narrator an exercise in self-knowledge 5. Death of a beautiful woman C. â€Å"The Birthmark† by Nathaniel Hawthorne 1. Death of a beautiful woman 2. Gothic tradition of darkness and mystery 3. Puritanical hypocrisy 4. Salvation through self knowledge Conclusion: The three authors Brown, Poe, and Hawthorne, along with their works Wieland, â€Å"The tell-tale heart,† and â€Å"The Birthmark,† demonstrate several aspects of the American Romantic Period in which they were written. They display the gothic preoccupation with the ghostly and/or mysterious qualities of the unknown. They also delve into the psychological mysteries of the mind and demonstrate the moral weaknesses of humans. Finally, they seek to bring humans into such contact with the self so that elevation and improvement of the mind and spirit can come about through a thorough knowledge of the self and its functions.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Information Processing and Learning Disabilities Essay

The body gathers information through five senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch. However, in order to use the data or information that has been gathered by these senses one must constantly put the senses into constant use. After the body has collected information through the five senses it is taken to the brain, which in turn recognizes it, interprets it, understands it, responds to it and stores it. This is a continuous process which can be repeated even a thousand times in any given day. Newell (1990)] Information processing is responsible for the coordination and performance of the tasks that we carry out in any given day, from taking a shower to learning in school or participating in a sport. Discussion Within the field of cognitive psychology, information processing is the thinking and reasoning about mental processes, envisioning them, in the same way as a computer software runs on a computer machine. According to Ulric Neisser, who also goes as the father of the term ‘cognitive psychology’ human beings can be compared to dynamic information processing systems with mental operations that are identical to those of computer machines and that can be described in computational terms. [Neisser, 1967] The mind is the software while the brain is the hardware. The human mind processes information through the application of logical rules and strategies, that like a computer, the human mind has got a limited capacity for the amount and even the nature of information it can process, and that just as the computer can be made to process more information through the change or overhaul of its hardware and software, learners can become great thinkers if changes can be made in their brains through the use of authentic rules and strategies of learning. [Hetherington & Parke, 199] According to Atkinson and Shriffin in their ‘stage theory’ model, the human memory processes and stores information in three stages. Information is processed in a serial and discontinuous manner as it transits from one stage to the other. [Atkinson & Shriffin, 1968] Craik and Lockhart in their ‘levels-of-processing’ theory posit that learners make use of various levels of elaboration as they process information. This is achieved through a succession of levels beginning from perception, through attention, to labeling, and lastly meaning. Craik & Lockhart, 1972] Another theory posits that information is processed simultaneously by several different parts of memory system as opposed to sequential processing. [Goleman, 1995] Lastly, Rumelhart and McClelland in their ‘connectionic’ model propose that information is stored in multiple locations in the form of network connections in the brain. It is grounded on the wisdom that the more connected an idea is the more the chances of it to be remembered. Rumelhart & McClelland, 1986; Scientific American, 1999] In a learning situation, the measure of receiving and organizing information, remembering it, and expressing it will obviously differ from one learner to the other. There will always be discrepancies in reading, writing, comprehension, and reasoning among the learners. Those learners who experiences difficulties in organizing, remembering, and expressing information will definitely experience difficulties in reading, writing, comprehension, and reasoning. Such learners are considered as having learning disabilities: they tend to experience difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical abilities. They face difficulties in learning new skills, they have poor memory, and they tend to confuse basic words, experience difficulties in connecting letters and sounds, among other difficulties. Lerner (2000)] Since the process of information gathering occurs through the application of logical rules and strategies learners without disabilities are bound to organize, remember, and express information with great ease than those with disabilities. Learners with disabilities will experience difficulties in making use of various levels of elaboration as Craik and Lockhart reasons. They will experience snags in transferring information from one stage to another. In a nutshell the process of information processing is complex and therefore it requires proper learning strategies to make it a success. It requires the best learning strategies that are tied to the needs and interests of students and that are based on varied types of learning styles to enhance maximum learning. [Ekwensi et al, 2006] For instance, before the process of learning begins, a teacher should always aim at gaining the learners attention by using cues to signal when you are ready to begin and keep moving around the class while using voice variations. Always remember to bring to the mind of the learners prior learned content that is relevant to present content. This can be done through a brief discussion or a brief question and answer session aimed at forming a link with the present lesson content. This should be followed by a brief discussion of the main points of what is about to be learned. Learners may also be provided with handouts to get a deeper glimpse of the content. The teaching/learning process should now progress from what is already known to what is not known, from simple to complex. Bransford et al, 2000] The teacher should present the content in chunks while giving the learners opportunities to connect new information to information already known. In order to enhance maximum retaining of the learned content the teacher should also show the learners coding tips, e. g. , through the use of acronyms, simple songs, construction of silly sentences using the first letter of each word in the list and mental imagery techniq ues such as the keyword method. The teacher should also provide repetitive teaching and learning: by stating important points many times using different methods; this helps to build Short Term Memory (STM). [Miller (1956)] Include item on each day’s lesson from previous lesson or even periodically review previously learned skills for building Long Term Memory (LTM). The teacher should also provide enough opportunities for learning and over-learning of important concepts and skills; methods such as daily drills may be applied for arithmetic facts. Huitt (2003)] The teacher should aim at building both STM and LTM. The STM will help to increase the amount of time the learners pay attention to external stimulus and form some meaning out of it. According to Miller (1956) individuals can process up to 7 plus or negative units at any given time, therefore the teacher should aim at helping the learners to identify the most important information to learn at any given time. This can be achieved through proper organiza tion and repetition. To achieve organization the concept of chunking can be applied whereby information will be presented in bits representing units that can be easily remembered. To achieve repetition, the teacher should try to making the learners repeat what they have learned, especially after some time – few minutes (when forgetting begins). The process of learning should also be made sequential, relevant, and transitional. On the other hand, the LTM helps in the recalling of information learned long time ago particularly when such information is arranged and organized using the declarative, procedural, and imagery structures. The declarative memory will help in storing information about things that are talked about in classroom; [Stillings et al, 1987] the procedural memory will store information that touches on ways of doing things practically while the imagery memory will store information inform of images. This program helps to build ‘higher-order-thinking’ and self esteem. In order to build LTM the teacher should apply the ‘Direct Instruction’ method of teaching that provides constant interaction between the students and the teacher. Nonetheless, teachers should make sure that they teach small amount of material in sequential steps, they should make it possible for the learners to use as many of their senses as it is practically possible and that the content material should seek to build on, and enhance the learners’ prior knowledge. The teacher should also make the instructional language more simple but not the content by reinforcing on the main ideas through paraphrasing, repeating, and the use of stimulating learning aids such as charts, maps, and pictures. If possible, the use of technology should be encouraged as learners have been noted to feel free and productive particularly when they are working independently in front of a computer, rather than in crowded classrooms. [Singleton, & Terrill, 1995/96] Conclusions In order to address information processing problems among learners with disabilities, a teacher should understand the common difficulties that they face so as to be able to employ the appropriate learning strategies. Learners with disabilities they experience the inability to manage their time well, they have spelling problems, they cannot follow if the teacher speaks too fast, they are slow readers, they have difficulties in recalling mathematical symbols, and sometimes they may portray impulsive behavior. This calls for a lot of patience on the part of the teacher when dealing with them. To achieve this, the teacher should watch, listen and talk to the learners to establish their strengths and weaknesses, and to use interest-arousing stimulus in the instructional process because learners are more likely to be attentive when the teacher uses a stimulus

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Beethoven Vs. Mozart essays

Beethoven Vs. Mozart essays Ludwig Van Beethoven and W.A. Mozart are the two most important musicians of their time. Their pieces are everlasting and will live on forever. Their styles are so unique and uplifting that they could never be matched. These masterminds played in the same time period but their lives differed tremendously. There are some similarities and many differences between these two but one fact will remain: They are the central and most vital part of all music. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the most prolific and important musical innovators we have ever seen. His style of music helped re-shape music and the Classical period. Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. Mozart was a child prodigy, claiming most success as a youth. At the age of six, Mozart could play the harpsichord and violin, improvise fugues, write minuets, and read music perfectly. At the age of eight, he wrote a symphony and at eleven, an oratorio. Then amazingly, at the age of twelve he wrote an opera. Mozart's fathe r was Leopold Mozart, a court musician. Both Mozart and Beethoven had help from their fathers in different ways. Mozart's father helped him travel around as a young musician and with this he traveled many places and seen many well-known people and aristocrats. With Mozart's early successes came many challenges to his life. He had greater expectations from the community and from his father. Unlike, Beethoven, Mozart was a bit spoiled as a youth and because of this he would not tolerate to be treated as a servant. He completely relied on his father to help him and would not work with the archbishop. This would become a problem when Mozart did not develop enough initiative and could not make decisions on his own. Then, at age 25, Mozart broke free of Salzburg and became a freelance musician in Vienna. This is where Mozart found some success. He wrote, Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, a German opera in 1782. Mozart earned a living giving lessons and holding conc...

Monday, November 4, 2019

APUSH spring terms unit 10 Flashcards Example for Free (#10)

APUSH spring terms unit 10 the transfer of certain powers from the United States Government back to the states; name of President Ronald Reagan’s economic program signed by the US, Canada, and many of the European states in an attempt to improve relations between the Soviet bloc and the West a law intended to check the President’s power to commit the United States to an armed conflict (such as the Vietnam War) without the consent of Congress The United States supported this country’s deposed shah, and its inhabitants retaliated by taking American hostages A communist republic originally led by Josef Stalin; improved relations with the US came with Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev the setting of a partial nuclear meltdown in Pennsylvania; the worst accident in US commercial power plant history a revolutionary government in Nicaragua that allied themselves with the USSR and Cuba a Multinational force was sent here in 1982 to oversee the withdrawal of the Palestine Liberation Organization; in 1983 two truck bombs killed 299 French and American servicemen invaded by the Soviets in 1979 and occupied for 10 years; the invasion caused President Carter to withdraw the Salt II Treaty a country who led by Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, and the US retaliated with Operation Desert Storm which basically consisted of massive air strikes against Iraqi targets proposed by Ronald Reagan to use ground and space based systems to protect the US from nuclear missiles the setting of student-led popular demonstrations in Beijing that led to troops invading the square with assault rifles and tanks that inflicted thousands of casualties (also known as the June 4th massacre) served as secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford; pioneered the policy of detente with the Soviet Union; opened relations with the People’s Republic of China; negotiated the Paris Peace Accords which ended the Vietnam War; received the Nobel Peace Prize Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1969-1986; ruled against Nixon in his attempt to withhold tapes during the Watergate Scandal; also determined the legality of abortion in Roe v. Wade an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the moon released the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times in 1971; a study of top-secret government documents about information withheld from the American people during the Vietnam War presided over the trial of the Watergate burglars; ordered President Nixon to turn over his recordings of White House conversations two journalists that uncovered a system of political â€Å"dirty tricks† and crimes that eventually led to indictments of forty White House and administration officials, and ultimately to the resignation of President Richard Nixon (The Watergate Scandal) the first special prosecutor for the Watergate Scandal; indirectly fired by Nixon for demanding that he release his recordings of the conversations in the Oval office Special counsel to President Nixon; one of the â€Å"Watergate Seven†, those who pled guilty to obstruction of justice for defame Daniel Ellsberg the 37th president of the United States who was the only president to resign from office became Vice President under Richard Nixon after Spiro Agnew resigned; became president after Nixon resigned; only president to serve as both Vice President and President without being elected by the Electoral College; criticized for pardoning Nixon; served under a weak economy and wanted to â€Å"WIN† (Whip Inflation Now) created the Department of Energy; oversaw the signing of the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt; failed to recover hostages during the Iranian Hostage Crisis applied the theory of supply-side economics (if corporate taxes are reduced, those corporations will earn greater profits and then hire more employees, called voo-doo economics by Bush); lobbied Congress for a tax cut for all Americans; greatest success was with American-Soviet relations with Mikhail Gorbachev (â€Å"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall†) campaign focused on â€Å"Read my lips: no new taxes†; criticized for eventually raising taxes as part of a budget agreement with Congress in 1990 President of Egypt; assassinated by fundamentalist army officers in 1971 evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative political commentator; cofounded the Moral Majority a Marine Corps colonel and National Security Council Staff member who was involved in the clandestine sale of weapons to Iran in order to encourage release of hostages held in Lebanon (Iran-Contra scandal) Secretary of State under George W. Bush; first African-American secretary of state he co-founded Solidarity, the Soviet bloc’s first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland Gerald Ford’s running mate in 1976 and the Republican nominee in 1996 against President Bill Clinton established NAFTA, also impeached for perjury during the Lewinsky scandal spent 27 years in prison for â€Å"sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government† in South Africa, and upon his release, he began negotiations with President F.W. de Klerk which led to the removal of apartheid; then elected President of South Africa in 1990 We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy We will write a custom sample essay on APUSH spring terms unit 10 specifically

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Sourcing Process Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sourcing Process Summary - Essay Example In this paper, we evaluate the steps involved in sourcing processes. Furthermore, identify the opportunities and challenges for insourcing versus outsourcing of parts/components domestically and overseas. In conclusion discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of global versus domestic sourcing done. The flowchart having sourcing process steps provided in the appendix 7. Invoice to Payment: Attain of invoices physically or via electronic communications. Process invoices and credit slips, comprising matching invoices with buy orders and securing authentications. In addition, pay suppliers invoices and handle statement of account (Ericsson.com, n.d). Manage category: Analyze the grouping and supplier market condition. Categorize the supplier in accordance with the supplier’s compliance with standard criteria, explicit criteria, and performance (Ericsson.com, n.d). In sourcing, repatriation is challenging same as the timing and coordination that maintain persistence of service, especially with a resource supplier that is losing its industry. A frequent reason insourcing continuity fails is due to under-approximation of the operational variances. Insourcing challenge is that some industries have shifted several operational responsibilities to organizations outside (outsourcing) a country’s boundaries. Outsourcing overseas denies the mother country opportunities to maximize on profit generation and jobs. Insourcing happens when foreign-headquartered corporations institute operations within the country by creating several subsidiaries that provide jobs opportunities (Sarlak, 2010). The nation has the opportunity to stabilize economically due to insourcing. Insourcing domestically creates more opportunity for a country economic growth. Outsourcing challenges such as â€Å"Shirking† happens when a seller intentionally underperforms while demanding full payment.