Course Works on Western Civilization

The rich history of the western culture is one thing   that has always intrigued me. Every moment when we get a chance to revisit our past, we interestingly get to interact with a sudden newness that leaves our perspectives changed in a great manner. This is exactly how I feel when it comes to talking about the civilization which took place in the west. The time span within which the civilization of the west took place saw the introduction of many aspects and ideas. Great minds were revealed and well known philosophers, psychologists and scientists played a big role in determining the face of this period. It is the very moment in the transition of the western image which saw the introduction of many philosophical ideas (Davidson, 2006ss). As a matter of facts, most of these philosophies and ideas   have since been incorporated into many aspects of human life for instance in government leadership and in the constitutions. Before moving on to make any further analysis of what this period comprised, I would like to   note that the importance of what happened during this time may largely depend on the perspective of the people and the influence   it had on them. In line with that, it is not logical to conclude that the period which marked the western civilization was a great and vital   one in its history, not until we lay down the facts that will help confirm this. This discussion shall therefore comprise a discussion of some of the individuals and activities which took place during this period. At the same time, I will seek to explore how these ideas and phenomena changed a number of things and perhaps influenced the current way of things. In a nut shell, the research shall be on western civilization with a special consideration of the period of enlightenment. To begin with, I would like to   say that one of the major periods that has   mostly been used to describe the face of the western civilization is the period of enlightenment. This is the very period which birthed great minds and hence philosophies . The effects of what happened during that time have since been felt and made use of. From a thorough analysis of the historical records, I realized a number of individuals who were instrumental during this time. They include a group of great minds from different countries like, Captain James cook, Montesquieu, Diderot, Voltaire, Bernard de Fotenlle, David Hume, Adam Smith, Rousseau and Mary Astell just to mention but a few. The individuals who I have mentioned above are some of the ones responsible for the great ideas and philosophies which continue to drive this world even long after they are gone. For instance, Voltaire, Montesquieu and Diderot who have been famously referred to as the three French giants played a big role in changing the type of governments in the places where they lived (Furbank, 1992). Their philosophies and ideas were and have still been incorporated in many forms of leaderships as well as the constitution. The theory of the separation of powers and the philosophy of good governance were both founded and supported by these people. In real sense, much of this is what we see in our governments today. This shows how influential these people were and have probably continued to be. In addition to that,   there is the theory of ‘the plurality of worlds’ as well as the concept of the legacy of Locke and Newton. All these took place during the period of enlightenment and such an issue as a new skepticism which was brought about by Bernard de Fontelle changed the perspective of many a people towards the concept of leadership and the general way of understanding and handling the nature of human beings. In addition, the individuals especially the three French giants contributed a lot in the study of the science of man. For instance, Diderot did extensive research and presented accurate findings based on effective studies(Shackleton, 1961). With this, they provided a good basis for the people especially the leaders to understand the dynamics which surround the nature of human beings and the society at large. Other individuals like Adam Smiths were the founders of the great theories of economics. Their ideas were influential in many countries as they helped stabilize the economies of many of these regions during and after   this period.   Perhaps the climax of all these came later on when the period referred to as the ‘later enlightenment’ emerged. Many a philosophers and scientists like Mary Astell and Rousseau introduced a number of theories and ideas for instance the study and understating of the high culture as well as the establishment of the social environment o f philosophies. Furthermore, some other aspects like popular cultures, religion and churches especially during the eighteenth century are some of the pertinent issues which also contributed a lot in shaping the image of western civilization. At this point, certain issues like the punishment of crimes and the forms of government were also revisited (Davidson, 2006). By studying   the involvement of great minds like Fredrick William and by an analysis of the form of government that existed in Russia under Catherine,   one is able to deduce a lot about the transition which occurred over time during this period. The period simply had a lot and much has been confirmed above. It actually deserves the importance with which people have always viewed it. In conclusion, I would like to say that a number of things can be noted above which help emphasize the fact that the western civilization marked one of the busiest periods in the history of the west. Just as I said earlier, many things came up, many ideas were birthed, many philosophies were put across. All of these contributed in shaping a number of aspects both during that time and today. In   a nut shell, western civilization led to a   tremendous transition and perhaps the period of enlightenment can be said to have laid a great foundation to this transition. At this point I feel more convinced and confident saying that contents of these period were many and the analysis of the historical data reveals that that the period actually entailed much and has therefore remained vital in the history of the west. References Davidson, Ian (2006): The Western Culture Grove Press: New York 2006. ISBN 9780802142368. Furbank, P(1992): The Great Philosophers of the Enlightenment Knopf publishers: New York. ISBN 0-679-41421-5 Shackleton, R(1961): Trends in the Western Civilization. (Oxford: Clarendon Press of Oxford University Press,

Increasing the Diversity of Plants - 914 Words

According to the Simpson’s diversity index calculations of all the sites in figure 7, Site 3 had the highest index reading of 0.701 out of 1. With 1 being the highest possible value, it indicates very high diversity while 0; the lowest possible value, indicates no/very low diversity. This suggests that 0.701 is a high reading, indicating high diversity of plant species. The analysis of the first hypothesis ‘There is a direct correlation between the diversity of plant species and the relative humidity at each site’, will help explain why site 3 had the highest diversity index reading when compared to the other sites. To answer this hypothesis, data will be used from graphs in figure 2, 3 and 4. It can be suggested from figure 2, 3 and 4 that the abiotic conditions of site 3 have proven to increase the diversity of plants when compared to other sites. For plant A, according to figure 2, the humidity (rH) decreases from 64% in site 2 to 50.1% at site 3 while the tota l number of plant A increases from 9 in site 2 to 80 in site 3. Even though the diversity of plant A increases with a decreased relative humidity in Lamma Island, this is not supposed to occur in general according to theory as higher levels of relative humidity are supposed to increase biodiversity, not decrease biodiversity. Theory suggests that a higher level of humidity is supposed to decrease the effect of solar radiation while a lower level of humidity is supposed to increase the effect of solarShow MoreRelatedOn the Brink of Extinction Essay878 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Biodiversity is the grand diversity of all life on Earth and the interconnections that support these forms of life. This astonishing diversity supports the human existence by providing numerous priceless resources such as food, fuel, and medicine. Many of these resources can not be duplicated by the human race. For these reasons it is obvious that the environment and the biodiversity that it supports are detrimental to human survival. There is one major problem that is growingRead MoreCoca Cola1381 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch is to be used to evaluate the environmental issues and work force diversity of Coca Cola, also strategies and recommendations on these issues will be explored. Introduction: Jacksonville Consulting LLC is a small firm located in Jacksonville Florida. The President of the firm is Bill Jones and the Vice President is Pamela Smith, At Jacksonville Consulting we specialize in helping companies with environmental and diversity issues. We help provide strategies and provide solutions to allow theRead MorePlant Analysis : Plants And Diversify Our Ecosystems1421 Words   |  6 PagesPlants shape and diversify our ecosystems by providing a number of different resources to the communities they surround. Plant ecology is important for predicting plant distribution and abundance for the maintenance of our ecosystems. Studying plant-consumer interactions yields information on ecosystem and economic stability, as well as community structure that can all lead to a variety of conservation efforts. Herbivory is a driving factor that can be detrimental to plant communities like the spruceRead MoreThe Effects Of Germplasm On Plants And Tissue That Helps Main tain The Breeding And Conservation Essay1213 Words   |  5 Pagesa few cells from a plant (3). It is a living tissue that grows into a new plant (3). National Plant Germplasm System global food is an availability and security for the agricultural production. The importance of germplasms is to produce plants for food, fibers, animal feeds, industrial and medicinal purposes, and for landscape and ornamental uses (4). With the increasing knowledge, many farmers are learning how to plant breeders, increase crop yields, and enhance quality. Plants carry DNA, which isRead MoreThe Progression Of Succession Through Facilitation And Other Species Interactions1370 Words   |  6 Pagesvariations in diversity among the five dunes. The third was to examine percent coverage amongst stages to see how the species are influenced by their environment. A fourth to examine the proportions of grasses and forbs to understand the properties of grasses on late succession. Last, we examined how counts o f focal species change with dune age among herbaceous species and woody species. Results show that organic material increased among different stages of succession. When measuring diversity, by theRead MoreBiodiversity626 Words   |  3 PagesMarine biodiversity tends to be highest along coasts in the Western Pacific, where sea surface temperature is highest and in the mid-latitudinal band in all oceans. There are latitudinal gradients in species diversity. Biodiversity generally tends to cluster in hotspots and has been increasing through time but will be likely to slow in the future. b. bioinformatics-is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data. As an interdisciplinary fieldRead MoreThe Potential Factors Affecting The Environment1107 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween all types of living organisms such as microorganisms, plants and animals available in a particular area covered by natural conditions. The term biological diversity first coined by Norse and Mc Mangus in 1980 (Rawat and Khare, 2010). According to the U.S. Office of Technology Assessment (1987), biological diversity is the variety and variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur. Biological diversity fabricates variability of gene, species and ecosystem (PRead MoreThe Production of Sesame in Ethiopia Essay examples1457 Words   |  6 Pagesrecognized as a cultivated species (Getinet et al. 1998). Even though the origin of sesame is still in debate, Mehra (1967) and Mahajan (2007) considered Ethiopia as th e origin of cultivated sesame. Bedigian (1981) argues that, owing to the wide genetic diversity in East Africa (Ethiopia), it is reasonable to assume that this subcontinent is the primary center of origin and India would then be thought of as a secondary center for sesame. Sesame seed, also known as sesamum, gingelly, benniseed, sim-sim andRead MoreBiodiversity. Biodiversity Is The Variability Among Living1684 Words   |  7 Pagesother aquatic ecosystems. This includes diversity within species, between species, and ecosystems. The three main aspects of biodiversity include genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity levels can change over time due to long-term natural processes including habitat loss. The importance of biodiversity is vital to all life on earth, determining extinction, evolution, and the fate of our planet’s ecosystems. Genetic diversity is the key ingredient from which all otherRead MoreBiological Diversity and the Ways It Can Be Destroyed, Restored and Maintained1223 Words   |  5 Pages For my topic I chose to explore biological diversity and ways that it can be destroyed, restored, and maintained. In class, we were taught that diversity is the number of distinct species of animals, insects, plants, etc. that are living in a particular area. We found out that diversity is greater in the tropics and less towards the poles. This is called the Latitude Diversity Gradient and could be due to one or more of three theories. They are the cradle hypothesis that says the area where species

Making Investment Decision

Questions: Is the company pursuing a valuable opportunity? Is the opportunity a feasible to pursue? Answers: 1. Pursuing an investment opportunity is viewed as a process for disaster. This is because spending resources and time on wrong opportunities would suck an organizations resources and money, with very little or hardly any payback. Therefore, while pursuing an investment opportunity, it is better to assess whether it is valuable or not. In this case, this report aims to determine whether Crew is pursuing a valuable opportunity or not. It also seeks to determine whether the opportunity is feasible for Crew.Co to pursue. To start with, it is clear that Crew.Co is pursuing a valuable opportunity. This is based on the fact that the firm is predicted to generate or get an enormous amount of return from such opportunity. Furthermore, the opportunity that Crew.Com is pursuing is valuable since there is some existing market for the services or opportunity. Also, the company seems to be pursuing a valuable opportunity since venturing into such business would create more value in terms of profit or income generations (Perez, 2014). Further, this opportunity is more valuable since the company charges higher prices as compared to the other players such as Upworks. Hence, there is the probability of receiving higher income on its investment of time, resources, and capital. The opportunity that Crew.Co is pursuing is also valuable since it enables the company to easily venture into this market by simply leveraging its existing strategic assets or competencies (Perez, 2014). The opportunity is also more valuable for Crew.Co. This is mainly based on the notion that though there is hardly any concrete information or data on the possible market of freelance developers and designers, there is relatively huge prospective for apps or website design due to the readily available market. Further, Crew.Co is pursuing a valuable opportunity since given that there are around 54% urbanization, with penetration of 50% internet uses and mobile users standing at 66%, there is a relatively huge chance or opportunity for freelance de veloper and designer. This would also be supported by the fact that numerous firms are now moving into outsourcing meaning that there is a huge amount that this company can tap into by venturing in this opportunity (Crew.Co, 2017). 2. The opportunity is feasible for Crew.Co. This is based on the fact that, the opportunity would help the company to capture the intended target segment of the freelancers from the use of the technology (Nath, 2016). Furthermore, given that different individuals are presented with more options in working remotely as compared to before, the opportunity is a feasible one for Crew.Com. This is supported by the fact that it would assist Crew.Co in leveraging both target segments of the clients as well as freelancers using the platform, designed in matching the clients with the designers. As a result, this would permit the firm to better find more qualified talent in giving solutions to its needs, at a lower cost. Hence, instead of hiring professionals at full-time, Crew.Co might choose to engage those freelancers that are better suited for their specific project (Schrader, 2015). References Crew.Co (2017). Crew: Hire Freelancers Online, Quality Guaranteed.. [online] Available at: https://crew.co [Accessed 11 Mar. 2017]. Nath, T. (2016). Is The Freelance Economy Sustainable?. [online] NASDAQ.com. Available at: https://www.nasdaq.com/article/is-the-freelance-economy-sustainable-cm582016#ixzz4arNzDRfE [Accessed 8 Mar. 2017]. Perez, S. (2014). Freelancer Marketplace Ooomf Becomes Crew, Grabs $2.1 Million. [online] TechCrunch. Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2014/04/10/freelancer-marketplace-ooomf-becomes-crew-grabs-2-1-million/ [Accessed 9 Mar. 2017]. Schrader, B. (2015). Heres Why The Freelancer Economy Is On The Rise | Fast Company | The Future Of Business. [online] Fast Company. Available at: https://www.fastcompany.com/3049532/the-future-of-work/heres-why-the-freelancer-economy-is-on-the-rise [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017].

Building Law Analysis of ACL Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Building Law Analysis of ACL. Answer: Introduction The consumers of any nation are given the protection under the respective consumer protection laws, so that they can be safeguarded from exploitations of different manners. In Australia, the consumer protection legislation is the Competition and Consumer Act, 2010[1] which not only provides the protection to the consumers, but also promotes healthy and fair competition. Under this act, the provisions specifically regarding the consumers are covered under Schedule 2 of this Act and the name given to this schedule is Australian Consumer Law, i.e., the ACL[2]. Since January 01st, 2011, the ACL became applicable and replaced the previous act, i.e., the Trade Practices Act, 1974[3]. The applicability of ACL is widespread and touches any and all such fields where there is a consumer, who needs to be protected[4]. In the following parts, the ACL has been critically analyzed to understand the manner in which thelaw affects the developers selling land, with a particular reference to the provisions of unfair contract terms and misrepresentation. This would help in gaining an insight on the applicability of the provisions on the developers, which have result in penalties being attracted towards the developers. ACL The ACL regulates the unfair terms in the standard form of consumer contracts. The ACL has particular significance for the property developers and is going to have a major impact over the contracts which developers undertake with the individuals. Further, it can particularly have an impact over the off-the-plan sales in such cases where the discretion is provided, in general, to the developer[5]. Unfair Contract Terms Under the ACL, the unfair terms contained under the standard form contracts are unenforceable as they are considered as being void. The unfair terms provisions under the ACL are applicable where the contract is a consumer contract, a standard form contract, and also contains unfair terms. The consumer contract, under the ACL includes such contracts which contain the grant or sale of an interest in land for a person in a whole or in a predominant manner for the household, personal or domestic use. This definition is more than mere covering the sales by the developer, and goes on to include the privileges, powers or rights which are given over the land by a developer[6]. For determining if a particular contract falls in the definition of consumer contract, the key factor is the intention of the purchaser. The selling agents of the developers are required to take the detailed notes regarding the intentions of the prospective purchaser; for instance, the intention to purchase for private or investment purpose. The ACL is not applicable in such cases where the developers make sale to the investors as this does not meet the criteria laid down under the consumer contract definition[7]. The contracts of sale which take place between the individuals and developers would be deemed automatically to be a standard form contract, till the time the court can be convinced by the developer that the case is otherwise. The importance of this stems from the fact that the majority of developers prefer the standard contracts over every development for the consistency, for meeting the requirements of the financiers and for the simplicity for selling agents. In order to comply with the challenges which are presented through the advent of ACL, the selling agents of the developers record the negotiations which take place with the purchasers for showing that the purchaser had an effective and genuine opportunity for negotiation, and due to these reasons, the contract was not a standard form document. It is considered to be in developers best interest to make certain that the purchasers are given the chance for having their attorneys review, as well as, negotiate upon the contract befo re signing it. Even though this delays the signing up process by the purchaser, and also results in additional costs, it helps in limiting the risk regarding the contract being a standard form contract under ACL, effectively making it voidable[8]. The contract of the developer, under the ACL is deemed to be unfair in such cases where there is a major imbalance is caused in the matter of the obligations and rights of the parties; where there is no need of protecting the legitimate interests of the developer in a reasonably significant manner; and where it would result in being detrimental for the purchaser in case reliance was made on such terms. There are a range of clauses in the contract of sale of a developer which can operate in the favor of developer providing the flexibility for completion of the project. However, the imbalance, which favors the developer, has to be significant in nature, for breaching the provisions of the ACL. The courts decide whether the standard industry practices regarding the discretionary terms, completion times and warranties would be deemed as a major imbalance favoring the developer[9]. For determining if a particular term is necessary in a reasonable manner for protecting the legitimate interests of the developers, there may be a need for the developer to provide the evidence regarding the market where they operate, the regulations by planning schemes and councils and the economic factors which the financiers impose which are required for a level of flexibility for such developers. There is a need for the developers to make certain that the contracts provide the required discretion which is necessary for delivering the end product to the purchaser instead of the excessive freedom, which can be deemed as unfair by the ACL[10]. There is a need for the courts to consider the chances of a detriment being caused to the purchaser, the terms transparency, and the entire contract in its entirety. Under the ACL, the examples of what can be deemed as potentially unfair terms. For instance, the avoidance or limiting of performance of the contract; the termination of contract; penalizing the purchaser for breaching or terminating the contract; variations in the contractual terms; renewal or non-renewal of the contract; variations in the upfront prices without the ability being given to the purchaser to terminate the contract; the variations in the characteristics of the interest held in land, unilaterally, to be granted or sold under the contract; the determination of whether or not the contract has been contravened or to interpret the contracts meaning in a unilateral manner; the limiting of the vicarious liability of the developer for the agents; assigning of the contract for the purchasers diriment without getting their consent; limiting of the right of the purchaser to sue the developer; and limiting the evidence which can be given by the purchaser or which can impose certain evidentiary burden on the proceedings by the purchase, in relation to the contract[11]. However, the purchaser does not hold the similar rights against the developer. On the basis of the present circumstances, the different terms of can be deemed as unenforceable and unfair. The terms would not be deemed as unfair in such cases where they define the contracts key subject matter; are expressly permitted or required by the Statelaw or the Commonwealth law; sets the upfront price which is payable based on the contract. The majority of sale contracts of the developers contain the effective provisions for severance, so as to enable the entire contract to proceed in case particular term is unfair and thus void. Though, in case the void term holds such significance which is a major element of the contract and cannot be severed, the contract can become unenforceable. The void term can be of such significance protection that the preference of the developer may be of not proceeding with the contract without such term[12]. Misrepresentation Misrepresentation refers to a false statement being made particularly for inducing a person into entering of the contract. Under the ACL, the provisions regarding misrepresentation can be found in section 29 of the ACL, which relate to the false or misleading representation[13]. There are specific prohibitions under the ACL for making misleading or false representation regarding the goods or services being offered. The specific issues which have been prohibited under the ACL include the misrepresentation pertaining to the standard, quality, sponsorship, warranty or such issues regarding the property. It is crucial for the developers that whole making the sale, they do not make false or misleading representations[14]. For instance, an advertisement states that the agency is the most successful agency and has sold 200 homes in a particular year. Upon a complaint being made by the competitor, the agency was asked to substantiate its claims. However, the agency failed to do so, and it was held that the agency had breached section 29 of the ACL, pertaining to the misrepresentation about the standard, quality, grade or value of the services or goods. Another example of misrepresentation can be seen in the testimonials. The developer was reviewed on the Facebook page; however, this testimonial was not held to be genuine as the reviewer was a friend. Similarly, if an agent pays someone to post fake online review, it would not be treated as genuine testimonial and would be deemed as misleading representation. Under section 4 of the ACL, if a person makes a representation regarding a future matter, without having reasonable grounds for making such representation it would be deemed as misleading[15]. So, it is crucial for the developers to not make promises or give opinion or predictions without having a reasonable basis for the same. Under the ACL, a specific prohibition has been imposed on making the false representation regarding the affiliation or sponsorship regarding land sale; the nature of land interest; the use, characteristics, location, and price of the land; and the arability of facilities on the land. For instance, if an agency advertises a particular house as having 6 green stars and uses the green star logo, when in reality, the rating had never been carried out by the authorized person, would be deemed to have been involved in misrepresentation. Another example can be seen as the developer telling the buyer that the two penthouse apartments would have full water views. However, this view was blocked due to a project which was built closer to the beach. The developer and his selling agents were sued by the buyer and the agents settled the case out of court for a value of $200,000 for each owner. Care also needs to be taken with regards to the misleading representation of the prices. Numerous complai nts are received by ACC regarding the overstating or understating of the prices[16]. Apart from section 29, the misrepresentation provisions under the ACL are also born from section 18, which relates to misleading or deceptive conduct[17]. Under this section, a prohibition has been placed on the developers to not indulge in such a conduct which misleads or deceives the purchaser in a manner where they are wrongly told about something, just to get them to enter into the sale contract[18]. The applicability of this section is on any and all types of communication and conduct, which include the emails, letters, advertising, negotiations, discussions and the like. The conduct which can be deemed as misleading or deceptive includes factually correct information which gives a false impression; concealing or leaving out significant information; making inaccurate or false claims; being silent about material factors, i.e., non-disclosure; intentionally misleading the client; not updating regarding changed information; and not correcting a misunderstanding. In order to avoid m isrepresentation, it is crucial that all material fact is disclosed to the party[19]. The application of section 18 on the real estate agents where the vendors acted on sale of land was seen in the case of Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Limited[20]. This decision was primarily related to the brochure which contained the disclaimer and its effects. The court stated that the conduct had to be deemed as misleading or deceptive when it was capable of inducing or induced error. In this case, the nature of parties, the transaction and the brochure was deemed as relevant. The plaintiff was shrewd and intelligent businessman having a lot of money. The disclaimer was deemed as significant. So, taking into account all these facts, the misleading conduct was not found in this case. This shows that the ACL is not biased towards the purchasers and does not favors the purchasers. The provisions of ACL are such that they safeguard both the buyers and developers in case of a possible case of misrepresentation, particularly through section 18 of this act[21]. In another case which took place in the nation, the court gave the decision in favor of the investors who had purchased the unit off the plan, by believing that a ten year 7% rental guarantee, which was offered by an international hotel chain, as implied in the brochure. This was due to the fact that the guarantee was actually worthless for the reasons of being underpinned through a two dollar company. The parent company was held liable in this case and the judges have the decision in the favor of buyers[22]. An example of conduct which can mislead the buyer can be seen in the pop-up internet ads which come up when the name of company is searched by a person, leading to a website of a different company, where the chances of consumer being mislead are high. Such a case was seen in Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Trading Post Australia Pty[23], where the court held that the defendant used the name of the competitor to trigger their own advertisement on Google search an d this was a misleading or deceptive conduct, under the erstwhile act of Trade Practices Act, 1974, section 52[24]. Conclusion On the basis of the discussion carried above, it becomes clear that ACL is a crucial law in Australia which protects the consumers in each and every sphere. With a particular reference to the developers regarding the sale of land, the provisions regarding the misrepresentation and unfair contract terms are very strict. In the first part of this discussion, the manner in which the ACL governs the unfair contract terms was done. The discussion clarified on the very definitions of consumer contract and what are deemed as unfair terms. When a developer undertakes such acts whereby an unfair term is contained in the contract, the term becomes voidable. However, where such term forms a major part of the contract, without which the contract cannot be fulfilled, the entire contract becomes unenforceable. The misrepresentation provisions in such cases relate to the false or misleading representations and the misleading or deceptive conduct of the developers, whereby the buyer is misled in a m anner, so as to induce them to be a part of the contract. As highlighted through the case law, in such case, the buyer can sue the developer for breaching the provisions of this act. References Competition and Consumer Act, 2010 (Cth) Competition and Consumer Act 2010, sch 2 Trade Practices Act, 1974 (Cth) Stephen G. Corones, The Australian Consumer Law (Lawbook Company, 2nd ed, 2012) Justin Lethlean, Joanne Daniels, Murray Deakin and Travis Payne, Australia: How The New Australian Consumer Law Will Affect Property Developers (11 May 2010) https://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/100132/How+The+New+Australian+Consumer+Law+Will+Affect+Property+Developers Neville Allen and Cameron Sheather, The effect of the New Australian Consumer Law on Property Developers (19 August 2011) https://www.holdingredlich.com/property-real-estate/the-effect-of-the-new-australian-consumer-law-on-property-developers Julian Bailey, Construction Law (CRC Press, 2014) Tom Davie, Tony Earls and Jeremy Coggins, Understanding Construction Law (LexisNexis Butterworths, 2016) Australian Consumer Law, s29 Elizabeth de Stadler, Consumer Law Unlocked (Siber Ink,2013) Department of Commerce WA, Australian Consumer Law (2013) https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/atoms/files/aclagentsmanual2013_0.pdf Legal Vision, A Guide to Misleading or Deceptive Conduct and False Misrepresentation (14 April 2016) https://legalvision.com.au/a-basic-guide-to-misleading-and-deceptive-conduct-and-false-misrepresentations-australian-consumer-law/ Dilan Thampapillai, Vivi Tan and Claudio Bozzi, Australian Commercial Law (Cambridge University Press, 2015)

Heart Of Darkness Essays (537 words) - Congo Free State,

Heart Of Darkness Heart of Darkness is a novel of indescribable horrors and actions that lie outside the human mind. It describes a man's (Marlowe) voyage on a West African river to find an individual, Kurtz. The actual journey truly is towards the "heart of darkness", where it takes Marlowe by evidence of European indignity towards the natives. Marlowe wants to see this land for himself, he does not quite believe in himself of what is indeed there. This story hints at horrors that Marlowe is incapable of describing, which in turn leaves the reader to imagine actions that are outside of normal, everyday life. The voyage that Marlowe has taken has been long and exhausting. It's an adventure for him; he has experienced a great deal of confrontation with the natives, jungle dangers, and brutal savagery. There is no interest of the humans who lie here, for they are extremely mistreated. Yet to them, this is "normal human behavior"; nothing has been done differently. Nowhere did we stop long enough to get a particularized impression, but the general sense of vague and oppressive wonder grew upon me. It was like a weary pilgrimage amongst hints for nightmares. (pg. 79) This describes Marlowe's voyage to the "heart of darkness", the literal heart of darkness, Africa, so to speak. He was fully warned against, and well-aware of the evil he would encounter; however, he chose to ignore that aspect in efforts to satisfy his curiosity. Here, the author is also saying something about human nature in general. Human curiosity about an unknown place can make one cross the line of civilized human behavior and enter a world of "nightmares". Marlowe wanted to see it all for himself; but what made it most fascinating was this land was something he had never experienced before. He knew he would be a "weary pilgrimage amongst hints for nightmares", but he wanted to prove something to himself that could remain doubtable if not seen. There is a persistence and passion by virtue of the human instinct that pushes people to try to grasp the unknown and placate their most deepest desires and questions. To actually see and experience the unknown are the only true ways one will believe. Moreover, this adventure novel can mean a whole different thing. The "heart of darkness" can be a symbolic journey into the dark center of the heart and soul of a human, revealing the concealed evil of one?s own nature and his capacity for evil. It is a psychological exploration of the inner self; it reflects the unconscious self of a human. Ironically, the truth is exposed not in terms of light, but in terms of darkness. As a result, Marlowe doesn't get pulled into this "heart of darkness" for he has the power within; he experiences awareness of his own self obligations and learns many things as a result of this journey. Marlowe learns of his evil capacity. Yet Kurtz falls into the exceedingly large chasm that has grown on the account his"heart of darkness". The Heart of Darkness discusses the fundamental inquisitions of human nature: man's capacity for evil, the effect of darkness and human isolation, and the essentiality to find ones' own salvation. It allows the reader to ponder their own heart of darkness. The story indicates horrors that Marlowe is unable to describe, leaving the reader to imagine actions that lie outside civilized human behavior.

Rhetorical Essay on the Gettysburg Adress and the Pearl Harbor Adress Essay Example

Rhetorical Essay on the Gettysburg Adress and the Pearl Harbor Adress Essay Example Rhetorical Essay on the Gettysburg Adress and the Pearl Harbor Adress Essay Rhetorical Essay on the Gettysburg Adress and the Pearl Harbor Adress Essay Essay Topic: The Pearl Gigi R. English 102 6 oct. 2013 Rhetorical Essay Speeches often correlate, especially when they are written for a similar audience in a similar situation. For example, President Franklin Delano Roosevelts Pearl Harbor Address appeals to Americans fear during the time of war. President Roosevelt states what has happened and how it will in turn affect the citizens of America. President Roosevelt also appeals to logic, stating that because America has been attacked, they must engage in World War II. In addition, President Roosevelt ives confidence to American citizens saying that, once they enter into World War II, they will win. Similarly, President Abraham Lincoln empathizes with American citizens. At this time, President Lincoln addresses Americans who have come together to commemorate the lives that America has lost during the Civil War. He encourages Americans to Join together to remember that these men have consecrated this ground. He encourages Americans to take courage and remember that they are together in a great country, Just as President Roosevelt encouraged Americans to continue to take pride in their country and not to be discouraged. Both President Lincoln and Roosevelt use pathos, or emotion, to empathize with American citizens as well as ethos, or credibility, to be able to point out issues because of their positions as presidents. In the Pearl Harbor Address, Franklin D. Roosevelt uses pathos more than logos or ethos to get to the American citizens emotions. He says, Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave anger, letting the American people know that this is a serious matter and we should be cautious. He ends the speech by saying, With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph so help us God, bringing the peoples hopes back up again that this attack will not go unpunished. He uses a little bit of ethos by stating who he is when he says, As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navvy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the haracter of the onslaught against us. With this statement he lets the people know how important of a roll he has in the situation, that he knows what he is doing, and that he will take care of things. The first example of pathos that he uses scares the citizens about the situation but it also makes them feel as though something should be done about it. The second example brings their confidence back in that they will win this battle. He appeals to their emotions by making them fear awful things will happen if they do not tight back witn the Japanese. He then gives them selt-assurance that it they do go to war, they will be successful. Although ethos is the weakest of the appeals that he uses, he still states his title by establishing that he is the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navvy. This is good because he did not provide any examples of his moral character so his position as president and as commander and chief is what really gives him credibility in this speech. In the Gettysburg Address that Abraham Lincoln gives during the civil war he also uses pathos the most, since its a war and everyones emotions are scattered. He says The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. He speaks about how the soldiers fought and died to create unity in the country. He then says, It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work, which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. By saying this he is trying to motivate the Americans that the country will become unified. In the first example of pathos, Lincoln tugs at American citizens emotions by explaining how the men fought for what they each believed in to try and create a onnected country. In the second example he is trying to motivate the United States to continue to work on the soldiers goal to unify the country. He says, These dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. He doesnt want these soldiers death to go to waste, and the American citizens need to finish what has been started and become a whole again. In both the Pearl Harbor Address and the Gettysburg Address, pathos is the main hetorical point that is used. Since both speeches were by a president during the time of a war, they have several similarities. For instance, because both speeches occur at the height of an American military tragedy, the respective presidents utilize passionate appeals so that the American people feel the heartfelt sorrow and comfort of the Commander and Chief. In addition, these speeches that emphasize pathos have the ability to voice and appeal. They call out for the hearer to respond with greater patriotism. Also, the Gettysburg Address is a turning point for President Lincoln to unite the war torn country. His use of pathos gives him a way to communicate how the county needs healing. President Roosevelts address on Pearl Harbor has the power to move the emotions of Americans into war. Roosevelt pushes the buttons of the citizens on an emotional level to move a county into action. Both speeches encouraging that the county needs to build its self back together and heal. In that way these speeches are timeless examples of the emotional power of the use of pathos in speeches in American history.

Capitalism or consumerism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Capitalism or consumerism - Essay Example Each has a responsibility to ensure advancement and profitability is not at the expense of our societal morality. Before delving more deeply into the issues involved a clear understanding of the principle doctrines surrounding the premise needs to be established. Capitalism is the economic base of a free society. The concept being that private or corporate ownership is a fundamental principal of it. The success or failure of the company is directly tied to the profitability of the entity. As profits increase, reinvestment is made leading to increased productivity and company wealth, within which context; capitalism naturally leads to a personal stake in the company, regardless of whether it is a privately owned company or a corporation. One’s livelihood is directly tied to its success or failure. When in a cultural climate such as this, success is often perceived as material acquisitions and possessions which may lead to devastating consequences. Too often when the goal becomes merely the ‘bottom line’ the path to achieve it becomes secondary and ethical improprieties become frighteningly commonplace. The second key term to define is consumerism. It appears an innocuous term initially. On the surface it is the societal fueling of capitalism. As the consumer buys, companies profit yielding gain and thereby there is further reinvestment of capital. This cyclic compliment of supply and demand defines the free market society. However, when looking deeper into the concept of consumerism it leads to the overwhelming need of the consumer to have, to possess, to buy – materialism supersedes actual need. This accepted reality of a capitalistic society results in the confusion of needs versus wants. How these two principles interact has become the center of much publicity. The ethics of American business and the public’s demand for materialistic gain comes to the forefront in the

New Curriculum from Teaching Tolerance Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

New Curriculum from Teaching Tolerance - Article Example informality incorporates more expression in the article and reflects the author’s ability to connect with the audience, which is primarily teachers in this case. Supporting the arguments with examples e.g. offering learning targets as an example to elaborate how the authors went beyond the literacy standards enhances the understanding of the audience. The article ends with a question for the audience which is an effective way of keeping the sound echoing in the minds of the audience after the article has been read. This article is fairly expressive and yet concise. The contemporary American society is made up of people that belong to a variety of backgrounds in terms of culture, race, religion, and beliefs. Traditionally, the curriculum in American schools has not been customized to address the needs of an ever-diversifying American society. Introduction of the anti-bias education at every grade level is the first and the foremost step to a truly diverse

What Is My Personal Philosophy Of Education Essay

What Is My Personal Philosophy Of Education - Essay Example Students play a vital role in the education process, wherein their responsibility would be to show whether the educational process has been successful or not. The importance of introducing education as a fruitful and enjoyable experience is a challenge that is needed to be overcome by the school, as well as the teachers themselves. If the students were able to have positive experiences with regards to taking their first steps in school, then it is a good thing that happened to them because their instinct of absorbing information has been triggered. However, if these students had the unlikely chance of getting a negative first impression in school, it would stay with them all throughout their lives, and could even affect their attitudes toward education, learning, and life as a whole. In a way, schools become institutions that are able to affect and mold the mindset of the young. Learning institutions as well as the people behind them therefore have the overwhelming task of not just providing education to students in general, but also instilling a set of core values into the young ones, as well as jumpstarting their sense of a continuous se arch for knowledge. Being the representative of the academic institution to students, teachers play a vital role in how students would be responding to the learning process, as well as to education in general.... iding the students with hands-on activities, getting them involved in classroom discussions, as well as giving clear directions and prompt feedback (Martin & Loomis, 2007). By combining the attributes that are exemplified by excellent teaching personality and instructional skills, this makes a teacher effective both in teaching the academic things as well as building character and instilling values among students. Doing so makes the teachers essential components in the effectiveness of the school as an institution that helps in developing the younger generation. Aside from the organization of the school and the traits and characteristics of the teachers, the student also plays a vital role in the education process. While the school could select what and how to teach, it is up to the student on retaining the information that was given (Martin & Loomis, 2007). Students shoulder the responsibility of affirming the effectiveness or lack of it when being taught. At the end of the learning process, the success or failure of this process is dictated by the students’ actions towards education as a whole. For example, in elementary school, students are taught the basics of reading and writing. In order for them to fully understand, the students must also be proactive in retaining what they have learned. They could do this by reviewing the lessons taught for the day, asking teachers for things that they wanted further clarification on, or even trying to answer the study questions found at the end of the chapters of their books. Teachers mostly give examinations in order to assess whether the learning process has been effective or not, and the students have the responsibility of doing their best in examinations, not just to get good grades but also to confirm or disprove the

Case Study: Hunter Douglas Group

Case Study: Hunter Douglas Group This is a case study report to analyse how Hunter Douglas Group manages its human resource planning and how the activities involved in the human resource planning process contributes to the success, as well as to ensure future success, of this large multi-national organisation in line with its corporate vision, mission, core values, strategic planning and objectives. Human resource planning provides the means to accomplish the desired outcomes of the organisation and achieving objectives by ensuring that the organisation has the right number of quality people available to achieve objectives through strategy implementation. This is based on a close working relationship between the human resource practitioners and line managers in each company (business unit) of its decentralised organisational structure. The human resource practitioners serve as consultants to line managers concerning the people management implications of business objectives and strategies. Line managers, in turn, have the responsibility to respond to the business implication of human resource objectives and strategies. We also see that the environmental and contextual changes present a number of competitive challenges to this organization which requires its human resource management to be involved in helping to create and build new capabilities. The challenges include: Globalisation: the challenge is to move peoples ideas, products and information around the world to meet local needs. Technology: the challenge is to make technology a viable, productive part of the work setting Competition: in order to remain competitive and remain as a market leader, Hunter Douglas is aware of the importance of continuous training of its people. Economics: economic growth or lower interest rates cause the increase in spending and often increase in business opportunities. Changes in the labour market has an impact on the organisations ability to find and keep employees Workforce changes and ability to cope with change: these include resignations, terminations, leave of absences, death, change in employment status and retirement The success of a business is directly linked to the performance of those who work for that business and Hunter Douglas Group is fully aware of this as it believes in the power of learning and providing its employees growth opportunities to develop their skills. Hunter Douglas Group acknowledges that its employees commitment is the key ingredient to the Groups continued growth and success. Hunter Douglas Group prides on the diversity and strength of its corporate culture that empowers its employees to build and run the business like their own businesses. The Hunter Douglas Group acts like a federation of entrepreneurial companies who think globally but act locally. The character and creativity of its 21,000 employees in 169 countries worldwide have built the dynamic and entrepreneurial company that the Group is today. With numerous benefits encouraging wellness and a work-life balance, Hunter Douglas Group regards its employees as its most valuable resource which is the key to the Groups success. Background Corporate Mission and Core Values Corporate Mission: Hunter Douglas is the worlds market leader in manufacturing a wide range of innovative and quality architectural and window covering products. Hunter Douglas provides on-time delivery, reliable and friendly service at a competitive price. Its aim is to offer fulfillment to its staff and to secure a reasonable return to its shareholders. Core Values: Customer Oriented Putting customers first Providing reliable and friendly service. Achieving on-time delivery Innovation Seeking continuous improvement and new ideas to create value to our customers Striving for creative ways of doing our work better Teamwork Working together harmoniously to achieve common goals and objectives Integrity Honouring commitments to customers, staff and organisation Being sincere and truthful Communication Showing respect and understanding for each other Being frank, open and receptive Staff Well-Being Providing continuous training and development Recognising good performance Corporate Structure Board of Directors Hunter Douglas Group has a one-tier corporate structure. Under its Charter, the Board of Directors is responsible for the overall management and control of the Company. The Board is appointed by the shareholders at the annual General Meeting. The Board has four regular meetings per year and additional meetings as required. Board members may not be members of more than five boards of public companies. Independence The Board has six Members, of whom four are independent. It acts collectively by majority resolution. Functions The Board reviews the overall strategy, financial objectives, budgets, acquisi ­tions, divestments, capital expenditures, currency and aluminium hedging, port ­folio composition and returns, results and risks in the Companys business. Audit and Compensation Committees The Board has an Audit and a Compensation Committee, whose members are independent. The Audit Committee reviews the Companys accounts, internal controls and meets with the Companys external Auditors twice a year. The Compensation Committee reviews the Directors and Officers compensation and stock options. Chairman, President CEO Mr. Ralph Sonnenberg is Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer. Officers The Board annually appoints the Officers of the Company: the President, the Co-Presidents, four regionally responsible Vice Presidents, two Staff Vice Presidents and a Corporate Secretary. The Vice Presidents and Corporate Secretary report to the President. Financial Reporting In accordance with the applicable reporting principles, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Group. The annual report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Group, together with a description of the principal opportunities and risks associated with the expected develop ­ment of the Group. Major Business Processes A business process is a collection of structured, related tasks or activities which produce a specific product or service which serves a particular goal for customers. The main types of business processes observed in this case study report are Management Processes, Operational Processes and Supporting Processes. Management processes: processes which govern the operation of a system in an organisation. Typical management processes include Corporate Governance and Strategic Management. Corporate Governance The Hunter Douglas Group is incorporated in The Netherlands Antilles and has its statutory seat in Curaà §ao. Hunter Douglas is therefore not subject to The Netherlands Corporate Governance Code. However, Hunter Douglas adheres to good Corporate Governance. The Group has the following key internal controls: Conflicts of Interest Policy The Conflicts of Interest Policy is applicable to all key employees covering relations with customers, suppliers and other third parties. Insider Trading Policy The Insider Trading Policy, as prescribed by the Authority Financial Markets (AFM), restricts trading in the Companys shares by Directors, Officers, key employees and related persons. Internal Audit Function Hunter Douglas principal Operating Companies have an Internal Audit Program. Authority Limits Every Manager, including the Regional Vice Presidents, has clearly defined Authority Limits. Whistleblower Policy Hunter Douglas has a Whistleblower Policy in each and every Company within the Group. Compensation Compensation is reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The Company also follows the best practices: Stock options Stock options are granted for five years with vesting starting after two years. Stock It is not the Companys Policy to provide stock at no cost. Loans Loans to Directors, Officers or other employees bear market interest. There is no forgiveness of principal or interest. Investor Relations Hunter Douglas has an Investor Relations Website, regularly issues press releases and holds analysts and investor meetings. Strategic Management Strategic management is a process through which organizations analyse and learn from their internal and external environments, establish strategic direction, create strategies which are intended to move the organisation in that direction and implement those strategies, all in an effort to satisfy stakeholders, as illustrated in the diagram below: External Analysis (External Environment) Strategic Controls Direction Setting: Generate, Allocate Build Develop Vision Evaluate, and relationships Control Mission and Manage Systems Values Select, Resources Design Strategies Structures Measure and Evaluate performance Internal Analysis (Internal Environment) Strategy Formulation Strategy Implementation and Evaluation Hunter Douglas Group has been successful over the long term because the Group has effectively acquired, develop and manage resources and capabilities that provide competitive advantage. The Group has, over the years, achieved strong brand recognition such as the HunterDouglas ® in North America and Asia as well as for Architectural Products worldwide. Luxaflex ® for residential window coverings in the rest of the world. The Hunter Douglas Group, with its 21,000 employees in 169 countries worldwide, takes advantage of its organisational strengths and environmental opportunities. It continues to neutralise or overcome organisational weaknesses and environmental threats by managing its business processes well and applies best practices. Operational processes: processes which constitute the organisations core business and create the primary value stream. Typical operational processes include Purchasing, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Sales. As a highly decentralised organisation, each company in each region within the Hunter Douglas Group manages autonomous operations with minimum interference and maximum accountability, growing their businesses within the groups entrepreneurial environment following the corporate governance, vision, mission and values. Supporting processes: processes that support the organisations core processes. Examples in this category include Accounting, Recruitment, Technical support. Although highly decentralised, each company in each region within the Hunter Douglas Group has to follow an Internal Audit Program when it comes to financial and accounting matters. Recruitment and Human Resource matters are set in line with the business plan and strategies of each company in each region as well as in line with the directions and corporate governance, vision, mission and values of the Group. Business Strategy Porters Generic Strategies Target Scope Advantage Low Cost Product Uniqueness Broad Cost Leadership Differentiation (Industry Wide) Strategy Strategy Narrow Focus Strategy Focus Strategy (Market Segment) (Low Cost) (Differentiation) Hunter Douglas Groups strategy is to grow the market and the Groups market share by continuing to introduce innovative and proprietary new products and by expanding its presence in key geographic markets. It was observed that Hunter Douglas Group has been successful in using the Differentiation Strategy by having the following internal strengths: Access to leading research and development Highly skilled and creative product development team Strong sales teams with the ability to successfully communicate the perceived strengths and benefits of the product. Corporate reputation for quality and innovation Differentiation Strategy A differentiation strategy calls for the development of a product or service that offers unique attributes that are valued by customers and that customers perceive to be better than or different from the products of the competition. The value added by the uniqueness of the product may allow the firm to charge a premium price for it. The firm hopes that the higher price will more than cover the extra costs incurred in offering the unique product. Because of the products unique attributes, if suppliers increase their prices the firm may be able to pass along the costs to its customers who cannot find substitute products easily. The risks associated with a differentiation strategy include imitation by competitors and changes in customers tastes. Generic Strategies and Industry Forces Industry Generic Strategies Force Cost Leadership Differentiation Strategy Focus Strategy Strategy Entry Ability to cut price in Customer loyalty can Focusing develops core Barriers retaliation deters discourage potential competencies that can act potential entrants entrants as an entry barrier Buyer Ability to offer lower Large buyers have less Large buyers have less power Power price to powerful power to negotiate to negotiate because of few buyers because of few close alternatives alternatives Supplier Better insulated from Better able to pass on Suppliers have power Power powerful suppliers supplier price increases because of low volumes, to customers but a differentiation-focused firm is better able to pass on supplier price increases to customers Threats of Can use low price to Customers become Specialised products core Substitutes defend against attached to differentiating competency protect substitutes attributes, reducing against substitutes threats of substitutes Rivalry Better able to Brand loyalty to keep Rivals cannot meet compete on price customers from rivals differentiation-focused customer needs Relationship With External Entities In order to remain successful and continue to expand its market share, Hunter Douglas Group has learned to develop and manage relationships with wide range of organisations, groups and people that have a stake in their business. The emergence of a fiercely competitive global economy means that the companies within the Hunter Douglas Group have to expand their networks of relationships in their region and cooperate with each other to remain competitive. Education Hunter Douglas Singapore team up with the National University of Singapores Department of Architecture to organise the NUS-Hunter Douglas Award for the innovative use of technology in Architecture. Hunter Douglas Group has developed multi-level training and education programs for its fabricators, retail dealers, professional designers and installers. It holds consumer seminars to help prospective buyers under ­stand the importance of window coverings for home fashions and for light control and energy efficiency. It provides training seminars and hands-on workshops for retailers, designers and installers, which includes CD-Roms, videotapes and web-based instructions, through ­out the world. It has created the industrys first and only formal Retail Alliance Program, offering its very best dealers a choice of tiered partnership options that reward their brand loyalty with lucrative business-building benefits, including financial incentives and exclusive products and programs. Through Hunter Douglas Group exclusive partnership with Archiprix International, it builds relationships with the next generation of architects as they begin their careers after college. With Hunter Douglas Groups support, Archiprix organises a biennial international com ­petition for the best graduation projects in architecture. Finalists travel to a host city with hundreds of architects from around the world where an independent jury evaluates the student entries and recognizes the most outstanding work with the Hunter Douglas award. Hunter Douglas Singapore was conferred the Singapore Institute of Architects Friend of Architecture Award in recognition of the companys contribution to Architecture in Singapore and its continuous support for the Singapore Institute of Architects. Its Windows of Opportunity seminar on the use of window fashions in interior design reaches more than 2,500 design school students and designers in major United States markets each year. At the Fashions Institute of Technology in New York and other leading design schools, Hunter Douglas provides design students with industry overviews and a business perspective through teaching opportunities. At the renowned Pratt School of Architecture, Hunter Douglas has sponsored design studio projects that challenge students to envision new and novel ways to integrate its products and materials into architectural structures. Corporate Citizenship Hunter Douglas Group actively supports the com ­munities in which they live, work and do business. Decisions about which causes to support and the form that support takes are made locally by the management in each country. It provides window coverings to hospitals, research centres and healthcare facilities around the world. It supports educational opportu ­nities for the families of its staff and less privileged members of our communities. In the United States and Canada, Hunter Douglas sponsors Habitat for Humanity, donating custom window cover ­ings for the homes Hunter Douglas has built for low-income families since 1993. Hunter Douglas employees have also contributed thousands of hours in sweat equity assisting with the building of these homes at the local level. Hunter Douglas stimulates students awareness of its products and encourage their creativity through competi ­tions in which they are judged upon the innovative application of its products in their design projects. Hunter Greenà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ and Keen on Green are important new company-wide environmental initiatives being undertaken by the Hunter Douglas branded compa ­nies to reduce energy consump ­tion, water usage and its overall carbon-footprint. It also includes an ongoing consumer marketing effort creating increased aware ­ness of Hunter Douglas corporate commit ­ment to the cause as well as the superior energy-saving benefits of its products. The Process of Human Resource Planning in the Organisation Manpower Planning Manpower planning is a process of getting the right number of qualified people into the right job at the right time. It is a system of matching the supply of people internally, who are the existing employees, and externally, potential talents to be hired or searched for, with job openings which the Group expects to have over a given time frame. This planning requires the human resource departments in the Group to prepare an inventory of skills and talents already available as well as coordinating and controlling various activities in the Hunter Douglas Group. Manpower planning involves reviewing current manpower resources, forecasting future requirements and availability as well as taking steps to ensure that the supply of people and skills meets demand. It utilises the concept of planning to visualise how the Hunter Douglas Group can go through the allocation and control of its manpower resources in a better manner. It is also a tool for higher management to equip themselves with the necessary data on its human resources available immediately within the Group and from outside, when the need arises to meet markets demand. Manpower Planning Model Forecast Demand Forecast Supply Considerations: Internally Product/ Service demand Staffing tables Economics Balance Supply and Demand Markov analysis Technology Skills inventories Financial resources/ limitations Recruitment (Shortage) Management inventories Absenteeism/ turnover Full-time Replacement charts Organisational growth Part-time Succession planning Management philosophy Recalls/ transfers Overtime Externally Techniques: Outsourcing Demographic changes Trend analysis Reductions (Surplus) Education of workforce Managerial estimate Terminations Labour mobility Delphi technique Layoffs Government policies Leave without pay Unemployment rate Outplacement Demotions Retirement Factors Economic Competition Government action Organisational Divisional Skills and Historical Data Objectives Department abilities Nature of company Objectives required Skills Inventory Net human resource Types, numbers, requirements Human Resources Negative: Layoff, terminations, resignations, retirement Manpower planning, as observed in the Hunter Douglas Group, consists of the following steps: Identify the Groups objectives and strategies which are stipulated in the business plan and from the strategic planning processes of the companies within the Group. Determine the impact of the organisations objectives on specific organisational units. For this purpose the cascade approach can be used, whereby the organisations long term strategies are translated into the shorter term performance objectives and time schedules per division and department. Define the skills, expertise and total number of employees (demand for human resources) required to achieve the organisation and department objectives by using the different statistical methods and managerial estimates. Perform an analysis of the Groups current human resources. By doing a skills inventory will shed light on the number of current employees in terms of their different competencies, skills, training levels, qualifications, work experience, etc. Determine the additional (net) human resource requirements in light of the Groups current human resources. Develop action plans to meet the anticipated human resource needs which may include a comprehensive succession plan for each department, resultant recruitment strategies, the design and implementation of managerial development and other training programs, making available bursary schemes for current participants who may eventually fill scarce positions, designing compensation packages to attract and retain quality staff. The key activities of Human Resource Management carried out by both line managers and the Human Resource practitioners in the Hunter Douglas Group are: Organisation Organisation structuring: developing an organisation which caters for all the activities required, groups them together in a way which encourages integration and cooperation. Job design and role specification: deciding on the contents of the jobs which involve the employees duties and responsibilities and the relationships that exist between job holders and other employees within the Hunter Douglas Group. Organisational development: stimulating, planning and implementing programmes designed to improve the effectiveness with which the organisation functions and adapts to change. The employment relationship Improving the quality of the employment relationship Creating a climate of trust and self propulsion Developing a more positive psychological contract Achieving a highly committed organisation Resourcing Human resource planning: assessing future people requirements in terms of both numbers and all levels of skill and competence. Formulating and implementing plans to meet those requirements through recruitment, training, development, etc. Recruitment and selection: obtaining the number and type of people the organisation needs Performance management Getting better results from the companies, teams and individuals by measuring and managing performance within agreed frameworks of objectives and competence requirements; assessing and improving performance. Human resource development Organisational and individual learning Skill improvement through systematic approach to training Reward management Job evaluation: assessing the relative size of jobs as a basis of determining internal relativities Pay: developing and administering pay structures and systems Non-financial rewards: providing employees with non-financial rewards e.g. recognition, increased responsibility and opportunity to achieve and grow. Employee benefits: providing benefits in addition to pay which cater for personnel security and personal needs Employee relations Employee relations involving managing and maintaining formal and informal relationships with trade unions and their members Employee involvement and participation which means sharing information with employee and consulting them on matters of mutual interest Communication: creating and transmitting information of interest to employees. Health, safe

Gun Control in Canada Essay -- Research Papers

Gun Control in Canada Gun Control is an important issue to Canadians. Canada has both provincial and federal legislation that restricts the sale, purchase, and use of different kinds of firearms. The United States, on the other hand, do not have federal or state bills restricting the possession or use of firearms, only local laws exist there. A firearm consists of any barreled weapon from which a shot, bullet or other missile can be fired and that is capable of causing serious bodily harm or death. Society’s concerns about protection from violent crimes involving firearms have encouraged Canadian Parliament to pass tougher gun control legislation. The Federal Government responded by passing Bill C-68 that created the Firearms Act, which came into effect in December of 1998. This is by far the strictest gun control law to date. Many Canadians objected to this legislation and wanted it repealed because they believe it is an unnecessary waste of tax dollars to further license and monitor law abiding gun owners. Firearm laws have become an extensive debate in society and also politics. Politicians from western provinces and rural areas are opposed to these stricter laws because there is a more widespread acceptance and use for guns around them. On the opposite side are politicians from urban areas where crime rates are higher, who embrace the new harsher gun control laws as one solution to violent crimes. There are many pros and cons to the recently passed Firearms Act to control guns in Canada. Severe gun control laws do not limit crime sufficiently enough and it is not worth the government money being spent on it. Government intervention in the licensing of firearms in Canada first took place in 1892. Prior to 1892 all ... ...t: http://gateway.ontla.on.ca/documents/statusoflegOUT/b133_e.htm Dickinson, G. M., Liepner, M., Talos, S., & Buckingham, D. (1996). Understanding The Law (2nd ed.). Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. History of Firearms Control in Canada up to and including the Firearms Act. (1998, December 23). [Online]. Available Internet: http://cfc.gc.ca/historical/firearms/firearms_control.html Phasing-in Plan of Firearms Act 2000-2003. (2000, March 7). [Online]. Available Internet: http://cfc.gc.ca/legal/phasing/default.html Reference re Firearms Act (Can.): Supreme Court Decision. (2000, June 15). [Online]. Available Internet: http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/cscscc/en/pub/2000/vol1/texte/2000scr1_0783.txt Too young for guns. (2000, August 8). Toronto Star, p. B4. Ward, J. (2000, July). Crime rate drops to 20-year low. Hamilton Spectator, p. D5.

Proposed Personality Groups: Compliant, Aggressive & Detached Essay

Compliant Individuals: According to Karen Horney compliant individuals are those who move towards others. Social belongingness is very high between compliant individual. They usually desire to be loved, wanted and appreciated. Compliant type has dominant needs associated with ‘moving towards people’. They work to please others. Compliant personality trait likes to comply with the rules and regulations. This means that they are usually very systematic, precise, hyper efficient and technical. These people love facts and detail, the more the better. Ex: iPhone 5s iPhone 5S is a smartphone developed by Apple Inc. It is part of the iPhone line, and was released on 2013. This smartphone tries to communicate message with their valuable consumer that their product and its features (apps, user interface, multi-touch gestures etc.) are more specific, attractive, and superior then the competitors. Because of its unique features and better quality it is the most hunted smartphone for the individual who wants to stay in touch of technology. iPhone 5s providing variety of facilities to its consumer such as Apple App Store, Apple Maps, iTune Store and so on which specified them from other smartphone. By using this phone a man become more noticeable to others. This product fulfills an individual’s desire to be wanted and appreciated. Aggressive Individuals: Aggressive individuals are those who move against other. Aggressive has dominant needs associated with ‘moving against people’. They seek to be the best. These types of individuals want to prove that they are ‘Better than Others’. Individuals of this personality traits desire to excel and win admiration. The interests of the Aggressive personality types include being the boss, wielding power, competing with confidence, never backing away from a fight, being active and adventurous, being physically assertive and competitive in sports. Ex: TVS Apache RTR This is the advertisement of TVS Apache RTR 150 motorcycle which was released on 2012. TVS Motor Company Limited which is part of TVS Group manufactures motorcycles, scooters, and auto rickshaws in India. TVS Motor Company  Limited used aggressive approach in this ad to convince their consumer. This advertisement is usually made for the biker who loves speed. They add the taglines ‘NOT FOR WEAK-HEARTS’ & ‘SCARILY FAST’ to attract the biker who loves speed. TVS also highlight here that they use Racing Throttle Response (RTR) technologies and this bike does 0–60 km speed acceleration within 5 seconds. By introducing those concept TVS auto wants to communicate with their target market that they are manufacturing the best 150 cc bike in India. Detached Individual: Detached individuals are those who move away from others. Detached has dominant needs associated with ‘moving away from people’. Such an individual seeks independence, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and individualism of freedom form obligations. They usually try to promote their self-independence. Ex: Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk Some of the ads like the Dance Troupe ad for Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk clearly target detached consumers. In the ad a member of a dance group is shown busy eating a Silk just before her stage performance. She has spoiled her face and is already late for entry on stage but she is lost in her own world. Cadbury’s ‘Khane-Walo-Ko-Khane-Ka-Bahana-Chahiye’ tagline stands out once again as it is aimed at the compliant individuals who are hesitant to break away from the societal rules. The message conveyed in the ad helps them come to terms with the idea of eating chocolate anytime anywhere based on their urges without caring for what others think. The protagonists break rules and societal boundaries to get what they desire, the desire being the Chocolate bar here. This ad is promoting self-independency, self-sufficiency and the freedom of detached individuals.

Using Visual Basic VBA with HTTPS and SSL

Using Visual Basic VBA with HTTPS and SSL Is it possible to access web pages with HTTPS and that require login/password using Excel? Well, yes and no. Heres the deal and why its not so straight forward. First, Lets  Define Terms HTTPS is by convention the identifier for what is called SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). That doesnt really have anything to do with passwords or logins as such. What SSL does is set up an encrypted connection between a web client and server so that no information is sent between the two in the clear using unencrypted transmissions. If the information includes login and password information, encrypting the transmission protects them from prying eyes...but encrypting passwords isnt a requirement. I used the phrase by convention because the real security technology is SSL. HTTPS only signals to the server that the client plans on using that protocol. SSL can be used in a variety of other ways. So...if your computer sends a URL to a server that uses SSL and that URL starts with HTTPS, your computer is saying to the server: Hey Mr. Server, lets shake hands over this encryption thing so that whatever we say from now on wont get intercepted by some bad guy. And when thats done, go ahead and send me the page addressed by the URL. The server will send back the key information for setting up an SSL connection. Its up to your computer to actually do something with it. Thats key (pun...well, sorta intended) to understanding the role of VBA in Excel. The programming in VBA would have to actually take the next step and implement the SSL on the client side. Real web browsers do that automatically and show you a little lock symbol in the status line to show you that it has been done. But if the VBA just opens the web page as a file and reads the information in it into cells in a spreadsheet (a very common example), Excel wont do that without some additional programming. The servers gracious offer to shake hands and set up secure SSL communication just gets ignored by Excel. But You Can Read the Page You Requested in Exactly the Same Way To prove it, lets use the SSL connection that is used by Googles Gmail service (which starts with https) and code a call to open that connection just like it was a file. This reads the web page like it was a simple file. Since recent versions of Excel will import HTML automatically, after the Open statement is executed, the Gmail page (minus the Dynamic HTML objects) is imported into a spreadsheet. The goal of SSL connections is to exchange information, not just read a web page, so this is normally not going to get you very far. To do more, you have to have some way, in your Excel VBA program, to support both the SSL protocol and maybe to support DHTML too. Youre probably better off starting with the full Visual Basic rather than Excel VBA. Then use controls like the Internet Transfer API WinInet and call Excel objects as needed. But it is possible to use WinInet directly from an Excel VBA program. WinInet is an API - Application Programming Interface - to WinInet.dll. Its mainly used as one of the major components of Internet Explorer, but you can use it directly from your code as well and you can use it for HTTPS. Writing the code to use WinInet is at least a medium difficulty task. In general, the steps involved are: Connect to the HTTPS server and send an HTTPS requestIf the server asks for a signed client certificate, resend the request after attaching the certificate contextIf the server is satisfied, the session is authenticated There are two major differences in writing the WinInet code to use https rather than the regular HTTP: You should also keep in mind that the function of exchanging a login/password is logically independent of encrypting the session using https and SSL. You can do one or the other, or both. In many cases, they do go together, but not always. And implementing the WinInet requirements doesnt do anything to respond automatically to a login/password request. If, for example, the login and password are part of a web form, then you might have to figure out the names of the fields and update the fields from Excel VBA before posting the login string to the server. Responding correctly to a web servers security is a big part of what a web browser does. On the other hand, if SSL authentication is required, you might consider using the InternetExplorer object to log in from within VBA... The bottom line is that using https and logging into a server from an Excel VBA program is possible, but dont expect to write the code that does it in just a few minutes.

Comparing Themes Essays

Comparing Themes Essays Comparing Themes Essay Comparing Themes Essay The innovative and powerful structure of As I Lay Dying is beneficial to the themes William Faulkner is attempting to intertwine with his characters. A worthy note to his writing is his use of stream-of-consciousness narrative to assist in achieving his goal of portraying perspectives of the same events through different people and levels of emotional and logical intensities. Darl Bundren is the first and most important narrator of the fifteen due to his elaborate descriptions. His version of events seemed to be the easiest to interpret and the least subjective. Another significant character to the novels dynamics is Jewel who partook is several of the main events in the novel.Faulkners need for fifteen individual narrators suggest his need for fifteen different views of every situation. From Darl he obviously wants a character that is more isolated from the others that will be able to mediate between the hectic events of the characters and the understanding o f the reader. Jewel on the other hand brings out the more disturbed side of Faulkners imagination. He is the illegitimate child of Addie and the minister giving him a predisposed sense of being an outcast. His neurotic qualities include being impatient and ill tempered although his love for horses represents a more gentle side. These characters, when compared, often represent far extremes of perspective although the also show similar ideals on the subjects of luck and fate, honor and dishonor, as well as life and death.The Bundren family is extremely underprivileged in all aspects of living. Tough times have fallen upon them and they survive on a meager income and they scrape together odd end jobs. Jewel and Darl are going to miss their mothers death for three dollars to transport lumber. The family lives in an everlasting state of need, always short of cash. Darl most likely views the family situation as being more fate then a matter of luck and Jewel more as bad luck. Darls passag es possess intense imagery and metaphor that suggest his more accepting view of his mothers death and the wagons broken wheel. Jewel, on the other hand, most likely accepts the job of transporting lumber more willingly then Darl because he knows that one must make there own luck and in this case there own money.Darl believes the families poverty is more predisposed to them rather then subject to change by going out of their way. Another example of Darls perspective of fate is when he burns down the barn to try and end the familys struggle to try and bring their mother to her burial site. He accepts his mothers death as a part of life and wishes to be done with the unnecessary hardship. Darl saves the coffin from floating down stream when they are on their journey to Jefferson and he saves her from the burning barn, other attributes Faulkner adds to give Jewel a stronger sense of luck over fate. He could have known that fate caused is mothers coffin to almost float away.On the matter of honor and dishonor the two think fairly similar. They both take their family duty seriously and strive to hold the family together. Darl is the only character that knows that the minister conceived Jewel, and he manages to withhold this from the other in order to not divide the family, especially at such tribulating times. They also both hold honor in different things. Jewel had a deep love of horses and when Anse sells his horse to buy mules he is deeply sadden and angry about the loss of his cherished horse.When Darl is swept away to the asylum he as completely lost his mind, almost out of convenience to appease the family. Thought the novel he was the isolated brother who was more intelligent, and with mother buried and the journey almost complete they find little need for his presence. He served his family with honor and was attempting to distinguish of the corpse to remove her burden from the family.It is most obvious that Darl has an acceptance for death that none of the o ther have the intelligence to understand. He repeatedly asks Jewel if he realizes that Addie is going to die and he is unable to grasp it. The journey is tough on the family and Darl truly sees no point in transporting the body to a gravesite where Addies family is buried when the odor the body is giving off is so unbearable. To the other characters he almost seems insane because he is so accepting of death. Jewel especially seems ignorant to the idea of his mothers death even after she has passed away.Collectively the characters of As I Lay Dying provide a complete account of Faulkners story. Jewel and Darl especially allow Faulkner to look at opposite extremes of the events the novel includes. Although the two often clash in their actions, they ultimately form a team to give the novel its abstract feel.

Journalism and Communication - Black Henna Research Paper

Journalism and Communication - Black Henna - Research Paper Example The media recently has had reports concerning the use of henna and demonizing almost all the types of henna in use presently. But it is worth noting with great concern that not all the henna in circulation today is not harmful to the users. Among the reported side effects of the henna are occurrences of sore skin, the continuous irritation of the skins and to some extents the complete damage and death of skin by drying up due to dehydration. Most of the issues of health safety are majorly common in relation to the black henna which is reported as having a chemical referred to as PPD which contains iron oxide a highly toxic chemical to the human skin with banns in the US and many other countries around the globe. Due to the chemical components of the black henna it offers detrimental ,biological effects to the human skin some of whom use the products without the knowledge of their adverse effects and the possible remedies out of the situations. Historically it is reported that the black henna has been having components of high fecal matter, lead ,bacteria’s and colorants which have been great sources of bad health and to some extent even leading to the loss of lives of humans. The supreme council of health enacted their ban on the use of these beauty products due to their general effects to the human health and the well being of human skin. The effects may be instantaneous, however in certain circumstances the effects are residual and may occur after a long duration of time later on in the lives of an individual. The ban of the use of the black henna is not only in the middle east but the government of the USA also effected a ban on the product ,both the black and the red henna by the customs. Unfortunately some of the products still find their way into the country as imports for use and large scale sales. Some of the elements of the black henna are have oxidants which great affect the red blood cells which do not have G6PD with the inability to fight the effects of these products. Due to the very critical purpose of the red blood cells for the transportation of oxygen in the human body, when the henna becomes extremely high, the ability and the functional ity of the red blood cells become compromised hence can lead to death due to the compromising of the brain of the very necessary and adequate amounts of oxygen to support the functions of glycol sis of the brain. Cases of deaths from the use of black henna in the Emirates have been there ever since the early years. However due to some kind of secrecy within the culture of these people and the high male chauvinism, the cases have not been properly documented or reported for further and in-depth analysis and investigation. However recently there was a wide rumor of a girl who died after the over use of the black henna and the rumors about her death were reported to have been due to the adverse effects of the use of this product for a prolonged time span. Some cases of deaths due to the poisoning from black henna were equally reported in the Qatar and this subsequently lead to directives from the governments for the immediate sanctions and closures of all the salons involved and practi cing similar business. Governments of the most of the middle east countries like Egypt ,The Emirates and Saudi Arabia have had to take drastic measures through their ministries of

What is globalization, and what are some of the traditional Essay

What is globalization, and what are some of the traditional international trade theories that support the concept of globalization - Essay Example Vincent points out that the present form of globalization is defective as it is largely shaped by the rules made by the superpowers and that is why these rules do not necessarily benefit the developing countries. (Friedman 1992). Globalisation has come to involve a delocalization of business activities which previously involved face-to-face interaction, or that were local, due to long distances. This significant delocalization has occurred in the social and economic exchanges and cultural barriers have been accordingly broken). Business and commerce has taken the most effect from this phenomena as the internet has proven to be a tool on Globalisation as e-commerce has revolutionized the entire business scene and broken the notion of geographical boundaries. Globalisation brings with it low costs and through better networking and transport better business networking is possible.The cost of disseminating information has reduced due to the advent of instantaneous

MANAGING PEOPLE AND PERFORMANCE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

MANAGING PEOPLE AND PERFORMANCE - Essay Example 59). This, therefore, means that 70% of the BPR initiatives do not see the light after the fifth year of implementation. Several scholars have defined this strategy as a model of radical redesign of business processes sand organisational change that is primarily based on recognising and discarding current business operations and starting afresh again (Hammer, & Champy, 2009, p. 36). Business process reengineering is an important aspect especially in the ever-changing business environment. It helps an organisation to keep track of changes in its environment of operation (Hammer, & Champy, 2009, p. 33). Most organisations that have pursued this course are considered innovative since BPR efforts are geared towards change. This strategy has led to the emergence of Business Process Management model that has changed the way organisations are managed (DeToro, and McCabe 1997, p. 56). BPR is a good strategy for organizations that evaluates their productivity by closely looking at the business processes and thinking about the best way to streamline them for the better performance. This strategy consists of many drivers that are utilised during implementation. According to Zairi (1997, p. 76) the drivers include globalisation, advancing technology, stakeholders’ actions, organisational boundary erosion, and regulation. Some scholars who have provided useful insights into this strategy have argued that BPR lacks the relevant coherent theoretical framework that provides more insight on implementation. Today global competition brought change in the management styles of many organisations. It is one of the tools used in competition in the business environment. BPR creates one important advantage i.e. improving the measures of performance such as costs, service, customer satisfaction, speed, and productivity (Zairi, 1997, p. 78). This brings a major change internally and

Game and Basketball Essay Example for Free

Game and Basketball Essay Have you ever wondered what basketball is like? Basketball can vary from being very intense and physical, while other time it is very easy. Basketball is a very exhausting sport. You can feel your muscles being pulled in every direction. You feel like you cant move when the season first starts. During a gamer you can hear the crowd cheering you on. You can smell the popcorn all around the gym as people eat it. You can feel the sweat pouring down your face as you run up and down the court. Your feet start to ache as you run. When you hear the buzzer at the end of the game, you look up to see how many points are on the board. Many players struggle to get the ball during a jump ball. When players are hit hard during a game, the referee will call a fould. Basketball gives people this unknown amount of energy during a game. When your in the stands during a game you can feel the excitement coming from all of the fans. Basketball can be played inside or outside. You can find most teens around here playing it almost all of the time. If you want to be good at the sport you need to have a passion for learning it. Basketball is an excellent way to get in shape or to stay in shape. Basketball will always be a sport to play no matter what season it is. If you look in a gym at a school you should find a court and hoops. Basketball is a way to keep you out of trouble. When you sweat, it runs down your face into your eyes and makes them burn like crazy. Basketball could be a wonderful sport for everyone to play, but many will not play the sport. Basketball is played worldwide. It is played in almost every country. Basketball will be around for many centuries to come. Almost everyone enjoys the sport, whether they are playing or watching. Basketball has been passed down to different generations through out the years. It has had the rules of it changed many times. Basketball is even an excellent way to make memories with your friends. Basketball will be passed on until the end of time, well at least it might be.