Censorship and Banned Books Essay -- Sensorship Literature Ban

Censorship and Banned Books "Books are dangerous. They make you thinkÂ…feelÂ…wonderÂ…. They make you ask questions (Weiss p.2)." At the present time, at least seventy-five books are being banned. This is hurting our culture more than it is helping. This has to be stopped; books cannot be taken off of the shelves at the rate that they are today. The books that are being taken off of the shelves are, for the most part, considered classics. The act of book banning puts limitations on what authors can say, and what readers can read (Dorshemer p.1). The banning of books in America is a violation of our first amendment rights. Amendment 1 of the United States Constitution states as follows: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievance (Dorsheimer p.1). As long as humans have sought to communicate, others have sought to prevent them. Everyday someone tries to restrict what can be said, written, sung, or broadcast. Almost every idea ever has proved to be objectionable to one person or another. Books, especially public and school library books are among the most visible targets. Books are of often challenged due to an individual or group of individuals considering the book to be controversial, immoral, inappropriate, sexually explicit, divisive, corrupt, vulgar, violent, or even wicked (Weiss p. 2.) Unfortunately, among the most banned books are some of the best loved modern classics. But by far the most common type of censorship involves books quietly disappearing from libraries. Sometimes a parent ... ...rion to nail down in real life with real children (Miner)." Issues of age appropriateness are most common in elementary and middle schools. Teachers, parents, and the courts have generally recognized that the older the student, the more that student has "the right to know." Of the questions about age-appropriate material, the one that schools in the early elementary classroom seem least prepared to deal with, in part because it is relatively new, is the controversy over discussion of gay and lesbian families. Banning books not only violates our rights, it also puts our society in danger of not thinking for ourselves Books must be put back on our shelves for all to enjoy. As Goethe once said, "There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance (Weiss p.2)." Books are not what we should be scared of; it is the people who try to take the books away from us.

Physics of a Mountain Bike Essay example -- Physics Papers

Physics of a Mountain Bike This paper will discuss some of the physics involved in bicycles. Specifically, mountain bikes with suspension. A bicycle is a very energy efficient vehicle. Its wheels allow its rider to make full use of inertia and gravitational potential energy. The basic design of a bicycle has been around for over 100 years and compared to other things, has changed very little. Some of the topics that will be covered are: frames, wheels, suspension forks, suspension frames, brakes and how all these things affect speed, momentum and stability. Some of the key parts of any bicycle are the frame, forks and wheels. The most common type of bicycle frame is known as the double diamond. It is called this because if you look at the frame, it is diamond shaped with 2 smaller triangles forming the front and rear. This designed has endured because it is easy to build, strong and efficient. The tubing that a frame is made with is usually round but can be many different shapes even on the same bike. The reason for this shaping is to increase the rigidity or improve the ride quality. For instance, the sloping tube that goes from the front of the bike to the pedal junction of the frame is sometimes ovalized along the horizontal axis at the pedal junction to make the frame flex less side to side. Frames have been made from many materials including wood, steel, aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber just to name a few. Each of the materials have a strength to weight ratio, tensile strength and cost of production that must be taken into accou nt before deciding which will work best. For example, when a frame made of beryllium was introduced, the strength to weight ratio was very high. The weight was extremely low but the cost wa... ...etty. The faster you go, the smoother it gets and the greater the force required to stop. Mass times velocity is not fun when applied to a crash. Mike Farrentino in an article in Bike magazine says, â€Å"The faster you go, the longer the crash, the greater the force of the impact. Seconds seem like hours, and the clatter and gasp and thud of cart wheeling bike and body parts is not a sound easily forgotten. †¦In spite of this, whatever any of us say, we all want to go fast†¦.Momentum is the secret key to the universe. It is the rush of joy. It is the heavy hand of gravity. It is the grin of a child, feet off the pedals, bombing downhill on a tricycle.† Sources Bike magazine: volume 10, number 2 March 2003 Bloomfield, Louis A : How things work, the physics of everyday life, 1997 Kirkpatrick & Wheeler: Physics, a world view, third edition, 1998 www.howstuffwork.com

How Useful is Bakhtin’s Concept of Carnival?

Bakhtin Mikhail Mikhailovich (1895-1975) was Russian philosophist, literary critic and the theorist of art. He is a representative of Russian Structuralism and his historical and theoretical researches on epic and novel literature are important for understanding of the cultural development. Mikhail Bakhtin was one of the first theorists who investigated the polyphonic form of the novel ( «Problems of Dostoyevsky's Poetics », 1929) and folk â€Å"laughing† culture of the Medieval Ages ( «Rabelais and his World, 1965).He is also an author of the essays  «The issues of literature and esthetics » (1975) and â€Å"On the philosophy of the act† (1986). He was the first who use the concepts of dialogism (The Dialogic Imagination) and heteroglossia, the carnivalesque and chronotope in the literary critique. Bakhtin’s concepts are very useful for explanation of the nature of the genre of the novel. The â€Å"dialogism† and â€Å"heteroglossia† invo lve a special â€Å"multivoiced use of language†. The concept of the novelistic â€Å"chronotope† describes historical aspects of literary sources; it uses specified and differentiated time and space for the plot.The present essay is devoted to the concept of â€Å"the carnivalesque†. Bakhtin considers that novels â€Å"can be described as inspired by a laughing truth, indebted to parodic genres and to the spirit of carnival†. Bakhtin was interesting in Rabelaisian work since 1930s. His first work about this Renaissance writer was  «Francois Rabelais in the history of the realism » (1940). This work appeared in the time when Soviet ideology admitted concepts of the realism and the national character. Bakhtin adopted these categories and proposed the concept of carnivalesque.He suggested that low humor culture of Medieval Ages and Renaissance was a power folk opposition to the official values and government. The characteristic of folk low humor, the â €Å"life of the belly† was accepted as the main source of Rabelais book and became a discovery in the critique on medieval literature and, particularly, Rabelais creative work. It was the first publication about the philosophy of laugh. The theory of carnivalesque was developed not only for the explanation of local historical fact but as a universal phenomenon of the world culture.Bakhtin’s idea about  «carnivalization » of literature was developed in other works, but the first record of this theory appeared in the second edition of the monograph on Dostoyevsky. After the Second World War, in 1946 Bakhtin tried to defend theses in the Institute of World Literature (Moscow). The subject of his theses was the creative work of Rabelais. But in Stalin epoch his dissertation was rejected (Bakhtin received the degree of candidate of science (the lowest scientific degree in Russia) only in 1952) and they prohibited publishing the text of the dissertation about Rabelais.Mi khail Bakhtin published the book â€Å"Tvorchestvo Fransua Rable i narodnaya kul’tura srednevekovia i Renessansa† (The creative work of Francois Rabelais and the popular culture of the Medieval Ages and the Renaissance more known as Rabelais and his World) only in 1965. In the next couple years this book was translated in foreign languages (English translation by Helene Iswolsky was published in Cambridge, MA: M. I. T. Press, in 1968) and it opened the epoch of Bakhtin’s influence on the Russian and world humanistic thought.The central esthetic idea of Rabelais and his World is â€Å"grotesque realism†. Rabelais created images of the grotesque body; he emphasized the features of â€Å"lower bodily strata†. The grotesque body is opened to the world, his physiology is not hidden, and this body degrades and regenerates actively. â€Å"In grotesque realism†¦ the bodily element is deeply positive. It is presented not in a private, egoistic form, s evered from other spheres of life, but as something universal, representing all the people.As such it is opposed to severance from the material and bodily roots of the world; it makes no pretense to renunciation of the earthy, or independence of the earth and the body. We repeat: the body and bodily life have here a cosmic and at the same time an all-people's character; this is not the body and its physiology in the modern sense of these words, because it is not individualized. The material bodily principle is contained not in the biological individual, not in the bourgeois ego, but in the people, a people who are continually growing and renewed†¦.This exaggeration has a positive, assertive character. The leading themes of these images of bodily life are fertility, growth, and a brimming-over abundance. Manifestations of this life refer not to the isolated biological individual, not to the private, egotistic ‘economic man,' but to the collective ancestral body of all the people† (Bakhtin, Rabelais and his World, p. 19). Bakhtin found the Renaissance was a period of the benign balance between destructive and regenerative features of grotesque realism. He wrote:â€Å"The essence of the grotesque is precisely to present a contradictory and double-faced fullness of life. Negation and destruction (death of the old) are included as an essential phase, inseparable from affirmation, from the birth of something new and better. The very material bodily lower stratum of the grotesque image (food, wine, the genital force, the organs of the body) bears a deeply positive character. This principle is victorious, for the final result is always abundance, increase† (Bakhtin, Rabelais and his World, chapter 1, p. 62).Mikhail Bakhtin emphasized an opposition between the low popular culture and the official culture of the later middle Ages and early Renaissance. The official culture use static stratified model of the world. Unofficial culture is a culture of Carnival. The etymology of the word â€Å"Carnival† is enough sophisticated. The word is derivated from Italian carnevale, alteration of earlier carnelevare, literally, removal of meat, from carne flesh (from Latin carn-, caro) + levare (from Latin to remove, to raise). Another explanation finds roots of the Carnival in Ancient mysteries.They derivate word â€Å"Carnival† from â€Å"carrus-navalis† (the chariot-ship) of Roman religious ceremonies. Carnival concentrates the contrasts of folk culture and shows the chaotic and imperfect nature of the world. An individual of the middle Ages lived two lives: one that was the official life (church, social duties etc), another was the carnival life filled in with burlesque and low humor. The novel of Rabelais shows how the popular culture liberated the society and how the conventionalities were destroyed in the contact with the reality of the modern era.Bakhtin sees Rabelais not only as a novelist but â€Å"his wor k embodies a whole new philosophy of history, in which the world is viewed in the process of becoming† (Bakhtin’s cycle, 2004). In the Prologue to Rabelais and His World Michael Holquist wrote: â€Å"Bakhtin's carnival, surely the most productive concept in this book, is not only not an impediment to revolutionary change, it is revolution itself. Carnival must not be confused with mere holiday or, least of all, with self-serving festivals fostered by governments, secular or theocratic.The sanction for carnival derives ultimately not from a calendar prescribed by church or state, but from a force that preexists priests and kings and to whose superior power they are actually deferring when they appear to be licensing carnival. † (Michael Holquist, â€Å"Prologue,† Rabelais and His World) The carnival of the adventures of Pantagruel is not similar to the modern carnival. The Renaissance cultures understand the carnival as the â€Å"temporary suspension of al l hierarchic distinctions and barriers among men †¦ and of the prohibitions of usual life.†(Bakhtin, Rabelais and His World p. 15). The Renaissance Carnival is unusual world where festive pleasure and philosophy exists contemporarily. It is topsyturvy world, the world of the primary chaos. Bakhtin proposed the semiotic theory of the carnival, the theory of the carnivalizing of quotidian life. The central idea of the concept of carnivalizing or carnivalesque is an â€Å"inversion of binary contraposition† – replacing official values with low folk culture. When people came to the carnival square than all routine ideas and their oppositions of Christianity change each other.The King of Carnival is a pauper or fool (trickster). Everybody does honor to him. There is a Carnival bishop and Christianic sanctuaries could be desecrated. The top became the bottom, the head – the genitals (low body). Females and males switch their places. Billingsgate and devout phrases change each other. Everything was subject of top down imposition. Why? Bakhtin found roots of the carnival in the agrarian cults of pre-Christianic culture. Carnivalizing â€Å"makes it possible to extend the narrow sense of life† (Bakhtin, Rabelais and His World p. 177).The aspiration of carnival is to uncover, undermine – even destroy, the hegemony of any ideology that seeks to have the final word about the world, and also to renew, to shed light upon life, the meanings it harbours, to elucidate potentials; projecting, as it does an alternate conceptualisation of reality. Dialogism is a fundamental aspect of the carnival – a plurality of ‘fully valid consciousnesses' (Bakhtin, Rabelais and His World, p. 9), Baktin used the concept of the dialogism as a necessary condition of the understanding: â€Å"Two voices is the minimum for life, the minimum for existence† (Bakhtin, Rabelais and His World, p. 252).The carnival papered over the differe nces between the social strata. â€Å"Carnival is the place for working out a new mode of interrelationship between individuals . . . People who in life are separated by impenetrable hierarchical barriers enter into free and familiar contact on the carnival square† (Bakhtin, Rabelais and His World, p. 123). Today the elements of carnivalesque are inherent for some ethnic groups, e. g. Bantu tribe. Traditions of European carnival culture flourish in Latin America, in particular in Brazil. (It’s interesting, that so popular in the Brazilian carnivals â€Å"samba† came from the Bantu word â€Å"semba†).In the modern culture the carnivalesque is actual as never before – but it is another carnivalesque. Mikhail Bakhtin’s carnivalesque has four main themes: the tumultuous crowd, the world turned upside-down, the comic masks and the grotesque body. Bakhtin also categorizes the carnivalesque into three basic forms: ritual spectacles (such as fairs, feasts, wakes, processions, mummery, dancing and open-air amusements with costumes, masks, giants, dwarfs etc), comic verbal compositions and various genres of billingsgate or abusive language.â€Å"†¦ we are especially interested in the language which mocks and insults the deity and which was part of the ancient comic cults† (Bakhtin, Rabelais and His World, p. 16). But some authors found limitations in the theory of the carnivalesque. Richard Berrong wrote that Bakhtin‘s theory had some weaknesses. Bakhtin emphasized the role of laughter culture but do not take in the account the historical context of Rabelais's changing attitude (R. M. Berrong, Rabelais and Bakhtin†¦ , Ã'€. 15, 19-51).The concept of the carnivalesque helps us to identify an atmosphere of festivities, disdain of authority and material anti-intellectualism in literature. It could be applicable to certain genres carousals in Flemish painting and to the social criticism of postmodern art. Bak htin’s concept of carnivalesque could be useful way for the analysis processes connecting the comic and the serious issues of routine life. Medieval carnival players went to the streets in masks and costumes, their ritual spectacles (e. g. the Feast of Fools or the Feast of the Innocents) were full with the topsyturvy.The citizens were admitted to â€Å"occupy† the cathedral and turn it upside down and inside out. They could tell everything and do everything. They were equal and close in this moment. They were very much like Americans today. Where is American carnivalesque? You could find in the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras or in the New York during Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. If can find it in the bad blocks and slums. Mikhail Bakhtin's concept of the â€Å"carnivalesque† can be applied to ethnical studies of African American or Latin American culture.Today we can use the concept of the carnivalesque when we analyze issues of satire and paro dy in the festival performance of the globalization. We can see the elements of carnivalizing in the pubs, in political actions, advertising and media, in the street theater etc. We see grotesque body of the modern civilization and the modern art. For example if we apply Bakhtin's idea of the carnivalesque to the comedies and romantic movies we can easily find accordance to Bakhtin's description of the world turned upside down in the interests of liberating laughter.In Bakhtin's view, comedy relocates the spiritual from the top (a head and the face) to the bottom (the belly, the bowels and the genitals): â€Å"The essential principle of grotesque realism is degradation, that is, the lowering of all that is high, spiritual, ideal, abstract† (Bakhtin, Rabelais and His World, p. 19). Another modern arena of the contemporary carnivalesque is advertising. Carnivalesque PR stunts are used to attract attention of the potential customer. Otherwise, traditions of the carnival could co nstitute a strategy of resistance to the abusing advertising.I found very interesting material about rave music and use of Bakhtin’s concept of carnivalesque. Rave is out of the mainstream. Like medieval carnival the rave has capacity to disrupt and remake official public norms, both they lead people into the â€Å"symbolic sphere of utopian freedom†. Rave realizes its carnivalesque features in several ways. There are no exclusions to participate in the medieval carnival or rave party and there is no hierarchy between people in the time of festivity or the party. There are oppositions between official and non-official life etc (Rave as Carnival, 2004).But I think that Mikhail Bakhtin never think we will use his concepts to argue our non-trivial ideas about music, movies, public relations – about everything. He was a literary critic and proposed the concept of the carnivalesque to explain dynamics of social changes in the late Medieval Ages and early Renaissance. He uses Rabelais’ work because he was the most typical writer for this period and the elements of carnival grotesque were shown in Gargantua and Pantagruel very clearly. Mikhail Bakhtin died in 1975. He made an important contribution to science. But his concept is not universal.Nothing is perfect.References 1. Bakhtin and Medieval Voices. (1995) University Press of Florida. Gainesville.2. Carnival, History And Popular Culture: Rabelais, Goethe And Dostoevskii As Philosophers (2004) The Internet encyclopedia of philosophy http://www. iep. utm. edu/b/bakhtin. htm.3. Rabelais and Bakhtin Popular Culture in â€Å"Gargantua and Pantagruel† by Richard M. Berrong (1986) University of Nebraska Press, 180 p..4. Rabelais and His World by Mikhail Bakhtin (1984) Indiana University Press 510 p..5. Rave as a carnival (2004) http://www. odevarsivi. com/12/50972. htm.

The Require Method in Ruby

The Require Method in Ruby In order to create reusable components, ones that can be easily used in other programs, a programming language must have some way of smoothly importing that code at run-time. In Ruby, the require method is used to load another file and execute all its statements. This serves to import all class and method definitions in the file. In addition to simply executing all of the statements in the file, the require method also keeps track of which files have been previously required and, thus, will not require a file twice. Using the 'require' Method The require method takes the name of the file to require, as a string, as a single argument. This can either be a path to the file, such as ./lib/some_library.rb or a shortened name, such as some_library. If the argument is a path and complete filename, the require method will look there for the file. However, if the argument is a shortened name, the require method will search through a number of pre-defined directories on your system for that file. Using the shortened name is the most common way of using the require method. The following example demonstrates how to use the require statement. The file test_library.rb is in the first code block. This file prints a message and defines a new class. The second code block is the file test_program.rb. This file loads the test_library.rb file using the require method and creates a new TestClass object. puts test_library includedclass TestClassdef initializeputs TestClass object createdendend #!/usr/bin/env rubyrequire test_library.rbt TestClass.new Avoid Name Clashes When writing reusable components, its best not to declare many variables in the global scope outside any classes or methods or by using the $ prefix. This is to prevent something called namespace pollution. If you declare too many names, another program or library might declare the same name and cause a name clash. When two completely unrelated libraries start changing each others variables accidentally, things will break seemingly at random. This is a very difficult bug to track down and its best just to avoid it. To avoid name clashes, you can enclose everything in your library inside of a module statement. This will require people to refer to your classes and method by a fully qualified name such as MyLibrary::my_method, but its worth it since name clashes generally wont occur. For people who want to have all of your class and method names in the global scope, they can do that using the include statement. The following example repeats the previous example but encloses everything in a MyLibrary module. Two versions of my_program.rb are given; one that uses the include statement and one that does not. puts test_library includedmodule MyLibraryclass TestClassdef initializeputs TestClass object createdendendend #!/usr/bin/env rubyrequire test_library2.rbt MyLibrary::TestClass.new #!/usr/bin/env rubyrequire test_library2.rbinclude MyLibraryt TestClass.new Avoid Absolute Paths Because reusable components often get moved around, its also best not to use absolute paths in your require calls. An absolute path is a path like /home/user/code/library.rb. Youll notice that the file must be in that exact location in order to work. If the script is ever moved or your home directory ever changes, that require statement will stop working. Instead of absolute paths, its often common to create a ./lib directory in your Ruby programs directory. The ./lib directory is added to the $LOAD_PATH variable which stores the directories in which the require method searches for Ruby files. After that, if the file my_library.rb is stored in the lib directory, it can be loaded into your program with a simple require my_library statement. The following example is the same as the previous test_program.rb examples. However, it assumes the test_library.rb file is stored in the ./lib directory and loads it using the method described above. #!/usr/bin/env ruby$LOAD_PATH ./librequire test_library.rbt TestClass.new

Human Resource Marketing Strategies Maersk

Human Resource Marketing Strategies Maersk Executive Summary The report highlights the market entry strategy for Maersk into the Kenyan logistics market. The report highlights six main strategies that the company should use in terms of human resource management.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Human Resource Marketing Strategies: Maersk specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The report is developed against the backdrop of the effect on a human resource strategy on the overall business strategy. To this end, the report ensures that a holistic discussion on the business relevance of the strategies outlined. Recruitment and selection coupled with training and development form the first tier of the human resource strategies. The second tier involves reward management and employee performance which are outlined to illustrate the role of the employee an organisation. Performance management is also outlined. The same provides a link between the roles of the employees and the company objectives. Introduction Logistics in East and Central Africa The growth of international trade gas resulted in a subsequent growth of the logistics industry. Kampfe (2007) argues that the industry’s performance in Africa, over the past five years has been splendid. To this end, multinational companies have been setting up shop in the continent with the sole intention of maximising on the growth of the sector. Over the past five years, the logistics market in African has witnessed growth due to a number of economic variables. However with the growth of the market comes a need to invest in human resources. The report highlights how Maersk is penetrating the East and Central African market. In the past five years, the East African logistics industry has grown. Investor confidence in the sector is on an increase. Kampfe (2007) argues that multi-national companies have increasingly been setting up shop in the region. Africa finds itself in a strategic position fo r investment due to the affordability of doing business. In Most European countries, the recession resulted in companies diversifying their business. Going forward the logistics industry will continue to expand due to globalisation. Mandy, Noe and Gowan (2005) argue that globalisation enhances international trade. To this end, the future of the logistics industry market in Africa is great.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The logistics industry is also characterised by a number of challenges. Technological advancements, for example, have made companies reconsider certain decisions related to human resource management. Prasad and Kanalanabhan (2010, p. 318) suggest that human resource strategies need to be informed by the changes in an industry. The report will outline a suitable human resource strategy for Maersk and its entry into the Kenyan Market. Report Str ucture The report has 7 different sections. The general discussion in the report will be how Maersk can rely on relevant human resource policies for a suitable strategy for their Kenyan subsidiary. The first section is the introduction where an overview of the report is outlined, detailing the structure and key theoretical principles that will be applied. According to Kamoche (2002, p. 993) a suitable human resource strategy is informed by relevant theories in the field. The second section outlines the recruitment and selection process. The same is informed by the fact that a multi-national company requires the necessary manpower to carry out their core business (Kamoche 2002, p, 993). The third section outlines the training and development. Training and development is important in ensuring the employees of a company are up to par with the industry requirements. Thereafter the report outlines, reward management, performance management and employee involvement. The final section is a conclusion wherein recommendations are made regarding the industry. International Business Environment in Kenya Overview The implementation of suitable human resource strategy is informed by a number of variables. Prasad and Kamalanabhan (2010) argue that human resource strategies rely on the business climate in a particular country. To this end, this section of the paper outlines Maersk’s company profile.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Human Resource Marketing Strategies: Maersk specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Prasad and Kamalanabhan (2010) argue that the analysis of a company’s profile is based on its aims, goals and international intentions. The same enables a suitable human resource management strategy to be adopted. Such a strategy is usually in line with the overall business strategy. Company Profile for Maersk Group The Maersk Group is an incorporated business entity made up of several b usiness subsidiaries. According to Kampfe (2007), the company is a key player in the global logistical industry. To this end, their entry into the Kenyan Market is informed by their core objectives. Kampfe (2007) carried out an analysis of several multinational companies which included Maersk. The analysis, among others examined the company’s profile which cites the company as a shipping agency. The company’s mission is the understanding of their clients, business and market. Kampfe (2007) adds that the company guarantees their clients competitive transportation service. Kamoche (2002, p. 993) argues that Africa, and by extension Kenya, is projected to have increased trading activity. To this end, Maersk Group’s mission is compatible with the demands of the African market. Kamoche (2002, p. 43) cites the increased cargo demands into the continent and a subsequent need to transport goods inland. Kenya is seen as strategic in terms of entry into the East and Centr al African market. It makes sense for an international company to set up shop in the region. Five Porter’s Forces When an organisation is keen on market entry an evaluation of the same is suitable based on a number of parameters. The Maersk Group’s entry into the Kenyan market requires an analysis based on such concepts as the Porter’s forces. According to Kampfe (2007, p. 50), the Five Porter’s Forces allow a company to come up with a suitable business strategy. Consequently, a suitable human resource management strategy is realised through such a perspective about a given market.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The first aspect regarding Porters forces is the threat to new entrants. Kamoche (2002, p. 995) argues that the Kenyan market has been liberalised. Investors are attracted by the increase in terms of exports over the previous years. Figure 1 is an illustration of how exports in the Kenyan market have performed in the past. Figure 1: Source: Kamoche (2002, p. 995) According to figure 1, Kenya witnessed an upsurge in imports from various destinations. The implications, of the increase are that, the threat to new entrants is relatively low. Kamoche (2002, p. 995) argues that the government has put in place relevant measures to attract investors. The same is coupled by the fact that there is evidently a large market that requires attention. With respect to the bargaining power of buyers, Kenya has a nascent economy. Kamoche (2002, p. 994) emphasises on the fact that the economy is still growing and the household incomes are still insufficient for competitive business action. However th e country’s infrastructural activities are contributing to an upsurge of imports in form of raw materials. Consequently, the same has brought increased investor activity, with a majority of raw material being imported. The same calls for services like container freight services, which Maersk is bringing to the country. Recruitment and Selection Once a company has entered a given market, it is imperative that it rolls out a plan to acquire new staff. Kramar (2014, p. 1069) defines recruitment as the identification of the need to engage a given number of employees in a company. Kramar (2014, p. 1069) goes on to define selection as the process through which an organisation carries out vetting on applicants to a given position. The selection is concluded once a suitable candidate is settled upon. Maersk, in its intention to enter the Kenyan market must be alive to the fact that they will need to engage the services of a certain number of employees. The recruitment and selection o f staff is informed by the need for sufficient training. To this end, companies like Maersk, employ the Frase Rodger Framework. According to Kramar (2010, p. 1070), the Frase Rodger framework is employed by companies due to the need to develop the skill levels of the entire workforce. Consequently, the aspect of training is encouraged in all organisations to ensure that the staff members have the relevant knowledge pertaining to the specific field. Logistics has a number of fields that require specialisation. To this end, Maersk is going to invest a lot on training since there is a scarcity of skilled labour in the market. The recruitment of personnel can be conducted in-house or external advertisements made. A company like Etihad Airlines is a respected strategist on the human resource front. Their entry into Africa broke glass ceilings on several fronts. For instance, Kampfe (2007, p. 55) indicates that the company up their management positions to external applicants. In most case s companies prefer to retain management positions whenever they go to a new country. Such a strategy used to work in places where there is absolute scarcity of skilled labour. However, a country like Kenya is known to have sufficient personnel capable of handling a freight company (Kamoche 2002, p. pp4). Consequently, Maersk should consider coming up with a strategy that blends between the two avenues of recruitment As already mentioned, a company can opt for an internal or external recruitment process. In both cases, Gilmore and Williams (2009, p. 67) suggest that experience and proven capabilities must inform the recruitment process. Nonetheless, each of the recruitment platforms has its own merits and demerits. In point form, the following are the merits of internal recruitment: A company saves on the resources that would be used to train new employees New stuff might disrupt the blue print of a company. However, an internally sourced employee shares in the vision of a company. The idea that a new job will pop up, internally, acts an incentive to hard work within any organisation The risk factor of hiring an insider is lower than hiring an external employee. Notwithstanding the benefits of internal recruitment, there are demerits which ought to inform persons of its suitability. The following are the disadvantages to internal selection; It results in burden to replace the employee who has taken up the new job position. Reforms might not be forthcoming if an insider is appointed to a new position Employee rivalry may result in the event one is promoted to a new role. The same reduces performance Basing on the advantages and disadvantages of the internal recruitment process, a company can make an informed decision on how such a recruitment policy would affect its performance. According to Kapfe (2007, p. 55), suitable human resource strategy for a new company is based on loyalty. An organisation works best when the members of staff are reliable and can be trusted. Holtbrugge, Friedman and Puck (2010 p. 439) recommend a partial internal recruitment process for organisations entering a new market. Such a process would require that the initial management team be composed of both internal and externally sourced employees. Such a move allows for diversity within a company. Training and Development Human resource management requires, among other things the improvement of skills for the work. As already defined, training entails skill improvement of the employees in an organisation. Grieves (2003, p. 77) relates training to the development of an individual’s performance in a given job description. Under such circumstances, the employees are provided with the necessary skills to undertake the various jobs in that organisation. Essentially, training entails the improvement of the knowledge associated with a particular job. There are a number of reasons why companies focus on training and development for their human resource. Kramar (2 014, p. 1070) argues that the same is particularly true for companies that are entering into a new market altogether. For instance, the intentions by Maersk to set up shop in the Kenyan market, comes with the understanding that skill improvement is necessary. Kamoche (2002, p. 994) argues that many multi-national companies that invest in Africa, factor in training and development in their planning due to scarcity in skills that meet international standards. Training and development is not a generalised concept. Companies tend to come up with a training and development framework that specialises on different roles in an organisation (Grieves 2003, p. 77). It is important to clarify that Maersk is not entering the Kenyan market, per se, for the first time. However, through one of its subsidiaries, Maersk intends to provide other logistical services including storage and handling of cargo. To this end, a number of job openings will be available. However, the same will be subject to rig orous training and development to ensure that the company attains international standards in its performance. As already mentioned, training and development involves the impacting of knowledge to the employees in an organisation. The knowledge will trickle down to the actual improvement of skills in the said organisation. Grieves (2003, p. 45) argues that knowledge keeps on changing. It is not possible to be content with knowledge. Such an assurance implies that training and development needs to be sequential. Kamoche (2002, p. 994) argues that companies entering a new market need t come up with a period. Figure 2 is an illustration of a periodic training and development schedule. Figure 2 Source: Kramar (2014, p. 76) Figure 2 illustrates how Kurray Group has developed a training scheme for their employees. The company was venturing into the Pakistan market. According to Kramar (2014, p. 76), the clustering of the employees into the respective roles is an efficient means of attaini ng the goals of training and development. Figure 2 indicates that each job class has a specific training regimen. The same can be carried out depending on the set goals of an organisation. The market entry of Maersk into the Kenyan market requires a similar attention to training and development. Companies are required to ensure that the training covers all the employees in an organisation. According to Prasad and Kamalanabhan (2010, p. 316) there are companies who perceive training as a requisite for the new members of staff. Unforttunately, that may not be the case. When a new concept emerges in an industry all the employees in that field will require training. Kampfe (2007, p. 47) argues that a shipping business has new trends emerging every so often. To this end, training should encompass all the employees in an organisation, regardless of their stay Training and development, in an organisation is meant to prepare the workforce for any future demands in the job group in reference . To this end, there are a number of training models that an organisation can employ. The result will be an overall improvement in the performance of such organisations within the market in reference. According to Grieves (2003, p. 104) training can be carried out, in an organisation, based on the need assessment. The same is derived from the systems model of training. A company identifies its immediate needs and responds to them accordingly. The training will carried out to ensure the workforce meets the said needs. Organisational analysis is another aspect of the systems model of training. Mondy et al. (2005, p. 88) argue that depending on a company’s organisational performance, the needs for training arises. For instance, if a department in a given organisation is not performing as expected, there is a need to introduce a new work regiment. Consequently training becomes important. Other components of the systems model of training include the following: Job analysis Person analysis Development of a training scheme The design of a suitable environment for training Reward Management It is a norm to award excellent performance in any organisation. Suitable reward strategy ensures that an organisation is able to have a well motivated workforce. According to Dickman and Muller-Camen (2006, p. 581) reward management is born out of the need to ensure that a workforce is well compensated for their efforts in an organisation. Essentially, a reward management regimen ensures that there is a proper framework for the appreciation of the work carried out by the employees in an organisation. A reward management program is responsible for the control and analysis of several aspects of the employees. Dickmann and Muller-Camen (2006, p. 581) argue that all the benefits of employees must be included in a reward management program. To this end, all forms of remuneration and compensations are made with respect to the performance of an individual in a given organisation . The objective of such a reward management plan is to ensure that all the aspects of a reward structure are adhered to in the implementation of a company’s reward structure. Organisations that are venturing into a new market must ensure that the reward management guarantees employees satisfaction in the organisation. A suitable reward structure is one that entails the following: A comprehensive pay policy and related practices An efficient administration of the payroll system Incorporation of the minimum wage policy aid out Payment of the bonuses and other related benefits The objective of reward management is to ensure that the contribution made by the employees in an organisation, does not go unnoticed. Under reward management system, the employees in an organisation get a fair and commensurate award for all their hard work. According to Grote (2002, p. 76), a reward system is meant to motivate the employees. The same also attracts employees to the organisation. Grote (2 002, p. 76) argues that an organisation that is getting into a given market is required to have an attractive reward management policy. Such a policy must ensure that competing firms do not have an upper hand. The reward management policy is quite ideal in theory. However, its implementation in reality is a thorny subject in many organisations. According to Grote (2002, p. 98) many organisations come up with a specific reward system that is aimed at appreciating a given parameter in an organisation. However, in most cases, the item marked for award is not often rewarded. Grote (2002, p. 98) insists that diversion of an intended reward from one objective to another, reduces the credibility of the reward system altogether. There are a number of reward systems in an organisation. Grote (2002, p. 76) argues that depending on the reward, the objective is as diverse. To this end, implementation of the various reward systems guarantees a satisfied workforce in the said organisation. In mos t cases people associate rewards with slight increases in salaries. However, Dickmann and Muller-Camen (2006, p. 584) argue that that is just one out of the several rewards that exist. Grote (2002, p. 76) refers to such an award as being extrinsic. Many employees prefer increments in their salaries owing to the inability to attract other forms of reward n an organisation. Extrinsic rewards are the kind that employees get after a certain duration of service to an organisation. According to Grievers (2003, p. 77) extrinsic rewards include such rewards as bonuses, promotions, gifts and salary increments. The other type of reward is referred to as the intrinsic rewards, which are geared at giving an individual personal satisfaction. Some of the characteristics of intrinsic rewards include positive feedback and trusting an employee with more responsibility. Grote (2002, p. 56) also suggests that intrinsic rewards incorporates such issues as employee recognition. The entry of a new compan y in a given market requires a careful analysis of the people’s reward preferences. Grote (2002, p. 55) argues that in some societies employee satisfaction appeals more that the financial gain. A worker needs to be valued in an organisation. To this end, multinational companies like Maersk are required to develop a reward system that ensures the employees feel appreciated for the work they put in an organisation. A satisfied employee is motivated to work even harder in an organisation. Performance Management Performance management is a concept in human resource management that ensures the workforce confirms to an organisations objective. According to Dessler (2000, p. 170), performance management is crucial in companies venturing into a new market. Grote (2002, p. 70) argues employees are better placed in understanding how an organisation is expected to operate due to the link between their respective work efforts and an organisation’s core objectives. Performance mana gement is realised once the employees are geared towards certain expectations. Grote (2002, p. 37) explains that the employees in an organisation must develop certain targets. Such targets ensure that all the actions and behaviours of the personnel result in the projected targets. Grote (2002, p. 67) argues that performance management relies on the incorporation of performance parameters like standards and performance dimensions. Such parameters ensure that employees stick to their duties for the benefit of the company. Market entry is often characterised by a number of challenges that have a direct impact on the long-term performance of a given company. However, through performance management, can organisation realise their respective missions with ease. According to Kampfe (2007, p. 57) Etihad Airlines penetrated the European market courtesy of its excellent record on performance management. The company ensured all the employees bought in to the company’s vision. Consequent ly, it became easy to set targets that the company expected to attain. The targets were realised owing to the collective effort played by the members of staff. Maersk would do well to adopt a similar policy. Employee Involvement When people are engaged in employment in a given organisation, it is important that they feel like the organisation is their second family. Under such circumstances, Kamoche (2002, p. 994) argues that employee involvement ensures that people are comfortable to work in an environment where they have a say in matters that touch on their jobs. It is important to observe employee involvement as a philosophy rather than as a tool. An organisation is required to incorporate all its staff members on its overall operations. Employee involvement will therefore require the participation of the workforce in the decision making process. According to Kampfe (2007), multi-national organisations are perceived as foreigners whenever thy venture into a new market territory. To this end, the company’s future will depend on how the locals perceive their role in the decision making processes. Consequently, a company that allows for the opinions of the participation of the members of staff will find it easier to operate in just about any market. Employee involvement, as a human resource principle, can be applied as a strategy based on a given model. A suitable employee involvement is one that ensures the decision making process are largely influenced by the employees rather than the management (Kramar 2014, p. 1087). Figure 3 is a suitable model of employee involvement in a company. Figure 3: Employee involvement in decision making Figure 3 illustrates how a decision can be arrived at in an organisation. Assuming that a decision needs to be made, the manager can tell the members of staff what that decision is all about. In this case, the manager has absolute control over the decision making process. However, the in-charge, in an organisation, can o pt to sell the ideas behind the decision to the members of staff. According to Grieves (2003, p. 71) such a move is an attempt by management to gain support f the decisions from the members. Decision making process can also be consultative. In figure 3, consultation is highlighted wherein the manner arrives at a decision with the involvement of the involvement of the employees. The consultative mechanism allows for the input of the employees although the ultimate decision is made by the manager. Employee involvement can go a notch high when the manager asks the members of staff to join them in implementing a decision. However, through delegation, the employees relish in the responsibilities bestowed upon them. Consequently, the decisions made end up affecting them positively. Employee involvement is a key asset in ensuring market penetration by a given organisation. Maersk stands to benefit from the same if they allow employee participation in the decision making process. According to Dessler (2000, p. 88) new companies in the market can use this strategy as a human resource retention strategy. The same would help reduce loss of staff to rival companies since they will feel like they belong to the company acknowledges their role in the overall performance. Conclusion In conclusion, the entry of a company like Maersk to an African country signals increased competition into the market. To this end a suitable human resource strategy is required. According to Hoch and Dulebohn (2013, p. 114) such a strategy should consider a number of variables like recruitment and training. Fortunately, the report has highlighted the respective aspects of human resource management that can be used to formulate a strategy for Maersk once they enter the Kenyan market. To this end, the report recommends an all inclusive recruitment exercise that allows for internal and external applicants. The same will bring about diversity in the company. The report also outlines the importance of training and development. To this end, recommendations are made that the training and development be periodic and focus on specific skills. According to Kamoche (2002, p. 997) employees require appreciation for the service they do in a company. To this end, Maersk needs to develop an extrinsic and intrinsic reward system. Also, the company should develop a concrete performance management to ensure that they meet their objectives. Finally, Maersk would do well in incorporating their employees in the decision making process. Such a human resource strategy helps in ensuring that the entire company operates as one unit. References Dessler, G. 2000, Human resource management, 8th edn, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. Dickmann, M Muller-Camen, M 2006, ‘A typology of international human resource management strategies and processes’, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 17 no. 4, pp. 580-601. Gilmore, S Williams, S 2009, Human resource managemen t, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Grieves, J 2003, Strategic human resource development, Sage Publications, London. Grote, R 2002, The performance appraisal question and answer book a survival guide for managers, American Management Association, New York. Hoch, J Dulebohn, J 2013, ‘Shared leadership in enterprise resource planning and human resource management system implementation’, Human Resource Management Review, vol. 23 no. 1, pp. 114-125. Holtbrugge, D, Friedmann, C Puck, J 2010, ‘Recruitment and retention in foreign firms in India: a resource-based view’, Human Resource Management, vol. 49 no. 3, pp. 439-455. Kamoche, K 2002, ‘Introduction: human resource management in Africa’, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 13 no. 7, pp. 993-997. Kampf, C 2007, ‘Corporate social responsibility: WalMart, Maersk and the cultural bounds of representation in corporate web sites’, Corporate Communications, vol. 12 no. 1, pp. 41-57. Kramar, R 2014, ‘Beyond strategic human resource management: is sustainable human resource management the next approach?’, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 25 no. 8, pp. 1069-1089. Mondy, R, Noe, R Gowan, M 2005, Human resource management, 9th edn, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River. Prasad, P Kamalanabhan, T 2010, ‘Human resource excellence in software industry in India: an exploratory study’, International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation, vol. 2 no. 4, p. 316.

If You Were In Charge Of Designing This Class, What Elements Would You

If You Were In Charge Of Designing This Class, What Elements Would You If You Were In Charge Of Designing This Class, What Elements Would You Include In A Class Devoted To – Essay Example Diagnostics Essay The purpose of this paper is to identify what steps would a prudent go through in order to improve his or her writing skills. What this paper will try to accomplish is provide some different methods that can be adopted by people who wish to improve their writing skills as espoused by the academic community. As with many different disciplines there are three schools of thought in regards to gaining expertise in a given field. As will be highlighted in this paper the merits of direct education as a means of improving ones writing skills will be discussed. Furthermore, a discussion of the strengths of simply practicing as a means of improving ones writing skills will be covered. According to Kanelas et al (1998) it was proposed that performance problems in writing may not be directly related to any competencies such as the understanding of individuals, rather it is the case that individuals simply lack skills or the desire to improve skills. As such one could propose t he argument that in order for a prudent writer to improve his or her writing skills would be through would be to be gain knowledge on various writing techniques. This action could theoretically be achieved through self directed study or classroom instruction.According to Joseph (1998) it is through a process of frequent writing and rewriting with continual feedback that helps individuals improve their skills. As the old Latin adage suggests, discere faciendo or ‘To learn by doing’ is the best method for somebody to improve their writing skills. One could argue that through the constant process of writing and receiving feedback from one’s contemporaries, it would be the case that an individual would hone their skills as an effective writer and as such learn the skills that best suit their needs. In conclusion it may be the case that there is no simple solution as to how an individual can better improve their writing skills, and it may be the case that it is throu gh a combination of both practice and education that would best improve the chances of improving an individual’s writing skills.ReferencesJoseph, A. (1998) Put it in Writing: Learn How to Write Clearly, Quickly and Persuasively. McGraw Hill.Kanellas, R., Carifio, J., Dagostino, L. (1998) Improving the Expository Writing Skills of Adolescents. University Press of America.

Contributions of Civil rights Movement in post-world war America to Essay

Contributions of Civil rights Movement in post-world war America to the Political and Social Development of the United States - Essay Example The paper tells that following the civil war, the thirteenth amendment eradicated slavery and the blacks gained their freedom. The freed blacks were mostly illiterate and were property or money bereft. In the south where there was slavery predominance, inequality and racism were rampant. The state and federal governments facilitated many democratic reforms in the 1860s and 1870s to support black assimilation into the white people. The 14th amendment guaranteed the blacks equal rights which were federally protected. The 15th amendment provided approval rights for every black man to vote. Throughout the construction era, new found rights were short lived. The southern whites employed various means to bar the blacks from enjoying any citizenship benefits. They kept the blacks totally disenfranchised through intimidation and harassment. A Cold War rose up in America as the World War II came to an end. Momentous changes in America pertinent to nationalization emerged. The changes enhanced support for an emergent Civil Rights Movement that chiefly aimed at doing away with southern segregation rules and overturning the 1896 ramifications of the Plessy vs. Ferguson case at the Supreme Court. Both the congress and the court in 1954 affirmed what individuals like Martin Luther King were preaching to both white Americans and the black. The black Americans had courageously served in the Second World War which was celebrated for its outstanding contributions even though segregation still continued in the armed forces. While the black Americans were roughly 10% of the whole population, they were approximately 11% of all registered in the military service. American Civil rights were strongly aided by the augmentation of Liberal Democrats in the northern part of America that were firmly in desegregation support (Cashman 82). On the other hand, Republicans were moving towards the southern part where segregation took the fore front. The â€Å"I have a Dream† words of Mart in Luther King Junior at the nation’s capital were probed up by the civil rights words. In collaboration with other black activists, they were main partakers in the Civil Rights Movement. In the first place, this movement was to abolish slavery and weighty intimidations and harassments of the black. Segregation in the communal schools was not constitutional. Earl Warren the chief justice presented the separate but equal decision by the court was a violation of the Africa American’s rights. An incident that attracted the public eye was unfolded in Montgomery where there was segregation of the black Africans at the buses. The blacks were to reserve seats for the whites whenever the whites have filled the front seats. This law was defied by Park who was a black and was later arrested. The black community responded to the arrest by a one day boycott of the public buses of Montgomery. A lead massive movement organized by preacher Martin King Luther Jr., NAACP and other Afri can leaders challenged the racist laws of Montgomery. The boycotts went on for more than one year despite harassment and taunting from the white community. The federal courts then intervened by desegregating the buses on 21st December the year 1956. As the pace quickened, the blacks made an effort to attentively pass an Act of Civil Rights that would enforce other rights including voting rights. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee i.e. SNCC was formed by the black