Divorce Is A Social Issue - 1774 Words

What is the modern family? Today the modern family is completely different then what it was twenty years ago. Today, it is more common to have a family with divorced parents, before divorce was seen as unacceptable and a disgrace to the family, but in today’s society, it is more acceptable, and common. Divorce does not just affect the two married people, but it also affects any children they may have. To fully understand how divorce affects children, one must the history of divorce, the changes in the child’s or children’s life, and the effects those changes may bring. Divorce is a rising social issue in the United States of America, but it is not a new concept. Divorce has been a social issue since at least 1867 when for every 35.9 marriages, one couple were to get a divorce (Huth, 1947). Although divorce is not a new concept, it has become more social acceptance which is raising the divorce rate over the years. Another controversial topic in divorce is when the two people divorcing have a child or children together. Approximately 150,000-200,000 children in the United States of America are affected by divorce yearly (Huth, 1947). Divorce is not just a tough situation for the couples getting the divorce; it also has a large effect on any children involved in the divorce. When children are involved in a divorce, the first major impact they have to face is that child or children involved in the divorce losses time with each of the parents. In a non-divorced family onShow MoreRelatedThe Social Issue: Divorce and Depression Essay example2673 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction The Social Issue: Divorce and Depression Around the world divorce is common and known amongst different societies, some with higher rates than others. According to Irvin (2012), in America there is one divorce every 13 seconds. That’s 6,646 divorces per day, and 46,532 divorce per week. This is a social issue within our society that has many negative effects on everyone facing this circumstance. The divorce rate in the U.S is a problem that shows an increase in its rates compared toRead MoreThe Effects Of Divorce On Children And Their Behaviors1410 Words   |  6 Pagesget a divorce. Even the word family itself has changed so drastically, it’s no wonder divorce is so high. What many people don’t realize is that divorce can possibly have a serious effect on children and their behaviors. Many studies have been conducted and have shown a variety of long term, as well as short term effects that children have developed after they’ve experienced going through divorce, one effect divorce could have on children is the risk of the child developing behavioral issues. Read MoreRise of Divorce Essay907 Words   |  4 Pagescouples who divorced is accelerating and becoming a social problem. According to an authoritative international organization, the Chinese Academy of Social Science, the number of divorces increased more than six fold from less than 35 million in 1980 to more than 220 million in 2008. These alarming data has aroused profound concern, and many sociologists are investigating this social issue. The problems principally come from the aspects of social factors, parental problems, and personal causes. ThereforeRead MoreDivorce : A Major Sociological Issue1080 Words   |  5 PagesRebecca Eron Mrs. Small Social Issue paper 21 November 2014 Divorce Problem Statement: Divorce is a major sociological issue. Divorce rates continue to rise annually and more and more the definition of ‘family’ begins to change. Around 40% of marriages ended in divorce in 2004 (West). This is an epidemic that at one point shocked many People. While, divorce use to be socially and for many, religiously unacceptable it is becoming more and more a social norm. Even though it is becoming more commonRead MoreWhile The Rate Of Divorce Has Rapidly Increased In Recent1659 Words   |  7 Pagesrate of divorce has rapidly increased in recent decades, currently between 40 to 50 percent of married couples file for divorce during some point in their marriage. Although in some cases these families already have children and divorce is an impactful event that can cause life lasting effects on children. The effects that divorce has on children can cause serious psychological issues that may form and develop over time from toddlers into the adolescent stage of their lives. The divorce itself doesRead MoreHow The Age At Marriage Influences A Couple s Likelihood Of Getting A Divorce1573 Words   |  7 PagesRESEARCH OBJECTIVE I plan to study how the age at marriage influences a couple’s likelihood of getting a divorce among married individuals in Canada. This is an important topic to consider as families are a common social unit in society and they collectively influence many aspects of social society. I hypothesize that age is an important casual factor in the likelihood of divorce as it is commonly associated with other facets of and individuals life such as experience; income; attitudes toward marriage;Read MoreDivorce Is A Win And A Loss For Parents And Children1287 Words   |  6 Pages Divorce is a Win and a Loss for Parents and Children The divorce rate in today’s society according to Barbara Dafoe Whitehead is higher than ever. Although people have a legal right to file for divorce, it is still viewed as an ethical problem. Barbara Dafoe Whitehead writes in â€Å"The Making of a Divorce Culture†, that divorce has become an ethical problem in the United States. In today’s society, divorce is viewed as a social norm, and that couples should have a right to file for divorce withRead MoreFactors Responsible for the Probability of Divorce1009 Words   |  4 PagesProbability of Divorce: Contrary to the reality in western industrialized nations, there is a common assumption that longer life-spans contribute to longer marriages. As the average length of marriage remains significantly the same, the reason for the end of marriage has changed from death to divorce. Actually, its currently estimated that half of marriages in the United States will end either in separation or divorce before the 20th wedding anniversaries of the couples. The other half of theseRead MoreHow Divorce Has Changed Changing Society1491 Words   |  6 Pagesis divorce. Divorce is defined as the legal process of dissolving a marriage, thus separating two individuals (Merriam). From generation to generation, divorce has been on a steady increase. The annual rate of divorce more than doubled between the mid-1960s and the early 1980s (Croteau). As of recent, statistics show an increase in divorce rates from less than 20% to nearly 50% since 1960 (Croteau). Throughout history, divorce has remained a controversial topic. Perceptions of divorce haveRead MoreSociological Perspectives On Social Issues957 Words   |  4 Pagesnegative occurs within someones life they tend to look for a cause, a reason as to why this has happened. They do this by looking at the different aspects of their personal life, however they don’t take into consideration the fact that sociological issues within that society may have also attributed to that problem taking place. C. Wright Mills (2010) believed that â€Å"neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society could be understood without understanding both†, and with this in mind

World War II - 1190 Words

WWII Reading Questions http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=15smtID=2 1. Who was Joe Louis, why is he important, and why did he help to increase black enlistment into the military? He was important because he defeated a white boxer and encouraged blacks to enlist in the army 2. What was the first concentration camp and when was it set up? Dachau, 1933 3. What groups of people were targeted during the Holocaust? Jews, Gypsies, Polish Catholic, Russians, mentally and physically disabled, homosexuals, and political prisoners. 4. What was the â€Å"Final Solution†? The mass murder of Jews 5. Based on the reading, describe Auschwitz. more than 1.6 million were killed in Auschwitz, they didn t feed babies to see how long†¦show more content†¦What actions did Germany take after dropping out of the League of Nations? He went seeking more land in England 26. What areas was Hitler able to annex without interference of Britain and France? Austria 27. What is appeasement and why were Britain and France looked at as appeasing Germany? Appeasement is to make someone happy. They kept giving Germany breaks 28. What was agreed upon in the German-Soviet non-aggression pact? that the soviet union could have control over poland 29. What event caused the war to begin and what was Germany’s war tactic? WWI. Germany s war tactic was tp become the master race 30. Who became Prime Minister of Britain during the war? Winston Churchill 31. What was the German Air Force called? Luftwaffe 32. After failing to destroy Britain, what actions did Germany take? They invaded Belgium 33. What events occurred between Dec. 6 and Dec. 11, 1941? Soviet forces repulsed the German attacks on Moscow. This was Hitler s first defeat 34. Between 1935 and 1941, how was the US involved in the war? We responded to the war by issuing a proclamation of neutrality. In 1941 the President offered a Lend-Lease aid to the Soviet union. 35. What actions did the US take against Japan because of their expansion throughout Asia? America froze all Japanese bank accounts in the US. 36. When did the bombing of Pearl Harbor occur? Dec 7th 1941 37. In what ways was this attack not a total disaster for theShow MoreRelatedThe War Of The World War II1408 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent levels of the educational system most everyone has talked about the Second World War in great detail. The European and Pacific Theaters were the main focus of many historians and their writing, because war pertained to the audience of the time. WWII revolved around the idea of freedom and liberating the fascist governments of Europe, the homefront back in the states was the war machine that kept the war churning. Millions of pages have been written about the experiences and battles duringRead MoreThe War Of World War II1638 Words   |  7 PagesWorld War II was the most widespread war in history and it directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. This war lasted from 1939 to 1945. The war pinned the Axis nations which were Germany, Italy, Japan versus the Allied nations which were led by Britain and its Commonwealth n ation, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States. The Allies were victorious in the War. It was one of the most significant periods of time in the 20th century. The war resultedRead MoreThe War Of The World War II864 Words   |  4 Pagesgreat global conflict, the Second World War was the most extensive and lethal war in history, which involved more than 30 countries. It marked more than 50 million military and civilian deaths. Though dumbfounded by the events of December 7, Americans were also determined. President Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war against Japan On December 8. The declaration passed with just one rebel vote. After three days, Germany and Italy, connected with Japan, declared war on the United States. America wasRead MoreThe War Of The World War II1387 Words   |  6 Pagesevents that could bring so many people together while simultaneously tearing them apart-- World War II is one of those events. While the beginning is not set in stone , many will argue that the war all started with the unwarranted German attack on Poland in September of 1939. As tensions rose between countries, conflict began to swell. Over 20 countries were involved, and alliances were established. The war was fought between two major alliances; the Allied powers and the Axis powers. The Allied powersRead MoreThe War Of The World War II846 Words   |  4 Pageseffected the world is World War II. It is an event that will never be forgotten because of how many different countries were involved and how it affected the Jews as well. During the war, the United States started to put up posters to get people to join the army and there were other countries that convinced the people to invest money into the war. Without the propaganda and the use of artwork on posters and flyers that they used to influence people in the U.S. they may have never won the war. One of theRead MoreThe World Of World War II1371 Words   |  6 PagesWorld War II has been considered one of the worst things to ever occur in history. Violence, death and aggression took place in the 1930s and 1940s in certain European nations. German leader, Hitler played an important, yet a very big role during this time. With the rise and domination of fascism in Germany and Italy, the goal was to maintain peace, established by the Treaty of Versailles ended up in major disaster. World War II began with the poor economic conditions in Europe after World War IRead MoreThe World Of World War II1496 Words   |  6 PagesWorld War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It led to millions of deaths, and devastation across the world. Nazi Germany took control of many European countries, and Japan declared war on the United States. American soldiers were deployed and took action to protect the nation. The United States was in a constant limbo between being safe, and havin g war on its doorstep. Life for citizens, in the United States and other countries, was affected tremendously by the war, and has shapedRead MoreWorld War II1478 Words   |  6 PagesFrom the beginning Of World War II in 1939 until the end in 1945, the battles between the Allied and Axis powers were violent and caused great destruction. It became a world dispute after the attack on Pearl Harbor. From then on, countries such as the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union, and many others fought vigorously until a victory was achieved. World War II officially began after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States declared war. The war was made up of a seriesRead MoreThe War Of World War II Essay1323 Words   |  6 PagesSince its end, World War II has been talked about extensively by historians. The lead up to the war, the war itself, and the events after the war have contributed to why the war has been so popular among historians. The unique way the war was f ought and the way the war altered the course of history has intrigued historians. Up until World War II, civilians had generally been off limits in war. While you could cause as much carnage as you wished on the battlefield against soldiers, killing civiliansRead MoreThe War Of World War II1348 Words   |  6 PagesWorld War II was fought between two powers; the axis and the allied powers. The axis powers consisted of Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria while the allied powers consisted of U.S., Britain, France, USSR, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, and Yugoslavia. While the United States Armed Forces were deployed in other parts of the world, the ones back home were facing the struggles of a war they had no

For my GCSE Geography research project I have been asked to look at the impacts of Tourism in Kenya Free Essays

string(105) " are divided into three linguistic groups namely; Bantu, Bukusu, Nilotes, Cushites and there are others\." For my GCSE Geography research project I have been asked to look at the impacts of Tourism in Kenya. I am going to be covering background information, which includes; the physical features and tourist attractions, climate features, people of Kenya and cultural features, vegetation and wildlife. I am also going to be looking at the factors that have led to the growth of tourism in Kenya and the benefits and problems tourism has caused. We will write a custom essay sample on For my GCSE Geography research project I have been asked to look at the impacts of Tourism in Kenya or any similar topic only for you Order Now Background information Kenya is a less economically developed country (LEDC) in east Africa. Kenya covers an area of 582,646 square kilometres – the United Kingdom is 244,100 square kilometres in area. Kenya has a population of around 30 million, compared with the UK’s 60 million. Kenya is situated astride the equator and has a hot, tropical climate. The country is bordered by Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia and to Kenya’s east is the Indian Ocean. Figure 1 shows the map of Africa and an arrow showing where Kenya is located. Physical features and tourist attractions In Kenya there are two basic areas, plains (low grassy areas) and Highlands (high, mountain areas). The plains are very active areas. The Natives go about their daily business of farming and doing chores all day. While animals like elephants and giraffes roam around freely. Some houses are built high up on poles so that the animals can’t get at them. The flat coastal plain along the Indian Ocean varies in width from 15-70km, and the land then gradually rises up to the highlands. The Highlands are much more deserted. Kenya’s highest mountain is named Mount Kenya. It towers over everything else in the country. The only areas left to name are the rural towns (the cities). There is really not much you can say about them, as they are most like what we live in. Buildings, roads, people wearing normal clothing, etc. That is the one odd thing about Kenya. It has both areas of traditional living (the way they’ve been doing it for hundreds of years) and rural living (modern things like the ones I just mentioned) One more thing about Kenya’s physical features, they only have summertime. You may not think that affects the way the country looks, but think about it. Weather affects the animals, people, and buildings, pretty much everything. Kenya’s tourist attractions range from safaris through game parks to beautiful beaches on the coast. Until 1969, tourism development had focused on Nairobi’s hotels and on its game parks. Subsequently, coastal tourism received increasing attention, and tie-ins between game park and beach stays became more common, attracting visitors from East Africa and from overseas. Kenya’s coasts offer intriguing cultural and historical surroundings including picturesque old Arab towns and the ruins of sixteenth-century Portuguese settlements. There are ideal conditions for SCUBA diving and game fishing together with 150 miles of unspoiled beaches protected from sharks by the great coral barrier reef. New cottage-style hotels draw on local architectural styles and decor and offer an international standard of luxury. Most visitors to Kenya, however, continue to come primarily to see its varied wildlife, in particular, the world’s largest concentrations of elephant, giraffe, antelope, and zebra. Though hunting safaris have declined since their colonial heyday, restricted game hunting continues to draw enthusiasts. Kenya has an outstanding record among African countries in the protection and development of game parks and lodges. Climate features Kenya is divided by the equator into two almost equal parts. The region north of the equator is hot and receives comparatively little rain. The southern region falls into three zones. Kenya has a great climatic diversity that goes in parallel with the different geographic regions described elsewhere. As an Equatorial country, there is little variation in temperatures throughout the year. However, among regions there are great differences in average temperatures and rainfall. This climatologic diversity is mainly due to the winds and the altitude differences. The rainfall pattern is important because of its influence on wildlife and the road conditions. Upon the rains, many roads become flooded or muddy and are impassable. The rainy season is divided in two periods: the long rains fall between March and June, whereas the short rains take place between October and November. In general, temperatures are higher during the months corresponding to the boreal winter, i.e., January, February and March. Below is a graph showing the temperature and rainfall in Nairobi, Kenya. People of Kenya and cultural features Kenya has a very diverse population that includes most major language groups of Africa. Traditional pastoralists, rural farmers, Muslims, and urban residents of Nairobi and other cities contribute to the cosmopolitan culture. The standard of living in major cities, once relatively high compared to much of Sub-Saharan Africa, has been declining in recent years. Most city workers retain links with their rural, extended families and leave the city periodically to help work on the family farm. About 75% of the work force is engaged in agriculture, mainly as subsistence farmers. The urban sector employs 0.9 million people. The national motto of Kenya is harambee, meaning â€Å"pull together.† In that spirit, volunteers in hundreds of communities build schools, clinics, and other facilities each year and collect funds to send students abroad. The five state universities enroll about 38,000 students, representing some 25% of the Kenyan students who qualify for admission. Kenya is grouped into more than 70 ethnic groups, Some of the ethnic tribes are large e.g. the Agikuyu who form a majority of the population within their homeland in the central province and can also be seen to be in large numbers in the other districts in Kenya. The other large ethnic groups include the Luo, Luhya, Kamba and Kalenjin. There are also some groups of people who form a very small population. This includes the tribe of El Molo. Kenya’s ethnic groups are divided into three linguistic groups namely; Bantu, Bukusu, Nilotes, Cushites and there are others. You read "For my GCSE Geography research project I have been asked to look at the impacts of Tourism in Kenya" in category "Free Research Paper Samples" Many of Kenya’s foremost cultural institutions are in either Nairobi or Mombassa. In Nairobi are the National Museums of Kenya, which include exhibits on natural history and geology; the Kenya National Archives; and the McMillan Memorial Library, with a special collection of Africana. In Mombassa is the Fort Jesus Museum, a history museum housed in a 16th-century Portuguese fort. The Kitale Museum features displays on scientific and historical topics. Vegetation and wildlife Vegetation in the north and northeast is sparse, primarily consisting of thorn bush. In the south area there are acacias and tree cacti of the Euphorbia genus. The giant Baobab (Adansonia digitata), of the Bombacacea family, outstands for its spectacularity, sometimes growing to 18m high and with the trunks reaching 9m in diameter. Its long and pulpy fruit is good for eating, and the bark is used for manufacturing ropes and cloth. Vegetation is more diverse and abundant only at the oasis in the north and northeast, in the river valleys and in areas such as Taà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ta Hills, with an alpine-like landscape. Given the extension of the arid regions, the biggest part of Kenya’s land consists of deserts or semi-deserted steppes. Most visitors to Kenya want to experience the country’s world famous wildlife. But there are many different ways to experience the Kenyan wilderness. Whether you want to drive by a pride of lions in a four wheel drive, walk through herds of plains game, watch a herd of elephants from the comfortable veranda of a safari lodge, track game on horseback or search for rare birds in a thick rainforest, the possibilities are endless. Kenya’s wilderness areas are famous worldwide. The name Kenya has become synonymous with the great wilds of Africa. But they represent far more than you would ever expect, protecting and showcasing a broad range of habitats and species. They are complex ecologies that depend on the conservation of diverse natural resources and systems. The Parks, Sanctuaries and Conservation areas co-exist with and depend on the communities that surround them, and work together to protect the future. From the depths of a coral reef to alpine mountains, from one of the worlds most endangered owls to a herd of wildebeest more than a million strong, the wilderness of Kenya is a wonder to behold. Factors that have led to growth of tourism Tourists are people who travel for pleasure. The tourist industry looks after the needs of tourists and provides the things that help them get to places to help them relax and enjoy themselves. Tourism is a big industry. It is one of the worlds fastest growing industries and in the near future it is expected to employ more people worldwide than any other industry. The growth of tourism in Kenya is due to the tourists being attracted to areas of great scenic beauty or where there is abundant wildlife. Kenya is a land of contrasts, and nowhere is this more apparent than in its range of altitudes. The hills and mountains of Kenya are a world apart from the lowland valleys and plains. High altitude Kenya offers something for everyone. There are refreshing hill walks through bird rich areas or more active hikes into montane forests. Above all there is mighty Mt Kenya, whose slopes are the perfect trekking destination. Kenya is the home of the safari. The boundless wilderness and big game of this region has long attracted adventure seekers from all over the globe. No other African country can boast such an incredible range of landscapes, unique geographical features and species. Kenya offers the visitor a chance to experience a natural world unchanged by the passage of time. The Kenyan wilderness is home to an endless array of ecosystems, the staging ground for natural cycles of life, death and regeneration as old as the planet itself. This great range of natural habitats means that there is plenty to explore, and plenty of species to encounter. The Massai Mara Game Reserve is widely considered to be Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve. The Mara comprises 200 sq miles of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest. Contiguous with the plains of the Serengeti, the Mara is home to a breathtaking array of life. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi. The Acacia forests abound with Birdlife and Monkeys. Elephants and Buffalo wallow in the wide Musiara Swamp. The Mara and Talek rivers are brimming with Hippos and Crocodiles. Other indicators of the growth in tourism are the increase in the number of tour operators and vehicle hire enterprises. Tourism is also a major source of employment for farmers and grocers, to construction, transport and financial services and to the purveyors of curios and souvenirs. The industry is labour intensive and hence its expansion generates more job opportunities than an equivalent expansion in other sectors of the economy. Besides, allied improvements in tourism infrastructure also catalyses other economic activities. It is estimated that well over 219,000 people are currently deriving their livelihood from tourism. In some streets in Central Nairobi and Mombassa half the shops are tourist-oriented. Benefits and Problems of Tourism The development of the tourist industry can bring many benefits and problems. Tourism in many parts on Kenya is a ‘double edged shroud’ meaning blight as well as blessing but in my opinion I think that there is more problems than benefits. The development in the tourist industry can improve the chances of having a good holiday for tourists. Countries like Spain, Italy and Greece were once very poor and now have much higher standards of living due to increased tourism. The poorer developing countries have also followed their lead. Kenya, for example has used money from tourism to improve their schools, hospitals, roads and factories. Some of the money has also been spent on developing the tourist industry. There would also be a demand for locally produced food and souvenirs, jobs in hotels and restaurants, new amenities that locals could use. Coffee and tea production brought in more foreign exchange and income from tourism first exceeded that from coffee. In the Massai Mara the ultimate way of travel is in a hot air balloon. Hot air balloons are another source of income but it disturbs animals and they have driven some out. The rapid increase in tourism is overcrowding parts of Kenya and the increasing population growth in the drier areas of Kenya has led to pressure exceeding the carrying capacity of the land in relation to park management, which in turn has led to lower income. The problem of increasing visitors has led to an increase in the number of vehicle entries in the park. This tourist entry is suspected to disturb wild animals and damage natural vegetation by off road driving. The noise by the vehicle may also be disturbing to some wildlife. Its negative impact might be higher in long term. Increased tourist facilities have caused the loss of habitat and naturalness of the area. Lodges and attractive places have been spoilt by garbage and sewage disposal problems. Garbage attracts carrion-eaters such as hyenas, baboons, velvet monkeys and marabou storks. These problems are of concern to the reserve’s management because animals can be obvious threats to people, including tourists. Another impact of garbage is that some scavengers, such as hyenas, may change their natural feeding habits and became permanent garbage feeders. In the Coast, the local residents are Muslims. The Islamic females have to dress their whole body to avoid attracting men but as tourists go by they show parts of their body that is forbidden for Muslims. The darker side about tourism is that the local people then go into drugs n drinking and prostitution. Ladies look for boys for sex, so instead of boys going to the church, they have sex with ladies for money and this is affecting society. Tourists diving and standing on the coral kill the living organisms, as they are extremely delicate and tender. Anchors being dropped of boats constantly batter the coral and it is illegal to harm the coral. Tourists take shells and starfish that are a vital link to the ecosystem. 140 tones of shells and coral are removed out every year for selling. How to cite For my GCSE Geography research project I have been asked to look at the impacts of Tourism in Kenya, Essays

Stronger Globalization in Connection to International HRM

Questions: 1.You should put forward both the arguments for and against the strong globalization thesis and how the debate to international HRM. when considering the extent to which HR practices are converging or diverging, you should refer to all three levels of analysis in order to put forword your opinion on the convergence or divergence of HR practices? 2.You nees to put forward the three main arguments for the internationlistion of firms. with regard to MNC strategy and structure, you should demonstrate your understanding of the three main types of strategy and how each strategy results in defferent types of structure and HR practice. You should also demonstrate your understanding of how strategies are determined by the balance between the competing pressures to achieve strategic integration, local responsiveness and global innovation facing MNC's? Answers: 1. Stronger globalization in connection to International HRM International HRM or IHRM is a term which is given to the process of Human Resource Management in a highly globalized environment which has been aided by increased globalization across the world. Globalization is defined as the process of international integration which arises from interchange of world views, ideas, products and various aspects of culture. There are arguments which are for and against the need of strengthening or rather focusing on international HRM for companies from different parts of the world. Globalization in present world with respect to organizational activities is largely influenced by IHRM practices which organizations adopt. Arguments for and against Globalization 1. Global Effects: With globalization the exposure available to human resources of any organization is provided with an opportunity to explore larger possibilities and the organization is provided with a vast pool of talent. Globalization when facilitated by stronger IHRM practices indeed increases the level of efficiency an organization has to choose from and has facilitated to a drastic reduction in costs for many organizations. The limitations of international barriers have been reduced drastically while it has become quicker and much easier for any company to operate and offer its services to any part of the world (Runebergendorff 2007). 2. Local and National Effects: Globalization has its flipside as well. There have been cases of reduced job availability as more developed countries are thinking to outsource their operations to other countries. Hence, globalization in IHRM has led to limited opportunities for citizens of several countries. For example many MNCs are outsourcing their data processing and other outbound services to countries like India, Singapore, or other South East Asian nations. In countries like USA, companies have faced criticism for outsourcing tasks and reducing the work base in their own countries. On the other hand, with a Globalized environment more and more companies from different countries compete with each other and may make the competition tougher for the smaller local producers (KGK Uni-Obuda n.d.). 3. Organizational Effects: There are both for and against aspects of this area. While costs have been reduced, organizations need to devote more time towards training and development for employees which they recruit in countries where tasks are outsourced to. Also, the time for processing, delegating and evaluating each tasks takes more time than it used to take previously. A positive out of Globalization is the fact that a company grows global and can work around the clock. A collaborated effort makes sure that the organizations are processing more activities in comparison to what they had been doing. From the above cases it can be concluded that globalization has offered a virtually new domain for managers to explore. The diverse work climates and the increased level of competition has reduced the aspect of convergence of HR practices which previously looked to be standardized for each company. In a globalized environment, differentiation in HR practices has played a key role towards success of companies across the world. This divergence aspect to globalization has been the result of a diversified work environment along with different work cultures which have come together (Monash 2003). Debate related to International Human Resource when considering extent to which the IHRM is converging or diverging Globalization means that firms need to internationalize and operate globally. In order to compete and offer good costs for the products or services on offer, it is very important to internationalize their operations. The three arguments which advocate for increasing internationalization of firms are: Access to factors of production: Globalization has opened up great avenues for companies to explore the opportunities of having access to different factors of production. For instance, MNCs in USA are switching their manufacturing units in countries like India or China or Taiwan as the costs of production is much lower. With reduced costs, the companies are able to offer cost effective products and services to its customers. Moreover, companies operating in other countries also get the opportunity to utilize raw materials and resources which are not available their own countries to come up with newer products (Biz Research Papers 2009). Access to markets: Globalization also offers a much wider market for any company to offer their products. For instance Pepsi Co which is an American company catering to the world and is a market leader. As it is present in such a huge market it has the opportunity to keep its margins lower and still make huge profits. This keeps the opportunity of any similar company to stay out of competition and virtually leave a very small opportunity to grow to such a high level. Exploitation a firm-specific advantage: Internationalization offers a foreign market which has specific characteristics which could be of political, social or even political nature which permits firms to profitably exploit the firm specific advantages by way of locating that particular market. This can only be attained by offering products which are not presently being offered in that specific market. With the above key advantages which advocate for internationalization, the strategies of companies differ with respect to their scale of operations. Broadly the strategies of IHRM is different for companies operating as multinationals, global or transnational. For example standardization of HR practices is possible in case of transnational companies where there is a specific market which they cater to. In case of global or multinational companies the HR practices cannot be standardized as the market conditions and cultures are very different from one another (Jims Journal n.d.). 2. Person Specification for the Role of Human Resource Manager The following specifications are designed for the role of a Human Resource Director for the task of overseeing the entire process of managing the employees within the organization. It starts from recruitment and selection and moves towards effective rewards and recognition strategies to get the operations of the organization done in an effective manner. The requirements for the job profile are: Skills, Knowledge and aptitude: The individual who would be good for this position would need to be a stronger and effective communicator in writing, business presentations as well as interpersonal communications. Some of the other important skills and aptitudes required are: He needs to portray highly developed as well as demonstrated teamwork skills. Another element which would be handy is the ability of demonstrating high degree of confidentiality and common sense. As the task would be more for directing the efforts of the team of diverse human resource professionals, he needs to demonstrate the ability of increasing productivity and work in a continuous manner to improve the methods, approaches as well as departmental contribution while being cost-sensitive. A commitment to continuous learning and being expert in employment laws along with insights in the employee relations and communications. Ability of demonstrating for seeing a bigger picture which provides useful and strategic advices as well as inputs across the company. He needs to have the ability of leading in an dynamically fluctuating work environment (Kidder Minister n.d.). Experience of being flexible to work and work towards empowering the employees through structured manner would be an advantage. Experience in working at multiple locations Experience: The HRM director needs to have an experience of over 7 to 10 years of holding responsible positions in Human Resources which prefers in similar industry in two or more organizations. The individual needs to have the experience of supervising as well as manage the professional staffs at different roles within the organizations. Qualifications, education and training: The candidate needs to have at least a Bachelors degree in Human resources, business or a similar degree in the field of management. A Masters degree in Business Administration and Business Management would be the Post Graduate degree which the candidates need to have. In case, the candidate had been holding positions such as Joint director or Deputy Director in any previous organization would have an added advantage (Conventry n.d.). Personal Characteristics: Speaking about the personal characteristics the individual needs to guide and manage the overall provision of Human Resources services, policies as well as programs for the entire organization. He would be inclined to engage in talent management strategies and include workforce planning which would include communicating with other individuals at key positions within the organization. Appropriate circumstance for position of company and person himself After recruitment and final selection processes, the induction program is regarded as the critical area which introduces a new recruit to learn about the organization and his responsibilities. However, training and development needs to be a continuous process, especially when organizations are working in an attempt to internationalize their operations. A well-defined training and development strategy would not only help the individuals grow and be updated with the latest tools and strategies in managing their regular activities but would facilitate the organization to increase the efficiency levels within the organization. Despite being experienced to get the job of a Human Resource Director, there needs to be a proper training and development program which the company needs to offer (Unece 2013). The key constituents for determining the need of undergoing such programs would include: Leadership competencies: The leadership competencies of the Human Resource Director would be determined by the different combination of hard and soft skills possessed by the individual. They would include: Ability of speaking in front of crowd: As the director would be responsible for addressing different individuals at different positions and most of the times teams from various divisions, this would be a very important factor. Ability of reading people: AN HRs main strength lays in the ability he or she has when it comes to reading the minds of people. The director needs to be proactive and anticipate what can be coming next or what a person is searching for. Ability to be strong and not intimated: HR professionals at timesare seen to be weak as they are often intimated by people at key positions. The director should have the ability of standing strong on the right steps and not get intimated by people irrespective of the positions they hold Empathy: Another key element which the director needs to have is having the ability of seeing the point of view of the other individuals. He or she needs to understand the nuances of a particular situation and make appropriate decisions at the right time (Sage Pub n.d.). An able listener: For any leader listening is regarded as a key aspect. Same goes for the Director who would essentially need to have the ability of listening to what others have to say. He should not have a perception or avoid listening to people he believes is not important. Cross-cultural awareness training requirements: As the HR director would need to work in diverse international work environment he or she needs to develop self-maintenance skills, interpersonal skills, and Meta cognitive strategies. Experience of working in diverse work environments and particularly at different locations would add to the advantage. Management Development programs: There are several programs which offer an opportunity for existing professionals to undergo training from time to time with respect to polishing and developing as a manager. The three management development programs which the Human Resource Director needs to undergo are: Leadership Development Programme by National Universityof Singapore Title:Leadership Development Programme Objectives: A program which is designed to help the leaders and senior managers to advance their leadership skills and hence build the capacity of leading a successful change in their organizations. Content:Facets of leadership which includes inspiring and motivating teams, building commitments, and managing resistance to change. Method of Delivery:Leadership frameworks, interactive case studies and exercise. Duration: 5 days Intended recipients: HR Managers and leaders of different management divisions. Executive Certificate in leadership and people management by Singapore Management University Title:Executive Certificate in leadership and people management Objectives:The program explores the important management facets which includes personal effectiveness in senior roles which leads to strategy development as well as implementation. Dedicated program for aspiring the leaders for enhancing their abilities of managing with competence as well as organizational success. Content: - Leadership, Talent Management, Change Management, Performance Management, Team Efficacy, and Personal Effectiveness Method of Delivery: Leadership frameworks, interactive case studies and exercise. Duration: 7 modules and 3 day per module Intended recipients: HR Managers and leaders of different management divisions. Professional Certificate in Business Management by Management Development Institute of Singapore Title:Professional Certificate in Business Management Objectives:The program has been designed for individuals who aspire to have a great career in the field of business management. The participants would develop the fundamental as well as firm understanding of principles and practices in a business environment. It would equip the participants to communicate effectively and prepare them for tougher situations. Content: Fundamentals of marketing, communication skills, principles of accounting and finance, principles of business management. Method of Delivery: Leadership frameworks, interactive case studies and exercise. Duration: 4 modules in 4 months Intended recipients: HR Managers and leaders of different management divisions. Appropriate structure for relevant position of the person in the organization An important element of any HR practice is to offer a strong Rewards strategy. The strategy should be such that it motivates the employees to work in a much more efficient manner. The basic constituents of the rewards strategy of a company looking forward to internationalization are: Payment structures: A company which works in a fluctuating environment where it can make huge benefits or losses should devise a strategy which pleases the employees and is acceptable as per industry standards. The pay needs to be fixed at a base rate for each dedicated positions and should be equally on par with the competitive companies. In an attempt to recognize the efforts of the employees, the organization can declare a bonus pay for every increase in profits which the company makes. This would be called a variable pay and should be directly corresponding to the revenues the respective divisions make (SHRM n.d.). Allowances: In todays work environment, employees need to move from one place to the other. A robust structure based on Cost of Living, housing, transportation and the efforts involved needs to be equally compensated. For instance the allowance for a local employee while working in Singapore would be as per the Singaporean standards. On the contrary when he is required to go to USA for the operations of the company, he would need to be compensated based on the social structures in the respective company. Benefits: Besides monetary compensation, the organization needs to offer other key benefits like pensions for its retiring employees, welfare schemes for the employees and their families, dedicated holiday leaves which should be made compulsory for each employee for each year. Non-Financial Benefits: Financial benefits and other goodies are not only the basic requirements for rewards and recognition of an employee. A firm would need to develop a well-designed career development program and show the place an employee could reach with his efforts in certain periods in future. The company should also offer the employees and option to choose from a set of alternatives and opportunities. For instance, a local resident of Singapore working in an MNC might be provided with an opportunity to leave abroad and work in the USA division. Other aspects of non-monetary rewards include social developmental programs and celebrations of key events or occasions within the company. Another aspect of cross cultural training needs to be an integral part of the company when it wishes to operate in different countries (Deloitte 2014). References Runebergendorff 2007, Globalization Implications for Human Resource Management Roles, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://www.runebergendorff.dk/opendir/Globalization%20Implications%20for%20HRM%20Roles,%20Friedman.pdf KGK Uni-Obuda, Internationalization and Globalization in Human Resource Management, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://kgk.uni-obuda.hu/system/files/Poor.pdf Monash 2003, International Human Resource Management: Asia Pacific Challenges, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/mgt/research/working-papers/2003/wp07-03.pdf Biz Research Papers 2009, An Overview Of The Influence Of Globalisation And Internationalisation On Domestic Human Resource Management In New Zealand, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://www.bizresearchpapers.com/1[1].Andries.pdf Jims Journal, Impact of Globalization on Human Resource Management, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://www.jimsjournal.org/6%20Bhushan%20Kapoor.pdf Kidder Minister, Human Resources Manager: Person Specification, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://www.kidderminster.ac.uk/uploads/hr_manager__person_spec0db9fec2.pdf Conventry, Job Description and Person Specifications, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://www.coventry.ac.uk/Global/Coventry%20University%20Vancancy%20Documents/JD%20REQ002676%20HR%20Administrator.pdf Unece 2013, Human Resources Management and Training, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/stats/publications/HRMT_w_cover_resized.pdf Sage Pub, Training and Developing Employees, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://www.sagepub.in/upm-data/26858_7.pdf SHRM, Rewards Strategy Report, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015,https://www.shrm.org/about/foundation/research/Documents/07RewardsStratReport.pdf Deloitte 2014, 2014 Global Top Five Total Rewards Priorities Survey, accessed on 27thJanuary 2015, https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/HumanCapital/dttl-2014-top-five-global-employer-rewards-priority-survey-report-20140423.pdf

Religion Essays - Jerusalem District, Jerusalem Governorate

Religion People may have different views about a belief or religion, but often both sides see a place of importance to them in the same way. Jerusalem has a religious importance for three religions. For Christians, the city is the site of many of the events in the life of Jesus Christ. For Jews, Jerusalem is the focus of their religious longing, the site of their ancient Temple, and their historical capital. For Muslims the city is their third holiest as the site from which Muhammad is said to have risen to heaven, and the site of important mosques. As a pilgrimage for three world religions Jerusalem is considered to be the holy city. The importance of Jerusalem to Jews stretches back about five thousand years. About 2500 B.C.E., the Canaanites inhabited the city, later Jerusalem became a Jebusite citadel. When David captured the city in 1000 B.C.E., the Jebusites were absorbed into the Jewish people. David made Jerusalem the capital of his kingdom, and Solomon built the first Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. ( Elon, 1989, p.89) Because of David making Jerusalem the capital of their kingdom and Solomon building the first Temple located in Jerusalem, which is important to Jews because it housed the Ark of the Covenant which Jews see as important to them because it is a symbol of their freedom from slavery and the Covenant God made with Moses, and allowed Jews to establish their promised land. Jerusalem is considered by Jews as their holiest city. In 586 B.C.E., the Babylonian, Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and exiled the Jews to Babylonia. Fifty years later in 537 B.C.E! ., Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylonia and permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. ( Safdie, 1990, p.107) Jerusalem is the holiest city for Jews because their Temple, their place of worship was placed here until it was destroyed. Again when they were allowed to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem they obviously had a religious attachment to this city and that is why today it remains a holy pilgrimage for Jews. Persia held Jerusalem until 333 B.C.E., when Alexander the Great added Palestine to his empire. About 198 B.C.E, king Antiochus III conquered Judea of which Jerusalem was a part, making it a tributary to Syria. The Jews later revolted under the leadership of Maccabees and defeated the Syrians. The Temple was reconverted in 165 B.C.E., and the Maccabean dynasty ruled until Rome took the city in 63 B.C.E. The Romans set up a local dynasty, the house of Herod, to rule most of Palestine. Herod the Great rebuilt much of Jerusalem, including the Temple. While suppressing a major Jewish revolt, the Romans destroyed the second Temple in 70 C.E. In 135 C.E., after the failure of! the Bar Kochba revolt, Jews were banished from Jerusalem. ( Thubron, 1987, p.45) Bar Kochba, also known as Simeon ben Koseva was the leader of the Jewish rebellion against Rome to regain their holy city, Jerusalem. After a lengthy and heroic defence, the rebellion failed, fifty fortresses and a thousand villages were destroyed. The Jews fought hard to get back control of this city which must be of great importance to them or they would not put up such a fight. It was during the period of David's kingship that the city of Jerusalem became the centre of Israelite government and religion. Until David's reign, Jerusalem was held by the Jebusites, a people from Canaan. Over time, especially as the monarchy declined, Jerusalem became the symbol of God's promise to Israel and the centre for Israel's hope for the future. ( Peters, 1987, p. 135) This shows how important the city of Jerusalem is to the Jewish religion and to their existence. The importance of Jerusalem to the religion of Judaism is quite evident, in addition to Judaism! , Christianity also sees Jerusalem as a holy pilgrimage for their religion. Jerusalem for Christians is the site of many of the events in the life of Jesus Christ, who is the Messiah for the Christian religion. From the early fourth century, when Christianity became legal in the Roman empire, Jerusalem developed as a centre of Christian pilgrimage. ( Bahat, 1989, p.230) When Christianity was recognized as a legitimate religion by the Romans, Christians built churches and Christian shrines in Jerusalem. Jerusalem to Christians is where the first Christian community was formed. More importantly this is where Jesus

New to the Media essays

New to the Media essays I have never been to a live play performance before, but I have seen one on video. I loved it as though I was reading a great storybook; being able to stop at anytime and pick up where I left off, but I never thought about the relationship between the performers and the audience. Nor did I think of the impact of all of the aspects that deal with creating a play and giving a great performance. For my first live play I went to go see Polaroid Stories; a play I thought would not be so shocking to a first time audience member. I was wrong; this play almost literally looked me in the face and slapped me. The play had the look of a run down playhouse that had little funding and little direction, but I later pieced it together that they made it part of the play, and obviously you are not supposed to see those who are back stage directing. Additionally, I over looked the performers costumes, the stage lighting, and set design; everything I took for granted. I thought I could see the props and everything that was strategically placed or used, but I missed them all. I was surprised at how these people in charge took the look of a run down playhouse and made it their stage. This was life on lifes canvas and it was totally different from watching television. Everything became so tangible and real. For a moment I lost my self and really got into the play. I didnt think I was watching a group of people on a set acting for my entertainment, I felt I was actually watching life. As if I stepped out of my body for a moment and walked the streets seeing the life of these street kids. You cant exactly get that from television; your mind is constantly running when you watch this play. The fact that the stage was right in front of me does not compare to television. If I took one step forward I would have been on stage, i f I wasnt already. One of the actors I felt breeze by me, and I could smell the smoke ...

Recruitment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Recruitment - Essay Example The labor market conditions determine a number a factors that will affect our recruitment plan. The demand and supply of labor will determine the market mechanism. The equilibrium of the demand and supply of labor will determine the wages or salaries. Besides this, other factors that could affect our recruitment plan include government regulations in the market. These regulations could be a minimum wage set by the government or could also be other regulations regarding the number of employees that can be employed etc. According to research carried out by the Human resource department of Eatwell, the skilled labor present in the region we plan on opening our next branch does not belong to any sort of trade unions. This is an advantage for us because no trade union means that the labor will not be strong enough to influence our decisions. However, a throughout England, there is a minimum wage law set by the government and we will have to consider this before deciding on wages for our u nskilled labor. Secondly, since there are not many superstores in the area where the new branch is being opened, we have many opportunities that we can make use of. The labor over there does not have much choice, giving us an advantage of excess labor supply. This will allow us to choose the best possible employees for Eatwell from a wide range of labor supply. In order to calculate the number of vacant jobs in our new superstore, we will need to consider a number of aspects. First of all, we will consider the number of employees in the other branches and compare it with the branch's size. This will give us an estimate of the amount of vacancies available for our new branch. Then we will consult various departments and ask them their requirements of employees. These requirements will also be considered and formal job descriptions will be developed for each job identified. These job descriptions will be useful later on in the recruitment process when the jobs will be advertised. Another aspect that needs to be considered is hiring the number of recruits which will most profitable for the firm. Too many employees hired could result in diseconomies of scales while fewer employees than required mean lower output. This is how the exact number of available jobs will be identified and employees will be recruited accordingly. In order to be efficient, a firm needs to be flexible. Atkinson gave a flexible firm model in 1984 according to which flexibility in an organization depends on workers of two kinds, the core workforce and peripheral workforce. The core workforce consists of those employees that are regular and permanent. The organization has a standard contract with them. On the other hand, the peripheral workforce consists of those workers which are semi-permanent. They are hired when they are required and fired when the work is done. They are also called just-in-time workforce and disposable workforce. The peripheral workforce is actually what makes a firm flexible. The firm can hire a worker whenever the need arises and dismiss him as soon as there is no more need. This model will give Eatwell a competitive advantage over rest of the supermarkets in the market. This practice allows a firm's average cost to decrease and the efficiency to increase. This model can be applied to our recruitment plan a s well. All the low paid and low skills jobs will be included in the peripheral wo

The Story of Foreign Trade and Exchange case Essay

The Story of Foreign Trade and Exchange case - Essay Example Competitive advantage is acquired once a business diversifies its products and ensures that they are of higher quality, fair prices and is locally and internationally available compared to their competitors. This strategy suggested by the story of foreign exchange and which has been adopted by Nestle has made this company attain a competitive advantage in the consumer healthy foods market where there are many giants. Its diversification into not only beverages and snacks but also baby food and the availability of the products worldwide has made it gain more and dominate the market. Its absolute advantage is derived from its corporate social responsibility which is giving back to the community as much as possible for sustainability purposes. Nestle is one of the companies that formed World Cocoa Foundation whose aim is to integrate with cocoa farmers all over the world and assist them on increasing their productivity, supplying their products and even dealing with the adverse environmental effects. It has also invested more than $500 million to deal with health problems like diabetes and obesity among

Compares and contrasts the kernels of different operating systems Essay - 1

Compares and contrasts the kernels of different operating systems - Essay Example This operating system is developed for common users. However, there are many other kinds of operating systems which serve specific operations and functions of individual users and organizations. In this scenario, Kernel is the most important element of an operating system. It allows an operating system to carry out some specific routines and tasks. The basic purpose of this research is to compare and contrast kernels of different operating system. This paper presents a comparative analysis of different operating systems and their kernels. An operating system is the most important element of a system. It runs all the software applications and tools installed on a computer (Tanenbaum, 2008). The kernel is simply the "core" or inner most level of any OS or operating system. The kernel offers many callable routines that permit other applications to display text, access files and graphics, obtain input from a mouse or keyboard, and some other similar facilities. There are diverse kinds of OS models available nowadays. A number of them are employed in on-hand freeware and commercial OSs, plus others are being made at universities as technology and research based projects. All operating systems types have their powerful aspects and their flaws making them suitable for diverse kinds of functions and hardware. Certainly, computers have transformed a lot, as a result kernels have transformed as well too. Earlier operating systems are yet foundational upon the low-performant hardware of the 60s and 70s, however do offer constan cy as newer operating systems require technology power of the contemporary processors as well as still have to prove themselves (Sewell, 2013; Dumon, 1998). Kernel is the most significant element of an OS, and it composed of two fractions, user space (un-privileged operating mode) as well as kernel space (privileged operating mode). The early idea of monolithic kernel and normal

Information Management System of IKEA

Information Management System of IKEA Introduction History A privately held international retailers of home products, being the largest retailers of the world they provide home products from furniture, fabric, glass, kitchen and bathroom accessories at an affordable price. Their vision being Anybody can make a good-quality product for a high price, or a poor-quality product for a low price. But to make good products at low prices, one needs to develop methods that are both cost-effective and innovative. This has been IKEAs focus. Maximizing the use of raw materials and production adaptation to meet peoples needs and preferences have meant that their costs are low. The IKEA way of doing things is to pass these cost savings on to customers. This idea came into being in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad in Sweden who laid basis of IKEA and then afterwards it was owned by Kamprad Family. Data of august 2009 shows currently it has 301 stores (outlets) in 37 countries (scattered in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia), with more than 135,000 employees. (Source net) All products are in flat packed form to be assembled by consumer himself (saving space and time from in store assembling, easy handling and transportation and reducing packaging cost. IKEA Financial Progress this decade: This graph clearly describes IKEAs progress in terms of financial point of view but in this recession period what could be the factors it has adopted to increase its progress towards a progressing/ profiting organization. Multiple factors can be mentioned starting from its outlets structure up to higher level management all working in a close coordination. They modernized their structure at every step ultimately profiting the organization and customers in terms of providing cheap furniture accessories. Special Design of IKEA Outlets IKEA outlets are often on â€Å"one way lay out pattern† to encourage customers to see the store in its entirety. A self service way is introduced as customers collect shopping cart, proceed to open-shelf warehouse (for smaller items) then proceed to furniture warehouse where they could collect previously noted showroom product (but in a flat pack form). Furniture warehouse is usually located adjacent to main store. Ultimately proceeding to cashier for due payments. Retail Business Model of IKEA All trading of IKEA is through its outlets as well as internet, called as Clicks and Mortar or Bricks Clicks or Bricks, Clicks Flips (Catalogues). The usability of both of the ways for sales proved advantageous for the IKEA and for consumers as well: Developers Perspective Profitability of IKEA Management Perspective Increased / better productivity User Perspective Accuracy/ satisfaction/ cost effective To fulfill the above described criteria products have be efficient, effective as well as user friendly. Flaws of this system include Security problems, staff retraining or new technical staff, more employees loosing jobs and redundancies. Establishment of e-business is still advantageous for IKEA as counter mediation made payment available to them before goods are delivered, goods are supplied in time further reducing inventory cost, space for storage, direct delivery to customers home further reduces their cost. Structure of IKEA: OPERATIONAL Level Information Management system of IKEA Main structure of IKEA family comprises of â€Å"INGKA Holding† which is the main (parent) company for all the IKEA group companies. This INGKA foundation consists of 5 member executive committee naming â€Å"Kampard†, his wife and 3 attorneys (The Economist, 2006). IKEA Group company supervisory board comprises of Goran Grosskopf, the chairman and Ingvar Kampard being senior advisor and many others representing their own territories. This group of companies is basically concerned with carrying out all the necessary functions to bring the right product to markets. These companies include IKEA Sweden, Swedwood (Industrial IKEA production company), purchasing, distribution, human resource services, internet technology and communications departments (all working together). All scattered branches of IKEA (Franchisees) are connected to a common system networking â€Å"inter IKEA system† at national as well as at international level (monitoring all the sales, stocks, cash, inventory, demand and supply balances). The basic unit of information is provided by managers at local stores (shift / branch/ area/ territory managers), all collaborating to disseminate information from local up to international level. This propagation of information is carried out through internet using wide area networks (ultimately spreading information from end user to main supplier). So Human computer interaction results in: Cost reduction less staff needed, Resource Land saving Tangible Deployment Business Improved More messages Productivity transmission New ideas/products Organizational new forms of integration Enhancement improved business Work Intangible Enhancement Business Human Resource Structure of IKEA: Human Resource is one of the strongest departments of IKEA as it gives emphasis on IKEAs vision Their HR philosophy believes that employees are more productive and committed when company takes care of them and their needs. Timings of IKEA Store Opening: IKEA outlets are open 24 hours a day, restoring and maintenance carried out at night hours. For such long working hours IKEA hires students at a minimum rate in return getting good quality work. As officially students are allowed to work part time hours, so remain available for various shifts. Recruiting process: Recruitment in IKEA starts from online basic test in form of multiple choice questions which are meant to judge the intelligence, personality and persons response towards a particular situation. Online testing is another factor for saving up the extra money spent on recruitment process as well as time saving. Passed candidates are then called for a face to face interview which shows their level of confidence, dedication, interests and future goals. Passing candidates then go through a short training period, ultimately becoming a member of IKEA. Data Security Control/ Biometric Control: Employees are supplied with specialized computerized made IKEA identity cards which they swipe on a card reader, having a data of time in, working hours and time out. For enhanced security each card contains picture of employee (which can be checked by shift manager on duty). Job Security/ Benefits: All employees are provided with benefits uniformly like worker health and safety, housing facilities, forced and bonded labor, no child labor harassment, abuse and disciplinary actions. Employees are empowered fully in terms of their task completion. Supply Chain Management of IKEA: Supply chain management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work in process, inventory, finished goods, and their transportation from the point of origin to the point of consumption. Structure of IKEA is designed to optimize the efficacy of its designed products and supply process. For the purpose of ease it can be divided into 4 parts, each operating as a type of internal market. Sweden is the head quarter where all the basic furniture is designed. â€Å"Swedwood† the oldest supplier from Sweden for IKEA providing raw material mainly wood from its own forests but with time increasing demands of raw material forced IKEA to look for other suppliers. Currently there are more than 57 suppliers of raw material in furniture industry only, more interestingly these suppliers are not centered rather scattered worldwide but they all are connected with ECIS (IKEA s own system) which allows them to have look at inventory level, forecasting and transparency of supply chain , ultimately helping them to anticipate orders. Here another important IKEA perspective can be appreciated that it further neglects/reduces its switching costs at minimum as it always try to negotiate with previous suppliers rather than searching for newer ones. Retail division largely keeps all the responsibilities of controlling stores (franchises) world wide. For this purpose they have integrated complex communicating system (with the help of IT) which is maintained at every step . â€Å"Istra† the marketing decision maker set up a competitive tender to decide the production. More interestingly most products are manufactured in developing countries to keep down the costs. It is the responsibility of the â€Å"distribution centers† for the distribution (transportation) of raw material/ goods and designs to manufacturers (which again are not centered, giving huge emphases on communication and continuous support). IKEA ‘s highly trained technical staff keep concentrating on design improvements as advised by management to make products that are functional, simple, well made, affordable, easy to get assembled and durable. A specialized integrated project team (IPT) ensures that all these demands are met at all levels. All the above described divisions though working independently but still are connected and being monitored by â€Å"Business Support Centers† which keep introducing newer technologies and logistics. Similarly IKEA transport manager make arrangements for all transportation s at a global level (in collaboration with support centers for product/ material tracing). IKEAs policy is to shorten lead time. Attempts are being made at supplier, manufacturer especially at transportation level, where bypassing most of the retail stores is being tried. For this purpose products are transported directly from the main distribution center to consumers house (at consumers cost) saving his time and saving IKEA money at the same time. For this purpose IKEA maintains 41 trading service offices, scattered in 30 countries with 1350 suppliers. Having discussed various steps of supply chain it can be said that it is the collaboration between suppliers, intermediaries, third party service providers and customers through various transport sources (Strategic Supply chain). On the basis of demands management takes decisions regarding purchasing and production, inventory decisions, transportation strategy and routes, at the same time keeping an eye on accounts (Tactical Supply chain) . Ultimately production and distribution planning, demand planning and forecasting, all inbound and outbound movements, order promising on day to day basis (Operational Supply chain). Shopping at IKEA Franchises: Radiofrequency Identification (RFID) Newer technology which enables remote and automated gathering, then sending information between RFID tags (attached with the products ) and readers (which could be handled units or fixed units as both are in operation in IKEA). RFID tag consists of an integrated circuit, having specific data which could range from a unique identity number up to a thousand bites data. When these tags are shown to readers all necessary information get flashed at the device (reader) which is connected with not only in store local area network but also with a higher level management (at international level) as communication satellites are in operation as well. So information propagating starts as soon as a product is shown to reader without any delay. Advantages of RFID System for IKEA Data transmission, storage and analysis become much easy now than before. Information between tags and readers is rapid, does not even require direct contact. Inventory and stock level could easily be accessed. On the basis of previous sales accurate forecasts for a particular product could be made. Disadvantages of RFID System for IKEA Newer technology needed trained staff Data had to put over tags and readers with accuracy Required some investment. Client Server Architecture A customer can place an order online or through a computer system placed at IKEA franchise. For this kind of order placement customer places an order, pays cash through his debit card (in UK cash payments are handled through PayPal which is considered as the safest way of e-shopping. After making a transaction he is given a â€Å"specific order number† he shows to the main reception staff and gets his desired product straight away. Pic In this case information gets flashed at all (local, national and international levels). â€Å"Just In Time† (JIT) Policy OF IKEA: For the purpose of further reducing cost IKEA uses just in time policy as all the furniture is not stocked at the store level, so when a product is ordered it is directly shipped from the warehouse to customers home at a cost of additional transportation charge (bypassing intermediaries and reducing costs to both consumer and IKEA itself). Pre requisite for JIT All departments (suppliers, designers, manufacturers, transportation) have to work in close association to shorten the time frame, cut the cost while no compromise at the quality. Requires handsome inventory. IT plays the most crucial part for JIT to function at its best. Pull Based Model for IKEA Customer Relation Management Customer relation management can be discussed under 3 headings: Customer Relation Management Sales Marketing Customer Service â€Å"Sales† could be further discussed as IKEA uses the below given ways for sales. Web sales Sales Phone Field (Franchise) These Points have discussed earlier in the assignment. IKEA Catalogue Marketing of IKEA Web Marketing IKEA Catalogue: IKEA catalogue provides the most important tool for the purpose of marketing. IKEA is known as the trend setter in the catalogue publishing field. Annually published catalogue is in 27 languages and is published in 36 countries (†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..) Catalogue accounts more than 70% of the IKEAs annual marketing budget. It is said that more copies of IKEA Catalogue are printed as compared to Bible each year. PIC A quarterly printed magazine â€Å"IKEA FAMILY† further supplements the catalogue in terms of marketing. IKEA Website Marketing An up to date, well maintained website for marketing purposes is maintained round the clock. A specialized team of IT consultants remain available for all the times. Every promotional, seasonal offers, sales, discounts and special offers are displayed for the interest of customers. A wide range of products remain separately available on stock for e- shopping. On field Promotional staff Customer Service Play Area for Kids Bargain Corner IKEA Warranty IKEA Special handling booklets On field/Ground Staff: A well trained ground staff is available at store round the clock providing a high level of customer support. Friendly staff of IKEA feels pride helping their customers. Its a part of their routine practice to promote and assist their customers interest and guide them towards purchasing their goods. Play Area for Kids: IKEA has introduced a separate play area for children (aging 3 to 10 years of age). This facility is provided free of charge. As play area is a separate unit in the IKEA franchise so parents are provided with hand held pagers in order to get back to their children if they need some help during shopping. This unique feature is available only at IKEA stores which makes its customers more interested in visiting and shopping from IKEA. Bargain Center: A bargain corner is specially meant for returned, damaged or previously displayed products at a fairly reasonable low price. These products though are priced quite low as compared to other products but with no warranty. Furthermore on buying such goods customers are reminded again that this product does not carry any warranty and all the products clearly mention that either they are repaired, returned damaged or previously was displayed in the store. IKEA Warranty: All IKEA products come with IKEA warranty cards. Warranty of IKEA products ranges from minimum of 5 years up to 20 years depending upon the type of product and its life cycle. If a product gets damaged before this time customer is offered free service or even complete new product replacement. For these purposes IKEA keeps its customers details on records in order to trace them on their demand. IKEA Special Handling Booklets: As IKEA products are pre assembled and customer has to assemble the furniture himself, for this purpose customer is provided with a special product handling booklets which describes all the basic information regarding assembling all the material. Booklet further provide guidance for its proper usage, any precautions and safety advices. IKEA Outsourcing IKEA Help lines IKEA uses its help lines as a basic tool for outsourcing. A well trained, highly motivated staff is available round the clock to assist customers at all the levels. These help lines are free of charge and can be assessed 24 hours. Customers make calls; tell them their product reference number (mentioned on the booklets) Customer service assistant check that number in their computer system and get all the necessary information. Then they guide consumers what to do and where to report further or in case if they need any guidance they are given guidance if possible at the same time. Development of Internet Technology (IT) IKEA main center can be assessed through internet as all necessary guidance, sales, discounts, special offers and details of specified products can be assessed while sitting at home, or on work without any time delay. Development of IT therefore provides a major source of not only promotional perspective but sales and customers service as well. Help desk is available not only at IKEA stores but online as well. Limitations of IT Internet technology is labor intensive for both data input as well as accessibility. Well experienced staff is needed to gather all the necessary information from all the relevant departments (starting from a local level to national to global level). A separate IT department is mandatory for its time to time approach and functioning efficiently. Internet viruses/ hackers are a continuous threat for an active IT department. Many organizations may not want to supply information regarding their quality costs as they may have to face increased competitive force. Human errors, environmental hazards and computer system failures still remain unintentional threats. An educated/ well aware audience is needed to avail the internet advantages.

Television and Media Essay - Four Arguments for the Elimination of TV

Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television Television technology has been a controversial issue since its debut in the early 1940s. In order to fully understand any controversial issue, one must be presented with both the pro and the con sides of the issue. One must understand and be able to argue both sides of the issue in order to become a successful and well-educated person. Being a member of the pro-technological society, one is well educated on the pro side of this issue. That is, the positive effects that television technology has on society: Television's entertainment value, the ability to get "up to the minute" news coverage from around the world, and the uses of television as an educational tool. In order to understand the con side of this issue, one can look at the work Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, by Jerry Mander. This work provides four strong arguments against the television technology and gives reasons why the technology should be eradicated. Through the study of this work, one c an become better equipped to argue the con side of the issue, thus becoming a well-educated member of society, conscious of the effects that television has on him/her. Mander was a poor child growing up in the Lower East Side of New York City. His parents were immigrants who had escaped from pogroms in Eastern Europe. His father did many odd jobs during their initial years in America. He worked hard at anything in order to keep life together. His father's success came to him during World War II. He was beyond the draft age, and so he was able to do successful trade business in manufacturing uniforms for the military. When it was time for Mander to pick a career... ...make lots of money. As a consequence, television must present its information in the least amount of time as possible. Thus, information must be edited and re-edited until this condition is met. The quality of the information suffers because of this. As one can see, the argument against television is as strong, if not stronger, then the arguments for television. As a result, one can now better understand both sides of this controversial issue and make an informed argument for or against television. At this point, one is conscious to the many manipulations of television, advertising, and corporations. Being aware of these factors, one is now equipped to ask themselves "why do I do the things I do?". The answer being: Television. Works Cited Mander, Jerry. Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television. New York: Quill, 1978.

Abolition for Bilingual Education

One half of United States children who are not proficient in English live in California, a state who's future depends on these three million children becoming fluent in English. In 1968, the Bilingual Education Act was passed with the theory that if you academically instructed students in their native language first, learning English would be better and faster in the long run. Since the passage of bilingual education, there has been a continuing debate over whether or not the programs are benefiting children. Although there is not any research to support this conclusion, bilingual advocates believe that â€Å"bilingual students who first master Spanish and then make a transition to English, do at least as well academically in the long run as their English-only counterparts† (Netkin 1). Supporters feel that even if students are not gaining in English, the programs keep them from falling behind in content areas and also boost their self-esteem, which gives them the confidence to catch up later. The search for some proof that the five hundred million dollar industry works to help immigrant children learn English, in order to prosper in a California society, continues with little success. For decades throughout California, bilingual education has been commended as a miracle for schoolchildren who are not proficient in English, but the programs have been proven to be unsuccessful and should be abolished. Research indicates that bilingual programs are not helping children, but instead are bringing about high drop out rates and low test scores. There have been many struggles to educate children in bilingual programs. Teachers and instructional materials are hard to find, which makes instruction in academic subjects to the great number and mix of children difficult. Highly transient students and the inability to involve parents in their children's education present a barrier to instruction. Bilingual programs require great amounts of money that California taxpayers should not have to provide because taxpayers should not be responsible for teaching immigrants the American language. Proposition 227 was passed in June of 1998 that was to eliminate bilingual education and place children with limited English proficiency into classes where English is the only language spoken. This new law will enable California schoolchildren to succeed in America and taxpayers will no longer have to provide for a program that â€Å"actually keeps children from learning English, the language of their future, and hinders success in American society† (McCain). â€Å"63% of research shows no difference between bilingual education and doing nothing† (Research Evidence of Bilingual Education 4). Each year, only five percent of the bilingual schoolchildren gain English proficiency. Scores on comprehensive tests reveal that students who move from bilingual classes to English-only classes are unable to perform. Latino children in bilingual classes â€Å"end up not speaking either Spanish or English well† (Netkin 2). They have the highest dropout rate, forty percent, of any ethnic group and have consistently scored the lowest on Scholastic Assessment Tests. Instructing children in their official language and not teaching them English is making the children unable to succeed in society. Since this is an American country, children should be placed in English speaking classrooms in order to learn the language of the dominant group. Educating children in bilingual programs is difficult. Schools cannot provide the proper bilingual instruction because teachers and materials are limited or unavailable. Students speak languages that are not historically represented in the United States so bilingual teachers and materials for the languages are nonexistent. Even in schools where all students speak Spanish, teachers are hard to find and have to be recruited from Spanish speaking countries. However, sometimes the immigrant teachers cannot be certified to teach because they lack a college degree or simply cannot pass the English portion of a state teacher certification test. The California Department of Education estimates that about twenty-two thousand bilingual teachers are needed for instruction and studies predict that filling the need may be impossible. Bilingual education cannot provide children with the instruction needed to prosper in California so the programs should be eliminated. Immigrant students are highly transient which makes continuous instruction difficult. New students arrive to schools on a monthly basis, contributing to overcrowded classrooms that make teaching complex. Existing students move frequently or are regularly absent for long periods of time, disrupting their learning. Often times, students with excessive absences from school cannot be promoted to the next grade level or graduate, which makes the children discouraged and leads to them dropping out of school. Transient actions effect a student's ability to receive an education, contributing to the failure of bilingual programs. Parental involvement is important for student achievement, but extreme struggles arise when trying to involve parents in their children's education. Many parents are illiterate in their native language as well as English, making communication impossible. Translators are used successfully, but for uncommon languages, very few translators are available. Parental self-help classes are provided to parents who have trouble communicating. The classes have taught parents how to help their children in school, but several problems with parent involvement remain. Without the five hundred million dollars a year that taxpayers provide to the federal government, bilingual education programs would not exist. Why should the taxpayer be responsible for immigrants learning the American language? Before entering this country immigrants know that English is the dominant language, therefore, they should be responsible for learning the language themselves. By not knowing English and being unable to communicate effectively, newcomers are only hurting themselves. Taxpayers should not be responsible for educating immigrants. Learning English should be the responsibility of the person seeking to speak the language. Proposition 227 was passed to eliminate bilingual education. Children with limited English proficiency are to be placed into English-only classes where their native language is never spoken. This practice is called English immersion, a non-taxpaying system that will push children toward the quickest path to success in America. Students will learn English better and faster by being around the language all-day and everyday. The quicker they learn the language the sooner the students will be able to join in with their peers and develop an education. Although Proposition 227 was passed in June of 1998 to eliminate bilingual education, the programs remain in schools. â€Å"In Redwood City, south of San Francisco, the school district reports that eighty percent of Spanish-speaking children are still enrolled in bilingual† (Michels). Many other schools have confessed to not eliminating bilingual classes. The schools feel that the children need to be transferred to English-only classes slowly in order to avoid student confusion. Bilingual supporters feel that the programs give children self-esteem and a better education. This is absurd. Separating children from others because they cannot speak English makes them feel insecure and different. If anything, the students loose self-esteem and pride, making learning difficult. Bilingual programs are a failure and schools should obey the law and abolish the instruction. â€Å"The students will gain whatever added self-esteem they need when they develop proficiency in English, the language in which their peers are learning, and the language that they will need to succeed in the United States† (Netkin 1)

Effect of Collaborative Learning Styles on Student Achievement Essay

In terms of assessment and teaching strategies, collaborative learning styles can be considered as an indicator of the student’s prior knowledge about a certain topic or subject. Learning styles are functional especially within the classroom setup because it enables the teachers to determine the existing knowledge of students which they are able to acquire before-hand which in turn grant the teachers the capability to assess the degree or level of difficulty the lessons will be. While it enables teachers to plan ahead of time the scope and level of the lessons for the students, it also helps the students to refresh their knowledge and be fully aware of what they already know. The problem however in the context of today’s modernization is the ability of students to acquire such habit, which clearly, declines the quality of their academic gain. The rise of technological advancements and the internet diverted the attention of the students from reading books and journals towards updating their online profiles and music players. Given this, it would rather be best if the students work in groups since these individuals presumably have the same common ground when it comes to societal habits. In such case, the challenging tasks will benefit both the student and the teacher in terms of brainstorming strategies and it allows students to participate in a casual yet academic form just enough to prepare them for future public or corporate requisites. Conceivably, such is in a sense that traditional schooling is incapable of providing the authenticity learners require is often given voice in the literature of educational technology, and this field provides a good vantage point from which to study both constructivism and the concern for authenticity. In essence, there is a huge possibility that students will enhance their cultural knowledge, cognitive skills, personal skills, business knowledge, and management skills given the activities that involve collaborative learning. Quality of knowledge imparted to students should be innovative and fit for this era. Reference McKenna, B. J. , & McKenna, J. J. (2000). Selecting Topics for Research Writing Projects. The English Journal, 89(6), 53.

What the Hell Is It all About Essay Example

What the Hell Is It all About Essay Example What the Hell Is It all About Essay What the Hell Is It all About Essay What the Hell Does it all Mean? Humans differ from any other species on the earth. Our superior brain gives us a tremendous reasoning capacity that probes the depths of human existence. This intellect is closely intertwined with our spirituality, our immaterial part that seeks answers from something beyond ourselves. Throughout the history of human existence, God worked to reveal himself to and develop a relationship with his people, the pinnacle of his creation. The Old Testament chronicles the story of Gods people, the Israelites. God chose these people to reveal himself to all nations. The Bible chronicles this story as well as writings that came out of this time period. A section of these writings is known as Wisdom Literature from which comes the book of Ecclesiastes. Many have debated the value of including Ecclesiastes in the canon because of its apparent godlessness. Nonetheless, after evaluating the book, Peter Kreeft in his book Three Philosophies of Life, calls Ecclesiastes the great of all books of philosophy (15). The content, logic, and personality of Ecclesiastes verifies this claim. First of all we need to define philosophy. Often, Just the word conjures up mages of old, robed men stroking their flowing white beards and contemplating deep questions. We also may think of universities where professors and students hold seminars and debates. Most nonintellectuals probably cringe at the mention of the word because of these very images. Even the various dictionaries strongly associate philosophy with the academic world. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines philosophy as the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, esp. hen considered as an academic discipline. The etymology also onnotes philosophy as a lofty intellectual term; the word originates from the Greek word philosophia which means the love of wisdom. One definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, however, reveals a deeper, more personal meaning of philosophy by defining it as the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group. Whether we realize it or not, we all live out of our individual philosophy. Our beliefs shape our decisions, goals, and perceptions. Thus, philosophy is not Just for the intellectual. It also involves the common man because t some point everybody needs to answer lifes ultimate question of meaning. Of course, philosophy is also an academic discipline, and we need to reckon with this when dubbing Ecclesiastes as the greatest philosophy book ever written. Critics often dismiss Ecclesiastes as the senile ramblings of an old man, presumably King Solomon. The author does not use a strict form to present his ideas, a highly-valued discipline in the formal study of philosophy. Because of this, he often seems to ramble and at times even changes his mind. Instead of presenting his thoughts with lean, objective methodology, he involves much emotion. All these objections contain some legitimate points, yet we need to consider the basic qualities for great philosophy. Is the greatness and brilliance of a philosophy essentially measured by the form in which it is presented? Is the clean and articulate method of logic really the best? However necessary and good, the emphasis on form in modern philosophy has shifted our focus away from the actual content of the question. Perhaps this overemphasis on torm came as a way ot avoiding the reality ot the burning question that demands an answerthe question of meaning. Without orthodox form or tact, Solomon faces this ultimate question of human existence with gut-wrenching honesty. This is philosophy that reckons with reality. This is great philosophy. Ecclesiastes presents the world and our human existence as essentially meaningless. As the earth spins and revolves in the midst of a vast, swirling cosmos for who knows how many years, we are born. Throughout out our several decades of existence, we experience some pleasure and enjoy life at times, but typically we feel more pain than enjoyment. Even our enjoyment eventually becomes toilsome. Everything that we see tends toward a state of disorder. We desire the pleasure of life and resist the pain, but after several brief years, the law of entropy wreaks havoc on our physical bodies and we die. Why? What is the point? The hopelessness of this situation demands an honest answer. Solomon presents his argument for meaninglessness in a very logical form, contrary to the claims of many critics. The form is less explicit than most and very different than the rigid form developed by the Greeks and used by modern philosophers. The author writes disjointedly at times, but this very isjointedness in form brilliantly presents his argument for the meaninglessness of life. As Kreeft said, The books rambling is deliberate, for this form perfectly expresses its content, its message: that life rambles to nowhere. Its form is one with its content: the test of great poetry (24). We often credit the Greeks for developing the form of proper argumentation. Although Solomon existed long before the Greeks, he used the same basic form to develop his devastating, yet perfectly logical conclusion about the ultimate meaninglessness of life. At the core of all logic ies a syllogism that makes two statements and draws a conclusion. Kreeft presents the following syllogism: All toil is under the sun. And all under the sun is vanity. Therefore, all toil is vanity. (35) Before making these statements about toil and vanity, Solomon experimented with each in a logical way and recorded his findings in the book (Kreeft 37). First of all he experimented with wisdom, but soon discovered that wisdom only raises more questions than what it can answer. Wisdom did not satisfy because it explained nothing. It merely affirmed that everything was in fact meaningless. Meaning cannot be found in studying meaningless things. By denying spiritual reality and reducing humans to purely physical pieces of matter, existentialism confirms this truth. Knowledge, because it stems from purely physical aspects, is no longer trustworthy. Solomon acknowledged this futility after his experiment with wisdom. After wisdom Solomon experimented with hedonism, the unabashed pursuit of pleasure. Many modern, naturalistic philosophies that deny the existence of God advocate this approach towards finding meaning. Since no eternal meaning exists, people seek mmediate pleasure. Some spend all their lives pursuing riches and fame. Others turn to drugs or sex for their thrills. Solomon recorded his experimentation with pleasure and concluded that pleasure is essentially meaningless. Pleasure always requires increased dosages, and many people die completely unsatisfied. Living for the moment simply avoids the terrifying question of death. King Solomon gained enormous power that most men and women only dream about. As monarch at the apex ot Israels reign ne controlled trade which accumulated great riches tor him and the kingdom. Because of his political status he could marry virtually any woman that he desired. Solomon had complete control over his pleasure. Kreeft states that power is broader than pleasure because it includes power over pleasure (41). Solomon experienced this complete power, but still he lamented the meaninglessness of life. After selfishly pursuing pleasure for himself in search of meaning, Solomon gave up and turned to philanthropy thinking that sharing his goods would bring his life a sense of worth. Solomon soon realized, though, that sharing his meaningless things simply spread meaninglessness to other people. Many modern celebrities and businesspeople try this method of finding purpose. By giving millions to good causes they think their lives will have meaning. The postmodern generation seek meaningful Jobs instead of merely well-paying Jobs. Though these attempts are good in many respects, they remain incomplete. By addressing the quest for meaning in a short-term sense the ultimate question remains neglected. Finally, Solomon experimented with religion. He acknowledged that God existed and that God created the world and its people. However, even this acknowledgment failed to satisfy his quest for purpose. At one point Solomon even acknowledged that God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, but in a gloomy conclusion he stated that God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them (Holy Bible. Ecc. 6. 2). Solomon came very close to the truth here, but he failed to see an accurate picture of God. Instead of seeing God as the answer to his question, he merely saw God as a impersonal force. He then concluded that living in such a state is also completely Solomons horrifying conclusion logically shows that life in itself is vain. ssentially meaningless. We live for unknown causes. Finally we simply live to survive, but nature cares nothing for this desire and snuffs out our lives after a few years. Why even struggle for survival if existence is painful anyw?ay? No rational answer exists. For some reason, however, human nature recoils in response to this bleak assessment of existence. We were meant for much more. The ultimate beauty and greatness of Ecclesiastes as compared to other philosophy books comes from its depiction of a personal struggle. All the questions of philosophy eventually need to become personal. This personalizing of the questions grounds them in reality. It is easy for philosophy to get carried away with lofty hypothesizing and argumentation without ever becoming personal. By dealing with the questions on purely academic levels, we can avoid the shocking reality of the answers. Solomons honesty with the question of meaning shows his sincere desire for an answer. Unlike many modern philosophers Solomon refused to accept the easy answers presented by much of popular philosophy. He refused to ignore the question because he knew the effects of neglecting it. Much of popular philosophy attempts to answer the problem imply by ignoring it. Problem? What problem? Psychologists inform us that we are basically good and that all we need is self-actualization to overcome our destructive behaviors and ideas. We then force ourselves to think positively and delude ourselves into thinking that life depends solely on our outlook. Finally even this fails, so we fill our lives with noise and cheap entertainment, effectively drowning out the question that requires an answer. By doing this we seek an answer before recognizing the problem, and there is nothing more meaningless than an answer without its question (Kreeft 19). Taken to its logical conclusion, a life void of meaning results in a life void of sanity. The question presented by Ecclesiastes is the greatest question that man can and should ask. Ecclesiastes accurately portrays the life of man without God. Like many popular philosophies, Ecclesiastes assumes the absence of personal God. Unlike most other godless philosophers, however, the author honestly sees the implications of accepting this meaninglessness. He sees the truth and shudders. Even though the book ends with the question of meaning seemingly unresolved, the author vividly sees his need for God. He distinctly sees God by seeing the stark outline of the darkness that the face of Jesus fills (Kreeft 51). Despite its godless content, Ecclesiastes speaks pure, unadulterated truthobJective truth that divinely reveals God in its godlessness. As Kreeft says, It is divine revelation precisely in being the absence of divine revelation (23). Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Crossway Bibles, 2013. Kreeft, Peter. Three Philosophies of Life. San Fransico: Ignatius, 1989. Philosophy. Merriam- Webster Online Dictionary. 2013. Merriam-Webster Online. 20 November 2008 . Philosophy. New Oxford American Dictionary. 2nd ed. 2001.