An explanation of the strain and cultural criminology theories and the criminal elements Essay

The fast-changing society is demanding improvement of the existing legal frameworks each and every day. Indisputably, this is considerably challenging the decisions made by policymakers and more especially the judiciary sector. The challenge is more intensified by the way we define the defendant, victim, and penalty imposed for any crime committed. The underlying problem is that there exist various cultural norms and natural law; which significantly differ with constitutional requirements. In other words, legal procedures are not sufficient in providing criminal facts that can help us clearly understand the criminal elements mentioned above. Nevertheless, many scholars in the field of criminology such as Robert K. Merton and Keith Hayward now believes we can rely upon the strain and cultural criminology theories. Inarguably, the relationship existing between the two theories goes beyond our expectation, more especially when analyzing any criminology case. In fact, many people have be en convinced it would be appropriate if policymakers integrate some of the facts unrevealed by these theories when making or amending the criminal laws. The paper offers a detailed explanation of the two methods and more importantly, how they can be applied in the criminal case study of Mr. Heffernan convicted of the crime of cultivating cannabis plant which is an illegal plant and supply of the same plant products as drugs to the community. The case took place in the district court, New South Wales and has since sounded the trumpet over how the proceedings were unraveling the case that Mr. Heffernan was convicted with. This will be discussed along with the criminal elements and criminal facts which were evident in the case. Strain theory argues that when an individual is pressurized by the community or by the factors in his environment, the pressure overwhelms him which forces him to satisfy his cultural inequalities and material requirements by engaging in crime as stated by (Agnew, 2001, p319) The crime, in this case, is a subject to the strain that oversees a high level of pressure that the victim cannot bear the burden of. There are numerous forms of stress best explained by GST. The diverse forms of strain do not exclude financial requirements. The fear may force one into committing a crime that he never intended. Merton in his strain theory argues that it is only a small margin of the people who face stress end up committing crimes. The group that is involved in offenses that emanate from the strain from external forces is seen as deviant since they view the world as if there exists no other solution for their problems. Morten argues that the group is then forced into crime despite the fact that it is against their will. Cultural criminology theory, however, presents a different view of such an instance. It argues that the individual rather enjoys the self-fulfilling feeling that comes about with being involved in criminal activity. The theory explains that when the personal gains the social requirements that he or she could have otherwise not achieved legally, they are left with a sense of insecurity while others feel self-fulfilled and okay when they have their requirements fulfilled. According to Presdee, (2003) Cultural criminology is distinctively conjectural, procedural and domineering slant that places criminals, cases and the control mechanism in the context of culture Linking the theory to the case of Heffernan to both methods, strain theory argues that the convicted was involved in the crime due to the strain that he was facing.   It is evident that he as the criminal was suffering from an extraordinarily high degree of anxiety that he could have otherwise avoided if he had a well-paying job if the parents were not sick if his wife had no medical complications and if he was not unwell. On the other hand, cultural criminology argues that the occurrence of the crime was purely projected from the nature of the community the offender comes from as stated by (Ferrell et al., 2004). This, therefore, makes the community to be viewed as the actual cause of the crime due because the factors that led to the offense against which Mr. Heffernan is convicted are subject to the same community. The offender presents various evidence to the jury that when analyzed helped, in coming up with a valid judgment. The case presented states that the offender is a vict im of the drugs misuse and trafficking laws which inhibit one from growing plants that are otherwise termed as illegal. It also prohibits the supply of the same to the community. Mr. Heffernan was caught with 32kgs of cannabis leaves that are more than the monetary amount which is said to be 25 kilograms as stated by (Cerdà ¡ et al., 2012, p22). He had surpassed a commercial margin which otherwise inevitably presents the idea of the sale of the same to the community. He was rather much more cooperative by taking the police to the ranch where he grew the plant. The evidence was based on the idea that the man was found in the hold of a few bags of the leaves, showed where he grew the leaves and accepted to be the only person involved with the same. Evidence presented before the jury was photographs of these bags of leaves and the plant as well as the $1400 that was in his custody. The offender argues that he has been working on a farm for over 33 years and in his work life, he has been a victim of many injuries which have presented themselves as a limiting factor to the type and the amount of work that he can be engaged in evidenced by the numerous medical rec ords submitted to the coat regarding the same. His wife’s letter also backs up the issue since its content explains how those injuries have impacted negatively on their lives and the lives of their kids. This is seen as one of the strains that the convicted is battling with that could have otherwise presented to be the cause of the crime as stated by (Agnew, 2007, p319). The offender also claims that his family has been haunted by a trail of illnesses beginning with his mother who is suffering from breast cancer and osteoarthritis. His father is also suffering from a heart disease and osteoarthritis. He has diabetes and has been needing insulin to survive bearing in mind that his wife also has health conditions that make Mr. Heffernan the only breadwinner. This trail of illnesses presents themselves as another form of strain that led to the unusual character of the victim. An aggregate of such issues may result in so much pressure that needs a person with an unyielding personality to handle. While this is seen as strain, the cultural criminology finds it as social factors which when linked caused the occurrence of the crime. This presents the social and the crime as distinctively of a parallel nature. He is also faced with some more pressure of taking care of their 14 years high school kid and the younger one in primary education. The family had just married a year ago which rather increases the commitments of the breadwinner. The offender’s family has been selling their property which was around $80000 and has now depreciated to around $60000. His house is also being mortgaged at $70000, and this would render the family homeless. He argues that it is due to this pressure that he decided to engage in this criminal act. The jury well understands the pressure that the offender is facing pointing out that an offender is a man of substance whose life has not been presented as a threat to any criminal record. The only criminal record that exists seems baseless to make an overall conclusion that the man is a criminal. Evidence presented by  Ã‚   Mr. P. Harper, the offender’s defendant. The evidence is full of commendations for the man. This evidence is based on the peopl e who know Mr. Heffernan stating that the individual’s behaviors have been outstanding, something that even the judge recognizes by saying that Mr. Heffernan is a man of excellent character in the argument number 11 0f the case. The case presents itself from a criminal act that has been catalyzed by the excessive pressure faced by the convicted by strain theory which recognizes the existence of such anomalies in individual’s life when faced with extreme pressure. The issue that revolves around the life of the convicted is a monetary issue. Money, in this case, could have been the solution to all his problems since if he had enough of it, he could have saved his parent’s property from being sold. He could also have been able to take care of his sick relatives, his sick wife and cater for the life of the kids who are still in school. He could also have not gone to the extent of growing and distributing cannabis which is the state’s laws and the drugs misuse and trafficking act of 1985. The judge recognizes all the burdens that the convicted has to bear in his life considering that he is 51 and has to take care of all this pressure. About GST and the reasons that the convicted gives regardi ng the case he has been charged with, there were a few goals that the convicted was unable to meet. His desire to cater to his family and his parents and the desires to have a well-paying job dragged him to committing this crime. The unfolding circumstances are in line with the arguments of strain theory. Cultural criminology which seeks to understand crime in the context of culture is inevitably applicable in the case. The crime was subject to subcultures which revolve around what the community around the offender does and the rules that exist governing this particular crime. The rules governing drug and substance abuse have given guidelines on the judgment against the convicted depending on the nature and the extent of the committed crime. In a nutshell, it is the society that leads to the development of the rules that exist against the offenses revolving around drug and substance abuse. The occupation of the offender and the circumstances revolving around his life which led him to commit the crime are part and puzzle of the culture and community. As strain theory argues that the crime that was committed was subjected to the pressure of the life of the convicted, cultural criminology sees it as just another culture of various subcultures that may have led to the crime. Growing of Cannabis and distributing it to the public is considered to be a crime since there are rules against it as stated by (Reuter, 2010). If the drug had to be distributed to the community, the general impact on the youths would have been dire since this is the most likely group to the issue. As such, the convicted is seen to have been an agent of community destruction since he was a man of age and a parent. He is seen to have not minded about the lives of the other kids in the community and committed the crime for monetary gain. The strain theory comes about to argue that withstanding the pressure of the life the convicted was facing needed him to have looked for an alternative way of getting money. The convicted argues that he had complications regarding his health and that he was nearing his retirement age. He was forced to grow cannabis after ordering seeds from the United Kingdom which he later planted. It is the same marijuana that was harvested and packed before it was confiscated by the police. The theory gives out a clear argument that the man had small means of supporting his family using whatever he was gaining. This case is brought out clearly by the fact that the convicted had no previous criminal records and that his life was clean therefore it is due to what seemed to be a sort of excessive pressure that led him to commit the crime. On the other hand, cultural criminology makes the mere mention of cannabis a criminal activity where any activity that is associated with the drug has been criminalized. With the building of a belief that this activity is already a crime, the theory argues that rules that forbid it are developed ensuring that those who are associated wi th cannabis are taken into justice without considering any argument or reasons behind the act. With all the associated facts and evidence having been presented, Mr. Harper claims that the case on which the offender has been convicted with is not a drug trafficking case since it was planned as a one-time business. The pressure under which the convicted was suffering from forcing him to establish a cannabis plantation which he prepared to sell only once and increase the value of the ranch. This was one of the strain factors that made him respond to the pressure by involving himself in the crime. The judge, however, argues that it is irresponsible for a man with a family to release cannabis of a monetary amount to the society which would impact negatively on the lives of the youths as stated by (Lowinson, 2005). The judgment against both crimes was supposed to be ten years for the crime of growing cannabis and 15 years for trafficking.   The judge at the end of it all understands the pressure that the convicted was facing and gives him a sentence of two and a half years. The strain theory gives out a sense of reasoning and weighing of matters such that the degree of pressure was duly recognized by the jury. The cultural criminology theory, on the other hand, views the crime generally as breaking the law that originated from the same issue. It argues that the moral standards of the community which harbors the roots of the law have declined. The argument here is that the community from which the convicted comes from and the crime that was committed is viewed as one and the same thing. With the weak empirical evidence in support of the strain theory, the presented arguments were not sufficient to ensure that the convicted was set free. Rather it just explains the problems that the law class individuals are facing without taking into consideration of the larger picture of the community and the white collar crimes as stated by (Aseltine et al., 2000, p256). Crimes in such levels are the ones that decapitate the community. The theory deals with individuals rather than the community on which the crime and the criminals thrive. These issues are well explained by the cultural criminology theory which does not only just present its arguments from a particular line or level of crimes. It digs into every crime be it white collar or any other sort of the offense. Conclusion The case presented above shows how strain can cause various crimes. The arguments put forward to show that some forms of tension can be so haunting such that the victim ends up being involved illegal activities that end up bringing peace to the life of the victim. The judge, however, takes into consideration the strain that the convicted is facing, and from this, a valid judgment is given. As the strain theory views this crime as a result of pressure, the cultural criminology sees it as the larger picture of the nature of the community from which the convicted comes from. However, the theories try to explain the kind of judgment that is passed as not usual from the rest since consideration depending on the prevailing circumstance is taken note of. Reference Agnew, R., 2001. Building on the foundation of general strain theory: Specifying the types of strain most likely to lead to crime and delinquency. Journal of research in crime and delinquency, 38(4), pp.319-361. Agnew, R., 2007. Pressured into crime: An overview of general strain theory. Aseltine Jr, R.H., Gore, S. and Gordon, J., 2000. Life stress, anger and anxiety, and delinquency: An empirical test of general strain theory. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, pp.256-275. Cerdà ¡, M., Wall, M., Keyes, K.M., Galea, S. and Hasin, D., 2012. Medical marijuana laws in 50 state: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse, and dependence. Drug and alcohol dependence, 120(1), pp.22-27. Chan, J.B., 1997. Changing police culture: Policing in a Multicultural Society. Cambridge University Press. Ferrell, J., Hayward, K., Morrison, W., and Presdee, M. eds., 2004. Cultural criminology unleashed. Routledge. Lowinson, J.H. ed., 2005. Substance abuse: A comprehensive textbook. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Mazerolle, P., Piquero, A.R. and Capowich, G.E., 2003. Examining the links between strain, situational and dispositional anger, and crime further specifying and testing general strain theory. Youth & Society, 35(2), pp.131-157. Presdee, M., 2003. Cultural criminology and the carnival of crime. Routledge. Reuter, P., 2010. Marijuana legalization: what can be learned from other countries. Baltimore, MD: RAND Drug Policy Research Center, University of Maryland.

Gender and Communication Essay

When we think of gender, we often think of male or female; that’s only half of understanding gender. The denotations of male and female actually refer to biological and physiological sex. Gender is a sociological construct of values, ideals, and behaviors about what it means to be either male or female, and are often regarded in terms of masculine or feminine, respectively. Many people use sex and gender interchangeably, but one does not have to be male to identify as masculine, and vice versa. we have both a biological, physical characteristic;sex with a superimposed cultural construct gender. The same applies to both race and culture, respectively. Race refers to groups of people who are distinguished by shared physical characteristics, such as skin color and hair type. Culture refers to the customs, habits, and value systems of groups of people. People of the same race may not share the same culture; similarly, a culture isn’t necessarily comprised of people of the same race. Women and men communicate most effectively when they understand the â€Å"invisible rules† unique to each gender. Research presented by Dr. Pat Heim in her video, â€Å"The Invisible Rules: Men, Women and Teams,† indicates that each gender is a â€Å"culture† in itself, raised with invisible rules of conduct instinctively known to all adult members of that gender. Therefore, men and women behave according to two separate sets of rules about what â€Å"right† is. I. Consequently, behavior that seems natural and appropriate to one gender culture can seem baffling, hurtful or wrong to others. When we work with someone of the opposite gender and he or she does something that seems a bit strange, we often become intolerant and defensive. We do not realize that men and women come from different cultures, even if they are raised in the same homes, educated in the same schools and live in the same country. II. The two gender cultures are different in many ways. Understanding the invisible rules unique to each gender can help us become better team members and leaders. It is important to remember that these are generalizations on gender behavior based on the 80% portion of the bell curve. There are always exceptions to the rule. Examples given are based on what research tells us. A. In every culture of the world, children are taught to be appropriate adults through the games they play. When boys are growing up, they play baseball, basketball, football, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians and war, all of which are hierarchical team sports. They learn how to compete, be aggressive, play to win, strategize, take risks and mask emotions. Playing their assigned role in the hierarchy, boys learn to obey their coach unquestioningly, become leaders and play with people they do not like. In essence, boys learn how to garner power, manage conflict and win or lose without becoming emotionally involved with their â€Å"competitors. † B. More than likely, the girls we grew up with were not playing team sports. Girls play with people they like (usually one-on-one) and learn their cultural lessons from â€Å"doll games† in which there are no winners or losers. Girl play reinforces â€Å"getting along and being nice,† protecting friendships by negotiating differences, seeking win-win situations and focusing on what is fair for all instead of winners and losers. C. girls (unlike boys) have â€Å"flat† versus hierarchical relationships. A very important rule in women’s culture is that the power in interpersonal relationships is always kept â€Å"dead even. † There is never a â€Å"boss doll player. † Girls who try to be the boss quickly learn that this damages friendships. Consequently, when adult women enter a hierarchical workplace, they often attempt to equalize power, negotiate relationships and share power equally. III. Does this mean that since the Coast Guard is a hierarchical organization, women cannot succeed? Of course not. Does it mean that the hierarchical leadership style is always the appropriate choice? Again, absolutely not. The command and control leadership style associated with a hierarchy works most effectively in time-bound situations, when there is no alternative or in emergencies. For example, on scene at an urgent search-and-rescue case, the command and control style works best. Time is limited, one person needs to be in control of the situation and everyone needs to fulfill their specific roles. A. However, take the same SAR case and look at what is going on in the Operations Center. There, the supervisor needs the expertise and ideas of everyone on watch to make the best decision. Each person might provide additional ideas as to how the case could best be handled. In a flat structure then, the leadership style is based on involvement. B. This style works most effectively when you need creativity and psychological buy in and you need them to make it work. Clearly, the Coast Guard has many different situations that require different leadership styles. Using the same style in every situation is a quick recipe for ineffectiveness. By understanding the different styles, we can more successfully choose the appropriate one for the situation. IV. Sometimes the tendency for women to associate with one style and men to associate with the other leads to misunderstandings. For example, on a large cutter, a male chief was supervising a female second class petty officer. He directed her to perform a certain task. After listening to the tasking, the petty officer recommended an alternate method that she had learned at another unit and proved to be very successful. A. The chief assumed that she was being insubordinate. In his view, being a team player meant knowing your role in the hierarchy and playing your role without question. The chief’s anger and unwillingness to listen to her ideas made the petty officer feel unwelcome on the team. For her, being a team player meant helping the group by recommending ideas that might benefit the team. B. The two different structures (hierarchical versus flat) have different definitions of what makes a good team player. Both members were working within the invisible rules that had been programmed into them from an early age. Neither felt good about the interaction, and their trust in each other was seriously damaged. Had either of them been aware of the differing styles, this unpleasant situation could have been avoided. conclusion As you can see, the unique socializing experiences of men and women as they grow up create separate rules and realities for each gender. It is not a matter of who is â€Å"right† or â€Å"wrong. † One challenge that women face today is that most organizations are run by the rules of team sports. This fact does not absolve women from learning the hierarchical, goal-focused rules of most men, nor does it absolve men from the need to learn about the strengths of the flat, process-oriented focus most women bring to the workplace. The Coast Guard needs both styles to be successful. It is important to promote the best possible communication between men and women in the workplace. As we move between the male and female cultures, we sometimes have to change how we behave; speak the language of the other gender to gain the best results from the situation. Clearly, successful organizations of the future are going to have leaders and team members who understand, respect and apply the rules of gender culture appropriately.

Analyzing Pro forma Statements Essay Example for Free

Analyzing Pro forma Statements Essay This financial analysis will define an initiative of what to implement, that would increase sales over the next five years. It can either be, another market, product, or a corporate expansion. A pro forma will be created and used for the XYZ Manufacturing Company of a five year projections. Assumptions will be made to support each line item, to increase or decrease the forecasted statements. There will also be interpretation of the financials, in relation to the initiative. Recommendations are to made on the potential discretionary financing needs. This word analysis is the company’s short term and long term financing needs, and strategies to help the company manage their working capital (University of Phoenix, 2014). Pro forma statements are created by, forecasting and combining the income and balance into a financial statement format. This will determine how the account balances are forecasted by acquiring forces that will influence and project how the accounts will be influenced. These forces are recognizable as restrictive debt agreements, sales, and company policies The following illustrations below is the Pro forma’s process for a five-year projection. This information is based on historical data collected from the sample provide (UOPX, 2014)..There is acquired information of a increase in sales new product as the result of a new product introduction also an increase in the production capacity. The increase in sales will acquire fixed assets with the excess cash (Parrino, Kidwell, & Bates, 2012) Pro forma Balance Sheet for XYZ Company, INC. Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity-$559,608 $649,251 $848,766 $1,,037,172 $1,183,541 In the above balance sheet the current assets and current liabilities has increased in the ratio of sales (Parrino,Kidwell, & Bates, 2012, p90,91. 92) There is also an additional increase in the fixed assets. The company to take out an additional loan to meet the capital expansion, and the working capital needs (Parrino, Kidwell, & Bates, 2012) I would recommend that the company The first step in this pro forma financial statements is the forecasting of sales. Sales always influence the current asset and current liability account balances. For example: the account receivable balances would need to become larger increased if the firm needs to carry more inventory. Through the profit margin, and the dividend payout ratio. There is much difficult in forecasting sales, but it is an essential, it only depend on the season of the year, economy and the industry There could also be many other factors as well. Reference Parrino, R., Kidwell, D. S., & Bates, T. W. (2012). Fundamentals of corporate finance (2nd ed.). Hoboken, N. J.: John Wiley & Sons. University of Phoenix material, (2013) â€Å"Analyzing Pro Forma Statements†

Biblical Criticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Biblical Criticism - Essay Example Biblical criticism is the general term referring to the scholarly investigation and study of biblical scriptures seeking to base grounds for discerning judgment concerning the writings. The discipline studies compositional, historical, and textual questions concerning the Old and New Testaments. In the preceding century, biblical criticism was divided into higher and lower criticism. Higher criticism concerns the study of the history and composition of biblical passages, while lower criticism concerns with closer examination of biblical texts to determine their correct or original meaning (Frigge 15). This paper seeks to discuss the forms of criticism in five ways: source, form, narrative (textual), historical and redaction. Initially, the scholars of the bible tried to harmonize the scriptures and gospels, an argument evident from the harmonization of the two narratives. Instead of harmonizing the gospels, Griesbach established parallel synoptic. The result was an ensuing question r egarding the accountability of the difference and similarities of the two gospels. This led to source criticism, with scholars trying to pin down the relationship between the sources and the synoptic gospels. Griesbach put forth an argument that Matthew was written before Mark citing the Jewish contents as the basis of the argument, but many scholars opposed the argument arguing that the book of Mark abbreviates Matthew (Frigge 68). The theory of Griesbach follows that of St Augustine, a Matthean priority proponent. On the other hand, modern scholars uphold the Markan priority and the source or framework being Mark. According to Taylor, Mark is more probable to be the source, as Luke is a quarry of stone for expanding an already existing establishment. Nevertheless, the proposal did not accurately account for the similarities between Luke and Matthew, which eventfully do not appear in Mark. H. J. Holtzmann put another source criticism theory forth in 1863. The two-source theory, Mar k Source ‘Q’ Luke Matthew, suggested that Matthew and Luke used marks to denote sources, and another common source ‘Q’. B. H. Streeter based his four-source theory on Holtzmann’s theory, with the additional argument that Matthew and Luke had some original contents in them. The four source include Mark, source ‘Q’, special M (unique material by Matthew), and special L (material unique to Luke). These theories however do not solve the mystery in its entirety. Occasionally, Matthew and Luke tend to agree with each other but against Mark. The explanations to these may be theological, traditional, or probably a different interpretation of ‘Q’ differently by Mark. Another possible argument is that one (most likely Luke) was more dependent, unlike Mark. There are also scholarly questions regarding the omission of some parts of Mark in Matthew and Luke, like the account of Jesus walking on water. Some scholars in theology, like Russ ell, believe that the omissions are not surprising. According to them, there is a possibility that each evangelist did some omission to best suit their Christological and theological needs and perspectives (Frigge 93). Another major setback in source criticism is the lack of evidence for source ‘Q’. A majority of theology specialists agree that Luke was using Matthew, as there is more Luke in Matthew than the other way round. Nonetheless, there is still the question concerning the reasons why Luke left the additions made by Matthew to Mark. At this point, the only possible conclusion is that there were different interpretations of the same source. However, existence and contents of Paul’

African Geography and Growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

African Geography and Growth - Essay Example The geography of Africa has to a large extent shaped the kind of economic opportunities available for the African countries and, thus, impacted on the economic development of the continent in general. The interaction between human and physical geography within the framework of economic development has been a major factor which is shaping the direction and rate of Africa’s economic development. This essay gives a critical analysis and discussion of the importance of geography in the economic growth of Africa, including the tragic economic challenges that the continent is experiencing. The essay also presents a discussion of the policies which would have to be put in place to safe Africa from the challenges it is facing which are hampering its growth. Africa’s physical geography, such as climate, has been described as the causes of its minimal economic growth. However, Collier (2007, p. 6) argues that there are geographic factors which act to divide Africa instead of unif ying it. These are said to be the most significant factors which are derailing the economic growth of the continent. To begin with, Africa is an expansive continent. Regardless of this, the nations within the continent and its economic regions are characterized by low income. This is explained by the fact that the natural resources within Africa are not evenly distributed. Some regions have an abundance of natural resources while in some regions of the continent, the resources are very scarce. This has contributed to the uneven economic growth within the continent with most of the continent’s regions registering minimal growth as compare to other parts of the world, such as Asia and Europe, as illustrated in figure 1 below. Figure 1: Comparative Per Capita Growth The physical geography of Africa is very enormous. Bloom and Sachs (1998, p. 207) point out that even if Africa is a large continent, it has been divided into many countries. For this reason, most of the countries wi thin the continent are landlocked. The divisions of countries within Africa have a result caused nations to be divided into those landlocked states which are rich in resources and those which have scarce resources. Moreover, some countries are coastal and rich in resources while others are costal but lack adequate resources. These four categories define the economies of Africa in terms of its physical geography. Those states which have scarcity of resources whether coastal or landlocked are lagging behind in the economic development. Because these two categories of nations are the majority within the continent, Africa’s growth in generally slow as compared to other regions. The landlocked states within Africa lack competitiveness in export and import trade. Lack of competitiveness has also affected the coastal countries. Naude (2004, p. 821) explains that the differences between the resource rich African states are not significant. This is the case whether the resource rich s tates are landlocked or coastal. It is because of the divisions within African states that the competitiveness in the export and import business has been derailed and thus making the content to have a tragic growth level within its economy. However, costal states in Africa participate in export trade but the landlocked countries are prevented from economic interaction with the world markets. The distribution of the African population is even unlike other developing regions such as Asia in which a majority of the population lives within the costal countries. Even though the trend of economic growth in Africa is generally parallel to that of the global economy, Africa

The structural frame paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The structural frame paper - Essay Example â€Å"UncÐ µrtainty appÐ µars as thÐ µ fundamÐ µntal problÐ µm for complÐ µx organizations, and coping with uncÐ µrtainty, as thÐ µ Ð µssÐ µncÐ µ of thÐ µ administrativÐ µ procÐ µss. Just as complÐ µtÐ µ uncÐ µrtainty or randomnÐ µss is thÐ µ antithÐ µsis of purposÐ µ and of organization, complÐ µtÐ µ cÐ µrtainty is a figmÐ µnt of thÐ µ imagination, but thÐ µ tightÐ µr thÐ µ norms of rationality, thÐ µ morÐ µ Ð µnÐ µrgy thÐ µ organization will dÐ µvotÐ µ to moving toward cÐ µrtainty† (Thompson, 2003, p. 159). That is, thÐ µ organization is dÐ µvoting a lot of Ð µnÐ µrgy towards cÐ µrtainty, from this pÐ µrspÐ µctivÐ µ, through maintaining a codifiÐ µd training program and a hiÐ µrarchical powÐ µr structurÐ µ. ThÐ µ organization usÐ µd for this rÐ µport is, as mÐ µntionÐ µd, thÐ µ forÐ µign languagÐ µ school. In this organization, of thÐ µ tÐ µaching staff of thÐ µ branch officÐ µ and thÐ µ officÐ µ staff, thÐ µ of ficÐ µ staff is thÐ µ dominant informal powÐ µr coalition. This is bÐ µcausÐ µ thÐ µy havÐ µ much morÐ µ contact with thÐ µ rÐ µgional salÐ µs managÐ µr. ThÐ µ tÐ µachÐ µrs do not havÐ µ any powÐ µr or contact with this sidÐ µ of thÐ µ organization at all rÐ µally, and arÐ µ motivatÐ µd by prizÐ µ incÐ µntivÐ µs, travÐ µl timÐ µ, and othÐ µr mÐ µthods. ThÐ µ sizÐ µ and composition of thÐ µ group is not proportionatÐ µ to thÐ µ numbÐ µr of tÐ µachÐ µrs rÐ µtainÐ µd by thÐ µ branch officÐ µ. ... ThÐ µ most important stakÐ µholdÐ µrs of thÐ µ organization arÐ µ its studÐ µnts. IntÐ µrnally, thosÐ µ non-dominant powÐ µr coalition positions in thÐ µsÐ µ sÐ µctors could also includÐ µ, in thÐ µ Ð µxamplÐ µ of thÐ µ forÐ µign languagÐ µ school, thosÐ µ tÐ µachÐ µrs who arÐ µ sÐ µnt to work at othÐ µr organizations as outsourcing labor, and thosÐ µ who arÐ µ kÐ µpt as thÐ µ corÐ µ tÐ µachÐ µrs of thÐ µ branch, into sÐ µparatÐ µ coalitions of tÐ µachÐ µrs. This is not rÐ µally Ð µffÐ µctivÐ µ, though, bÐ µcausÐ µ most of thÐ µ tÐ µachÐ µrs want to movÐ µ up in thÐ µ organization’s formal powÐ µr structurÐ µ by joining thÐ µ officÐ µ staff as a tÐ µachÐ µr trainÐ µr, thÐ µ lowÐ µst rung on thÐ µ officÐ µ staff laddÐ µr. Thompson (2003) for Ð µxamplÐ µs statÐ µs, â€Å"ThÐ µ Ð µmployÐ µÃ µ who scorÐ µs wÐ µll on a small boundary can Ð µxpÐ µct to bÐ µ visiblÐ µ, intÐ µrnally or Ð µxtÐ µrnally or both, and thus havÐ µ thÐ µ possibility of bargaining for a job at a largÐ µr or morÐ µ critical sÐ µctor of thÐ µ organization or of anothÐ µr organization†¦ such jobs can frÐ µquÐ µntly bÐ µ Ð µntÐ µrÐ µd with common skills† (p. 111). This shows how thÐ µ tÐ µachÐ µr trainÐ µrs and othÐ µr officÐ µ staff mÐ µmbÐ µrs arÐ µ thÐ µ dominant formal powÐ µr coalition in thÐ µ organization’s structurÐ µ, bÐ µcausÐ µ Ð µvÐ µn though thÐ µy arÐ µ outnumbÐ µrÐ µd by thÐ µ tÐ µachÐ µrs, thÐ µy arÐ µ morÐ µ of a stablÐ µ labor pool for thÐ µ organization, bÐ µcausÐ µ it tÐ µnds to havÐ µ high tÐ µachÐ µr turnovÐ µr. TÐ µachÐ µrs arÐ µ paid thÐ µ lÐ µast, of all thÐ µ positions. PÐ µriphÐ µral powÐ µr rÐ µlationships nÐ µÃ µd to bÐ µ mÐ µntionÐ µd in tÐ µrms of thÐ µ tÐ µachÐ µrs of thÐ µ forÐ µign languagÐ µ school. This also involvÐ µs paying attÐ µntion to thÐ µ dominant sÐ µctors which makÐ µ

Examine why commodity prices might be expected to be volatile than the Essay

Examine why commodity prices might be expected to be volatile than the prices of manufactured goods. Explain how the expansion of bio fuels could push up the pr - Essay Example Examples are tyre, table, etc. The word volatile means flexible. In other words it means something which is subject to change. 1. Interest rate: Commodity price changes inversely with the interest rates. That is, the higher the interest rate, lower the commodity price and the lower the interest rate higher the commodity price. 2. Future Trading: The futures contract refers to an agreement between two parties for the purchase or sale of goods or bill of exchange which is being fixed at the time of agreement, but the actual delivery of goods take place at a future date. â€Å"In futures trading, there is usually a contract, which is essentially an agreement between two parties to buy or sell an underlying asset at a certain time in the future at a certain price. A futures contract usually has a standardized date and month of delivery, quantity and price.† (Futures Trading). Future contracts result in the prices of commodities becoming more flexible. In order to safeguard the interest of some parties in future trading some company may opt for increasing the prices of commodities. Future trading mostly happens in commodities. For manufactured goods, future contracts are very less. So the prices of commodities are more volatile than the prices of manufactured goods. Demand and supply of the commodities are other reasons for the price volatility of the commodities. That is, the commodity market is more price elastic. A slight change in demand or supply of the commodity may result in a very high change in the price of the commodities. But in the case of manufactured goods the price elasticity is very less. That is, change in demand or supply results in a very low change in price of the goods. So the prices of manufactured goods are less volatile. 4. Large number of producers: There will be large number of producers for the commodities. This results in frequent fluctuations in the prices of commodities. When one producer reduces or increases the price

SMC Orchestra Concerto Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

SMC Orchestra Concerto - Essay Example The first piece was Overture to â€Å"Don Giovanni,† K.257 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with the conductor of the piece being Fang-Ning Lim. The piece authored by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in 1787 consisted of ten instruments each connected to the other. In the first part, the conductor introduced the andante with the flute 1 being the instrument of choice with the part ending in C major with a flute 2. Conversely, the second pair of instruments used in part was oboes, with oboe one starting in the andante while oboe 2 ended in D major. After the oboes, the clarinets started with the first clarinet in A major starting whereby the oboe 2 ended. Thereafter, the second clarinet took over in F major. Other instruments used in the piece were two bassoons, horns, violins, trumpets, horns, timpani, violas, cellos and basses. Importantly, slow movements all through marked this andante and the entire piece and by the end of the piece, I had a feeling that the show had just started. After the first piece, the second piece introduced by James Martin was Keyboard Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052 by Johan Sebastian Bach. James Martin told us that Johan composed the piece in 1734. Importantly, the piece included three movements, which are allegro, adagio, and then back to allegro with the piano as the instrument of choice in this piece, which was played by Yuko Terashima playing the instrument. This movement is marked by a tempo that is faster than the tempo in the first piece. In effect, the tempo made the place and the hall livelier, and it was evident that those attending the concert were beginning to appreciate the show as I was doing. After the first movement, an adagio followed the allegro and the tempo became more leisurely. In effect, I experienced a relaxed feeling and I appreciated the good music playing all along. The conductor, Fang-Ning Lim introduced the third piece as the Double Concerto, which is played in E Major and was composed by Max Bruch in 1734. April Sh ih played the violin while Douglas Rezende was playing the viola. With these two instruments, I expected the tempo to be relaxing and slow since the movement of this piece was moderato. I realized that the tempo progressively rose with the shape of the volume increasing in a crescendo. I I felt calm as this piece played while I was also filled with enthusiasm and anticipation at the same time. After the piece was over, the next piece followed since the conductor was the same although the violin was the only instrument used. In this case, the piece was Concerto in G Minor composed by Max Bruch with Lim telling the audience that the piece was composed between 1739 and 1738. Paul Lee played the only instrument in this movement, which was the violin with the movement being in andante allegro. In this case, the violin played in a slow tempo at the beginning and ended in a tempo that were fast and energetic. I realized that many people who had attended the concert were singing in apprecia tion as the movement progressed to a fast tempo. The fourth piece was the Concerto in D Minor, K.466 composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1785 as Lim told the audience. In this piece, Aidan Short played the piano in the movement that was an allegro. The movement

Luxury brand towards chinese girls around 18-30 Essay

Luxury brand towards chinese girls around 18-30 - Essay Example Literature review begins with a detailed analysis of the luxury brands and goods. It comprises of characteristics, brand identity and awareness and aesthetic attributes of luxury goods. For conceptualising the preference towards the luxury goods various comparative literatures between the luxury and ordinary brands has also been nurtured. It focuses on new affluent and endurance of the Western and Eastern brands in China. Even the unique features of Chinese have also been highlighted to make out the consumption level, taste and priorities of Chinese consumer. The scope and motto of the study is not only to stick to the consumer behaviour and preference towards the luxury brands, it also concentrates on the distinctions and similarities of the Western and Eastern luxury brands. Apart from reviews of literatures it also deliberates to the qualitative approaches to find the real scenario. Interviews have been conducted of 15 ladies and girls of four main cities of China. Those are Beiji ng, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Nanjing. The ultimate conclusion is that the luxury brand satiates the intrinsic desire of Chinese women for showing strong affinity towards the foreign based brand. Affection towards luxury brands and increasing consumption level of it is possible due to three prime reason, overall economic growth of China, escalating empowerment of women and one child policy. China has experienced a persistent surge in the consumer buying behaviour from the year 1990. The Chinese consumer has become wealthier and welcomes the western retail formats which pave the way for luxury retailers. Basically luxury is subjective and constantly evolving concept. This word can be defined as the inessential but desirable item of extreme comfort. What differ luxury brands from others is its command of a premium without mentioning clear functional advantages over the other counter parts. Instead of this consumers are ready to pay high amount because

Bounced Check, Return of Unsold Books, Safety at work Places Essay

Bounced Check, Return of Unsold Books, Safety at work Places - Essay Example In respect to this provision, Watson could be presumed to be aware that the check will bounce if one or two conditions occur. The first one is, in case he did not have an account with the drawee during the stated date or the issue time, whichever comes later. The second reason could be, if the check appropriately declined payment for lacking enough funds, when presented within 30 days after the stated date or issue date, either of which comes later, and if the responsibility of Watson, or any other party who may be involved happens not to be set free through payment, not later than ten days following the bouncing date. If Watson successfully satisfies that the two conditions did not arise, then it is hard to place any blame on him, therefore, Wilson can easily prevail against the store’s intentions of reclaiming the computer from him – as it will be presumed that it was legally transferred. 2. Return of unsold books, which are damaged. Both the express and implied condi tions of contract between Press Publishers and Boardwalk Books must be satisfied. Although Press Publishers could not have expressly stated that the unsold books must be returned in good condition, there is an implied responsibility for the Boardwalk Books to exercise due care – in order to avoid damage of books while in the books store. The fact that some pages had been ripped off by customers, while coffee had been spilled over others is a blatant negligence on the part of Boardwalk Books. Press Publishers can refuse to accept the 20 copies that had been destroyed and successfully sue Boardwalk Books for negligence. The law presumes that Boardwalk Books should act professionally and with due care, to avoid any foreseeable danger that could happen in its premises, upon goods stored there but owned by the third parties. On the other hand, Boardwalk Books can raise a defense against some books which were destroyed for merely sitting on the bookshelf. They could argue that Pres s Publishers had supplied books of low quality; hence, they easily get damaged. To prevail against Press Publishers, Boardwalk Books must prove beyond doubt that they exercised due care, and could not have done anything to prevent the books from getting destroyed. Boardwalk Books may want to argue that the problem arose from the fact that the publisher’s goods were selling very slowly, however, such argument many not hold any water since it does not prevent them from taking care of the goods. 3. Safety at work Places All employers are responsible for the health and safety of all their employees. Laws have been enacted to protect employees from hazards at their work places. Examples of such laws are the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), and the Mine Safety and Healthy Act of 1977. Under the OSH act provisions, all employers should provide a workplace free from hazards or accidents that cause, or are likely to cause, death or serious emotion al or physical harm to the workers. The occupational Safety and Health Administration creates standards and regulations that implement the Act. All employers should comply with the OSH regulations and standards (Emerson, 2009). The company Delores was working for failed to provide enough security in the work place, and that is why she was raped in the premises. The company breached the OSH standards and regulations. The Vandalay Company was wrong about the position-risk test. Why did the janitor rape her at the company premises? Was he

Challenge Workplace Diversity Essay Example for Free

Challenge Workplace Diversity Essay As with anything that requires a change in established attitudes and behavior, achieving true diversity in the workplace can be a challenge. The challenges of diversity in the workplace are often the result of a combination of different factors, but resistance to change on the part of both employees and employers continues to be the primary underlying issue. One of the challenge workplace diversity is communication. This is because an organization trying to adopt a more inclusive environment is assimilation for any member outside of the dominant group. Without proper communication, barriers that exist between groups of people due to actual or perceived differences and pre-conceived notions cannot be effectively broken down. The purpose of diversity training in the workplace, among other things, is to improve communications between diverse social groups. Besides that ,the challenge is refer to diversity management. Related to the challenge of policy implementation, diversity management must be properly delegated and enforced in order to be effective. If no one person or department is in charge of enforcement and implementation of any type of policy, it goes without saying that the policy will most likely not be effectively followed or enforced. Diverstiy management also want to face many problem when their worker giving different opinions and should find the good solution to solve from different etnic. Managing diversity is more than simply acknowledging differences in people. This is an additional challenge that diverse organizations face, maintaining a culture which supports the idea of employee voice especially for marginalized group members. When the organizational environment is not supportive of dissenting viewpoints, employees may choose to remain silent for fear of repercussions or they may seek alternative safe avenues to express their concerns and frustrations such as on-line forums and affinity group meetings. By finding opportunities such as these to express dissent, individuals can begin to gather collective support and generate collective sense-making which creates a voice for the marginalized members so they can have a collective voice to trigger change.

Shyness refers to anxiety Essay Example for Free

Shyness refers to anxiety Essay I believe millions of people are suffering from shyness. â€Å"Shyness refers to anxiety and excessive caution in interpersonal relationship† (Corey 2009). We have learnt that shyness is actually social anxiety in which the individual tries to avoid eye contact with people, making it difficult to communicate effectively. I am an outgoing person when interacting with my family or close friends, however, when it comes to someone I don’t really know, I am very shy. However, the anxiety and shyness disappears little by little after I have gotten along with such person, I also have a fear of public speaking especially if I am in the center of attention. I consider myself as being too shy, so I am always willing to get over my shyness and trying to build confidence. Since I am a student, I have a lot of opportunities to interact with other people. I put myself in situations where I forced to make contact with people, like speech class and engaging in social activities, even though I find doing these stressful and uncomfortable. However, these didn’t work well and my shyness actually gets worse. After all attempts to get over my shyness fails, I have no choice than to live with it. However, Prof. Occhiato mentioned in class that shyness is the same as selfishness, I had to face this trait of mine again since I concur with what the professor said Before getting into the theme of the book I chose, I would like to talk on how my shyness/ fear of public speaking developed. When I was in elementary school in Switzerland, I was prudent but energetic and outgoing person. During lectures, I usually ask question without thinking of embarrassment that might result from my inquisitive character. Even though I was only seven or eight years old, I knew that I need to perform and produce good results. I received my teacher’s and peer’s praise for my good work and I was encouraged to keep the flag flying. I became industrious and tried to accomplish my task successfully, I also wanted to gain recognition for creating new things. In general, children’s efforts to master their school work help them to grow and form a positive self-concept a sense of who they really are. However, after I moved to Asia, I changed a lot, although in negative ways. In Korea, it is considered rude for a student to ask questions during class, such act is regarded as interruption to the flow of the lesson, whereas, in Swiss classrooms children are encouraged to ask questions. It is all about culture so that moving to a new school abroad means I have adjusting to the new culture. However, since I am used to taking classes either in the United States or in Europe, I felt uncomfortable with being in this environment. Older children may find it hard to adapt, both to a new culture and a new language, but since I was still ten years old, I settled in quickly. Once I get used to being in Korean culture, I started to feel embarrassed asking questions in the class, but I also felt a sense of shame that I am different. This feeling became worse after moving to Japan. Even though I have lived in abroad for most of my life, I consider myself as a very Japanese since my parents taught me a lot of things about Japanese culture, morals, injunctions and many other things. One day, my teacher asked me the meaning of famous Japanese proverb and I was floored by that question. She said â€Å"This question is actually quite easy and a kind of common sense. † And she pointed at me and said â€Å"However, even you are not able to answer the question; this is understandable to me since you are from the different culture. † My face was flushed with shame that I couldn’t answer the easiest and a kind of common sense question. At that moment, I felt I had been stupid all the while and that I am and failure in everything. However, anytime I think of it now, I didn’t have to be panic any longer since I know I wasn’t old enough to think logically and subjectively during those periods. As a result of the embracement that I experienced in my childhood, those negative feelings are firmly planted in my mind. This is the reason why I develop extreme shyness/ fear of public speaking. Well, I would like to go into the main theme which is about the book I chose. The author, Leil Lowndes was able to produce a magnificent book that can counter shyness and workout confidence among people. The book â€Å"Goodbye to Shy: 85 Shy Busters†, helps readers to face everyday lives with full confidence and brighter perspectives. It determines the source of shyness, the effects of being shy and introduces possible remedies to achieve a shy free life. Each chapter focuses on a particular step that shy individual can use. Then at the end of each chapter, it is summarize the discussion in a little gray box called a `Shy Buster. ` The first part of the book tackles proper way of dealing with people nowadays even in the presence of shyness in one’s personality. The goal of attaining a shy free life is never an easy task; it will take time to gain a complete confidence. The other day, I told people that I am shy, however, they didn’t even believe me. †Oh I don’t think you are, since you are talking to me. † They don’t know how much I am suffering inside. Since then, I have been thinking it is not a proper idea telling people that I am shy. Surprisingly, the author recommends telling other people that you are shy (Lowndes 3). In most situations, shy people try to hide their condition to avoid being humiliated. People will only laugh at an individual whoadmitted that he/she is shy and may say things like â€Å"Oh, not you! You’ve got to be kidding† (Lowndes 3). According to the book, shy people are classified to three different types: born shy, situational shy and traumatic experience shy. The first type of shy people is a natural shy from birth. The sensitivity of born shy people is extremely high and they try to avoid socialization as much as possible. The second type of shy is usually affected by certain events that expose them to others. One great example of situational shyness is during class discussions. Lastly, traumatic experiences make someone shy because of too much humiliation or failure. This can also be viewed as people who are usually well taken care of right from their childhood days. It produces traumatic shyness because they will keep on depending and talking to close family members rather than exposing themselves to people that they barely know. In my case, my shyness comes under either the second or the third one. Once a person is already aware of the type of shyness he/she possess, it is the time for him/her to get out of the situation (Lowndes 7). There are discussions made in the book about battling with blushing, sweating and other signs of shyness (Lowndes 10). The author also encourages shy people to talk about their condition (Lowndes 12). This will make them face the tough situation that they are and step by step settle the problem with their personality (Lowndes 15). The book is indeed helpful for shy people because they will be aware of the things that they need to do to counter shyness. It is one way of showing readers how life will be more meaningful with the right confidence and sociable personality. Another good part of the book is the second chapter which discusses different point of views of people about the shy person. Either the shy person says that he/she is shy or not, other people can notice it even without even telling them (Lowndes 21). The author also based her findings on studies that prove how shy people view themselves worse than what they really are. The â€Å"mud colored glasses† hinders people from growing up and showing off their proud personality (Lowndes 25). Shy readers will find themselves whispering â€Å"Yes that’s me! † upon encountering several discussions in the book when the discussions are really similar to their life experiences. This is a good way of making people aware of their weaknesses so that they can work it out and transform it into strengths. Reading the book serves as a self discovery for shy people. after they have already gathered pertinent information about their condition, the author then lead them to more juicy chapters that will make them finish with confidence. As mentioned before, there are shy busters’ techniques identified by the author which can be easily applied to the lives of shy people. There is a three-step game plan given by the author, so that shy people will unhook themselves from the terrible condition (Lowndes 43). It includes chapters about hooking hide and seek, shaving off the years of suffering from shyness and how to warm up one’s wacky confidence (Lowndes 45- 58). For beginners, there are shy buster techniques that will improve shyness little by little. From simple eye to eye contact to giving out a perfect smile and eliminating snob mannerism were discussed in the chapter titled† The seven best beginner’s shy busters† (Lowndes 61). Rare shy busters were also given by the author that will allow shy people contemplate on things that made them shy. It will also encourage them that the only people who can help them from recovering are their own selves. Big time sufferers were also tackled in the book, but eventually there is still a hope for them to recover. Crowd behaviors were also cited in the book and how shyness is available on almost every place like parties and other places. Shy people often treat crowded people as hell but the book will make them change this kind of orientation. The book is great for both the shy and people that are not shy, the author outlines many aspects of personal relations that will be beneficial to everyone. In a humorous way, she sites real-life examples (many of her own) that point out where a shy person may have shortcomings. She then explains why they may behave the way they do and offers alternatives to overcome the shy behavior. Also, it manifests the author’s willingness to help out and change the lifestyle of shy people. Fearless conversation will be made available for shy people after reading this book. Family and sexual relationship problem which are affected by shyness will also be resolved through several shy busters given in the book. Getting to know one’s self is the best way to get out of a shy life. Loving yourself is the main message of this book because it assures shy people that life is a priceless gift especially for those who extends themselves to others. Again, each shy buster introduced by the author allows shy people to practice and apply it in their lives. Every accomplished shy buster technique leads them closer to graduation day. By the end of the book, shy people will find themselves successful and free from painful shyness experiences. It will give shy people the chance to look attractive and feel more comfortable whenever other people are around them. In conclusion, this is an excellent step by step guide to getting over our shyness. I found many of the author’s suggestions and words very helpful. Honestly, I initially resist buying this book because the cover is so local. It looks like some 1980s book that I usually find in my mothers closet. But then, I bought it anyway. I am glad I did. It is quite funny and entertaining to read. As I read the book, it eases away from its clinical insights and moves more towards the practical. And the practical offers tips that I think would help most people regardless of how shy they are. (Chances are good that most people have some shyness in them based on how the author defines `shyness. ) The exercises help to give me some confidence and it really helps me realize that people are not as critical as we think they are. Besides, she opened my eyes to a lot of things. For example, I’ve heard before that people considered me to an arrogant person for avoiding them, and I was just shy. I had no idea that they did not understand it. I always thought that there is no hope for my shyness. Reading this book doesn’t mean I can get over my shyness completely. I know I have to put theories into practice. But at least, this book gives me some hope. I want to thank Prof. Occhiato for mentioning that â€Å"shyness = selfishness. † It could be a life changing book that will reshape and reconstruct the lives of many shy people.

Effective Operations Management At Ryanair

Effective Operations Management At Ryanair To be successful in an increasingly competitive environment, organisations must be more adaptive and innovative than ever before in providing a superior quality service. This paper will consider the role of operations management with the organisation and ways in which successful operations management can contribute to meeting organisational objectives. It is essential the organisations address issues of quality and resource utilisation to reduce costs and provide superior customer service with the intention of increasing sales and creating a competitive advantage. This paper will discuss how organisations can create a quality culture through TQM, and diagnose problems and areas for improvement using quality tools such as Lean and Six Sigma. The final section of this paper will discuss how organisations can plan for the successful implementation of TQM, highlighting the need for a quality management team, adequate management and resource availability, and consultation and communication with its workforce. Task 1: The strategic objectives of operational management The role played by effective operations management at Ryanair This section will discuss the role played by effective operations management at Ryanair; Europes largest low cost airline. Effective operations management is the systematic direction and control of five functions (management, procurement, transformation, customer services and distribution) that transform input resources into finished goods or services offering superior customer satisfaction (Slack, 1999). Within this transformation process (Figure 1), the role of effective operations management is to improve resource utilisation, thus reducing costs, whilst also providing improved quality and customer service which increases revenue (Slack and Lewis, 2002). Figure 1: Transformation process Operations management at Ryanair aims to optimise resource utilisation through the careful management of employees, technology, raw materials and money in order to increase productivity. For example, flight staff at Ryanair are trained to improve their productivity and keep aircraft turnaround times to a minimum (Slack et al, 2007). This increase in productivity allows Ryanair aircrafts to make more flights each day, significantly increasing turnover. In addition to this, another role of operations management at Ryanair is to ensure superior customer satisfaction. This is achieved through improving the flexibility, quality and consistency of its service and continually driving down costs. For example, through providing a no-frills basic service on-board its aircrafts, Ryanair can ensure superior satisfaction through driving down costs (Slack et al, 2007). The role played by effective operations management at Ryanair is to maximise resource utilisation and ensure superior customer service. Although operations management at Ryanair is extremely successful at these two roles, it could be recommended that they continue to ensure effective operation management through maintaining a precise understanding of customer requirements and monitoring environmental change that may affect these requirements. Ryanairs strategic objectives Ryanairs strategic objectives set out its mission and aims as well as defining how it is going to compete within its market (Slack and Lewis, 2002). Ryanairs strategic objectives will be categorised in terms of its goal (market leadership), target customers and offer (distinctive positioning), operating system (to sustain its low cost position), values and distinctive competence. Ryanairs fundamental goal is to establish itself as Europes leading low-fares scheduled passenger airline through continued improvements and expanded offerings of its low-fares service (Ryanair, 2009). Gaining and maintaining market leadership is advantageous in allowing Ryanair to increase its publicity due to leadership status, increase its economies of scale and further reduce costs. Another main strategic objective of Ryanair is to clearly identify its target market segments in order to position its strategy to satisfy particular customer requirements. Ryanair identifies its target customers as fare-conscious leisure and business travellers (Ryanair, 2009). In addition this, Ryanairs strategy is to create a superior offer tailed to its target customer requirements. Ryanair aims to offer low fares that generate increased passenger traffic while maintaining a continuous focus on cost-containment and operating efficiencies (Ryanair, 2009). Ryanairs strategy is also to clearly define its company values of low price, value for money and efficiency and to further utilise its distinctive competence of being creative at driving down cost. This distinctive competence is effective because it can be transferrable to other services; it provides a benefit to the customer and is unique to Ryanair. In summary, Ryanairs strategic objectives are to become Europes largest airline operator through offering low-cost, reliable service to both business and leisure users. Ryanair aims to achieve this through clear company values of low price, value for money and efficiency and its distinctive competence of being creative at driving down costs. In order to fulfil these strategic objectives, Ryanair must ensure that its operational objectives are focussed on ensuring superior customer satisfaction and effective resource utilisation. The success of Ryanairs operations objectives in meeting strategic objectives This part of the assignment shows how Ryanairs operations objectives contribute effectively to achieving its strategic objectives. Operations objectives are decisions which shape the capabilities of an operation and their long-term contribution to strategic objectives, through the reconciliation of market requirements with resource utilisation (Slack and Lewis, 2002). The success of Ryanairs operations objectives in meeting strategic objectives is achieved through its focus on ensuring superior customer satisfaction and through rigorous redesigning of systems and processes to enhance resource utilisation. Superior customer service is achieved by Ryanairs operations management through obtaining a clear understanding of the characteristics and requirements of their target customers. Ryanair understands the importance of a low-cost, reliable and safe airline service to its customers. Ryanair sells tickets directly to customers through its internet site keeping prices low and providing customers with the flexibility to buy tickets whenever and wherever they choose (Ryanair, 2010). In addition to this, Ryanair also keeps aircraft turnaround times to a minimum allowing more flights to take off per day and increasing the availability of flights to customers (Slack et al, 2007). Operations management at Ryanair also aims to improve resource utilisation and to continuously drive down cost. Ryanair, for example, uses standardised aircrafts and parts to allow for large orders from a single aircraft supplier increasing their economies of scale. In addition to this, Ryanair schedules flights to smaller secondary airports allowing money to be saved in airport fees (Slack et al, 2007). These twin operational objectives are so well balanced that they enable Ryanair to successfully achieve its strategic objectives. Through ensuring superior customer satisfaction, Ryanair is able to maintain a clear definition of its offer and also fulfil its goal to become Europes largest budget airline through increasing its customer demand. In addition to this, continuous improvement to resource utilisation allows Ryanair to gain and maintain competitive advantage through its distinctive competence of being creative at driving down costs and values of providing a low price and efficient service. Ryanairs operations objectives are extremely successful in meeting strategic objectives through its clear focus on ensuring superior customer satisfaction and rigorous redesigning of systems and processes. It could be recommended that Ryanair further builds upon this success through the implementation of a Total Quality Management (TQM) system aimed at integrating practical quality control techniques with organisational cultures conductive to the continuous improvement of quality (RDI, 2008). TQM systems at Ryanair will be further discussed in the next section. Task 2: Appropriate Systems 2.1 Systems to ensure the quality of products This section will discuss the use of two fundamental quality systems, Six Sigma and Lean. These two processes implement different methodology to achieve a similar goal: an offer of superior quality through the careful consideration of customer requirements and removal of defects and waste. Six Sigma Six Sigma is a data-driven discipline aimed to improve the quality of operational processes by listening to customer requirements and identifying and removing the causes of defects and variability (General Electric Company, 2009). Organisations that implement Six Sigma correctly achieve significant benefits that contribute to competitive advantage and to changing the culture in an organisation from reactive problem solving to proactive problem prevention (Six Sigma Group, 2010). An organisation such as Ryanair could use Six Sigma to ensure quality through the implementation of the Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control method throughout the organisation. Customer requirements must be defined and measures should be made against core business processes to determine possible shortfalls. Potential gaps between current performance and goals must be analysed, and then innovative solutions using technology and discipline can be implemented and controlled (iSixSigma, 2010). Lean Lean is a production practice aimed at maximising customer value while minimising waste (Lean Enterprise Institute, 2009). Ryanair could incorporate Lean to help optimise the flow of the transformation system to ensure superior customer value and minimise waste. This could be achieved through determining customer requirements and eliminating stages of the transformation system that do not contribute towards meeting these requirements. This process should be repeated until perfect value is created with no waste (Lean Enterprise Institute, 2009). Unlike Six sigma which focuses on individual systems, Lean is effective at ensuring quality through addressing the transformation system as a whole. This also allows simpler information management and allows for faster responses to changing customer requirements. 2.2 The use of TQM and ISO 9000 to monitor quality to a satisfactory level Total Quality Management (TQM) and ISO 9000 have a mutual focus on ensuring quality through the promotion of customer satisfaction and process improvement. Whereas ISO 9000 is a tool used to regulate quality, TQM can be understood as the overarching philosophy within which ISO 90000 should be implemented. TQM TQM is a management philosophy that aims to empower all organisational functions with the responsibility of ensuring quality (ISO, 2010). This is achieved through developing and reworking systems to optimise resource utilisation, prevent errors and ultimately achieve superior customer satisfaction (Chartered Quality Institute, 2010). TQM aims to deliver quality and value above and beyond customer expectations through several key principles. Firstly, employees throughout the TQM organisation must be united within a customer-focussed culture to share ideas and facilitate innovation (Oakland, 2003 p3 ff). There must also be continuous improvements of systems and processes to increase resource utilisation and prevent errors before they occur. Finally, information must be shared throughout all levels of the organisation to ensure that the quality culture is embedded and maintained (Oakland, 2003 p3 ff). ISO 9000 ISO 9000 is a tool which can be used within a TQM culture to regulate and ensure quality. It is a systematic approach to managing the organisations processes so that they consistently turn out products that meet and exceed customer expectations (ISO, 2010). ISO 9000 is able to ensure quality to a satisfactory level through the implementation of quality management guidelines. Firstly, the organisation must ensure that a clear customer focus is established and processes are assessed as to how successful they are contributing to the customer focus. All outputs are monitored for defects, and new systems are implemented to prevent future defects. Continuous improvements are made to the quality system to ensure continued development (ISO, 2010). TQM and ISO 9000 are essential systems to ensure quality. Organisations must be aware, however, that in order to maintain a level of superior quality, TQM and ISO 9000 must not be treated as add-on functions with little attention given to the required changes in organisation and culture. 2.3 Quality Culture in the United Kingdom and Bulgaria This element of the paper sets out to define the term quality culture and then compares the view of quality between the United Kingdom and Bulgaria. Quality culture is an organisational value system that results in an environment that is conducive to the establishment and continual improvement of quality (Noronha, 1999). An organisation that develops and maintains a quality culture will differ significantly from an organisation with a traditional culture. Its attitude towards customers, problem-solving approach, supplier relationships and performance improvement approach will be geared towards creating superior customer value and increased resource utilisation as means of achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. For the successful introduction and implementation of a quality culture such as TQM, a quality culture must be developed to increase the success and likeliness of the systems acceptance throughout the organisation. This can be achieved through maintaining an awareness of quality as a key cultural issue, empowering employees and encouraging self-development, and rewarding behaviours that nurture and maintain a quality culture (Noronha, 1999). The view of quality in the UK and Bulgaria The view of quality in the UK has been shaped considerably by the values and principles brought about by quality management systems such as TQM, ISO 9000 and Lean etc. There is a great emphasis on achieving quality through the refinement of systems and processes tailored to deliver superior customer satisfaction and efficient resource utilisation (Noronha, 1999). Becoming part of the economic union in 2007, Bulgaria has had little exposure to quality management systems and quality culture that have been adopted by many organisations across Europe. The view of quality in organisations in Bulgaria was based purely on traditional values rather than hygiene, inspection of product, systems and TQM. Although there are clear differences in the view of quality internationally, there are also considerable differences between the views of quality nationally. The key issue, however, is the degree to which an organisation is able to understand and address quality issues. By way of conclusion a further point of interest prompted by this question is that while comparing quality culture between countries it is apparent that the same issue can be levelled at individual companies. Slack references the differences between companies in individual countries by distinguishing between pioneer, adaptive and follower categories of business and different approaches to quality culture Task 3: Organisational Performance Problems and opportunities for quality improvement In order to establish a need for quality improvement, BTB should conduct an appraisal of internal and external factors to gain an understanding of potential shortfalls in the quality of products and services, and resource utilisation. For an external review, an appraisal of the stakeholder market can be undertaken providing valuable information about customer requirements and stakeholder perceptions of the current quality of the operation. This type of appraisal can be undertaken through market sensing customer needs and requirements, and conducting surveys to obtain customer feedback on service and product quality. In addition to this, benchmarking can be undertaken to compare the performance of the company with that of its competitors within its own and other markets. BTB can also undertake an internal review to reveal information about potential gap between where the company is performing now and where they want to be in the future. This gap analysis can be undertaken to identify the adequacy of the systems currently in place to engage with customers and the channels in place to facilitate communication and information sharing. Organisational performance improvement programme Executive Summary This report will show how, through the introduction of TQM, improvements will be made to significantly raise productivity and reduce waste. As a consequence of these improvements sales throughput will have the potential to dramatically increase, significantly enhancing the organisations ability to gain and maintain competitive advantage. Introduction BTB Brew Technology (BTB) is an international manufacturing business specialising in buying, refurbishing, and selling industrial processing equipment and factories. BTBs strategy is to increase sales throughput by 10% through making dramatic improvements to customer service and resource utilisation. BTB has been advised to implement TQM as a means of achieving this goal. The importance of TQM Many organisations have found that the key to competitive success lies in maximising product and service quality (Kano, 1993). TQM is an effective means of allowing BTB to improve customer service through improving quality and resource utilisation. It is a structured system that will encompass all levels of an organisation to provide products and services that consistently meet and exceed customer expectations (Noronha, 1999). The importance of an implementation plan The implementation process of TQM will require a substantial change in BTBs organisation and management philosophy. Simply understanding TQM is not enough to create a management system required to sustain a TQM culture. It is essential that BTB develops a strategic TQM implementation plan that is developed, directed, and supported by management, and implemented throughout all levels of organisation. Strategic approach to project management Edwards and Hodgson (2004) state that TQM implementation is most successful when the four stages of (a) providing a vision (b) management action, (c) increasing employee participation and awareness, and (d) business alignment, are undertaken. This suggests that a successful implementation strategy must begin with creating vision towards quality which is communicated throughout the organisation. Management must show their commitment to the vision and motivate and empower employees to make quality their priority. Business systems and processed must then be modified to achieve customer satisfaction and recourse utilisation. Recommendations As a means of ensuring a successful and smooth implementation it is recommended that BTB formulates a project management team who will be responsible for developing and carrying through the strategic implementation plan. Strategic Implementation Plan Figure 1: Stages of TQM implementation The implementation plan consists of three stages: developing a case for change, piloting TQM, and implementation. Developing a strategy for change In this stage, BTB should aim to gain a thorough understanding of what should be expected from the introduction of TQM and the implications of introducing it. Upper management at BTB will need to develop a clear belief of the benefits of TQM to generate the momentum to start and maintain the implementation. This could be achieved through conducting benchmarking visits to superior performing organisations and studying TQM literature. After establishing a belief and need for TQM, the organisation must unite with a commitment to customer satisfaction; communicating the vision and bringing together employees within a quality culture. To communicate and lead this vision, BTB will need to bring together a quality management team who will be the driving force behind the implementation process. The quality management team will firstly need to communicate the quality vision and ensure that all employees understand and are committed to the organisations direction. This could be achieved through establishing a company quality policy, incorporating a statement of vision, goals and principles which is communicated to all employees. The quality management team must also start to build trust amongst employees, providing reassurance about jobs and roles, and communicating the benefit of TQM. Employees must also be motivated with a new sense of direction, receiving encouragement and rewards when commitment to the new culture is displayed. Preparation for the piloting stage must also be conducted, ensuring that there is appropriate resource allocation and support for TQM. Guidance must also be given by the quality management team to help clarify the role of each level of management, and establish systems and activities for interdepartmental problem solving. Finally, the quality management team must begin to identify and develop an appropriate action plan for TQM implementation; producing a Gantt chart which clearly illustrates the work breakdown structure of the project. They must, take into consideration the deadline for implementation, time to deliver and install new equipment and systems, length of training programmes, and potential obstacles which may be faced such as shortage of capital, and delays from suppliers. It is important that buffer periods are also factored into the time plan which will help to compensate for unexpected problems. Piloting TQM The piloting stage will provide BTB with a learning base from which management can begin to analyse the breadth of TQM requirements including, time, resources, and management focus. The number and sequence of team activities undertaken at the piloting stage should reflect the nature and strategy of the action plan devised by the quality management team. BTB should begin by testing its original production systems to assess efficiency and ability to ensure quality. Quality tools such as ISO 9000 and Lean production can be used to provide guidelines on system performance and address ways of increasing efficiency. BTB should make adjustments to all systems assessed as falling below standard. This can be achieved through buying new and more efficient production equipment, and though re-designing the transformation system to facilitate superior quality. Training initiatives must be implemented to all levels of the organisation. Line managers must be trained to become facilitators of continuous improvement, coaching new methods, and leading empowered employees. Employees should be trained to understand the importance of the customer and learn ways in which quality can be managed within their roles. Employees must also be trained to improve their communication skills to help facilitate information sharing throughout the organisation. It is also recommended that rewards and recognition are given to employees to reinforce commitment and adaption to new roles. For example, BTB may increase feedback given to employees by line managers and executives to reward commitment to quality and efficiency. In addition to this BTB may consider paying bonuses to reward positive appraisal feedback. Information and lessons learned from the pilot project must be used by management and the quality management team to make changes and revisions the original action plan, developing it into a structured and comprehensive multi-year implementation plan. It is at this point that BTB can make the commitment to implement TQM. Implementation In this stage, BTB should be concerned with securing the increased participation, shared responsibility, knowledge, skills and capabilities developed from the previous two stages. Training initiatives must be continued to improve communication channels throughout the organisation. For example, new IT systems could be installed to provide a new company instant messaging system allowing information to be sent instantaneously between departments. Employees should be trained on how to use these new systems and the importance of information sharing as a means of achieving a common goal. In addition to this, employees must continue to be kept regularly informed of business performance and development. Face-to-face meetings should be frequently scheduled with line managers, informing employees on factors such as individual and team successes to maintain motivation and commitment. It is recommended that BTB also forms strategic partnerships with suppliers and customers who have developed quality cultures and place value on efficiency and superior customer satisfaction. Strategic partnership will be beneficial to BTB in allowing them to form mutual relationships with other companies they are likely to work with, making sure that orders arrive on time, to right quality and the right price. BTB should now be in a position to exploit its internal improvement capability and use it to effectively re-focus its efforts on improving processes to deliver superior customer satisfaction. It should, for example, now focus on re-organisation to customer and market-driven process management. Conclusion The success of TQM implementation is a function of many variables (both controllable and uncontrollable), which are unique to the particular company situation. Effective project management determines the success or failure of the implementation project. BTB should aim to tailor its approach to exploit its unique strengths and focus on its particular weaknesses. It would be beneficial for BTB to look into more tactical approaches to TQM implementation; however this is beyond the scope of this assignment. Recommendations It is recommended that BTB focuses on a small defined set of improvement priorities that align with its business goals and objectives, and that should therefore be realistically achievable. These include the employment of an effective quality steering group who are effectively managed and resourced, and the set-up of a piloting project to help benchmark and appraise performance. The culmination and fulfilment of these objectives should then result in a structured TQM implementation plan customised to the specific needs of BTB. Assignment Conclusion To be successful in an increasingly competitive environment, organisations must be more adaptive and innovative than ever before in providing a superior quality service. It is essential the organisations address issues of quality and resource utilisation to reduce costs and provide superior customer service with the intention of increasing sales and creating a competitive advantage. Organisations must look towards transforming their culture into a quality culture through TQM, whilst implementing quality tools such as Lean and Six Sigma to diagnose areas of improvement. For organisations to remain competitive, they must continue to invest time and resources in the development of their transformation systems.

Sociolinguistics and Fairy Tales; An Integrated Approach to Adult ESL

Rationale The purpose of this study is to consider the current materials adult ESL students’ use and incorporate authentic material (through the use of fairy tales) as a way of helping adult learners achieve proficiency in second language through a mock prospectus. This study investigates the sociolinguistic, sociocultural and psychological features found in fairy tales, including Grimm’s tales, and the potential of using modern fairy tales as practice material for ESL learners. It explores various dimensions of fairy tales and demonstrates how they can be used as content to instruct and provide language practice to ESL learners. Fairy tales are predominantly taught to native English primary school students. They are a ‘semi-logical’ language that is inherent to the English language. Teachers can use similar texts so that adult ESL students can benefit becoming familiar with certain grammatical structures and vocabulary. It is essential to discover whether adult ESL students can comprehend the language used in fairy tales. Therefore, the following hypotheses can be made; Are the linguistic features in a modern fairy tales similar to standard/basic everyday texts? Do these texts have the potential to be authentic enough for standard language use? Can these texts allow students to be more active and confident in their English proficiency and self-development? What problems can occur if the mock prospectus is implicated? The main theory used in this study will be Krashen’s Input Hypothesis; the ‘i’ as the students’ familiarity with the stories and the +1 as the target language acquired. Teachers must provide students with opportunities to use meaningful language and, allow for immediate corrective feedback. Storytell... ... Little Pigs’ New York: Viking. Tomlinson, P., and Philpot, T. (2007) ‘A Childs Journey to Recovery’ Jessica Kingsley Publishers Tomlinson, P., Dockrell, J., Smith, L. (2003) ‘Piaget, Vygotsky and Beyond; Central Issues in Developmental Psychology and Education’ Routledge Tomlinson, B. (1986) Openings London: Lingual House Zinn, L. (1990) ‘Identifying Your Philosophical Orientation,’ Adult Learning Methods :39-77. Zipes, J. (2007) ‘Why Fairy Tales Stick: The Evolution and Relevance of a Genre’ Routledge: New Ed. Zipes, J. (2002) ‘Breaking the Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk and Fairy Tales’ Social Sciences 5(6) University Press of Kentucky. Zipes, J. (2002) ‘The Brothers Grimm: From Enchanted Forests to the Modern World’ (2nd ed) Palgrave McMillan Zipes, J. (1994) ‘Fairy Tale As Myth Myth As Fairy Tale’ in Clarke Lecture. University Press of Kentucky,

Child Abuse in America :: Violence Against Children

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The effects of child abuse can be long lasting or maybe even fatal. â€Å"The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect estimates that 2.9 million children are abused or neglected by parents or caretakers each year† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Encarta). This fact is very disturbing to the many of us that don’t know child abuse was this common in the U.S. There are various types of child abuse. Physical abuse, which is deliberate acts of violence that injure or may even kill a child. Sexual abuse occurs when adults use children for their sexual gratification. Emotional abuse is mostly verbal abuse. When the adult puts the children down by calling them names or just screaming at the child for no apparent reason. Another form of child abuse is Physical neglect. This type of abuse involves the parents’ failure to provide for the child’s needs. â€Å" Among the cases of abuse reported, 52 percent involved physical abuse or emotional neglect, 24.5 percent involved physical abuse, 12.6 percent involved sexual abuse, 4.5 percent involved emotional abuse, and 17.3 percent involved other abuses, such as educational neglect or abandonment† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Encarta). Many people have difficulty understanding why any person would want to hurt a child. â€Å"The public often assumes that the people that abuse their children suffer from a mental illness but fewer than 10 percent of abusers have mental illnesses† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Encarta). There is more room for abuse in a family when the parents or caretakers are of a young age or just have very little patients. Mature adults that are raising kids tend not to abuse their children because they are able to cope with the demands of their children and the other stresses around them. â€Å"Child abuse results from a complex combination on personal, social, and cultural factors. These may be grouped into four primary categories: (1) intergenerational transmission of violence, (2) social stress, (3) social isolation and low community involvement, and (4) family structure† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Encarta). Interim transmission of violence is displayed when the abused children become abusive parents. â€Å"Some studies have shown that 30 percent of abused children become abusive themselves and others show that most of the abused do not become abusive adults† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Britannica). Social stress is a common cause of child abuse in a family. The conditions of social stress include unemployment, illness, poor housing conditions, a large family, death of a family member or close friend, or maybe even the presence of a new baby or a disabled person in the home. Child Abuse in America :: Violence Against Children   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The effects of child abuse can be long lasting or maybe even fatal. â€Å"The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect estimates that 2.9 million children are abused or neglected by parents or caretakers each year† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Encarta). This fact is very disturbing to the many of us that don’t know child abuse was this common in the U.S. There are various types of child abuse. Physical abuse, which is deliberate acts of violence that injure or may even kill a child. Sexual abuse occurs when adults use children for their sexual gratification. Emotional abuse is mostly verbal abuse. When the adult puts the children down by calling them names or just screaming at the child for no apparent reason. Another form of child abuse is Physical neglect. This type of abuse involves the parents’ failure to provide for the child’s needs. â€Å" Among the cases of abuse reported, 52 percent involved physical abuse or emotional neglect, 24.5 percent involved physical abuse, 12.6 percent involved sexual abuse, 4.5 percent involved emotional abuse, and 17.3 percent involved other abuses, such as educational neglect or abandonment† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Encarta). Many people have difficulty understanding why any person would want to hurt a child. â€Å"The public often assumes that the people that abuse their children suffer from a mental illness but fewer than 10 percent of abusers have mental illnesses† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Encarta). There is more room for abuse in a family when the parents or caretakers are of a young age or just have very little patients. Mature adults that are raising kids tend not to abuse their children because they are able to cope with the demands of their children and the other stresses around them. â€Å"Child abuse results from a complex combination on personal, social, and cultural factors. These may be grouped into four primary categories: (1) intergenerational transmission of violence, (2) social stress, (3) social isolation and low community involvement, and (4) family structure† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Encarta). Interim transmission of violence is displayed when the abused children become abusive parents. â€Å"Some studies have shown that 30 percent of abused children become abusive themselves and others show that most of the abused do not become abusive adults† (â€Å"Child Abuse† Britannica). Social stress is a common cause of child abuse in a family. The conditions of social stress include unemployment, illness, poor housing conditions, a large family, death of a family member or close friend, or maybe even the presence of a new baby or a disabled person in the home.