Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Cultural Diversity in Hotel Industry
Cultural Diversity in Hotel Industry Introduction Increasing globalisation of service industry has made it difficult to manage the growing culturally diverse workforce. Managing a multicultural workforce, either within a global corporation or small business unit is usually very demanding for managers. The concept of managing diversity acknowledges that in a workplace, there is normally diverse population of workers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cultural Diversity in Hotel Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The diversity is brought about by the differences in gender, age, race/ethnicity, language, personality, cultural background and even working style. It is based on the principle that harmonizing these differences creates an optimum working environment where every employee feels valued and is therefore ready to utilise his or her talents to the maximum in achieving the goals of the organisation. Current Situation Today there is increasing foc us on how best to manage cultural diversity in hotel industry or service organizations as diversity among the workforce increases due to globalization. According to Bakalis, Joiner and Leveson (2009, 378) managing cultural diversity refers to the holistic recognition by the leaders of the organisation that cultural diversity continues to increase in the workforce and therefore they have to be more proficient while acting in response to the changes that come with it. According to Dââ¬â¢Netto and Sohal (1999, 530), managing cultural diversity at an organizational level means striving to encourage as well as to uphold a culturally heterogeneous workforce to achieve its full potential by providing an equitable and supportive working environment. Managing cultural diversity is very important and beneficial to service and hospitality industry. Effective management of cultural diversity enables these organizations to benefit from the knowledge, business experience; cultural as well as l inguistic skills that workers come with to the organisation. Managing cultural diversity within the workforce enables development of organizational values and ethics and also enhances peopleââ¬â¢s management practices. It improves customer care thereby increasing the market share of the hospitality companies. Esentually the clients on this business are usually travellers from different parts on the world, therefore making the need for cultural appreciation specifically and important subject. Besides, the greatest resource that is industry has is the workers. They interact with clients directly and as part of servicescape since their dressing, presentation, talking is all a reflection of the company.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore well mannered workers who appreciate cultural diversity are likely to offer the best services. An organisation that effecti vely manages its workforce is able to keep up with best practices that attract and retain talent. In addition, it helps enhance healthy competition within the workforce. Theories of Culture and Cultural Diversity in a Workplace The Business Case for Diversity Theory The theory relates to how hotels utilize the cultural diversity in their workforce. The proponents believe that if a workforce comprises of multicultural employees, but the management does not fully take advantage of the wealth of experience, then it cannot maximize the benefits that come with cultural diversity. It states that in a global market place, an organisation that employs a multicultural workforce in terms of gender, different generations, and ethnically/racially diverse persons among others; is in a better position of understanding the demographics of its marketplace. This gives it an upper hand in the marketplace over other companies with limited cultural diversity among the workforce. The theory also suggest s that a company that truly supports its workforce diversity has the capacity to improve its performance, achieve employee satisfaction as well as retention (Ãâ"zbilgin Tatli 2008, 42). Social Identity Theory Proponents of Social identity theory are of the view that cooperation within as well as between work groups are determined by the demographic distinctiveness of the members of each team in relation to their immediate cultural environment. It suggests that an increase in workforce diversity is a major cause of negative consequences since it may lead to decreased job satisfaction and low performance. The proponents of the theory believe that social groups in the workplace tend to compete with each other for favour, material as well as social resources. This theory is not applicable in services industry. When the workers fight because of diversity, they are likely to treat clients from different culture with prejudice. This is bad for business. This creates a situation of confl ict instead of cooperation among the cultural groups. According to Haslam and Turner (2001, 26) studies on inter-group relationships have shown that conflicts usually occur whenever members of different cultural groups meet or assigned a joint task.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cultural Diversity in Hotel Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the theory, you can always predict that people will show a favourable bias towards members of their cultural group and they will believe that they are in conflict with members of another cultural group. Based on this fact, the workers therefore need to be trained on working with people from different culture and treat them as equals without any implied discrimination. Barrier to interaction and integration must be addressed. Social Network Theory Social network theory discusses the relationship among individuals in a specific environment such as in the hotel industry. Most members of a network provide useful information to other members while others provide emotional, social, financial and even moral support and these resources can greatly market a service industry. In the hotel and hospitality sector, a good reputation plays a big role as well as interdependence. The structure and the shape of the networks put in place in an organisation have important implications for policy-making as well as implementation. Managers are able to know where to finds resources they need and how to get it. This is because they have contacts of the people who can provide such services through networks. Relationships as well as networks can therefore be used to promote change initiatives in a company. Social networks in a company can help the management discover the unique skills as well as talents among workers which can bring organizational change (Haslam Turner 2001, 28). Issues Associated With Diversity in the Workplace Cultural diversity in the work place is normally associated with creative and optimum job performance which translates into positive job outcomes; however, this only occurs when it is effectively managed. There are several issues that occur in hotel and other hospitality workplaces today as they are increasingly becoming multicultural. These include harassment, discrimination against persons who are employed and even those seeking for employment based on gender, background, race/ethnicity and religion. Prejudice usually occurs in task distribution, promotions, rewards, decision making and accessibility to communication networks. Differences in language within a workplace can also create communication problems. Differences in cultural backgrounds affect the perception of employees towards new ideas, concepts and technology. The way employees perceive the companyââ¬â¢s stance on diversity management is also very important.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Management Strategy Kundu (2001) proposes three strategies for managing cultural differences that exist in workplaces. He says that both managers and employees can decide to ignore the cultural differences or the organisation can minimize the cultural differences and lastly, the organisation can manage the cultural difference. Managers of hospitality businesses therefore adopt creative ways of managing the cultural diversity that exist in the workplace. They establish policies and practices that explore the benefits of diversity in workplace. Implementing Written Cultural Diversity Policy Addressing cultural diversity matters should be a priority concern for managers of organisations. The management of a company must have a documented diversity management policy since diversity has sometimes proved to be a problem and not an opportunity. In most cases, managers majorly focus on managing gender diversity as a result the hospitality and hotel industry employs a considerable number of women. Support, Commitment and Employee Perception Perceptions and reactions of employees towards the company determine the effectiveness of the workforce. The management needs to understand the nature as well as the outcomes of perceptions of workers about their organisationââ¬â¢s diversity management. Employees usually view the organisationââ¬â¢s climate and commitment to diversity management as directly related to the performance of the organisation and their job satisfaction (Hicks-Clarke Iles 2000, 329). According to Hicks-Clarke and Iles (2000, 329) studies have shown that employees who perceive that the cultural diversity in their workplace is supported and encouraged are likely to develop positive attitude towards the company. They begin to feel that their job is secure and they also see the possibility of developing their career in the organisation. On the contrary, employees who feel that they are not valued in the company due to their race/ethnicity tend to perceiv e that this would negatively affect their performance, job as well as their career. They would therefore opt to move elsewhere. Organizational support as well as commitment is highly related to employee retention meaning that these can enable employers retain talented employees from diverse cultural backgrounds (Sippola 2007, 256). Employees always want to be sure whether the organisation values their contributions or not. They also want to be certain about the employerââ¬â¢s concern on their well-being. It is therefore important to provide rewards for increased and excellent job performance. There should be favourable opportunities for incentives, supportive supervision as well as procedural justice (Bakalis, Joiner Leveson 2009, 381). Actions taken by the company in support of or against an issue should be sincere. These initiatives and actions increase employeesââ¬â¢ commitment to the company. Retaining culturally diverse employees has been a major concern of most employer s. This implies that the management has to constantly carry out organizational audit to establish the employeesââ¬â¢ perception towards the company to determine the direction of the firm in relation to its workforce. Survey results would help make the necessary changes which are intended to motivate the workers and enhance job satisfaction among the workforce in order to achieve retention of culturally diverse and talented workers. According to Bakalis, Joiner and Leveson (2009, 379) the nature of diversity in a workplace has an influence on performance. When the management appreciate diversity among its workers, a culture of appreciating diversity is built. The will in turn appreciate each more and therefore work together as a team despite cultural differences. The outcome is that the customers from different background will as be received and treated with utmost grandeur. This is what service industry is all about, treating client better so that they feel value for money servic e and that their culture is also recognised elsewhere. Inclusion and support of minority culture-groups In managing a multicultural workforce, it is important that the minority culture-group members within the organisation be integrated in all the informal networks. Access to these informal networks is important especially considering the significance of language on the flow of communication processes as well as in the development of individual networks in the workplace (Lindholm 1997, 14). They should also be allowed access to formal communication networks. Language problems could be a major source of frustration and dissatisfaction as one feels like an outsider. Open communications can reduce the negative impacts of cultural diversity on group activities and processes. However, multilingual workers are better suited to be the employees of a hotel and hospitality company. This way, the employees can integrate much better in that they are likely to understand the values, attitudes a nd general welfare at least two culture. This can form web of interconnectivity and integration that the outcome would be as if the organization is one big community with understand. Such appreciation of different traditions and culture is extended to clients and this gives greater satisfaction. The company should also ensure that migrants are represented on recruitment as well as promotion panels. These initiatives increase accessibility to formal networks in an organisation and also help initiate formal networking in the company. Besides, they should also enjoy the organizational support for their diversity. This is only possible if the organisation put in place structures that totally discourage discrimination, prejudice as well as intercultural conflicts in the workplace. All the various cultural groups in the workplace should be represented and encouraged to uphold respect and to always value learning from each other. Kundu (2001) stresses on cross-cultural training and sensiti zing of employees on the outcomes of discrimination and biases in diverse working population. Cross-cultural training helps employees of an organisation live and work harmoniously in another culture. Communication of performance standards The service industry players should establish and also communicate clearly the performance standards to employees. The performance standards should be based on important competencies which are relevant to each job. The workers should also be trained on how to provide feedback on identified undesirable conduct that the firm wishes to change or desirable behaviour that it wants to encourage. Conclusion Managing a multicultural workforce has become one of the most demanding tasks for most managers in service industry. Cultural diversity is projected to increase with the increasing globalization. Most organizations are putting in place structures and practices that could help attract and retain culturally diverse workforce. Hotel industry is developing cultural diversity policies and implementing new practices. Effective management of diversity in the workplace is seen to be profitable to a hotel services in ways like better services, job satisfaction and reduced worker turnover. Different theories seem to have varied views about cultural diversity in the hotel industry although most theories seem to support cultural diversity. Cultural diversity comes with different issues and problems that have to be effectively handled by organizations. Cultural diversity can cause discrimination, conflicts and communication problems. It is therefore important for hotel industry to develop cultural diversity policy and to govern it and help understand employeesââ¬â¢ perception diversity and how the specific hotel service company deals with it. In addition, it is important to include the minority culture-groups into every activity of the company. Reference List Bakalis, S., Joiner, T., A., Leveson, L., 2008, Managing Cultural Diversity And Perceived Organizational: Evidence From Australia. International Journal of Manpower, 30 (4): 377-392. New Delhi: Emarald Group Publishing Limited. Dââ¬â¢netto, B., Sohal, A., S., 1999, Human Resource Practices and Workforce Diversity: An Empirical Assessment. International Journal of Manpower, 20 (8): 530-47. New Delhi: Emerald Publishers. Haslam, S., A., Turner, J., C., 2001, Social Identity, Organizations and Leadership. In M. Turner (Ed.), Groups At Work: Theory And Research (Pp. 25-65). London: Lawrence Erlbaum. Hicks-Clarke, D., Iles, P., 2000, Climate for Diversity and Its Effects on Career and Organizational Attitudes and Perceptions. Personnel Review, 29 (3): 324-45. London: Emerald Publishing Limited. Kundu, S., C., 2001, Managing Cross-Cultural Diversity: A Challenge For Present And Future Organizations. Delhi Business Review, 2 (2). New Delhi: University Of Hartford. Lindholm, E., 1997, Culturally Related Problems In Steering Of Foreign Subsidiaries: Subsidiary Ope rations Of Finnish Companies In Spain. Masterââ¬â¢s Thesis, Helsinki School of Business Administration, Helsinki. Ãâ"zbilgin, M., F., Tatli, A., 2008, Global Diversity Management: An Evidence Based Approach. London: Palgrave Macmillian. P. 42. Sippola, A., 2007, Developing Culturally Diverse Organizations: A Participative and Empowerment-Based Method. Women in Management Review, 22 (4): 253-73. New Delhi: Emerald Publishing Limited.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
How to Enable Java in Chrome and Other Browsers
How to Enable Java in Chrome and Other Browsers The Java plugin is part of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and allows a browser to work with the Java platform to run Java applets to execute in the browser. The Java plugin is enabled in a large number of browsers around the world and this makes it a target for malicious hackers. Any popular third-party plugin is subjected to the same kind of unwanted attention. The team behind Java have always taken security seriously and they will endeavor to quickly release an update to patch any serious security vulnerabilities found. This means the best way to minimize problems with the Java plugin is to make sure it is up-to-date with the latest release. If you are really worried about the security of the Java plugin but still need to visit a popular website (e.g., online banking in some countries) that need the Java plugin enabled, then consider the two browser trick. You can use one browser (e.g., Internet Explorer) only when you want to use the websites using the Java plugin. For the rest of the time use another browser, (e.g., Firefox) with the Java plugin disabled. Alternatively, you might find that you dont go to websites that use Java very often. In this case, you may prefer the option of disabling and enabling the Java plugin as needed. The instructions below will help you to set up your browser to disable (or enable) the Java plugin. Firefox To turn on/turn off Java applets in the Firefox browser: Select Tools - Add-ons from the menu toolbar.The Add-ons Manager window appears. Click on Plugins on the left-hand side.In the list on the right select, the Java Plugin - the name of the plugin will vary depending on whether you are a Mac OS X or Windows user. On the Mac, it will be called Java Plug-in 2 for NPAPI Browsers or Java Applet Plug-in (depending on the operating system version). On Windows, it will be called Java (TM) Platform.The button to the right of the selected plugin can be used to enable or disable the plugin. Internet Explorer To enable/disable Java in the Internet Explorer browser: Select Tools - Internet Options from the menu toolbar.Click on the Security tab.Click on the Custom level.. button.In the Security Settings window scroll down the list until you see Scripting of Java applets.Java applets are Enabled or Disabled depending on which radio button is checked. Click on the option you want and then click OK to save the change. Safari To enable/disable Java in the Safari browser: Select Safari - Preferences from the menu toolbar.In the preferences, window click on the Security icon.Make sure the Enable Java checkbox is checked if you want Java enabled or unchecked if you want it disabled.Close the preferences window and the change will be saved. Chrome To turn on/turn off Java applets in the Chrome browser: Click on the wrench icon to the right of the address bar and choose Settings.At the bottom click the link called Show advanced settings...Under the Privacy, section click on Content settings...Scroll down to the Plug-ins section and click on Disable individual plug-ins.Look for the Java plugin and click on the Disable link to turn off or the Enable link to turn on. Opera To enable/disable the Java plugin in the Opera browser: In the address bar type in opera:plugins and hit enter. This will display all the installed plugins.Scroll down to the Java plugin and click on Disable to turn off the plugin or Enable to turn it on.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Bad lending leading to the East Asian crisis in 1990s Essay
Bad lending leading to the East Asian crisis in 1990s - Essay Example 347). The basic diagnosis attributed the crisis to the financial chaos caused by the financial systems riddled by the insider dealings, weak corporate governance, and corruption that caused inefficient spending investment. This weakened stability in the banking system. The economies in East Asia were successful for generations, and the crisis in1997 was unanticipated despite Yung Chul Park (1996) warning against impending crisis. Many foreign investors invested a lot of funds even at the onset of the crisis (Choe and Chinmay 2007, p. 232-255). This paper investigates on the bad lending that led to the financial crisis in East Asia in 1990s. This is because of the success of economiesà in East Asia that led to massive financial inflows in years leading to crisis, with few warning signs. Background to financial crisis Central to the full understanding of the cause of East Asian crisis is multifaceted evidence on the structure of the incentives used by financial and corporate sectors, which operated in the area. The moral problem magnified the financial vulnerability during the liberalization of the market in 1990s. This exposed fragility concerning the macroeconomic and the financial shocks that occurred between 1995 and 1997. This problem exhibited the three different, yet interrelated dimensions at corporate, the financial and the international level (Choe and Chinmay 2007, p. 232-255). The political pressures at the corporate level maintained high economic growth rates that guaranteed the private projects under government control. Even in the absence of the explicit bail-out promises, strategies and production plans of the corporate sector overlooked the riskiness and the costs of the investment projects. The industrial and financial policy enmeshed in the widespread business sector of political and personal favouritism and markets operated under the impression of their investment returns being insured from the adverse shocks. This represented underpinnings of the sustained process of accumulation of capital leading to account deficits. The investment rate remained high because of the fall in interest rates of neighbouring countries like Japan. As a result, banks borrowed excessively from abroad as well as lending excessively at home (Ichikawa 1998, p. 155-179). Extensive liberalization of the capital markets consistently provided large supply of funds at minimized costs to the domestic, corporate sector and national financial institutions. This motivated the exchange rate policies that reduced volatility of domestic currency in US dollars lowering the risk premium on the dollar-denominated debt. Internationally, moral hazard hinged on behaviour of the international banks. Over the period that led to crisis, international bands rented a lot of funds to the domestic intermediaries in the region neglecting the risk assessment standards. They presumed the direct government guarantee to the short-term interbank liabilities through bailout using the IMF support programs (Ichikawa 1998, p. 155-179). The stagnation of economy in Japan in 1990s lowered the exports from Asian countries. Few months before the crisis in East Asia, economy of Japan declined significantly, thus shattering the recovery process. The fall in ââ¬Ësemi-conductorsââ¬â¢ demand in 1996, and the adverse fluctuations in trade worsened the trade balances between 1996 and
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Have you had Your VSauce Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Have you had Your VSauce Today - Essay Example The videos are narrated by the creator of Vsauce, Michael Stephens, in his signature style beginning each video with ââ¬Å"Hi Vsauce!â⬠Vsauce provides educational content that is beneficial to students as well as general online users. The content is always interesting and intriguing, and arouses the curiosity of the users. The videos are about topics most people think about but do not try to actively investigate them. Questions about dreams and alien life are used to elaborate scientific research and phenomena because people are naturally curious about these topics. Vsauce videos explain such topics and encourage students to learn about things that puzzle them. Some of the videos that offer such intriguing content are What if You were Born in Space? and Why do We Get Bored?. After watching these videos, viewers are able to enhance their knowledge. In addition, the videos inspire viewers to be more observant of their surroundings. The information in the videos helps students de velop greater interest in science and other subjects. Entertainment is one of the main distinguishing features of Vsauce. Michael Stephens appears as the narrator in all the videos and ensures that the viewer remains engaged from beginning to end. The videos uploaded on the channel are informative and provide scientific explanations to the viewer. However, they are packaged in a very different way from regular informational videos. The captions of the videos, for instance, are worded in the same way as feature stories and articles on mainstream websites. This feature helps to attract readers to the content and view the videos to be entertained. For example, a video titled How Many 5-Year Olds Could You Fight? explains concepts of force and power. Another video titled Guns in Space discusses important concepts of space, gravity, and motion. The video discusses the theories and concepts introduced by scientists such as Newton and Einstein. This strategy of combining information with e ntertainment is the reason why the videos receive a large number of hits. Just two years after its inception in 2010, Vsauce reached a subscription level of 1 million users. The tools used in the videos are effective at explaining the concepts vividly. The videos combine the use of animated diagrams and photographs to illustrate abstract concepts such as gravity and motion. Such use of animated diagrams is effective in explaining temporal features of a concept (Lowe, 168). At times, a comic effect is created to make apparently complex subjects seem interesting. For instance, a video entitled We Canââ¬â¢t Touch Anything uses diagrams and animation effectively to explain atomic structure and contact between two surfaces. Another video titled What Can You do Without a Brain? uses teaching aids as well as animated illustrations to explain brain anatomy and neurological processes. This feature distinguishes Vsauce from other online educational content because it is lively and engaging . It uses techniques other than background narration and text to make concepts more explicit to the viewer. Vsauce makes educational content accessible to the target audience. Accessibility is vital to the success of distance education (Burgstahler, Corrigan, & McCarter, 234). With several alternatives offering similar services in the print and electronic environment, it is important for content providers to reach out to the intended audience instead of expecting
Sunday, November 17, 2019
The Handmaids Tale Essay Example for Free
The Handmaids Tale Essay The Handmaids Tale is a novel that consists of more than one genre it falls in the categories of being a dystopian science fiction, an autobiography, a love story and even a feminist novel. There are many narrative techniques used here in the Handmaids Tale that make it very complex and original such as the use of flashbacks and the very fragmented narrative structure, all of which I will be discussing in this essay. The significance of the epigraphs at the beginning of the novel I feel set the readers up for the story about to be told, as the first epigraph (Genesis,30:1-3) talks about the use of the Handmaids by trying to justify the use of them by quoting from the bible. The second epigraph (A Modest Proposal) shows the cold-heartedness of people, the controlled sincere tone of this mad scheme he talks about parallels with the earnest fascination of Gilead, giving us a rough clue of the tough regime of the Gileadean society. The third epigraph (Sufi proverb) claims that no one needs to forbid anything that is undeniable even when in a desperate situation, the undesirable could be the solution. The deliberate confusion of the opening chapter where Atwood had chosen to hold back large amounts of information causing the reader to become curious and wanting to read more into the story, the narrator of the story who we are unaware of at this stage is not bothering to introduce to the readers what is happening around her, it seems that the narrator is not just telling the story but merely reminding herself of that specific moment in the past We folded our clothes neatly and laid them on the stool at the ends of the beds this gives us a clue that the narrator has gone through this experience already and is speaking from elsewhere in the future. We can see also that the narrator is fully aware of the changes that have occurred since the time before maybe explaining why she only remembers and doesnt feel the need to explain at first, again a technique used to make the readers wanting more so they can understand what has gone on to cause such a rapid change in their lives. Judging by the atmosphere of the surroundings the readers can see a desperate yearn of the past and the act of physical contact where the girls lean out of their cots just to touch each others hands giving us a sense of oppression and a society with rules and order. There are many characters and themes introduced in this very first confusing chapter but it will have left the readers with a lot of guesswork leaving them gripped on wanting to read more this is why I feel that Atwood has started with a confusing opening chapter. The ordering of the sections just reflect the day to day routine of a handmaid such as shopping, check ups at the doctors etc. it also represents the narrow existence of a handmaid and the feeling of repetition, the ordering does go day, night, day, night and so on except for the napping section, but sleep also occurs here I dont understand why this has a different title? I feel that the night sections contribute massively to the structure of the narrative because this is where we learn most about Offred and of the beginning of the regime of Gilead. This is where Offred can have her time alone and vividly go over her memories of the past The night is mine, my own time, to do as I will. The night time is peaceful for Offred where she can be completely away from the oppression in Gilead. Here we learn of her past about her relationship with Luke, her family, her friends, her daughter and the rapidly changing society of Gilead. It again shows the readers how oppressive Gilead must be as Offred does not feel safe to reminisce in the day time while she is out shopping everyday it shows that the fear of the society is constantly on her mind causing her to be aware of everything that is going on. Through these night sections we learn about Offred herself we see that she is a determined woman, we also see that she is a sensitive because sometimes she cannot go on with her stories as they are too painful, but we also see a rebellious side to Offred because by telling her story she is breaking all the laws of the Gilead regime by going over her past and communicating her thoughts and feelings whereas in the daytime she comes across as agreeing with the regime, but here we hear about each time she breaks the law by having a love affair with Nick or seeing the commander plus remembering her past. The narrative technique of flashbacks is most obvious here, the flashbacks are used to tell us the reasons why things are the way they are, informing us throughout the novel of how the society of Gilead developed. Her flashbacks inform us of how she tried to escape over the border with her child and husband or how she suddenly lost her job at the library if these occurrences had been mentioned at the beginning of the story I feel that it would mean no significance to the reader as they wouldnt have known more about Offred but placing these events in the flashbacks throughout the novel creates mystery for the reader who will want to read on more to find out the endings to these fragmented stories. Also there is an importance to the position of the flashbacks for example when Offred recounts her first meeting with Serana Joy she then talks about her mother A motherly figure,someone who would understand and protect me. Another example is when Offred first kisses Nick in the downstairs living room at night and when she goes back up to bed she then thinks of Luke I believe Luke is lying face down in a thicket. Maybe associating her feelings for Nick with how she felt about Luke in the time before Gilead and even now Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Margaret Atwood section.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
My Mother, My Hero Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing
My Mother, My Hero In 1859 Henry Ward Beecher said, "the motherââ¬â¢s heart is the childââ¬â¢s schoolroom." I believe that statement because of experiences Iââ¬â¢ve had with my own mother. I have learned more about life from her than from my 15 years of schooling. Over the last 20 years my mother has taught me many valuable lessons just by being a living example of compassion, thoughtfulness, and generosity. She is an angel that has protected and carried me throughout life. In the book, One Day My Soul Just Opened Up, Iyanla Vanzant said, "a truly compassionate person is one who can feel what you feel because they are one with you in mind, body, and spirit, not out of obligation or a false sense of responsibility. A compassionate person is one who understands what you are going through and, rather than joining you in your suffering and fear, sees for you the blessing and the victory at the end. A compassionate person does not join in the victim mentality of blaming others; instead they will stand strong with you, supporting you through the acceptance of the situation. The compassionate person knows with you, for you, and when necessary in spite of you, that all things work together for your good." That quote is like a mirror image of my mother because she encompasses all those traits. She showed me the utmost compassion when I was in high school. I was very sick with a chronic disease. I couldnââ¬â¢t walk and I was in constant pain. Though I couldnâ â¬â¢t see it at the time, my mother saw for me how lucky I was. She consistently pointed out that I was lucky that we could afford the doctors I needed. I was lucky that Fibromyalgia wasnââ¬â¢t deadly. And I was lucky that I had family and friends who were there for me. She saw for me the positive thi... ...s Thanksgiving she donated money to Bethel Mission to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless. And every Christmas she buys presents for the underprivileged. As the saying goes, "no one stands as straight as when he stoops to help someone." My mother is my hero because she has taught me to treat others with compassion, thoughtfulness, and generosity. She taught me that those values were important in the best way, by living her own life according to them. She didnââ¬â¢t just tell me about values she felt were important, she lived by them. I have always admired my mother and felt so blessed to have her in my life. I know I am a better person for having her for a mother. Works Cited: The Giant Book of American Quotations. Carruth, Gorton and Ehrlich, Eugene. Portland House. New York. 1988. Vanzant, Iyanla. One Day My Soul Just Opened Up. Fireside. 1998. My Mother, My Hero Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing My Mother, My Hero In 1859 Henry Ward Beecher said, "the motherââ¬â¢s heart is the childââ¬â¢s schoolroom." I believe that statement because of experiences Iââ¬â¢ve had with my own mother. I have learned more about life from her than from my 15 years of schooling. Over the last 20 years my mother has taught me many valuable lessons just by being a living example of compassion, thoughtfulness, and generosity. She is an angel that has protected and carried me throughout life. In the book, One Day My Soul Just Opened Up, Iyanla Vanzant said, "a truly compassionate person is one who can feel what you feel because they are one with you in mind, body, and spirit, not out of obligation or a false sense of responsibility. A compassionate person is one who understands what you are going through and, rather than joining you in your suffering and fear, sees for you the blessing and the victory at the end. A compassionate person does not join in the victim mentality of blaming others; instead they will stand strong with you, supporting you through the acceptance of the situation. The compassionate person knows with you, for you, and when necessary in spite of you, that all things work together for your good." That quote is like a mirror image of my mother because she encompasses all those traits. She showed me the utmost compassion when I was in high school. I was very sick with a chronic disease. I couldnââ¬â¢t walk and I was in constant pain. Though I couldnâ â¬â¢t see it at the time, my mother saw for me how lucky I was. She consistently pointed out that I was lucky that we could afford the doctors I needed. I was lucky that Fibromyalgia wasnââ¬â¢t deadly. And I was lucky that I had family and friends who were there for me. She saw for me the positive thi... ...s Thanksgiving she donated money to Bethel Mission to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless. And every Christmas she buys presents for the underprivileged. As the saying goes, "no one stands as straight as when he stoops to help someone." My mother is my hero because she has taught me to treat others with compassion, thoughtfulness, and generosity. She taught me that those values were important in the best way, by living her own life according to them. She didnââ¬â¢t just tell me about values she felt were important, she lived by them. I have always admired my mother and felt so blessed to have her in my life. I know I am a better person for having her for a mother. Works Cited: The Giant Book of American Quotations. Carruth, Gorton and Ehrlich, Eugene. Portland House. New York. 1988. Vanzant, Iyanla. One Day My Soul Just Opened Up. Fireside. 1998.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Comparison Between Tod Homer and Miss Lonely Hearts
Tod, Homer, and Miss Lonelyhearts Another Well Thought Out Essay Tod Hackett, Homer Simpson, and Miss Lonelyhearts from Nathanael Westââ¬â¢s novels ââ¬Å"The Day of the Locustâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Miss Lonelyheartsâ⬠all try to satisfy their desires with sexual wants, and violence. However, they are all very different from each other. For example, their histories, and the way they pursue the fulfillment of their desires are all unique to that specific character. The novel, ââ¬Å"The Day of the Locustâ⬠, mostly focuses on the story of two main characters. These characters are Tod Hackett, and Homer Simpson.The novel gives the story of their lives while they both pursue the young woman, Faye Greener. In this way they are similar, but they are actually very different. Unlike Homer, Tod understands a lot of his experiences, especially his experiences with Faye. Because of this, Tod is portrayed as an educated man, Homer, on the other hand, has almost no idea what is going on. His actions and desires are almost always unexplainable. It seems as though he doesnââ¬â¢t even know what he himself is even thinking, let alone what he actually wants.Because of this, he appears uneducated, and clumsy. Both men pursue things that are artificial. The most notable of these is Faye Greener. Unlike Homer though, Tod knows that he can't have her, because he knows that pursuing her is a self-destructive route. Miss Lonelyhearts is the main character of the novel, ââ¬Å"Miss Lonelyheartsâ⬠. His history is probably the reason for his need for sex and violence. ââ¬ËHis historyââ¬â¢ meaning his childhood, and also the letters that the people send to him for advice.Miss Lonelyhearts has a few encounters with a woman named Fay Doyle. They do have intercourse on one occasion, and she tries to make him have it a second time. However, instead of intercourse, Miss Lonelyhearts decides to beat her violently. His anger and his need for sex are brought about by the le tters that he has to read for his job, and his childhood experiences, like his encounter with the frog. Tod Hackett presents fewer personal experiences that can be used to analyze in a psychological way, but the way he thinks can be.He knows that he canââ¬â¢t have Faye, and he does want to rid Faye of the artificial quality that she possesses, but he canââ¬â¢t help but have a somewhat repulsive sexual attraction to her. Even to the point where he decides that raping her would be a suitable idea. And even attempts it at one point. In this way, Tod and Miss Lonelyhearts are similar, but not completely homogenous. Homer is a bit different from Tod, and Miss Lonelyhearts in this area. Homer is more understandable on a psychological level. At first, Homer seems as though he is uneducated, and also very clumsy.However, his disappointments, and his insecurities soon lead to aggression. His aggressions are expressions of anger that come from his past and his future. He does have a sex ual attraction to Faye, but his actions and feelings towards her are not quite as extreme as Todââ¬â¢s and Miss Lonelyheartsââ¬â¢ feelings and actions toward women. Faye, however, does not take Homer seriously. He then feels like he has been cheated by Faye. He does a good job for most of the book at suppressing his anger until his final outburst that starts the riot at the end of the book.With Miss Lonelyhearts, Nathanael West presents a brutal and selfish character, which lusts for sex and violence, and gets both. With Tod Hackett, Nathanael West presents a successful and educated character that, despite his intellect, desperately wants a sexual relationship with a young woman, even to the point where he thinks about raping her, but never actually does it. And with Homer Simpson, Nathanael West presents an uneducated and clumsy character, which also lusts after a young woman, just not as explicitly as Tod, and turns out to be very aggressive.All of these characters are very similar in most of their desires, to be specific, their need for a sexual relationship, and their needs for aggression whether it is related to their sexual desires or not. Despite their many similarities, each character has a unique way of showing their desires. It may have been a straight-forward approach like Miss Lonelyhearts, or a somewhat cautious yet extreme approach like Tod, or a deceptively timid and passive-aggressive approach like Homer, which ends up in a catastrophically aggressive outburst.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Loneliness in ââ¬ËOf Mice and menââ¬â¢ by John Steinbeck Essay
ââ¬ËOf Mice and Menââ¬â¢, is a novel written by John Steinbeck in the 1930ââ¬â¢s. It is set in Salinas California and shows us what life was like for migrant workers at this time. The book was set in the time of the American depression caused by the Wall Street Crash. In 1929 Steinbeck himself had taken on unskilled jobs to support himself for 7 years from 1919. South Clara in Northern California was where Steinbeck worked as a farm laborer. It is from there that the scenery, setting and experiences of Steinbeck in Northern California have been etched into the novel ââ¬ËOf Mice and Menââ¬â¢. The book describes how lonely life can be. There are three different kinds of loneliness these include: isolation, solitude and abandonment. George and Lennie are different from the other characters in the novel as they have each other to look after them ââ¬Ëainââ¬â¢t many guys travel around togetherââ¬â¢. They have been companions from childhood and George has given and oath to Aunt Clara that he will look after Lennie. George and Lennie both share the same dream to own a piece of land that no-one will take away from them. They each dedicate a sum of their wages towards the dream. The characters in this novel are all envious to some extent of the special friendship shared by George and Lennie because they do not have that in their life. All the characters are extremely lonely and unhappy with their lives (except Slim, who is the only character that seems to be confident and happy with his life), and none of them can escape this unhappiness. Economic and social forces control them, and free will seems non-existent. ââ¬Å"Guys like us, that live on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.â⬠George means that if not for each other, then he and Lennie would be all alone, with no friends, like all the men like them, who are migrant workers moving from ranch to ranch without making any friends, and living a lonely life. George and his simple-minded friend Lennie dream, of a place to call their own. The Dream represents a sense of freedom to George and Lennie as they will be their own bosses and can do as they please. Also the achieving of the dream will mean they will not have to travel and have a house which they can really call home. They will not have to wear their uniforms and will have more possessions than a migrant worker. George and Lennie are very different, George is a smart and composed man, who seems to need mental stimulation from a companion, which he cannot have in his relationship with Lennie. Even though they have each other, they are still both lonely at a certain level, even if one does not clearly understand the other. The important thing is human contact and being there together. Somebody who loses his best companion is Candy. Candy is the oldest person on the ranch. We can tell this when he mentions they are going to fire him ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢ll can me purty soonâ⬠also by the boring jobs which he undertakes like sweeping the bunk house, as he only has one hand, he is a liability. He is a very friendly person and knows the rules of the ranch, we see this when he says ââ¬Ëa guy on a ranch donââ¬â¢t never listen nor he donââ¬â¢t ast no questions.ââ¬â¢ His life long companion presumably a sheep dog which he had since it was a pup, was shot by Carlson, who was very persistent to take the dogââ¬â¢s life as he did not like the way it smelled ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know nothing that stinks so bad as an old dogââ¬â¢. Although pleading with Carlson ââ¬Å"I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup, I herded sheep with himâ⬠the only choice Candy was offered was if he would want to shoot the dog himself which he replied ââ¬Å"No I coul dnââ¬â¢t. I had ââ¬Ëim too long.â⬠Finally Candy had to let his companion go. The dog which was Candyââ¬â¢s comfort and enjoyment was now dead. As the gunshot went off in the distance every head in the bunk house turned towards Candy to see the old manââ¬â¢s reaction. For a moment he continued to stare at the ceiling maybe remembering the happy memories he and his companion shared. Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent the same action a dog would do when going to sleep. All was not lost, overhearing George and Lennieââ¬â¢s dream he wanted to share it. He told George and Lennie about what they did to his dog that night maybe to try and win some compassion. ââ¬Å"You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasnââ¬â¢t no good to himself or nobody else. When they can me here I wishââ¬â¢t somebodyââ¬â¢d shoot meâ⬠. This shows Candy is nearing the end of his life at the farm. Being part of George and Lennieââ¬â¢s dream comforts Candy and would be an ideal way to spend the rest of his life free from worries. George and Lennie accepted him into their dream partly due to the large sum of money which he had to contribute towards the dream. The dream was now becoming a reality. Crooks like Candy is an outcast because the society in which he resides is racist towards black people. With a back injury that gives Crooks his nickname he is more permanent than the other men, we can see this with the possessions he has which include ââ¬Ëseveral pairs of shoes, a pair of rubber boots, a big alarm clock and a single barrelled shot-gunââ¬â¢. Being alone has made Crooks very unsure about himself and bitterâ⬠A guy goes nuts if he ainââ¬â¢t got nobody. Donââ¬â¢t matter no difference who the guy is, longs he with you. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an he gets sickâ⬠this was Crookââ¬â¢s way of establishing a personal connection to Lennie. Like Lennie, Crooks has a ââ¬Ërelationshipââ¬â¢ with loneliness. Crooks is rejected from every group of people and cannot socially interact with others, just like Lennie who canââ¬â¢t socially interact properly because of his mental-disability. ââ¬Å"Cause Iââ¬â¢m black. They play cards in there, but I canââ¬â¢t play because Iââ¬â¢m Black. They say I stink. Well I tell you, you all stink to me!â⬠Crooks loneliness results from rejection; others treat him unjust because he is different from them given that he is black. Crooks isnââ¬â¢t allowed to participate in daily events with white people such as card games. He is treated unfairly and therefore acts the same way toward the white people who have offended him. In an effort to communicate with the outside world in my opinion Crooks reads books ââ¬Ëthere were battered magazines and a few dirty books on a special shelf over his bunkââ¬â¢ this shows they were well read, maybe even more than once. Crooks is fascinated by the strength of the friendship of Lennie and George, especially how close they are. Crooks said, ââ¬Å"Well, sââ¬â¢pose, jusââ¬â¢ sââ¬â¢pose he donââ¬â¢t come back. Whatââ¬â¢ll you do then?â⬠Crooks asks these questions because he was curious and envious, about the friendship of Lennie and George, noticing that Lennie is retarded, he takes advantage of this situation to make him feel better and ease the pain of having others reject him. He wants the people to feel the way that he did when he was lonely, having no one. He is striving to achieve sympathy and understanding from others. Crooks would work for nothing if it meant communicating with others. He even offers his services to Candy to work on their ââ¬Å"dream ranchâ⬠to join in on the friendship and dream shared by Lennie and George, in order to leave behind him his lonely life. Curleyââ¬â¢s Wifeââ¬â¢s loneliness is due to her husband. Even though Curleyââ¬â¢s wife is mentioned frequently, nobody asks what her name is. Nobody wants to talk her because people are afraid of Curley; he is jealous and would start a fight with anyone who tried approaching her also due to the fact that Curley is the bossââ¬â¢s son and anyone who tried to do something could loose their job. She does not like Curley, and purely married him to spite her mother we can see this when she says ââ¬ËI donââ¬â¢t like Curley. He ainââ¬â¢t a nice fellaââ¬â¢. Furthermore he doesnââ¬â¢t talk to her at all, and thereââ¬â¢s no one in her life with whom she can share her feelings, and longs for companionship. Candy influences views about Curleyââ¬â¢s wife in George by telling him ââ¬ËCurleyââ¬â¢s marriedâ⬠¦ a tartââ¬â¢. She pretends to look for her husband when she really wants to have a conversation with the men in the ranch as she is lonely. Curley treats his wife like a trophy insisting that she should spend all her time in the house. Curleyââ¬â¢s wife asks the rhetorical question, ââ¬Ëthink I like to stick in that house alla time?ââ¬â¢ showing her unhappiness. Curley does not care about his wife as he leaves her behind whenever he goes out and visits ââ¬Ëcat housesââ¬â¢ although he is married. Curleyââ¬â¢s wife talks to Lennie in chapter five as she knows she can share her secrets and worries without Lennie telling anyone else, due to his mental age. She also indicates she is going to run away as she talks in a hurry. Curleyââ¬â¢s wife is very vigilant in the way she knows how Curleyââ¬â¢s hand was broken also in the way she finds the dead pup in the barn. Curleyââ¬â¢s wife tells Lennie about the chances she had of being an actress and blames her misfortune on her mother. She shows that marrying Curley was her last chance to get away from home. Maybe she was making up stories about her past as she looked closely to see if she was impressing Lennie. Curleyââ¬â¢s wife is a threat to Crooks as she threatens him with death by hanging if he stands up to her. In those days if a coloured man was accused of something there would be no trial. Curleyââ¬â¢s wife is the one who ruins the dream as she let Lennie touch her hair and then resisted. She ended up getting killed which meant that Lennie would have to be killed as he committed murder. Her death could be thought of as a misfortune, but as a positive thing as well because it ended her suffering; being the only woman in the ranch and having married a man like Curley she was inevitably destined for loneliness. But now that she is dead, she will not have to worry about being lonely ever again. Curleyââ¬â¢s wifeââ¬â¢s case of loneliness was the most severe throughout the novel. She struggled in her society to find somebody that she could befriend in vain. We can draw a similarity between Candy and Crooks; both of these characters have a physical disability (Candy has a one hand, and Crooks has a crooked back) both caused by an accident, as well as another factor Crookââ¬â¢s color and Candyââ¬â¢s old age, those factors make both of them outcasts. Because of their situation, they are both destined to loneliness, each of them deals with it in their own way: Candy has his dog for companionship and makes conversation with the other men that work on the ranch, but Crooks turns towards books Another interesting similarity we can draw is the one between the relationship between George and Lennie, and Candy and his old dog. Both George and Candy are lonely, even though they have companionship; Candy cannot talk to his dog, and George canââ¬â¢t have a really serious conversation with Lennie either. Even though they have companionship, they need something deeper and more meaningful. It is also interesting to notice the similar fate of Candyââ¬â¢s dog and Lennie who will both be shot in the back of the head unsuspicious of what is going to happen. The last similarity drawn is between two of the loneliest characters in the novel; Curleyââ¬â¢s Wife and Lennie. As weââ¬â¢ve seen previously, Curleyââ¬â¢s wife is the only woman in the novel, and her husband forbids her to talk to other men, and because of his jealousy, doesnââ¬â¢t let other men approach her or else he picks a fight with them. George also gives orders to Lennie and strictly forbids him several times ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t even take a look at that bitch. I donââ¬â¢t care what she says and what she doesâ⬠¦you leave her beâ⬠ââ¬Å"well, you keep away from herâ⬠, they arenââ¬â¢t allowed to talk to each other, thatââ¬â¢s what makes the fatal scene in the barn so tragic; Curleyââ¬â¢s wife wanted to talk to someone so bad, that it drove her to her death. One of the most important lessons we learn in Of Mice and Men is that friendship and human interaction are two very valuable things in life, and that having them is as much as a right as it is a privilege. We must treasure these two things as it keeps us away from loneliness which is one of the worst things a person can suffer from highlighted by the characters in the book. Ã
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Free Essays on Pools
The American media system is spinning out of control in a hyper-commercialized frenzy. Fewer than ten transnational media conglomerates dominate much of our media; fewer than two dozen account for the overwhelming majority of our newspapers, magazines, films, television, radio, and books. With every aspect of our media culture now fair game for commercial exploitation, we can look forward to the full-scale commercialization of sports, arts, and education, the disappearance of notions of public service from public discourse, and the degeneration of journalism, political coverage, and children's programming under commercial pressure. For democrats, this concentration of media power and attendant commercialization of public discourse are a disaster. An informed, participating citizenry depends on media that play a public service function. As James Madison once put it, "A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both." But these democratic functions lie beyond the reach of the current American media system. If we are serious about democracy, then, we need to work aggressively for reform. What kind of reform? In broad terms, we need to reduce the current degree of media concentration, and, more immediately, blunt its effects on democracy. More specifically, we need special incentives for nonprofits, broadcast regulation, public broadcasting, and antitrust. I present these proposals as the start of a debate about media reform, not as ultimate solutions. I am sure that spirited discussion will improve these ideas: my immediate concern is to get that discussion started. I will not dwell here on the weaknesses of the current US media system, beyond summarizing arguments that I (and many others) have made elsewhere. The point here is to begin answering the natural follow-up to such criticisms: "If the status quo is so bad, what do you propose that wou... Free Essays on Pools Free Essays on Pools The American media system is spinning out of control in a hyper-commercialized frenzy. Fewer than ten transnational media conglomerates dominate much of our media; fewer than two dozen account for the overwhelming majority of our newspapers, magazines, films, television, radio, and books. With every aspect of our media culture now fair game for commercial exploitation, we can look forward to the full-scale commercialization of sports, arts, and education, the disappearance of notions of public service from public discourse, and the degeneration of journalism, political coverage, and children's programming under commercial pressure. For democrats, this concentration of media power and attendant commercialization of public discourse are a disaster. An informed, participating citizenry depends on media that play a public service function. As James Madison once put it, "A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both." But these democratic functions lie beyond the reach of the current American media system. If we are serious about democracy, then, we need to work aggressively for reform. What kind of reform? In broad terms, we need to reduce the current degree of media concentration, and, more immediately, blunt its effects on democracy. More specifically, we need special incentives for nonprofits, broadcast regulation, public broadcasting, and antitrust. I present these proposals as the start of a debate about media reform, not as ultimate solutions. I am sure that spirited discussion will improve these ideas: my immediate concern is to get that discussion started. I will not dwell here on the weaknesses of the current US media system, beyond summarizing arguments that I (and many others) have made elsewhere. The point here is to begin answering the natural follow-up to such criticisms: "If the status quo is so bad, what do you propose that wou...
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Biography of Adam Smith, Founding Father of Economics
Biography of Adam Smith, Founding Father of Economics Adam Smith (June 16, 1723ââ¬âJuly 17, 1790) was a Scottish philosopher who today is considered to be the father of economics. His seminal work, The Wealth of Nations, published in 1776, influenced generations of politicians, leaders, and thinkers, including Alexander Hamilton, who looked to Smiths theories when, as secretary of the treasury, he fashioned the economic system of the United States. Fast Facts: Adam Smith Known For: Father of economicsBorn: June 16, 1723 in Fife, ScotlandParents: Adam Smith, Margaret DouglasDied: July 17, 1790 in Edinburgh, ScotlandEducation: University of Glasgow, Balliol College, OxfordPublished Works: The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), The Wealth of Nations (1776)Notable Quote: Every individualâ⬠¦ neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting itâ⬠¦he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Early Years and Education Smith was born in 1723 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, where his widowed mother raised him. At age 14, as was the usual practice, he entered the University of Glasgow on a scholarship. He later attended Balliol College at Oxford, graduating with extensive knowledge of European literature. He returned home and delivered a series of well-received lectures at Glasgow University, which appointed him first as the chair of logic in 1751 and then chair of moral philosophy in 1752. Founding Father of Economics Smith is often described as the founding father of economics. A great deal of what is now considered standard belief about the theory about markets was developed by Smith. He explained his theories in Theory of Moral Sentiments, published in 1759. In 1776, he published his masterpiece, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, which today is generally called The Wealth of Nations. In Theory of Moral Sentiments, Smith developed the foundation for a general system of morals. It is a very important text in the history of moral and political thought. It provides the ethical, philosophical, psychological, and methodological underpinnings to Smiths later works. ââ¬â¹ In this work, Smith stated that man was self-interested and self-commanded. Individual freedom, according to Smith, is rooted in self-reliance, the ability of an individual to pursue his self-interest while commanding himself based on the principles of natural law. The Wealth of Nations The Wealth of Nations is actually a five-book series and considered to be the first modern work in the field of economics. Using very detailed examples, Smith attempted to reveal the nature and cause of a nations prosperity. Through his examination, he developed a critique of the economic system. Most commonly known are Smiths critique of mercantilism and his concept of the invisibleà hand, which guides economic activity. In explaining this theory, Smith stated that wealthy individuals are: ...led by anà invisible handà to make nearly the same distribution of the necessaries of life, which would have been made, had the earth been divided into equal portions among all its inhabitants, and thus without intending it, without knowing it, advance the interest of the society. What led Smith to this remarkable conclusion was his recognition that wealthy people dont live in a vacuum: they need to pay (and thus feed) the individuals who grow their food, manufacture their household items, and toil as their servants. Simply put, they cant keep all the money for themselves. Smiths arguments are still used and cited today in debates. Not everyone agrees with Smiths ideas. Many see Smith as an advocate of ruthless individualism. Regardless of how Smiths ideas are viewed, The Wealth of Nations is considered to be, and is arguably, the most important book on the subject ever published. Without a doubt, it is the most seminal text in the field of free-market capitalism. Later Years and Death After living in both France and London for a time, Smith returned to Scotland in 1778 when he was appointed the commissioner of customs for Edinburgh. Smith died on July 17, 1790, in Edinburgh and was buried in the Canongate churchyard. Legacy Smiths work had a profound effect on the Americanà founding fathersà and the nations economic system. Instead of founding the United States on the idea of mercantilism and creating a culture ofà high tariffsà to protect local interests, many key leaders, includingà James Madisonà and Hamilton, espoused the ideas of free trade and limited government intervention. In fact, Hamilton, in his Report on Manufacturers espoused a number of theories first stated by Smith. These theories stressed the need to cultivate the extensive land that was available in America to create a wealth of capital through labor, distrust of inherited titles and nobility, and the establishment of a military to protect the land against foreign intrusions. Sources ââ¬Å"Adam Smith.â⬠à Econlib.Brett, Sarah, and Oxford University Press. ââ¬Å"Adam Smith (1723-90).â⬠à Oxford University Press | Online Resource Centre.Founders Online. Alexander Hamiltons Final Version of the Report on the Subject of the Manufactures.à National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Choose an entrepreneur and answer this to what extend do risk ,rewards Essay
Choose an entrepreneur and answer this to what extend do risk ,rewards and motives contribute towards an entrepreneurs goals - Essay Example Entrepreneurship exists in various forms. It may involve developing new ways of doing things and distributing products, starting a new business, as sources of information, and market middlemen. An entrepreneur is characterized by his search for opportunities that are unseen or ignored by others and taking risks on them in order to get a profit reward (Carsrud & Bra?Nnback, 2009: p35). With all the three factors seeming to play a role, the question is then raised as to the extent to which risk, reward, and motives contribute towards an entrepreneurs goals. This question was put to successful entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. According to Branson, ââ¬Å"The financial risks and rewards of being an entrepreneur have significant meaning in an entrepreneurââ¬â¢s motivation to open a businessâ⬠(Personal Communication, 2013). There are several reasons for this, including the fact that over 50% of new start-ups fail in their initial four years (Roth, 2010: p67). Entrepreneurs, on av erage, he contends, will achieve less success over ten years in terms of income than they would have if they would have been employed. In addition, there does not seem to be any proof that entrepreneurs get better rewards if they start a business as compared to invest in stocks with the most likely result being that, from a risk perspective, they do not as much as they would have in the stocks market. However, Branson further says, even with these statistics, it is imperative to note that entrepreneurs account for 66% of British millionaires, despite making up only 20% of the entire labor force, while 80% of the millionaire entrepreneurs are ââ¬Å"self-madeâ⬠. From these statistics, it is possible to argue that the high risk in financial terms, coupled to the potentially high rewards, enhance the importance of intrinsic motives to an entrepreneur (Roth, 2010: p67). These intrinsic motives include purpose for entrepreneurship, for example, the ability to better the world, the f reedom, and autonomy that entrepreneurship will give an individual, and the reward of overcoming challenges and becoming a master. Branson says that, it is possible to think of the results of a hypothetical proposition, to show the enhanced role of motives over risk and reward. In order to gauge the tolerance to risk of entrepreneurs, three options are given to potential entrepreneurs. ââ¬Å"They can earn a $10 million profit with the chance of success placed at 20%, $5 million of profit and a 50% chance they will be successful, and q $1 million profit for an 80% chance at successâ⬠, Branson posits (Personal Communication, 2013). While there is a general perception that entrepreneurs are all profit and risk seeking business people and that they would go for the first option, it is indicative that it is most likely that they will go for the 3rd choice (Casson & Buckley, 2010: p29). Entrepreneurs seek to go into business with the option of getting a higher profit but less of it. Therefore, for successful entrepreneurs like Sir Richard, reward is not as important to entrepreneurs in starting a new business. The creation of a new enterprise carries a lot of risk and uncertainty, which indicates that the entrepreneurââ¬â¢s motives carry more importance than financial rewards. For example, Richard contends that entrepreneurs
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