Ethical Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical - Case Study Example They had a lot of duties as the duty needed a full day of effort. Taking into consideration the many stores in the chain of the company, then scheduling was a very expensive task to the company. By utilizing the computerized system of scheduling, the scheduling process will be conducted efficiently, and the store manager could utilize that devote time in running other businesses for the benefit of the company. Utilizing the system will enhance the company’s productivity and improve their customer satisfaction (Kampf, 2007). The management has gone ahead to site a 12 percent gain in productivity upon adoption of the computerized system of scheduling. The alerts from the system will also make the company make more money as workers will be cut back hours that they were on call and never attended the duty. On the other hand, adoption of the system there will cause a disruption of the employees causing a decrease in their job stability creating a financial hardship for the company. The scheduling computerized scheduling process is unpredictable requiring the workers to be more flexible with their working hours. The system may ask the works to be on call and resume work in case of a rush or even go home during a low spell. This will result to irregular working hours and inconsistent pays making it difficult for the employees to organize their lives. The system will improve the customer service without considering the consequences that it will have on the lives of the workers. The company requests its associates to submit their personal availability forms as the system restricts the number of hours scheduled. The associates of the company are in a dilemma as some have expressed their concerns as the system is enabling the managers to pressure them to quitting their jobs. The labor rights of the workers are not being respected by the computerized scheduling system as their needs are

The Use of Shocking and Stricking Visual Effects Essay Example for Free

The Use of Shocking and Stricking Visual Effects Essay Early seventeenth century plays often make striking use of visual effects to shock the audience. Explain the ways Ford creates striking or shocking dramatic effects in Tis Pity Shes a Whore. Plays of the seventeenth century are notoriously known for being rife with gory representations and some critics have gone as far as to suggest that Ford is a prime example of the glorification of violence and sex on the stage. However, this stylistic use and representation was not unwanted by his audience seventeenth century theatre goers of that age expected shocking scenes with the purchase of a ticket. This very apparent made it necessary for Ford to sometimes over dramatise or make more bounteous his shocking and striking scenes John Ford, many would argue, went just that one step further. Undeniably, one of the most shocking moments that Ford creates is seen fairly near to the beginning of the play in an exchange between Giovanni and Annabella. The plays main plot revolves around the two siblings and their growing love for one another, and we see this love addressed and first reciprocated in Act I, Sc 2. Giovanni is first to admit his love, offering Annabella a dagger to strike him with if she does not requite this love. This moment is extremely dramatic and shocking to the audience, as Giovannis desperate nature if revealed here; Ford establishes both his character and his characters intentions very forcefully. Later in the scene, the two kneel together, making a commitment to one another. They both say the exact same thing, except brother is changed to sister where applicable. Ford here creates a dichotomy for his audience; without our prior knowledge, this scene is strikingly beautiful, but we as an audience as ultimately repelled and shocked by their declaration of love upon our mothers dust. Ford uses the proxemics of Annabella and Giovanni as a method of shocking the audience. The kneeling suggests a greater commitment, almost a spiritual marriage between the two or giving oneself up to the other. Giovanni follows suit by kneeling by Annabella. This not only creates an effect use of the stage, but also a differentiation between normality, but a consistency and uniformity between the two. The shocking element of this scene is aided by the repetition of speech and the language used; they both start and finish addressing each other as their siblings. This reinforces the wrongness the repulsion, unsettling feeling toward the shocking situation. They also swear on their dead mother, creating more family ties and emphasising the severity of their actions, or the actions they would be willing to carry out. The two then declare, love me, or kill me; this again shows the severity of passion between the two. It is interesting to note that this proclamation of love is the only one found throughout the play that is true, deep and meaningful. In retrospect, Fords creation and portrayal of an incestuous relationship as the only one that is right throughout the play, shocks the audience and forces them to make judgements between what they believe are right and wrong.

Corporate Social Responsibility And Recent Events Management Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility And Recent Events Management Essay Hopkins (2003) defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as treating the stakeholders of the firm, ethically or in a responsible manner. According to Wan-Jan (2006) is the best working definition that best depicts the concept of CSR. This definition depicts CSR both as an ethical stance and as a business strategy. This also conforms to the argument that CSR should not put emphasis on getting rewards or payback. The definition does not emphasize that practicing CSR should have its rewards. CSR is very important in this era of globalisation. Globalization is generally seen but not exclusively, as an economic process (Sparrow, Brewster Harris 2004). The level and pace of global economy change is still at its early stage, yet the pace of change of the economy is rapidly accelerating. This challenge is posed to international human resource management professionals to be become more complex and strong. Also, it has provided significant opportunities for organizations in reconfiguring their strategies in their respective supply chains as well as the globalization of their production systems. This paper shall discuss how CSR is an important concern for both society and corporations. This shall also argue whether or not CSR is an effective means of corporations in bolstering their reputation and provide responses to pertinent issues. Sample cases will be presented in order to provide evidences for the mentioned points of discussion. Corporate Social Responsibility On the recent events brought about by the earthquake in Haiti, Motorola Foundation, along with Motorola and its employees have donated cash and kind relief efforts to the victims of the said calamity. The foundation is the charitable and philanthropic division of Motorola. This organisation is responsible in making strategic grants, pushes strong partnerships with the community, fostering of innovation and engagement of stakeholders. This foundations focus its funding especially with the need in education, science and technology, engineering and math programming among others (CSR Digest 2010). The case of Motorola is one example that an organisation really paves way to have a separate division that focuses in CSR. Although as the description of the foundation reflected that its funds are especially focused in education particularly in science and technology, which is mainly the nature of Motorolas business (CSR Digest 2010). Another evidence for Motorolas focus in technology and development is its collaboration on the reference design for phones that have Blue tooth technology (Portable Design 2004). Herbert and Schantz (2007) argued that corporate actions of organizations are being subjected to more scrutiny than ever. There is an attempt to legitimize the roles of corporations and as seen in the corporate social responsibility as a part of a framework, which is triple bottom. In the study that they have conducted, credence values such as corporate social responsibility and business ethics are still intangible. Thus, the corporate brand becomes a guarantee for the social values that are being communicated. Johnson (1958) considers that one of the most important changes that took place in the recent generation of corporations is the development of a new role in the corporate citizenship with the corporation. The economic and social responsibility is hence being recognized. There are several measurement methods for CSR being implemented by different organizations. According to Sethi (1975), a structural framework to facilitate analysis of corporate social activities should have at least the following two properties. First, categories for classifying corporate activities should be stable over time, which makes historical comparisons possible. Second, the definitions of various categories should be applicable across firms, industries, or even social systems, making comparative analysis possible. CSR has also been described as a tool to build good corporate reputation. Lewis (2003) found that public perception on the role of companies in society has changed significantly. In late 1970s, two-to-one of the British public agreed that the profits generated by large companies make things better for their customers. In early 2000s, two-to-one disagree. At the same time, 80% of the public believes that large companies have a moral duty to society. But 61% believes that companies do not really care about the environment and social responsibility. The dissonance between what the public expects firms to do and what they think the firms are actually doing is worrying. But Lewis argued that companies have a new basis to regain public trust through exercising their CSR. Lewis believes that CSR can become a competitive edge/core competence for those companies who can exploit it properly. Porter too echoed the same opinion (Porter, 2003) when he stated that todays companies ought to invest in CSR as part of their business strategy to become more competitive. The extent of social responsibility of corporations, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in the resonance of corporate citizenship. It is also associated in the in the participation of a wider polity and aspirations that are normative. In the fulfillment of such demands, it is required from the society to give strong pressures as well as from the corporate leaders in order to bring about a true separation of economic spheres and politics. This is an implication in the reverse mechanism of routine mobilization (Barley, 2006). Implementation of Effective CSR Report through a Business Plan Strategic planning is the organizations projection its destination in a certain period of time and how the organization will go there (Farrah et al 2001). It is a systematized planning process that involves a number of steps identifying the current status of the organization, including its mission, future vision, operating values, operational needs, goals, and prioritized actions and strategies, action plans and monitoring plans. The most important concept of strategic planning understands that in order for an organization to succeed, every member should contribute in achieving it. Business development strategies are needed to achieve a sustainable development in an organization. There are seven steps in managing an organization according to sustainable development principles. These are performing a stakeholder analysis; setting policies and objectives for sustainable development; designing and executing an implementation plan; development of a supportive corporate culture; development of measures and standards of performances; preparation of progress reports; and enhancement of internal monitoring processes. There are ways suggested in improving the strategic planning of organizations. There are five suggestions namely: starting with the issues; the right people should be brought together; planning cycles should be adapted to the needs of each organizations; strategic performance management system should be implemented; and human resources should be integrated on the strategic plan. A CSR report will be created to evaluate all the economic viability of the company including the description and analysis of all the companys business prospects. It will define and focus the companys objective with the use of appropriate information and analysis. Also, the business plan can be used as a selling tool when dealing with important business relationships including investors, lenders and banks. The business plan can also reveal omissions and weaknesses on the companys operating processes. Finally, the business plan can be used to solicit suggestions and opinions from people in relation with the business processes and operations. The contents of the business plan are the companys vision statement, the people, the companys business profile, economic assessment, cash flow assessment and the companys marketing and expansion plans. The companys vision statement should be concise and state the companys purpose and goals. The people portion should have the most important individuals in realizing the set goals of the organization. The business profile should define and describe the business and the specific plans in carrying out the set goals. The segmented market on which the business aims to target should also be included. The necessary factors in a very effective business plan shall include a sound business concept, an identified and well understood market, a stable industry, capable management, a very able financial control, and a consistent business focus. Business plan implementation is a vital stage in business planning. Execution of the developed strategies should focus on two levers more powerful than structural change. These are clarification of the decision rights, specifying who the owner of each decision is and who should be responsible in providing the inputs. Another lever is ensuring the information flows wherein it is needed. The most important levers in the most successful strategy execution are the decision rights and information flow. In decision rights, every individual in the organisation should know which decisions and actions they are responsible for. Higher level managers and officers should know how to delegate operational decisions. In the flow of information, it should be ensured that important information in the competitive environment is quickly flowed in the corporate headquarters. In this way, the upper management can formulate quickly the best practices in the entire company. Also, the facilitation of information flow across organizational boundaries is very important. Lastly, managers and officers should help those field and line employees in understanding how their everyday choices affect the bottom line of the company. In a successful strategy execution, there are seven rules to follow. These are: keeping everything simple; challenging assumptions; same language should be spoken in the organization; resource deployments should be discussed early; priorities should be identified; performance should be monitored continuously; and execution ability should be developed. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) must be the steward of all the strategies that define the organisation and what will it become. As the companys chief strategists, the CEO should translate the business purpose into practice. You must be open to the possibility that this purpose might change. You should everyday watch the strategy which is your greatest opportunity in shaping the company as well as to outwit the competition. In the preparation phase of planning, the CEO should be the one determining the parameters; you should be clear in mind the scope of the planning. You should also be the one to determine the composition of the strategic planning team. The selection of the planning facilitator should also be in your responsibilities. Finally, the CEO should also set the climate for the strategic planning process. In the creative process phase of the session, you should be the one to formally open the activity. During the deliberation, it is your role to listen on what the team ahs to say and just ask two questions: is that where we want to go? and are these the people who will get us there?. As the session ends, it is also your duty to formally close the strategic planning session. In the implementation phase, you will be the overseer of the approved discipline. You should regularly check the teams performance on the formulated action plans. When the action plans are completed, it is your role to recognize the success of the entire team and appreciate their efforts for a job well done. The SBU managers and other functional executives shall perform very vital roles in the strategic planning process. The key roles include interpersonal roles which will serve as the plans figureheads, leaders and liaison officers; informational roles which functions to monitor, disseminate information and serves as a spokesperson for the respective business units; and decisional roles which serves as innovator, disturbance handler, allocates resources and negotiator. These managers will initiate and form the strategic planning process team. They will mobilize change through executive leadership. These strategies will be translated into operational terms which will be defined and executed by the SBU managers and functional executives. The formulated strategies will be aligned by these people into the goal of Lawrence Manufacturing. These officers shall motivate their people to make strategy everyones job. Finally, it is these peoples responsibility to monitor that the formulated strategy will be a continual process in the organization. To evaluate the individual departments performance, each officer will be required to practice the balanced score card system in monitoring their respective areas developments. The balanced score card is a part of the strategic planning process. Conclusion In an article written by Hagel, Brown, and Davison (2009) in Harvard Business Review, they have formulated ways in shaping strategies in this world that is constantly disrupted. According to this article, very few companies act proactively and adapt to shape their strategies. Strategists can attract a critical mass of participants by developing these strategies by means of opportunities are convincingly articulated to the participants; standards and practices are defined so that participation are easy and affordable; and the demonstration that the organizations have the conviction and resources for success and will not be in competition with the participants. In formulating a shaping strategy, the three elements should be considered. The first element is the shaping view. In order to achieve this element, five factors should be considered: the organizations view should express a long term direction and how it perceives change; the organization should clearly identify attractive business opportunities; opportunities should be seen as a broader economic, cultural, and technological force in the organization; views should have a sufficiently high level of allowing unexpected developments; and views should be aggressively and continually communicated within the organization. The second element of the strategy is a shaping platform. In order to achieve this component, there are five factors to be considered: the platform should promise financial benefits especially by reducing costs and increasing revenue generation; it should support a diverse set of participants and offering a values of opportunity; platforms should scale up in accommodating large numbers of participants; should likely generate increase in returns as the organization grows; and the platforms functionality should continually evolve and providing the participants to regularly engage in it. The third component of a shaping strategy is the shapers acts and assets. In order to achieve this component, six factors should be considered: shapers should be able to convince potential participants; shapers should be able to gain access to assets that will prove to participants the ability of sufficient resources; potential participants should be able to be assured that there will be no competition; senior management and other members of the executive level should have the tolerance to risk and the patience in committing the assets and in taking the essential actions in being successful; organizations should be capable of mobilizing and attracting enough number of participants; and the organizations top management should have the enough personality to build a shaping platform. Many evidences have been discovered and CSR has been perceived by many individuals as a social strand that is important for development. This is due in no small measure to the lack of formal study of the topic, despite the widespread debates it provokes. Moreover, it is a complex subject that currently lacks even a single broadly accepted definition. The field of comparative CSR, ultimately, addresses a research question of critical practical importance: how best to structure global enterprise to import best practice in CSR in order to produce economic development that is consistent with raising labor standards and encouraging environmental protection? Strike, Gao and Bansal (2006) have produced empirical evidence that clearly states the challenge, by virtue of their findings that international diversification of firms increases both CSR as well as corporate irresponsibility, given the difficulties of managing semi-autonomous subsidiaries in different countries. Other further comparative investigations are necessary in order to better understand the concept of CSR. Such research may provide an empirical and theoretical basis for developing policies to encourage CSR and for conceptualizing which kinds of pressures are likely to be effective in encouraging a positive relationship between international businesses and society. This i s also important in gearing towards globalisation. Based on estimation of a disaggregated model, they report that there is a positive relation between firm performance (measured using market value added) and strategic CSR and a negative relation between altruistic CSR and firm performance. Analysis of the strategic implications of CSR is hampered by cross-country/cultural differences in the institutions that regulate market activity, including business, labor and social agencies. Institutional differences lead to different expectations and different returns to activity. For firms operating in multiple countries/cultures this complicates the process of determining which activities to engage in and how much to invest. As the knowledge base of CSR develops worldwide, we will be better able to analyze and advise on CSR. We are in the Globalization era. Globalization takes place when there is acceleration in the movement of people, products and ideas. Today, companies are more international than ever. According to the United Nations, there are more than 60,000 multinational companies (Mott, 2004). As a company becomes an international corporation, the criticism against it for damaging the world increases, as does the expectation that the company take responsibility for these damages. The notion of corporate social responsibility is an important tool for corporations to use in response to various concerns about them in the globalization era (Rampton, 2004). Corporations and public relations/advertising practitioners have tried to respond to the criticisms by conveying CSR messages that they are contributing to society in various ways, both locally and globally (Alfonso Sharma, 2005; Prabu, Kline, Dai, 2005). Under the post national constellation of an emerging global order, we need a fresh view on the role of business in society. In our contribution (Scherer Palazzo, 2007), we were critical that many CSR scholars have largely neglected the consequences of that tectonic shift and still build on the idea of an intact national regulatory power. We described the growing positive and negative impact of corporations on democratic institutions and their participation in global processes of governance with and without government as the politicization of the corporation, and we proposed a new concept of political CSR. We have been criticized by Edward and Willmott for dismissing the concept of corporate citizenship. They advance several arguments in favor of that concept, which already includes concern in the advancement of corporations willingness and capacity in their participation in the public process (2007: 1109). Finally, CSR should be observed at all times by all organizations if possible. This will not only create a good image but also addressed the responsibility that we all have towards our community.

Macular Degeneration :: Eye Disorders Vision Essays

Macular Degeneration Robert, a 65 year-old male, has trouble reading fine detail, especially out of his central vision. He complains that his vision is blurred and that it is harder to see while operating a motor vehicle. In addition, sometimes objects appear wavy or crooked, which impairs his vision. His worst symptoms were that he occasionally lost the ability to distinguish between the features of familiar faces and he had a localized blind spot. Robert is not alone; many people suffer from symptoms related to loss and distortion of the visual field. He suffers from macular degeneration, the leading cause of decreased vision loss in the United States, especially for people over the age of 50 (Philippi, 2000). Macular degeneration also known as late, aged-related maculopathy is an eye disorder which causes a decrease in the visual field known as the retinal macula (Medical Encyclopedia, 2000). The majority of people who are affected are people over the age of 65, but occasionally it develops earlier in people 40-50 years old (Philippi, 2000). The majority of the visual loss is located in the central part of the visual field, while the peripheral vision is unharmed. There are also two types of macular degeneration, the "wet" and "dry" forms. The "dry" form of this disease is the most popular, affecting 90% of the cases (American Academy of Ophthalmology, 1997). Macular degeneration in general can affect many people in minor or drastic ways. People who experience this form often complain of vision loss when they are in dim light, especially when they are reading. The "dry" type is often characterized by a more gradual loss of vision compared to the "wet" type. Signs of this disease include an increase in drusen, which is an accumulation of a yellow-white substance, in the underside of the macular retina. A loss of cells can be seen in the macula. The macula is our sensitive sight region, where intricate detail can be seen. Thus, vision in this area is helpful and necessary to drive, read, focus on small details, and recognize familiar faces. The macula is located in the back of the eye known as the retina. The macula is only about 5 mm in diameter, and includes the fovea, which gives us our detailed central vision. If a person suffers from the "dry" form in one eye they will be more likely to develop it in the other eye as well.

“Pretty Little Liars” by Sara Shepard Essay

Freud believes that it is part of everyone’s personality to seek pleasure through violence; it is part of the â€Å"ID.† However, the ego negotiates between the ID and superego, meaning the majority of people can regulate between the morals of society and their own pleasures. I agree with this, as does Sara Shepard, the author of â€Å"Pretty Little Liars.† I believe that people who seek pleasure through violence are ill minded, and have psychological issues, due to the fact that the ego should be able to tell the brain to follow the morals of society. ‘A,’ a character from Pretty Little Liars, nobody can solve the mystery regarding who exactly ‘A’ is, however they are ill-minded, and seek pleasure in harming others as a joke. Ill-minded people like this are evil. Most people follow the morals of society, but still enjoy violence. How the person goes about enjoying it is what differs them from everyone else. For example, an individual could can enjoy watching crime shows, such as CSI, Criminal Minds, Law and Order and many others. Even though they enjoy these shows it does not mean that they would go out and seek to hurt someone the way the criminals do to their victims in the show. In â€Å"Pretty Little Liars,† Aria, Hannah, Emily, and Spencer are all good people. They do not go seeking violence, they do not seek harm. This is the way most people in society are. These ‘good people’ have a good ego. Meaning it is negotiating their wants to work with the morals of society. A very select few are ill-minded wishing only harm upon others. ‘A’ from â€Å"Pretty Little Liars† is one of these select few. She or he makes it their goal to ruin the lives of Aria, Hannah, Emily and Spencer. For example, Aria gains an interest in a man during the summer; little did she know he was her new English teacher. They keep it a secret between only them; they were not going to let that tare their new love for each other apart. However, ‘A,’ knows everything. They know how Aria’s dad (a teacher) had an affair on his wife years ago. Due to the fact that Aria is keeping her relationship a secret she receives a text message, signed A, saying, â€Å"Aria, Maybe he fools with students all the time. A lot of teachers do†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Just ask your dad! –A† (Shepard, page 139). This quote shows how A knows everything. They know the girls’ past, and use it against them. ‘A’ is a murderer, they killed Allison during the beginning of the novel, and Ian during the end. ‘A’ did not intend to kill Ian but meant to kill Spencer. The girls have no understanding as to why they are ‘A’s’ targets. They are good people, not intending any harm. This is not a normal person. Innocent people are killed every day because people are sick. They seek pleasure in watching the suffering of an innocent individual. It is not normal or moral, for people to be this evil. I can speak on a personal level. I do not seek pleasure through violence, I do enjoy crime shows, but does that make me a bad person? No. Although someone has enjoyed taking their pleasure out on me by violence, and those that do that to an innocent person are evil. I do not think that the people that look for pleasure in violence truly understand how they affect a person. I can relate to the girls in Pretty Little Liars because they seek help, sometimes people will try and help you, other times it’s a hard concept for many to believe. Emily, Aria, Hannah and Spencer cannot trust anybody the same because of the horror and threats they are encountering that affect their daily lives. Just as I cannot do a lot of things that I use to do prior to my incident. Nothing is the same. People that seek violence do not realize what they are actually doing to other people because they only seek self-pleasure, they are ill-minded. There is always going to be a psychological battle between the ID and superego, however the ego’s ability to negotiate between the two is what will make or break an individual. There are many ill-minded people in our world, there is help. ‘A’ is an evil person, just like many in our world seeking pleasure in selfish ways because they don’t know any different. Their effects on people could be unfortunate. Not everyone is made evil, it’s a psychological illness. There is good in this world. Works Cited Shepard, Sara. Pretty Little Loars. New York: Harper Teen, 2006. 139. Print.

Gun Control misc11 essays

Gun Control misc11 essays Are you ready to die? Whats more, are you ready to kill? When you hold a gun anywhere but the firing range youd better be ready and able to use it or die. Dont get me wrong; just because you carry a gun doesnt mean people automatically start being violent towards you but if you get in a fight and someone realizes you have a gun its more than likely that they will pull one and shoot you if they have it. Most people think that a gun will make them invincible but the truth is: Every bullet is another life and every gun is another instrument of death. The more people that carry guns, the more people that die. On the flip side, if nobody but the military carries guns then the people the control the military have free reign over everyone. It is a nice thought to have absolutely nobody carry guns but unfortunately that goes strictly against the human nature that is create to destroy. It is a pessimistic view but unfortunately it has been repeated consistently enough to have backing. I wish there was an easy answer to it all but there isnt. I have come to the conclusion that everyone should be allowed to carry a gun, but everyone should have to go through a psychological evaluation before they can buy one in order to determine whether they are more of a danger to others and themselves with a gun or not. Another stage of getting a gun after that level is to be taught the full consequences of killing a person. It should be a much harder process to get a gun then it is, but after passing; the people should be given a license to carry firearms. ...