Global Strategy of Sony Ericsson Essay

In 2001, Sony Ericsson is established by the Japanese company Sony (a consumer electronics corporation) as a fifty-fifty joint venture with the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson (a mobile communications infrastructure and systems business) which offers mobile phones, accessories and applications. Before the merger, its provides expertise in mobile communication, after the merger, its provide both the consumer electronics and content expertise. In 2011, Sony Ericsson changes their global strategy by focusing more on high end smartphones. At the same times, Sony Ericsson will focus on their key markets, which is including the U.S., Russia, China and Germany. The transaction gives Sony focus on high end smartphones product includes their accessories and application that will lead to profitability and the growth of its business. However, the company facing new challenges in this dynamic changing environment, aggressive competition will affect the global market share of the company and it revenue. In 2012, Sony Ericsson becomes an end when Sony’s announcement that it will acquired 50 percent stake in Sony Ericsson, changed its name to Sony Mobile Communications AB (SMEC) let Sony Ericsson becomes an affiliated company of Sony Corporation (Sony). Sony is a multinational corporation, one of the most leading brand and its functions as designing, manufacturing, marketing mobiles phones and its accessories. With the announcement of acquisition, it will be a brand new start for Sony Ericsson to embark within the Sony family, expanded their marketing activities. Sony Ericsson use outsourcing for the customer interaction centre is another global strategy. This customer interaction centre is established to solve and meet all customer requirements and their problems, and at the same time reducing their cost for expansion.

Urbanization and Rural Migrants

DefinitionsUrbanisation: The process in which an increasing proportion of the population live in cities/urban areas. Urban growth: Increase in population size and/or physical size of the towns, cities and other larger urban settlements in a country or a region. Process whereby settlements grow in terms of population number and/or physical size Megacity: A giant metropolis with a population of at least 10 million Slums: A residential area that is physically and socially deteriorated and in which satisfactory family life is impossible. Squatters: Shelters with poor structural quality and developed without legal claims to the land and/or permission from the concerned authoritiesTrends in urbanisationGeneral trends:In 1950, there were two megacities with 10 million or more inhabitants. By 2005, this number has increased to 20 and it is projected that there will be 22 megacities by 2015. Developing countries will have 18 of the 22 megacities in 2015.LEDCs vs MEDCs:Since 1950, the most rap id growth in urbanisation has occurred in LEDCs (Less Economically Developed Countries) in South America, Africa and Asia. Between 1950 and 1990, the urban population in LEDCs has doubled. In China, the urban population grew from 192 million to 375 million in 16 years. However, this is not the case in MEDCs, which instead face the phenomenon of counter-urbanisation where people choose to move away from the bustling city to the quieter rural environment.Positive impacts (Reasons for urbanisation)Wage and employment differentials Economic advancements are better in the city for migrants due to higher wages and increased number of working days. For example, In Dehli, rural migrants’  income increase by 150% compared to those in villages. Job opportunities in the city can also be found in the form of employment in informal sectors such as hawkers selling food by the sidewalks. This requires limited capital as money does not have to be spent on renting a workplace or a stall.The cities provide a greater opportunity for rural migrants to climb the income ladder. The increased wealth will enhance the lives of the migrants and their families as money can be spent on proper food, water, healthcare and even education. If the money is invested well in their children, their families can be brought out of the cycle of poverty, increasing their standard of living in the long run.Access to Amenities and ServicesDue to the close proximity of people in the highly populated cities, it is easier and cheaper to provide amenities that are accessible and affordable to everyone. This is referred to as the economies of scale, hence allowing city dwellers to have better and cheaper access to water and electrical supply. This results in an improvement in their living standards and decreases one’s chance of contracting diseases related to the lack of proper water supply.For example, water pipes and sewers can be constructed within densely populated areas more efficiently than laying long pipelines connecting houses in more dispersed rural settlements. The poor access to basic infrastructure has a disproportionate effect on rural women as they perform most of the domestic chores and often walk long distances to fetch water. The energy spent on getting water can be better channeled to economic activities in urban areas.Future ProspectsPeople are willing to endure short-term difficulties in the hopes of better prospects of economic gain and improved welfare in the longer term, even if only for their children.Economic growthCities are engines of economic growth as they are places where money, services, wealth and manpower are centralized. Cheap labour will attract foreign investors as production cost is low. Through trade and tourism, foreign money will flow into the country, boosting the economy. Urban-based economic activities account for more than 50% of the gross  domestic product (GDP) In all countries. For example, Mumbai, the richest city in I ndia, ha the highest GDP of any city in South, West and Central Asia.Negative impacts (Challenges)Urban unemployment and urban povertyThere is a huge economic income disparity, leaving a huge gap between the rich and the poor in the cities. This is because the rural migrants lack education and the skills required to get a good job. Hence, the inhabitants of the urban areas have better access to the various industries due to the higher levels of education they received, while rural migrants only earn a meager income. This is made worse by the lack of jobs due to the sudden increase in population and workforce in the city. Many rural migrants turn to the ‘informal sector’ as their source of income, where there is no need for them to pay taxes.However, this results in a decrease in the government’s income, which can be used to build and improve infrastructure and provide better amenities and services to the people. For example, in Morocco, street vendors are a commo n sight as these mobile traders do not have to pay rent or municipal tax. However, these informal traders cause small retailers to lose out in the competition and has forced many small businesses in the area to close down.Traffic congestionThe increased income means an increase in private ownership of cars as a form of luxury instead of taking public transportation. However, this leads to traffic congestions during peak hours due to insufficient roads in the transport network, leading to delays and frustrations. It is estimated that in Bangkok, a car spends an average of 44 days per year stuck in traffic. Apart from being a waste of time, it also causes environmental and noise pollution. This affects the quality of life for urban dwellers.Environmental degradationThe increase in private car ownership and other human activities result in air pollution and other forms of environmental degradation such as dumping of chemical waste in waterways. More than 80% of sewage in developing   countries is discharged untreated, polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas. This makes water unfit for drinking and also upsets the ecosystem. Fumes from exhaust pipes cause the air to be filled with harmful particles that negatively affect the health of urban dwellers, especially those with respiratory difficulties such as asthma.This is a prominent problem in Beijing, where the smog in the air is so thick that it is a cause of worry for the citizens. Smoking causes lead pollution in the air, which has adverse effects on other’s health. The air in New Mexico causes lead levels in babies to be so high that it impairs their brain development. This affects the social wellbeing of the citizens.HousingRapid urbanisation has led to the development of squatter settlements and an informal sector to the economy. By 2050, it is estimated that the world’s population will be 9 billion, of which 3.5 million will be living in slums and squatter settlements. There is a huge demand for housing due to the great increase in urban population. This pushes up the price of housing. Poor rural migrants who are unable to afford proper housing are forced to live in slums or squatters.1. These settlements lack proper sanitation, drainage and disposal systems (dumping ground). The houses are closely packed in a disorderly fashion, and often overcrowded with people. This makes the spread of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis quick and easy, giving rise to a high likelihood of health problems, especially given the unsanitary conditions. 2. There is an inadequate access to clean water and lack of a proper sewage system, allowing water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid to be spread easily. (2 million children are killed yearly by water contaminated by sewage.)3. There might be a high incidence of fire breakouts as the close proximity of the houses make it easy for the fire to spread. Furthermore, the disorderly arrangement of houses makes it difficult for s lum residents to escape easily from the fire. 4. Lack of basic amenities and services such as electricity means the need to use oil lamps and kerosene for lighting. This also increases the chance of a fire. 5. Makeshift shelters are built using low quality building materials such as  cardboards, planks, etc. that might be flammable. This encourages a fire breakout, and also means that a fire can cause the residents to lose all their possessions. 6. The lack of a proper drainage system might lead to flooding, especially for slum settlements build on water-retention areas.SolutionsHOUSING:1. (Overcrowding) Curb the flow of rural-urban migration to ensure that the government can cope with the pace and provide the necessary infrastructure required a. Improve living conditions in rural areas such that there will not be a need for rural dwellers to move to the city. b. Indonesian migrants to Jakarta are required to obtain residence cards to prove that they have a job and accommodation i n the city before permission is granted to them to leave the rural areas. 2. (Slums) Improving living conditions of squatter settlements a. â€Å"For a Better Calcutta† in India: The Central Metropolitan Development Authority (CDMA) launched this  £250 million programme to make slums more bearable and the city liveable by installing sanitation and sewers, drinking water and streetlights, health care and education. a.i. 150 000 street lighting points provideda.ii. Provision of 90 litres of water per capita per day. More than 20 000 water tap points and connections have been provided a.iii. Revamp and Renovation of drainage and sewage systems: 45 000 permanent sanitary latrines (1 per 35 people) a.iv. Construction of 600m of paved roads and pathwaysa.v. Gardens, parks and playgrounds on 60 sites are under construction.Provision of subsidized housing and relocationa. Cingapura project, Sao Paulo, Brazila.i. Brazil aims to replace slums with low-rise blocks of flats. They aim t o resettle 92 000 families from 243 slum sites a.ii. Residents pay for the house over a span of 20 years at a low interest rate. 4. Self-Help Schemesa. In Nairobi, Kenya Africa, the World back gives financial support to the  squatters. Building lots are provided and laid out with water, drains, roads lighting and occasionally clinics and schools. Squatters are given modest loans for building materials and are expected to build their own homes on prepared sites. 5. With these interventions, slum and squatter dwellers of urban areas are experiencing an improvement in the living environment.TRAFFIC: 1. Restrictionsa. Curbing vehicle growth by increasing the cost of private car to discourage car ownership. a.i. For example, in SG, potential car owners must pay to bid for a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) b. Reducing congestion by limiting the number of cars on the road. b.i. In Singapore, ERP gantries are set up on frequently congested roads to collect additional road tax during peak hours. b.ii. Beijing restricts certain cars with certain numbers from going on the roads on weekdays 2. Encourage the use of public transport by improving and subsidizing public transport to make it accessible and affordable.MacroconceptsUrbanisation is an inevitable process for a country on its way to development. No country has achieved high-income status without first urbanizing, and nearly all countries become at least 50% urbanized before fully reaching middle-income status. Urbanization plays an important role in economic, political and cultural development, and also provides better access to education, employment and healthcare, hence improving the social wellbeing of the people.Even though urbanisation brings about both advantages and disadvantages, many of the urban problems are results of poor management and planning and the absence of coherent urban policies. For example, in Africa, urban areas are economically stagnant or in recession, hence local authorities do not hav e the money or expertise to provide services such as access to water, housing, education and healthcare. This results in the formation of slums. (70% of Africa’s urban population live in slums) Hence, urbanisation itself is not a problem, and should be encouraged. However, it has to be accompanied with proper planning and  regulation.

Brand Consciousness Among Teenagers Essay Example for Free

Brand Consciousness Among Teenagers Essay Mass media is media which is intended for a large audience. It may take the form of broadcast media, as in the case of television and radio, or print media, like newspapers and magazines. Internet media can also attain mass media status, and many mass media outlets maintain a web presence to take advantage of the ready availability of Internet in many regions of the world. Some people also refer to the mass media as the â€Å"mainstream media,† referencing the fact that it tends to stick to prominent stories which will be of interest to a general audience, sometimes ignoring controversial breaking news. Many people around the world rely on the mass media for news and entertainment, and globally, mass media is a huge industry. Usually, mass media aims to reach a very large market, such as the entire population of a country. By contrast, local media covers a much smaller population and area, focusing on regional news of interest, while specialty media is provided for particular demographic groups. The advantage of running operation in mass media is that one can set up a platform of medium to disseminate favorable message. The advantage of attacking mass media is that one can build up his/her reputation for being less biased and more objective. The advantage of co-operating with mass media is that one can ease the worries of being â€Å"black mouthed† by media organizations. The advantage of buying corporate engaged in mass media is that one can get a big asset for negotiation with political parties and the government. Disadvantages of mass media Well I believe it comes down to the parents or guardians to begin with. Of course younger generations shouldn’t be watching as much TV if at all. Most of the primetime shows and stations are becoming more and more passive on what not to show. Having younger children subjected to nudity, cursing, sexual immorality, drinking and other negative adult oriented material is of course unsuitable, heck even unsuitable for adults at times. If the parents let their children watch inappropriate shows on TV I’m sure studies have shown the likelihood of these children being involved in such problems later on in life. Brand Consciousness Among Teenagers. (2018, Oct 20).

Failure of the League of Nations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Failure of the League of Nations - Essay Example The research illustrates that Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and later Germany and Russia – all great powers in their own right - joined the League of Nations and the United States, on the other hand, was the only major power not to join the League in spite of having been instrumental in creating it in the first place. This dichotomy i.e. the failure of the United States to join the League of Nations, in spite of being its staunchest advocate, could thus be ascribed to its inability to reconcile domestic political compulsions with its international obligations. Was this domestic compulsion a clash between the ‘realists’ and the ‘idealists’? This is the main theme that the research paper will seek to examine. The idealist view of international relations envisaged the creation of, â€Å"international institutions to replace the anarchical and war-prone balance-of-power system. The realist view,  on the other hand, viewed the state as the most i mportant player, subservient to no other (external) authority. The idealist view was endorsed by president Wilson who in his, â€Å"celebrated Fourteen Points speech, delivered before Congress in 1918, proposed the creation of the League of Nations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Although the League of Nations came into being in 1919, Congress refused to ratify the United States’ entry into the league. This challenge to President Wilson’s worldview was spearheaded by a group of Senators led by Senators Henry Cabot Lodge, William E. Borah, and Hiram Johnson. Part of the realist view was that the US should revert to its policy of ‘isolation’ that had been in vogue pre-World War I in keeping with the Monroe Doctrine. This was at odds with the League’s charter, which enjoined that, â€Å"the international community had not only the right but a duty to intervene in international conflicts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ .

English short story paper analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English short story paper analysis - Essay Example It seemed the world was full of contradictions. Love is kind and good. It makes you feel good about yourself. Love wants the best for you. Love allows you to be who you are. Parents, full of love, want to help their children achieve their dreams. But it was always Mother who hurt and punished and made her feel bad about herself. It was Mother who wanted her to marry the worst of the suitors who asked for her hand, the one who was all about money and possession and showed little feeling or concern for her welfare. It was Mother who didn’t care what her dreams were but only thought about what Mother wanted. She considered the one who had no money but his heart in his eyes and shivered. In writing this imitation, I learned just why this passage is so important in understanding the plotline of this story. The passage opens with a moment of doubt, as if the main character cannot decide if she is right or wrong in thinking herself somehow in danger of losing something important to her – her life, her health or her future happiness. She does not trust her own mind anymore partly as a result of her upbringing and partly as a result of her current situation. Cisneros’ main character is plagued by the patriarchal structure she was raised in as well as the telenovelas or soap operas that gave her an understanding of the world to believe that she is supposed to love her husband for the rest of her life and that pain in love is expected and must be endured. This is what contributes to the main question that starts the passage. This was duplicated in the suggestion that the main character in the imitation is up against her own mother’s opinion. Obviously, she has been raised to believe that her mother was always right and, since her mother has told her she’s crazy, she has believed it, at least to some extent. However, Cisneros’ character looks outside of her little household and the world she’s grown up in to weigh her experience against the

Problems Working in Multicultural Teams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Problems Working in Multicultural Teams - Essay Example I think to arrive at a realistic grasping of the problems faced by me in a multicultural team I need to analyze my cultural affiliations in the light of the cultural dimensions propounded by Geert Hofstede. Cultural dimensions pertain to the aspect of my native Chinese culture that could be measured and gauged in the light of the other cultures (Hofstede, Hofstede & Minkov 2010). Professor Geert Hofstede conducted a detailed analysis regarding how the values in multicultural teams are influenced by the cultural values of the members constituting the teams. Analysing the Chinese cultural dimensions will immensely help in analyzing and tracing solutions to the problems faced by me in a group comprising of members who were Chinese, Indians and Thais. The four salient cultural dimensions propounded by Hofstede are individualism-collectivism, masculine-feminine, power distance and uncertainty avoidance (Hofstede 2003). Power Distance pertains to the attitude of the people in a society tow ards the power disparities existing in that culture (Hofstede 2002). It determines the extent to which the less powerful members in a society respond to the power inequalities present in that society (Hofstede 2002). China has Power Distance count of 80 which is quiet high (Geert Hofstede 2012). This means that Chinese people are comfortable with the unequal distribution of power in their society and are comfortable with the fact that people tend to differ in the power that they have at their disposal. In the Chinese organizations and institutions the hierarchy is arranged in terms of subordinate and superiors and there seldom are any remedies against the abuse of power resorted to by the superiors. Individualism pertains to the extent of... This essay stresses that culture is something that is learned and acquired and it consists of a set of shared interpretations that are learned, and these interpretations include within their ambit the concepts like values, norms and beliefs which have an immense influence on large groups of individuals and people. Diversity happens to be a concept that is broader than the concept of culture. Diversity is not merely confined to a person’s ethnic affiliations, nation of origin or colour. Diversity is primarily about attributes that inculcate differences in groups and these differences may include physical characteristics, economic status, attitudes, traits etc. This paper makes a conclusion that in case the members in the team turn out to be receptive of the recommendations and suggestions made in this paper, it will not only enhance their cultural literacy but will also enable them to reap the benefits accrued by working in multicultural teams. This will truly make them a global citizen and will allow them to work in diverse nations and cultures. The good thing is that cultural literacy and interpersonal skills are something that can be learned and acquired. So if the team members take care to adopt and practice the above mentioned recommendations and tips, they are poised to experience and appreciative gain in their cultural literacy and the ability to operate in multicultural teams.

Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14

Reflection Paper - Essay Example would ensure that all employees involved with corrupt deals are fired and employed other people who are qualified and have no history of corrupt behaviours. Corruption was not justified in Siemens Global despite the fact that bribery was legal in Germany up untill 1999. In case bribery was tolertaed within the company it could have meant that the company was not good at what they were doing and hence had to bribe the governments of other countries to do business with them. It is challenging for the Company to make a shift to refine their ethical practices when there are radical changes in the policy since they were used to corrupt ways to get contracts with other countries. However, the change in management and employees, starting a fresh with honest intentions will make the company have clear records and succeed since they will be on the right side of the law. Siemens Global has ensured a good reputation in various places around the world and it has become one of the leading companies in electrical engineering and electronics. This is because of the Business Conduct Guidelines that have provided the legal and ethical framework in which they maintain their activities successfully. The employees of Siemens Global are expected to comply with the law in all their activities,respect the rights of individuals and follow anti-corruption policies with their third parties among others. As a CEO of my company, I would ensure that the company has a code of ethics and core values that guide the employees towards achieving the goals and objectives of the Company. My Company’s code of ethics will include provisions that wll require individuals to comply with governement rules,laws and regulations, Secondly, proper use and protecting of company assets, and thirdly, accepting responsibility and reporting all manner of corruption. The corporate culture values in my company will be informed by accountability, integrity, honesty, decency and respect. I will infuse these

Sam 489 unit 6 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sam 489 unit 6 - Assignment Example Response agencies such as the fire department, the police, the red cross team and other medic teams communicate using radio frequency whose signal is unlikely to be jammed by the type of disaster as well as it can still be used where mobile network is unclear. They mostly use short codes which they have been trained on in order to speed up communication and prevent other parties from understanding their discussion for security purposes depending on the disaster they are responding to. Communication amongst these agencies is important for coordination purposes. For example in a fire disaster, the firefighters communicate with the medics about bring in a victim and the present physical condition of the victim. The medics will be prepared with the necessary equipment and hence attend to the individual without wasting any precious time. Communication among the agencies speeds up help as well as makes response run smoothly and faster hence saving more time and property (Perry & Lindell,

Case Study Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case Study - Coursework Example So clearly this matter needed participation from stakeholders like the public, the Mayor’s office and the PUC (Case Study, p 2). 2. Make a point- by- point case, pro or con, on a situation in which people who own shares in a company nonetheless have a voice in its destiny. Justify your position with comparative examples in other areas of public policy. Each of the stated parties- CFLC and Edison- adopted strategies and took out messages that looked at the case from their own point of view. The objective was to gain sympathy in the right quarters and among the most effective parties so that the decision would be in their favor. While Edison came out with very general statements, they were also hiding some truths. The merger and downsizing would result in loss of employment and the economic viability of San Diego would also be threatened, the SDG&E case coming up soon after the loss of South Pacific Airlines Corporation. CFLCs strategy was more effective since it appealed to the PUC and used the Mayor and the media to present its case more effectively. It was thus able to garner enough support to triumph over Edison’s bid for the merger. Obviously the PUC committee was also against the merger as it would not serve the larger public interest. Common sense prevailed eventually and after a 3 year battle, the decision was awarded in favor of CFLC and the citizens of San Diego- to do away with the merger. CFLC was in fact against the movement of business from San Diego and welcomed ENOVAs merger with Pacific Enterprises in 1996 to form Sempra Energy, which is still located in San Diego. The public needs job opportunities as well as affordable electricity and SDG& E would provide them with both. Thus the decision not to allow the merger was in the public interest (Case Study, p3). Unfortunately the business world is full of corporate raiders waiting to make a bid for a company they deem attractive in terms of its business

How College Students Use Wikipedia for Course-Related Essay Example for Free

How College Students Use Wikipedia for Course-Related Essay Why then are academics so wary about the use of Wikipedia within universities? There are a number of related reasons. Before outlining them we should acknowledge that there may be differences according to academic discipline in attitudes towards Wikipedia. Speaking to academics from the natural and medical sciences over the last year, it seems that those subjects are less concerned with issues of originality of source than the arts and social sciences. It also may be [pic] and this is genuine speculation [pic] that academics in the English speaking world, where most of the academic controversy over Wikipedia use has been, are more sensitive to the source than in other parts of the world. These qualifications aside, there are definite reasons why Wikipedia use is, at the very least, contentious in universities. First, it is the product of anonymous individuals rather than known authorities, Wales is quite explicit on this: One of the fastest things we’re beginning to lose is the view of the world that there are a handful of thoughtful, intelligent people that should be broadcasting their views to everyone. And then the public is some sort of crazed rabble, easily swayed by rhetoric and so forth. Now we have to have a more nuanced understanding. Wikipedia is not necessarily anti-academic but it is anti-elitist as evidenced by the short shrift given to eminent academics in debates when they expected deference (see Keen 2007, 43[pic]4). Second, the non-proprietary nature of Wikipedia cuts against academic culture which valorises the rights of the author and publisher. Third, the anonymity of Wikipedia articles is alien to the cache of the named writer of the journal article or book. Fourth, the collaborative process challenges the norm of individual creation, prevalent in the arts and social sciences. Fifth, as intimated, Wikipedia departs from the standard mode of vetting by peer review. It is not true that articles are not reviewed. On the contrary, they are scrutinised by far more editors than for any journal. However, as the contributor is generally not an academic expert, so the reviewer is not generally an academic expert. So Wikipedia rejects academic custom in the compilation of knowledge. In addition, there are a number of what might be termed ‘learning and teaching’ issues pertaining to its use within universities. First, there is the issue of the accuracy of Teaching in Higher Education 651 Downloaded by [University of Glasgow] at 05:27 12 December 2012 Wikipedia entries, something that relates to the lack of formal expertise and peer review. Reviews of the accuracy of Wikipedia entries by formal expert(s) have actually been generally positive (for natural sciences see Giles 2005; American history Meier 2008). Despite this, the suspicion still surrounds Wikipedia that it cannot be trusted. O’Sullivan’s (2009, 119) assertion that ‘most people probably have an ambivalent attitude toward Wikipedia, thankful for its existence, using it frequently, but with reservations about its total reliability’ seems valid. Some academics would no doubt sympathise with the sardonic observation of comedian Frankie Boyle that Wikipedia entries should begin with ‘I reckon’. Second, some have questioned whether Wikipedia’s determination for studied neutrality is convincing. O’Sullivan (2010) complains that as Wikipedia only displays one voice, diversity is not incorporated and therefore articles become bland. Wales’s response is unapologetic: ‘Guilty as charged, we’re an encyclopedia’ (in Read 2006). Not that his approach to knowledge is without theory, it derives rather from his admiration for the convoluted ‘objectivist philosophy’ of Aryan Rand, the Russian e?migre? philosopher and novelist (Younkins 2007). A third learning and teaching concern is that, regardless of the reliability of Wikipedia, it is in itself an illegitimate form of research. Here the thinking would be that a student who culls Wikipedia for assignments does not understand scholarship. This consists of the consideration of various sources: a judicious sifting and ordering of knowledge, rather than lifting bite sized chunks of text that purport to capture a subject. On this Wales concurs, telling students: ‘For God sake, you’re in college; don’t cite the encyclopedia’ (in Young 2006). Some universities in the US have banned Wikipedia use, whilst others recommend a more discriminating approach (Jaschik 2007; Murley 2008). The latter is what Wales and others within Wikipedia advise: it should be used only as a starting place in academic research, a references source and a revision aid. What, however, is the evidence on Wikipedia use by students and academics at universities?

Technological Advances: The Negative Effects

Technological Advances: The Negative Effects Technological advancement as a term can be defined as being able to improve the standard of living through altering the production process and increasing the level of production with fewer resources (Mabry Sharplin; 1986). This definition is closely linked to the act of using computers, robots and the like but any move towards more efficient ways of providing services is a technological advancement. When one begins with premise that the gradual shift from human-sensitive methods of construction will pose a problem in South Africa as a developing country, plain human knowledge becomes sufficient as a technological advancement. Technology varies in its purposes and uses. It has become the backbone of any sort of development initiative in the developing world. Characterised by efficiency, accuracy and cost benefits. Developed countries are suited better to manage the negatives that come from the overt use of technology. Their economies are strong enough to manage unemployment and the like. Often, people that fear or are weary of fast evolving technology are referred to as Luddites, this is untrue and grossly inaccurate for the Luddites (circa 1800s) were working but uneducated people who destroyed all symbols of advancing technology. Nobel laureate Wassily Leontief, who gave the keynote speech for the National Academy of Engineering at its 1983 symposium The Long-Term Impact of Technology on Employment and Unemployment, cannot fairly be called a Luddite, yet he expressed concern about what he saw as technological advancements undesirable distributional effects across income groups (Mabry Sharplin; 1986) The construction industry is slowly eliminating jobs that are human-sensitive. Jobs that previously required a strong human presence can now be done off-site (precast) and brought to site just to assemble. The jobs are becoming lower skilled and routine. With this in mind, one would think that there would be more jobs created but the opposite happens, jobs seem to be eroding. The implementation of new technology offers the companies a competitive edge over their rivals at the cost of jobs. In construction, efficiency is very important. Delays in time mean penalties and this requires more money. Redundancy caused by advancements in technology has been happening in the automotive industry where machines have rendered the jobs of many humans obsolete and have left some fastening bolts for eight hours a day. In the construction industry, though you will not find a machine laying bricks, there are other materials that are being developed to render using bricks and blocks outdated. Aluminium beams and columns are now de-rigueur in architectural circles and this will not take long at all to catch up with the industry and it will just be a matter of time before construction gangs of fifty will shrink to ten because of cranes doing all the heavy lifting and then ten men just fastening bolts. Technological advancement, in itself, is an indication of development in any country. Said advancement should not hinder the growth of the country by creating a poverty trap. A developing country has a few defining characteristics, defined below: Majority living below the poverty line Ex-colony Subject to economic inequality Inequality in the working environment As technology advances further and further it hinders growth through promoting the utilizing methods that arent human-sensitive. Chapter 2 The role of South Africas history 2.1 History Colonialism played a role in the current problems South Africa faces. To understand how technology affects employment, we need to have a clearer understanding of how we got to where we are from a developmental point of view. Colonisers occupied the country and divided the country geographically to make it more manageable. They then developed city centres and these city centres became economic hubs in their regions. During the 1886 Witwatersrand Gold Rush, employment was created for the natives. Many natives left their homelands to work in the Gauteng mines. The cities close to the mines kept flourishing as there became a need for other industries to support the influx of natives and wealthy mine owners to the mining cities. The homelands remained underdeveloped. Many decades later, rural areas are still underdeveloped and creating employment in those areas is hard because there are very few economic development initiatives. 2.1.1 Migration to the cities. As aforementioned, the movement of many natives from their homelands for employment in the mining cities left many homelands underdeveloped. The lure of employment opportunities in a quickly developing country proved to be problematic. W.W Rostow (circa 1960), cited by Utting (2011; Development Management IV: Course Notes; 189:190) discussed the modernization theories of development. The underlying principle of this modernization theory was that economic development was integral to the overall development of any society. Economic development is South Africa seemed to be happening in the mining cities only and not in the rural areas. 2.1.2 Consequence of migration. As men left to work in the cities, they left their families at home. Families that were uneducated and had no other means of income and mostly made a living through farming. Formal education was, and for the most part is just a fallacy to people living in rural areas. This is creating a problem because on one hand; low-skill level jobs are being automated, on the other hand; you have many people from the rural areas coming in with little-to-no education looking for employment. This contributes to creating what is termed a poverty trap. 2.1.3 Previously Disadvantaged Individuals People of colour were oppressed during the unjust reign of apartheid which officially began in the election of 1948 and lasted until 1994. In that time, people of colour were oppressed in every way imaginable. The end of apartheid brought about great elation and spelled the end of an oppressive regime, we also adopted many problems from there. For instance, the problem of unemployment. A complex issue that has no single solution. The previously disadvantaged individuals, i.e. people of colour in South Africa, are now trying to keep-up with the developed world. The issue is the means that are taken to develop South Africa further. The methods which utilize an excess of technology will widen the gap between the rich and poor. The previously disadvantaged will be left destitute and with very few opportunities to develop themselves let alone along with the country. 2.1.4 Addressing the issue of inequality Government implemented Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), which has now become Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE), to facilitate the development of PDIs. Government also put a policy in place that was set to address inequalities in the workplace by giving construction companies a BEE status. This meant that a certain portion of the workforce had to be composed of PDI. This, of course, is a step in the right direction towards addressing inequalities in the workplace. An overwhelmed Government Decades after the 1886 Gold Rush, present Government still feel the effects of mass migration to the cities. Change of political regime brought about new challenges for Government. The two most important: Creating Jobs: Job creation isnt particularly the responsibility of Government. They are supposed to create an environment that supports and promotes job creation. Presently, graduates form the majority of the unemployed in South Africa. Homelands are still under-developed and this doesnt seem to be changing. Policies to address the unemployment and subsequent poverty problem in rural areas are addressed by issuing policies. The problem with policies is they are therapeutic, generic and do not address the problem of each rural area on a case by case basis. Another problem with policies is that they are developed by people who do so remotely so they do not know the actual problem, on the ground. Adequate Housing: Housing has is a problem especially in towns surrounding big cities like Durban and Johannesburg. The RDP programme was developed for this purpose. Independent contractors tender and build the house. Unfortunately, many contractors dont fulfil their obligation. The problem doesnt get better and we see violent service delivery protests. The tender process in itself is heavily flawed and marred by political interference and corruption. 2.2.1 Failure to create jobs. As aforementioned, the current Government is struggling to create job or rather failing to create an environment that promotes job creation. According to the World Bank (2011), Local Economic Development (LED) refers to the collective efforts between Government and non-governmental institutions to create an environment that is conducive to both economic growth and employment. In essence, LED provides the community ways to improve their chances of getting investment from external sources and their own business environment. The aim is to create a better life for all. Rural communities dont have much of this happening and the focus needs to move towards decentralization. The concentration of rural development policy makers in urban areas is also to the detriment of rural areas. The sheer distance leads to misappropriation of funds and resources and this keeps the rural areas underdeveloped. Top-down centralized policies rarely accomplish their goals because the policy makers arent anchored in the rural reality on the ground (International Labour Office; 2012) 2.2.2 Critical analysis of the tender process The tender process was initially meant to open up opportunities for people of colour to enter the world of business and trade. Unfortunately, the tender process is marred by corruption and political interference and this in counter-productive and robs the people it was meant to help in the first place. The process begins by realising a need for a service in a particular community and then sending that particular project out to tender with various contractors who then send back their estimates of how much it would cost to build the required infrastructure. The corruption begins when the tenderers start bribing officials to give them the contract. Too often the contractors themselves are incompetent and end up breaching contracts. The reason for their incompetency can be credited to the lack of knowledge. Most new contractors have no formal training and make very few attempts at getting adequate training and the cycle keeps on going. The process itself is not flawed; the issue is with monitoring it. There isnt an independent body that monitors the tendering process and this leads to corruption and moves back as a nation. Monitoring, or lack thereof, is not the primary solution to corruption because corruption is prevalent in all developing countries. Chapter 3: Basic education and training Lack of a proper educational framework in rural areas Bantu Education was established to give people of colour the most basic education. A means to create more muscle for the machine that was apartheid. The structure was such that skills development formed part of the school curriculum. Students who left the institution of Bantu Education left with skills and could go start looking for work immediately after. Universities were reserved for Whites only. In rural areas however, school infrastructure was few and far in between. As South Africa developed and established itself as a source of mineral wealth many moved into the urban areas (See, Chapter 1) and left the rural areas as they were. Rural areas dont have any economic development, chances for employment are slim. Even if businesses are encouraged, their longevity is cut short because there is no Local Economic Development. Schools in rural areas do not, to this day, receive adequate resources to teach. School buildings are of mud block construction. The chaos that arises from there can only be imagined when the rainy season starts. The education system in South Africa is not at its most stellar as we saw during the Limpompo Textbook Fiasco (M. Madia, 2012). This in turn creates problems when the students produced from rural schools are thrust into a society that demands a good knowledge of technology and pliable minds. The students, coming from a background with no knowledge of computers and the like will end up looking for employment that requires a low-skill level. On the other end of the spectrum, employers are looking for ways to increase productivity without affecting profits. On a building site, having concrete delivered, as opposed to mixing it on site, saves time and consequently saves money. Lower-skill jobs are slowly becoming redundant and the education system in rural areas isnt keeping up with the demand for technology savvy candidates. As a result, a cesspool of unemployment and everything it carries many other social problems such as crime and corruption. Desperation can kill you. Language barriers (machinery use) Communication is essential on site for all operations to continue. The language barrier between employer and employee makes the employee less desirable for employment. Employees from rural areas are often not well versed in languages either than their home-language. Similarly with machinery use, employers wouldnt employ someone with a minimal understanding of the language of instruction. Besides that being a health and safety hazard, it wouldnt be beneficial and training would take longer than it should. Misunderstandings on site (machinery use) Any sort of misunderstanding on site has a financial repercussion. With this in mind, employers avoid workers with little-to-no understanding of the language of instruction. There is a clear disconnection between the education department in rural areas and the required calibre of graduates. This in turn leads to students coming from that system to be left behind. When that happens and the very students are put into a system that requires a certain level of knowledge, knowledge that they lack. Subsequently, these people bear the grunt of job displacement due to the introduction of technology and/or automation. Chapter 4: Methods of construction The manner in which construction projects are carried out has changed dramatically. Change is constant and will not stop as humans develop further and further. From the times of the great Pharaohs, where heavy materials were rolled on logs, to present day where heavy materials are hauled into the air with cranes. 4.1 Evolution of Methods Traditional construction was of mass concrete. The older buildings like the Durban Station were of mass concrete and required many labourers to set up shutters, mixing concrete and pouring. Mixing of concrete was done on site. Technological advancements moved towards using central concrete depots and having concrete delivered to site. The purpose of technological advancement is to increase production while utilizing the least amount of resources. To a very large extent it is good, the problem begins when technology advances at the cost of peoples jobs. Project Planning Project planning has become more streamlined and can be managed by a single person as opposed to be an entire team. Project planning in South Africa has attracted a great amount of attention over the past few years because of its association with infrastructure. As South Africa develops further, infrastructure will be required. Many construction projects are complex and required teams to manage them, over time computer programmes were developed and managing large projects became easier. Technology has afforded us the opportunity to much with very little resources. It has also created a situation where those who do not adopt are left behind. This is well and good in a developed state but South Africa is a developing country with a 25% unemployment rate and threatening to grow as more and more technology is being introduced into the industry. The industry itself will do better, productivity will increase but many people will be permanently displaced, in terms of employment. The planning of projects will eventually be handled by a single person using a computer programme. The availability of jobs will decrease as companies need fewer people to run successful projects. Chapter 5: Construction Materials Building materials arent exempt from advancements. There has been a movement from mass concrete, to brick and block and now we are in the age of steel and glass construction. The movement from one age to the next has an adverse effect on employment. Presently, steel and glass construction needs just a few men and a crane. A shift in the paradigm of construction. Lighter Materials. Construction materials have gotten lighter while retaining their strength. Materials like fibreboard are now common place in offices. Even materials that always were the heaviest, like concrete, have had their share of technological advancement. Air-infiltrated concrete is lighter than conventional concrete. The secret is in the air bubbles that are trapped within the concrete that make it lighter while making it a bit easier to work with. This particular type of concrete is strong enough to take the loads of conventional concrete but can also be used as a cantilever slab (with reinforcing). Precast Items. With the paradigm shift of construction materials, precast items are becoming more common. From lintels in residential construction to entire floor slabs in commercial property. A shift that has brought about increased productivity. Concrete pouring and curing is the most time consuming exercise on site and having that time saved means saving money too. The problem, again, with such an advancement is how it affects employment. Concrete mixing, as a low-skill level job, employed quite a few labourers (proportional to size of project) and with concrete mixing being removed from equation, many are left jobless. The biggest hurdle is the lack of training initiatives for workers that have been displaced due to automation. They are left unemployed and unemployment leads to other social problems. Chapter 6: Globalisation According to the Education and Training Unit of South Africa (2012), globalisation refers to the changes in technological, political and economic that make the world different in its functioning to the way it was twenty or thirty years ago. The proof of globalisations can be seen in the emergence of giant corporations with branches all over the world. Globalisation forces developing nations to adjust their structures in order to match those of the developed nations. All this to help developing nations secure loans to help their flailing economies. BusinessDictionary.com refers to globalisation as a movement towards integration of many aspects of trade. In the same vein, they go on to say that globalisation threatens weaker economies when applied discriminately. Keeping up with the world. Even though South Africa has mineral wealth, it is still an emerging economy. The reason for this is the colonial history of South Africa (Refer to Chapter 2). The international markets play a role in how development in South Africa is implemented. This is where politics come into play. P. Kingsworth in his article Globalisation of South Africa describes the conditions under which the fate of common South Africans would be controlled by international markets. After the failure of the Reconstruction Development Plan (RDP) in 1996, the Growth Employment and Redistribution program (GEAR) was set-up to take its place. The difference between GEAR and RDP was that; where RDP promised free basic services, GEAR privatised utilities and would bill all users. Some of these users live below the poverty line. Rapid advancements in technology threaten jobs and yet the poorest of the poor must still pay for services. Global trends to employers. To employers, global trends dictate how they should react to the current market. Technological advancements give them an edge of the opposition and that edge equals more profit. As crude as it may seem, profit is the bottom-line to most, if not all, employers. Globalisation has afforded employers a chance to compete on an international scale. Increased connectivity with international markets offers them the option of showcasing their services overseas. In order to be able to satisfy international demand, they need to automate systems. That is a factor that leads to job loss. Chapter 7: Technology: Computer Programmes With globalisation burning hot at the heels of a developing South Africa, computer programmes come as part of the globalisation package. It was an inevitable move and one that was greatly needed in terms of development. Computer programmes dont directly affect low-skill employees, its a challenge that will face those that havent been introduced to computer programmes in University. Again, the highlight of the clear disconnect between the industry and the education system. Many graduates fall into the chasm unbeknown to them, with very little help from the industry and Universities. CCS For contractors CCS or the Candy system is a computer programme that is specifically aimed at making the job of a contractor manageable. A contractor with many projects going on at the same time will need a computer programme that will integrate forecasting, estimating, valuations and project planning. The design of the Candy system is such that it can be understood by anyone with a knowledge of construction. Corruption has created a distorted view of contractors. It is a general view that many contractors cannot manage projects and therefore cannot control funds. Quantity surveyors are usually employed to help them control funds for contractors. Programmes like CCS have now given smaller contractors with the option of being able to control their own projects and therefore their own funds without needing a quantity surveyor to do the work for them. WinQS for Professional Quantity Surveyors WinQS is a programme designed more for professional quantity surveyors as it offers an in-depth interface that will require a quantity surveying background. WinQS can produce complete bills of quantities because it has JBCC contracts within the programme itself. On a consultation with Steve Naidoo (2012; August 5th), he explained the great help that came with the introduction of computers. Doing bills on chart paper and having to transport them great distances, as opposed to emailing, has made work a lot easier. Consulting firms will employ the use of WinQs more widely. A company that employed many quantity surveyors will need fewer with the introduction of such programmes. The results of automation are clear in South Africa. People are losing jobs and not enough is being doing to boost small enterprises. What is being done is being overshadowed by corruption while the fate of South Africas youth dangles helplessly in the face of poverty and a host of other social problems. Chapter 8: Case Studies I have selected two cases that I felt were relevant to highlight my growing concerns about the problems that come with technological advances. I cannot deny the great leaps we have taken with the help of technology. The problem is how these leaps tend to take developing nations back a few steps, especially when coupled with international pressure (via Globalisation, see Chapter 6). The first example highlights the advantages offered by technology and its advancements, it also highlights the change and how it would affect a developing nation. The Ark Hotel, China The Broad Group, a construction company based in China, was able to build a 30 Storey building in just 15 days. The fastest construction of a hotel. What was amazing was how there were zero injuries. The hotel itself was designed and built to withstand an earthquake with a magnitude of 9 on the Richter scale. Building materials were all prefabricated and brought to site to be assembled. This could be the secret to their Super-fast power as it was dubbed in the British DailyMail (2012). The movement to precast and prefabricated materials is as inevitable as the first steps of a healthy toddler. South Africa, as the toddler, is expected to start running before it knows how to walk. The Ark Hotel, was built like a structure made of Legos. All the pieces were made and fabricated off-site and brought to site to be assembled by a few specialists and a crane. Construction like this in a developing nation could cripple it. In countries where the construction industry employs the most people, a move towards using prefabricated material could be disastrous not only in the short-term but in the long-term too. Sanrals E-Toll Sanral has undertaken to build open-road tolling for road users in Gauteng. The network will be 560kms covering 34 of Gautengs busiest interchanges the most infamous being; Allandale, William Nicol, Rivonia and Elands. The reason that E-Tolling was introduced is to fund the improvements of roads. The tolling will be based on a user-pay system. It will become necessary to get an E-Tag for the motor vehicle that will be transporting passengers and every month a statement will arrive at your doorstep, detailing your daily commute through the several tolls on your way to your destination. This system could be rolled out throughout the entire country. According to Sanral (2012), only 19% of the countries roads are tolled roads, the remaining 81% arent tolled roads. The reality is that the money that is made from the tolled roads is insufficient to perform maintenance on roads. The system will be unmanned and thus starts the problem. The people that were employed will now be jobless as tolls will no longer need people to collect monies. This is yet another example of how technology is making people redundant. One cannot help but be in awe of the great technological leap, the same technological leap is at the same time robbing people of jobs and yet again bring the problem of unemployment to the fore. Chapter 9: Resolution In cases like these were it is one power reigning supreme over a nation, a solution cannot be employed. Resolutions can however be offered. These suggestions are subject to reviewing and adjustment. Using human-sensitive methods on site that dont rely heavily on the use of machinery. The human resource is abundant and renewable. Employers in South Africa ought to be looking into using this readily available resource. It may be argued that machines do not take sick-days, thats acceptable but machines will not be the ones using your project upon completion. We are creating a society we cannot afford. 25% of the population is unemployed and as more technology is being introduced more people will lose their jobs in favour of automated systems. Site work can be carried out by labourers instead of machines. Simple tasks like batch concrete mixing can be carried out by labour instead of machines and be delivered to site. The problem is not one dimensional; for instance, a contractor has a need to keep a healthy stream of work coming in because of the corrupt nature of the construction industry where certain parties are earmarked for jobs. In cases like this, the contractor will be trying to turn a profit on every job and one way of doing that is by always completing jobs on time, he does this by having a smaller team that uses specialist technology to help complete jobs quickly and usually under-budget. He keeps his business afloat and doesnt employ many. Government regulation.* The dilemma facing South Africa is the corrupt nature of our leaders. Technology provides a higher level of production while neglecting the steps taken to reach that level of productivity. Technology renders humans redundant and government is aware but is benefitting through the use of technology. Technology entrenches the divisions of the past by keeping the privileged employed and the rest of the country in close proximity of poverty. Perhaps, the only difference between present day and apartheid is that those who can adapt and use technology stand a better chance of being employed over those that very little knowledge of technology and the way in which it works. Unfortunately, those that have a limited knowledge of technology form the majority of the countrys population. The onus is therefore on Government to regulate how technology is introduced and implemented in the construction industry in South Africa before we are faced with a situation where the poor have nothing to eat but the rich. Training of people and subsequent employment The best way to get a better workforce is by training them. During Apartheid, skills-training was a part of the school curriculum. That aspect of the curriculum must come back to address South Africas skills shortage. The only difference is the training will be for specific industries. Science and technology, research and development, medicine and engineering are fields that require younger thinkers. It seems like our education system is amassing an army of entrepreneurs that have no idea of how to manage their businesses. Small business fail because of mismanagement. The use of people as a resource can also be seen as a technological advancement because with enough training, efficient ways of carrying tasks out are inevitable. Addendum 1: Supporting documentation Addendum 2: Bibliography Education and Training Unit of South Africa; 2012; Understanding Globalisation (Online); available at www.etu.org.za ; Accessed 26 August 2012 Kingsnorth, P; 2004; The globalisation of South Africa (Online); available at uk.oneworld.net; Accessed 26 August 2012 Mackenzie, C; 2012; Theyre now a super-fast power: How the Chinese built a 30 storey hotel from scratch in just fifteen days (Online); available at www.dailymail.co.uk ; Accessed 27 August 2012 Sabol, L; 2007; Technology, Change, and the building industry (Online); available at http://www.dcstrategies.net/files/2_sabol_technology_change.pdf; Accessed 27 August 2012 Mabry, R. H, Sharplin, A. D; 1986; Does more technology create unemployment? (Online); available at http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/does-more-technology-create-unemployment; Accessed 24 August 2012 International Labour Office; 2012; Boosting Local Economies in rural areas (Online); available at www.ilo.org/led; Accessed 15 August 2012 European Science Technology Observatory; 2002; Impact of technological structural change on employment: prospective analysis 2020 (Online); available at http://www.mcrit.com/espon_scenarios/files/DOCUMENTS/eur20258en.pdf; Accessed 18 August 2012 Kletzer, L. G; 1998; Job Displacement (Pages 115-136) (Online); available at http://www.jstor.org; Accessed 10 August 2012 Talbot, D; 2012; Tectonic Shifts in Employment (Online); available http://www.technologyreview.com; Accessed 12 August 2012 Moavenzadeh, Fred, Koch Rossow, J. A; 1975; The construction in

Pendleton Civil Service Act :: essays research papers

Pendleton Civil Service Act Since the beginning of the government, people gained and lost their jobs whenever a new president took office. These jobs were political pay-offs for people who supported them. Many people did not take their jobs too seriously because they knew they would be out of their office soon. As Henry Clay put it, government officials after an election are "like the inhabitants of Cairo when the plague breaks out; no one knows who is next to encounter the stroke of death." Over the years the flaws that were made and the problems that resulted became more obvious. After an election you could open a newspaper and find many advertisements, which offered government jobs that were filled before the election. On January 16, 1883 the U.S. legislation established a law, which gave employment based on merit rather than on political party affiliation that leads to corruption in the government system. Widespread public demand for reform in the government was stirred after the Civil War by accusations of incompetence, corruption, and theft in federal departments. After a guy who was refused an office job that he was capable of assassinated President James A. Garfield in 1881, civil service reform became a leading issue in the elections of 1882. In January 1883, Congress passed a comprehensive civil service bill sponsored by Senator George H. Pendleton, providing for the open selection of government employees and guaranteeing the right of citizens to compete for federal jobs without regard to politics, religion, race, or national origin. The new law covered only about 10 percent of the positions in the federal government, but nearly every president after Chester A. Arthur, who signed the bill in to law, broadened its scope. By 1980 more than 90 percent of federal employees were protected by the act. The Pendleton Civil Service Act classified certain jobs, removed them from the ranks, and set up a Civil Service Commission to oversee a system based on merit and not political stance. The commission draws up the rules governing examinations for those positions that Congress places in the classified civil service.

Changing the World Through Education :: Teaching Teachers Essays

Changing the World Through Education My philosophy on teaching involves changing the world through my students. I want to enable my students, through education and motivation, to leave the world better than they have hound it. Like many social reconstructionists, I feel that we as teachers owe it to the future generations to instruct them how to handle the problems they will encounter in hopes that they will pass on fewer problems to their children. I will work every minute of everyday to ensure my students’ successful futures. I believe that students need a routine to help them think clearly and freely, such as that suggest by the Perennialist approach. Upon graduating from Concord College, I will attend graduate school and receive my Master’s degree in Education. I will be teaching at different places around the country, as I will be moving frequently. My future occupational plans include working with the Department of Defense school systems. I will use my educational background and my life experiences to enlighten and teach my students. Issues that I feel are crucial to address which also pertain to my particular philosophy are increasing political awareness, raising racial tolerance and acceptance, reducing child abuse and violence against women, and recycling and appreciation for our natural resources. Methods I would use in my classroom to get students involved would include community service projects, recycling drives, field trips to shelters and centers, and food and clothing drives within the class. Activities such as these, where students can see the changes they are making, get them motivated in a way that no general lessons can. Children need to feel the selfless satisfaction that comes from helping their fellow man. I have had many excellent teachers throughout my educational experience, some of these have been wonderful teachers that have set lessons to life. Others have been boring, overly strict, unapproachable, and at times unknowledgeable. I have learned valuable lessons from both. A positive and fun learning environment makes students want to be in the classroom. The first step in learning is that the children must want to be there.

The Hardships Of A Teen Christian :: essays research papers

Teen Christians have to deal with a lot of pressures like when at school, because when a Christian teen does talk about what they believe in they are mock or criticized. And when the fact that when a teen does believe in Jesus it causes them to lose friends so that causes teens to not want to be with god, or talk about it because of what there friends will think and do to them. Their friends want them to go out to parties where there are drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence. And if a teen has just recently become a Christian and was living life like that then they have to deal with harder problems like facing there problems a different way. And when you go from living bad to doing good you really have a problem trying to figure yourself out, teens feel really confused in what is right and what they should do. Teens reflect a culture all of there own within American society. The language that they speak, music that they listen to, and many aspects of their lives differ from that of past generations. Therefore, many people of older generations tend to make judgments and assumptions about teenagers. These assumptions are typically based on the manner in which teenagers speak, dress, and present themselves. Because of these generalizations, faith of many teens is commonly overlooked. In a society where violence seems to be accepted and many teens are lost about whom they are faith can be the one bond interlining a group of many. Our laws say you can’t talk or teach Christianity in our schools but they can’t figure out why there is all this violence and school shootings. Even if it was just a little something about Jesus it would help show people that there are better things in life, like life after death. I think that we should bring back teachings of religion in our schools so that teens mite see that there is a better things then violence and you don’t need drugs, and stuff to make u feel better. I think that there is a slight chance that if we did have religion in our schools that it would make them a better place to learn not so many problems.

Descriptive Paper – Peanut Butter Sandwich

Juan Restrepo Mr. Miramonti English IV P. 7 November 10, 2010 Peanut Butter and banana Sandwich on Toast I’m standing in front of the refrigerator and I opened the refrigerator, I instantly saw the bread and reached for it with my right hand. I then closed the refrigerator with my left hand. I walk three steps to the right and put the bread down on the counter. I reach up with my right hand and open the cabinet. I see the peanut butter and reach for it with my right hand and I sit it down on the counter. I close the cabinet with my left hand. I turn to the right and take one step forward.I get to the counter and reach for a banana. I turn back around and take one step back. I put the banana on the counter next to the peanut butter and bread. I then tale half a step back and open the drawer that holds knifes. I reach for a butter knife and a sharp knife with my right hand. I shut the drawer with my left hand. I then take a step forward and put two knifes on the counter. I open up the bread with my left hand. I reach in with my right hand and take out two slices. I then take two pieces of bread, one in my right hand and one in my left and put them in the toaster.While I’m waiting I look up and open the cabinet with my right hand. I grab a plate with my left hand and set it down on the counter. I shut the cabinet with my right hand. By now the toast is ready. I grab each piece of bread, one with my left hand and one with my right hand, and put them on the plate. I then pick up the peanut butter with my left hand and open it up with my right hand. I pick up the butter knife with my right hand and dip it in the peanut butter. I pick up a piece of bread with my left hand and I spread the peanut butter on the bread.I put the bread down on the plate. I turn to the right and take two steps forward and put the knife in the sink. I turn back around and take two steps back to the food. I pick up the banana with my right hand and peel it with my left hand. I p ut the banana on my plate. I turn around and take two steps forward I throw the banana peel in the trash with my left hand. I turn back around and take two steps two steps back to my food. I pick the banana up with my left hand and set it on the counter. I grab the sharp knife with my right hand and start to slice the banana.After I’m done with slicing, I put down the sharp knife. I pick up the pieces one by one with my right hand and put them on the slice of bread with the peanut butter. I pick up the piece of bread without anything on it with my right hand. I place it on top of the slice of bread with everything on it. I pick up the plate with my right hand. I turn to the left and walk nine steps to the table. I set the plate down on the table. I pull the chair out with my right hand and sit down. I grab the sandwich with both hands and enjoy me delicious sandwich

Fiscal Policy Essay

The United States impacts various policies not only at home but abroad. It has been a powerhouse for many years, and its strengths and weaknesses impact other countries. The deficit, surplus, and debt are three major areas influencing these policies. These three factors have a huge impact on many areas we will discuss. These include taxpayers, the future of Social Security and Medicare users, the unemployed, a University of Phoenix student, the United States’ financial reputation on an international level, a domestic automotive manufacturing, or exporter, Italian clothing company, or importer and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Italian Clothing Company The United States’ deficit, surplus, and debt play a factor a role in the conduct of business with any Italian clothing company. Italy relies on its manufacturing exports to provide for its economy, and the United States ranks as one of one of its prolific export partners. According to Economy Watch Content (2010), Italy’s famous brands such as Armani, Valentino, Versace, and Prada have created a niche in the global marketplace where there is a huge demand for high quality and superior goods. According to Colander (2010), the United States has run a trade deficit in the last 40 years. If the U.S. is unable to purchase from Italy, this affects the Italian economy. Financial Reputation of the United States on an International Level The U.S.’s deficit, surplus and debt impact the financial reputation of the United States on an international level because these are factors that promote or slow economic growth, future prosperity and foreign policy. The United States’ debt is the largest in the world for a single country, which has caused the financial reputation and creditworthiness of the United States to suffer (Amadeo, 2013). The dollar is considered to be a global currency and the one primarily used in international transactions and trade. When foreign investors lose confidence in the U. S. Government’s ability to manage the budget and pay off their debt, they raise interest rates on loans for the added risk. Government is  no longer able to borrow at affordable rates. Demand for investing in U.S. treasuries diminishes, lowering bond ratings and the value of the dollar. When the value of the dollar decreases, the dollar becomes less desirable, and foreign investors get paid back in currency that is worth less, which damages the special role of the dollar and the financial reputation of the United States (Boccia, 2013). Tax Payers To repay the nation’s debt budget makers frequently visit the option of higher taxation of the wealthy and businesses. Individuals and Corporations fear this option because staffing and insuring becomes more costly hurting the bottom line. A contributing factor to the current state of the U.S. economy is the gradual decline in taxes that the wealthy must pay. The U.S. must reduce the deficit or the debt will grow, and could become very costly to taxpayers possibly having to reach in their own pockets to pay off the debt. When the economy is doing well and the unemployment rates are low, the economy should be in decent standing due to the fact that the newly employed taxpayers have once again began paying into the taxes, but they also are stimulating the economy by spending their money and paying sales taxes. Future Social Security & Medicare Users According to the 2010 Trustees Report â€Å"the programs face massive permanent annual deficits starting in just five years. Coupled with a Congressional Budget Office report predicting Social Security and Medicare expenditures to increase around 75% by the year 2030, economists seem to have no certain answers now (John, 2010).† Social Security and Medicare benefits have their own funds so they do not affect one another nor does any other debt affect them. Social funds such as these have their own funding scheme that’s not tied to other federal bodies or accounts (Mankiw, 2011). A domestic automotive manufacturing (exporter) The effect that the U.S.’s deficit, surplus and debt have on a domestic automotive manufacturing exporter starts with the decline in auto sales. The deficit in the economy is followed by a decline in spending and lowered auto sales. A decline in auto sales reduces employment due to lower demand and adds to trade deficits. When the U.S. is unable to sell to other countries  we are forced into a surplus. Businesses fail leading to government bailouts. The government spends money going into debt to save these companies. Unemployed Individuals The deficit affects unemployed individuals because the people who need help, cannot get it, or cannot get enough to help supplementing their income until they find employment. A surplus provides help with unemployment benefits; WIC and other programs. Debt leads to higher taxes, making sustainability difficult for themselves and their families. University of Phoenix Student The deficit affects a University of Phoenix student because funding for financial aid could be compromised leading to more private loans. Loans become expensive, costing the student more. The surplus affects a University of Phoenix student by providing additional resources for school funding and programs. Debt means not having enough money to fund schooling leading to higher personal debt. GDP GDP is affected by deficits, levels of debt and budget surpluses. When the U.S. runs a high deficit, debt levels increase putting pressure on economic growth. The Reinhart/Rogoff research concluded that when a country’s gross debt exceeds 90% of GDP, â€Å"median growth rates fall by one percent, and average growth falls considerably more† (Sahadi, 2013). Budget surpluses impact GDP growth positively by providing additional resources for the government to invest in the country’s economy. Conclusion The U.S. government’s handling of federal budgets affects individuals and businesses alike worldwide from students to major corporations. Deficits lead to debt burdening the economy, negatively impacting nearly every aspect of the financial world. A surplus shows financial responsibility positively affecting the economy and creating prosperity. References Amadeo, Kimberly (Feb. 2013). What the U.S. Debt Is. Retrieved from http://useconomy.about.com/od/fiscalpolicy/p/US_Debt.htm Boccia, Romina (Feb.2013). How the United States’ High Debt Will Weaken The Economy And Hurt Americans. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/02/how-the-united-states-high-debt-will-weaken-the-economy-and-hurt-americans Colander, D. C. (2010). Macroeconomics (8th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Italy Trade, Exports and Imports. (2010, March 27). Retrieved from http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/italy/export-import.html John, D. C. (2010). 2010 Social Security Trustees Report Continues to Show the Urgency of Reform. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/08/2010-social-security-trustees-report-continues-to-show-the-urgency-of-reform Mankiw, G. (2011). Principles of Microeconomics (6th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning Sahadi, J. (2013, April 17). Debt’s impact on growth: Latest study doesn’t settle debate. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/17/news/economy/debt-deficits/index.html

Cold War Case Essay

The Cold War was a contest between the USA and the Soviet Union. It led to the existence of thousands of nuclear weapons, two universal ideologies in conflict, and two different self-images, the United States championing a world made safe for democracy. Its opponent, the Soviet Union advocated world Communism. The United States prides itself on its heritage of freedom, a refuge for persecuted religious groups, a land of liberty that successfully rebelled against the imperial power of Britain in 1776. Its guiding principles were the protection of the individual’s life, liberty and pursuit of happiness and the establishment of a constitution that embodied the best political idea of modern times, a system of checks and balances so that the president, Congress or parliament and judiciary or Supreme Court shared power, checking each other’s work to guard against dictatorship. While the United States did not always live up to its ideals, nonetheless, on paper at least, it looked good compared to its Cold War rival, the Soviet Union. Led by a murderous dictator, Joseph Stalin (1928 to 1953), the Soviet government was brutal, outlawing all opposition, banned political parties opposed to the Communist Party, murdered millions and set up a vast prison camp system known as the Gulag. In the years 1937-38 alone, Stalin ordered the execution of one million citizens of the Soviet Union. In the fifty years of the Cold War, the United States only executed two of its own citizens, the husband and wife Rosenberg spy team. Even though the Rosenbergs should not have been executed because their crimes were tiny in the context of the Civil War, the difference between the United States and the Soviet Union in terms of political mass murder of its own citizens is obvious. Despite this fact, one third of the world went the Communist way and other countries were tempted by the promises of Communism. How could this be? In theory, Communism promised a more equal world and at its greatest extent in the 1970s, Communist governments ruled one third of the world’s people. These were mostly poor countries looking for a quick way to industrialise. These countries looked upon the United States as a champion of the rich and powerful, an exploitative superpower that exported its economic system of capitalism only because it suited its interests to do so. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States strides the world as the sole superpower. The United States maintains its grip on this unipolar world without having to make too much effort. The United States spends only about 5-6% of its economy (its gross national product) on defense. The Soviet Union spent somewhere between 20% and 33% of its economy to try to keep up with the United States during the Cold War. It couldn’t keep up the pace. The position of the United States has declined only slightly in the twentieth century. In 1928, its economy was four times the size of its nearest rival (France) and in 1950 its economy was three times the size of its nearest rival (the Soviet Union). It is not just a question of economic or military power. American films and popular music dominated the mass culture of the world from World War One to the present day. In 1994, the biggest-selling film in Austria, France, Germany, Argentina and Mexico was the The Lion King, an American cartoon. The Flinstones was the best-selling film in Poland and Turkey. Forrest Gump won Finland and Norway. It is important to remember that power is projected and wars can be won not just by military and economic means but also by winning what is now an international culture war. A reluctant empire? The United States expanded its frontier in North America throughout the eighteenth century and after victory over Spain in 1898 became a maritime power whose empire stretched as far west as the Philippines. Ever since the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, the United States has pledged itself to prevent the European powers from intervening in the western hemisphere, specifically Latin America. Following its victory over Spain in 1898, the Untied States arrived as a world power. For many Native Americans and African-American slaves, some of the rhetoric of freedom did not ring true. But America’s promise of freedom and opportunity attracted migrants from all over the world. They arrived in New York at the rate of a million a year in the early 1900s. As a result of Europe’s self-destruction in World War One (1914-18), the United States became the dominant economic and political power in the world. It would later describe itself as a reluctant empire, a democratic state whose aim was to spread its ideals over the world but not to control in the way that European empires had done in the past. But what would it do with this power? Britain and France, weakened by the loss of Russia through revolution, were able to overcome Germany only with America’s help. Wilson believed that the values of the United States were in fact universal values of peace and democracy. In 1918 Woodrow Wilson, the American president published his Fourteen Points which called for a democratic peace based on the rights of self determination of all nations and the setting up of an international body, the League of Nations, to solve conflicts. But the world was changing. In Russia in 1917 Lenin and his Communist Party had come to power. Even worse for Wilson, his ideas were rejected in his own country, the United States. Wilson was pleased that the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War One established a League of Nations, but then found that the United States would not join. The League of Nations was rejected by the Senate, the upper house of the US Congress. Instead the Untied States tried to secure its future through the Washington Conference of 1921-22 which agreed that the US Navy should be of equal strength to the largest navy in the world, the British. In the 1920s and 30s, American foreign policy was dominated by isolationism, a refusal to intervene in Europe even when fasicsts, nazis and communists were on the march against American-style democracy in Europe. Those who support American power in the world today still worry that if the rest of the world criticises the United States too much it will retreat into its shell again and leave Europe and Australia at the mercy of a new (presumably Asian) religious fascim. Despite or because of its spectacular economic growth, American capitalism hit a major snag in the Great Depression that began in 1929 and economic problems increased the mood of isolationism in the US public, that is a mood of cutting the United States off from the world’s troubles. The president to take the US out of the Depression was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who introduced his New Deal. It was Roosevelt who would take the USA into the Second World War but only after Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941, putting an end to the argument for isolation. The USA suffered more than three hundred thousand deaths in World War Two, mostly soldiers. But as in World War One this was a relatively small price to pay for what was a huge victory. The Soviet Union now under Joseph Stalin lost 27-30 million people, the majority of which were civilians. At the end of world War Two, the United States had a new and powerful weapon, the atomic bomb that it had to used to force japan to surrender in 1945. Under president Truman from 1945-52, the United States staked out a new role as the world’s policeman whose task it was to protect the democratic and free ‘West’ from the tyranny of Stalin’s Communism in the Soviet Union. The United States would win the Cold War, in large part because of its continuing economic success. On the eve of its collapse in 1990, the GNP of the Soviet Union was approximately one third of that of the USA, even though the United States and the Soviet Union had almost identical population sizes. The secret to America’s success? Unlike the Soviet Union, which experimented with a new and untried economic model of a state-rune economy, the Untied States had a proven economic model of capitalism. It had its faults such as inequality and crises of unemployment but encouraged innovation and efficiency in a way that the Soviet system did not.

Wilde created in the opening scene

‘The Importance of Being Earnest'. Use comedic devices and refer to the text By merchantable In the opening scene of The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wiled creates a farcical and unrealistic world. Wiled creates a theoretical world during the conversation between Algerian and Lane; the audience would expect Lane to obey Leghorn's every command with yes sir. However, Wiled insinuates that Lane is comfortable around Algerian, the audience can also observe that the two men share n informal relationship.Although we can witness the informal side to their relationship, the audience can also notice the class hierarchy between Algerian and Lane, â€Å"l didn't think it polite to listen, sir. Despite Wiled creating an informal relationship between the two characters; he still wants the audience to understand that there's still an employer-employee boundary between Algerian and Lane. Wiled also creates an unrepeatable world within Leghorn's views on marriage and divorce, â€Å"Go od heavens! Is marriage as demoralizing as that? Algerian expresses his oblivious views that are considered as unrealistic compared to Lane's views of marriage for example. Wiled uses epigrams to suggest Leghorn's views In the opening scene, Wiled also humorously explores the use of epigrams in his play to give a comedic vibe during the scene, Wiled takes everyday sayings and plays with the arrangement of Its words, â€Å"divorces are made in heaven†, despite the fact that It shows the audience how the character feels, the epigram also suggests the farcical world that Wiled has created.Wiled continues to create a farcical world as Lane and Leghorn's conversation carries on, the permitted of social class bewilders and confuses the audience-â€Å"If the lower orders don't set us a good example, what on earth Is the use of them? â€Å". The audience are extremely foreign to Leghorn's attitudes towards the lowest group in the social hierarchy as traditionally the rich are seen as more superior than the lower class and the rich look down at the poor. In reality the rich should be setting an example for the lower class; however the reversal of fortune creates a grotesque world.The subject of ‘Bundy alongside the use of magnolia's creates an unrepeatable world for the audience; both Jack and the audience discover this peculiar word that Wiled has created. Furthermore, the misdiagnosis of ‘Bundy creates comedy for the audience. The absurdity of this newly discovered word creates an entertaining aspect for the audience. Also Jack learned that he was In fact a ‘Bunters'; again this creates a comedic element within the opening scene, not only does Jack have no concept of what a ‘Bundy is; Jack has discovered that he is one.To conclude, Wiled creates a farcical and unrepeatable world with the use of comedic devices, such as: magnolia's, perpetual and epigrams. Wiled uses these comedic devices to emphasis on the absurd views of Algerian, th e small conflict between Jack and Algerian and the peculiar relationship between Lane and 1 OFF a typical Victorian society. The two characters interact with each other the way we wouldn't expect in the Victorian era; they also don't have typical upper class Victorian views. Therefore, this shows the farcical world that Wiled created in the opening scene.

Comair's information systems and information technology Essay

Comair's information systems and information technology - Essay Example In this section I will present a brief overview of the Comair. This company is a regional airline carrier based in the US. This is very well reputable Air Line Company that consists of nearly 7000 airline professionals who, collectively, manage and operate more than 1100 daily flights carrying 30000 passengers. Throughout its history, Comair has been an award winning leader in the regional carrier industry (Case Study). Conair is running the AirCrews operations and scheduling throughout a legacy system. This system is just about 2 decades old. There are lots of predicaments linked with this system on the subject of management of the on the whole organizational operations. Comair has an expected implementation of the new SABRE software package in the end of the 2005, but currently Comair was still using the SBS legacy system, now divided into two modules so that pilot schedule changes and flight attendant schedule changes each have monthly limit of 32,000. Comair is also monitoring the volume of transactions more carefully (Case Study).. The main problem is regarding the handling of this system. This system is developed in FORTRAN in 1950s. As a result the basic working of this system is console based. There are also problems regarding the better user interface and working facilities of this system. Next main problem that has emerged is SBS legacy system capacity of the transaction handling. This system is developed to handle pilot schedule changes and flight attendant schedule changes to a monthly limit of 32,000. The business of the Comair is emerging day by day. The need and capacity of the transaction handling of the Comair requires more effective a big capacity system of the handling of future enlargements. This system was fully crashed on 25th due to overall processing of the changes. This problem happened due to the 32,768 changes in a month. This problem has really affected the organizational overall profit and lot of flights has canceled (Case

N role of independent HR consultant you have been invited to tender Essay

N role of independent HR consultant you have been invited to tender for the role of specialist advisor to the UK Olympic committee for the 2012 games - Essay Example Also, this course has helped me learn what group work is about, how to manage conflicts and also how to delegate tasks and to whom. Thus, this course and this term report have helped me a lot and will continue to do so in future. This research paper is about showing my understanding of the module Human Resource Management. The assigned task is to assume myself in the role of an independent HR consultant who has been invited to tender for the role of specialist advisor to the UK Olympic committee for 2012 games. This report will also show an understanding of scope, significance and legal framework of HRM in business organization. Moreover, it will identify the factors affecting human motivation in business organizations and how motivation affects standards of performances. As a specialist advisor, I will do my best to give the best possible solutions to the committee. It is important to set day to day achievable goals for every organization. In case of Olympics, it is extremely important. Being a specialist advisor I will have to set goals for all the teams working for the Olympics games. I will have to assign daily tasks to each team and will have to monitor what they are doing, whether they have achieved the task or not. Recruitment of employees is also very important aspect of an HR manager’s job. By recruitment it is meant that the HR manager has to hire and fire employees and has to keep a track on their performances as well. It has been observed that employees and work force needs to stay motivated. It is often advised to organizations to invite motivational speakers and arrange motivational speaking sessions. The motivational speakers might be people from the organization itself or they might be outsiders. Appreciation is a great motivational tool. People like it when they are appreciated. Appreciation at workplace is very important especially because it motivates employees to work and it gains their loyalty as well. At Olympics, when

Case Study 1 (Stage 1) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

1 (Stage 1) - Case Study Example Enterprise Resource Planning systems entail packages which use interpersonal technological database in integrating numerous units of information in an organization. (Hachani,n.d.). ERP systems are recognized as software’s that deliver modules which are isolated but integrated. This is easily connected and mounted through packages for various organizations. It is evident that majority of companies use separate and different information systems since they merge with different companies which have acquired varied systems. The main reason as to why the BP Company can develop ERP systems is because they are fond of integrating distinct information systems hence resulting to enhanced data reliability and processing productivity. In the past ERP systems were only associated with big companies which wanted to integrate their businesses but currently even the micro companies have emerged to use the systems. The popularity of ERP systems and its outstanding success owes to its ability to advance customer service, simplification of business transactions and elimination of work that has little value. Research indicates that other information systems have been rendered obsolete and outdated since the introduction of ERP systems. The main challenge to having an ERP system installed in our company is the cost which is roughly $100,000,000 so as to implement a larger ERP system to contain the organization’s needs. Nevertheless, the system is significant and capable of providing benefits that would improve the quality of information thus creating way for good management decisions at the BP Company for ideal business operations. Grid computing is a collection of computers put together to form a particular task so as to achieve a common goal. Alternatively, grid computing is a system that applies the use of several computers to form a network to solve a problem which may

Research Proposal on 'Development Aid and Governance' Essay

Research Proposal on 'Development Aid and Governance' - Essay Example Bibliography Background/Problem Statement The effectiveness or lack of aid has been a rather recurring issue/terminology in the glossary of the development aid industry in recent times. Contrastingly, two decades ago, development donors or aid donors would not hesitate to provide funding to governments and organisations for developmental purposes (De Haan, 2009). Among those who benefitted during this past period of improved donor and aid activities were third world and developing countries in regions such as Africa and Asia in which countries such as Zaire under Mobutu and Philippines under Marcos benefitted. With this level of funding, these beneficiary regimes started to mismanage these aids to hitherto unseen corruption levels. These high levels of bad governance and corruption have made donors such as financial institutions and industrial powers to refrain from funding development projects in excessively corrupt governments, countries, and groups (De Haan, 2009). Aid donors have since recognized and established that giving aids to governments with ineffective policies is a practice that is rather wasteful. Instead, more efforts and emphasis have been directed at countries and regions with sound domestic reform policies. Nonetheless, donors’ narrow political objectives still feature in most of the aid decisions in the contemporary society. There is, thus, the need for the official donor aid community to commit to the improvement of aid effectiveness by establishing more proficient and standardized coordination mechanisms. Fortunately, some forums such as the Aid Effectiveness High Level Forum (HLF) in Rome in 2003 and the Paris Declaration in the second HLF in 2005 were moves in the right direction for aid governance. Although these forums focused on donor coordination and harmonisation, the issues of governance, public management, and corruption also featured prominently during the deliberations (Stokke, 2009). In regard to aid management, the suppl y side featured prominently in relation to public finance management and country procurement systems. It was not only corruption, which was mentioned as a problem, but commitments were also made on transparency and accountability by both donors and recipients. Poor governance, corruption, and bad public management of finance and procurement are thus among the major challenges that the aid industry has encountered for quite some time and mechanisms and strategies to counter their influence are in order (Lancaster, 2006). Research Objectives This research, therefore, sets forth several objectives, including the need to address the rampant corruption and mismanagement that hamper the successful implementation and realization of donor aid projects. The research seeks solution to the derailing progress in realising mutual accountability by both donors and recipients in aid-project implementation. Addressing the issue of commitment by donors and recipients in the aid effectiveness agenda is the other objective of this research. An improvement on the wanting coordination capacity of recipient governments is the other objective of this research. Moreover, this research also seeks to emphasize the central role that commitment on transparency, in conjunction with sound governance and anticorruption, plays in the aid industry. Finally, this research aims at highlighting the effects of the failure by stakeholders to address the developmental aid problems associated with bad governance and corruption on aid management.