Positivism: Strict Scientific Method

Positivism is a philosophy that stated that the only authentic knowledge is scientific knowledge, and that such knowledge can only come from positive affirmation of theories through strict scientific method. The main thrust of the positivist research tends to follow certain scientific and measurable methods to conduct a research. A positivist approach is one that is considered objective, detached and if I may put that way, structured by the researcher's views who test a hypothesis.It is usually associated with quantitative data collection methods and statistical analysis. The positivist researcher try to be at a value free, unbiased and neutral in all respect while conducting the researcher under the assumptions positivism. â€Å"Using scientific method and language to investigate and write about human experience is supposed to keep the research free of the values, passions, politics and ideology of the researcher. This approach to research is called positivist, or positivist-empiri cist and it is the dominant one among the general public. (Anne B Ryan) Positivism sees social science as an organized method for combining deductive logic with precise empirical observations of individual behavior in order to discover and confirm a set of probabilistic causal laws that can be used to predict general patterns of human activity.On the same time positivism approach found to be inefficient when we include social structure of society, life complexity and other problem which can’t be covered when we try to use the quantitative methods to conduct the research. This scientific approach which positivism espouses is rightly thought to be inadequate when it comes to learning about how people live, how they view the world, how they cope with it, how they change it, and so on. †(Anne B Ryan) In the positivism only those topics has been selected those having a public sphere and with the blend of mathematical and technical advantage because research characterized by these norms considered to be efficient and reliable in the positivism playground. Marxism, relies on experiments and verification, objective experience, history, scientific logic and reasoning for acquiring knowledge.Marxism is wholly science oriented because truth based on experiments and verification is its basis — its entire structure rests on scientific experiments, and scientific truth. Marxism holds that on the question of knowing truth science is far more powerful than the power of an individual. Under Marxian approach it is only rational to depend upon science rather than on the belief Orientalism is a form of cultural studies in which the concept of orientalism or the difference between east and west is base of the theory.With the start of European colonization the Europeans came in contact with the lesser developed countries of the east. They found their civilization and culture very exotic, and established the science of orientalism, which was the study of the orie ntals or the people from these exotic civilization. In this process Europeans divided the world into two parts; the east and the west or the occident and the orient or the civilized and the uncivilized. This was totally an artificial boundary; and it was laid on the basis of the concept of them and us or theirs and ours. The Europeans used orientalism to define themselves.Some particular attributes were associated with the orientals, and whatever the orientals weren’t the occidents were. The Europeans defined themselves as the superior race compared to the orientals; and they justified their colonization by this concept. They said that it was their duty towards the world to civilize the uncivilized world. The main problem, however, arose when the Europeans started generalizing the attributes they associated with orientals, and started portraying these artificial characteristics associated with orientals in their western world through their scientific reports, literary work, a nd other media sources.What happened was that it created a certain image about the orientals in the European mind and in doing that infused a bias in the European attitude towards the orientals. This prejudice was also found in the orientalists and all their scientific research and reports were under the influence of this. The generalized attributes associated with the orientals can be seen even today, for example, the Arabs are defined as uncivilized people; and Islam is seen as religion of the terrorist. Another feature of orientalism was that the culture of the orientals was explained to the European audience by linking them to the western culture.

Ntuc Fairprice Essay

NTUC FairPrice is a social enterprise of Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC), the only trade union centre in Singapore. Founded in 1973, the vision of the organization was to moderate the cost of living. NTUC FairPrice is now the largest supermarket chain in Singapore, they consist of 1.FairPrice Supermarkets 2.FairPrice Finest 3.Cheers 4.FairPrice Xtra, 5.FairPrice Xpress 6.FairPrice Online 7.providing their service to 300,000 odd customers daily (Superbands). IKEA IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943. Their uniqueness lies in their design furniture for flat packs for self assembly, by the customers (IKEA, 2011). IKEA’s business practice is known for cost control and continuous product development.IKEA is operating in 38 countries. Although IKEA’s primary intention is to have its end users to transport the furniture by themselves, in Singapore, where many of its consumers may not have their own transport, they also offer delivery service. Procurement, Purchasing And Sourcing FairPrice Firstly, we take a look at Fairprice’s logistic processes, Procurement, purchasing and sourcing. Searching suppliers and conclude agreement Suppliers require meeting Fairprice’s product quality requirements especially for their cold chain management. It helped Fairprice and suppliers gain competitive advantage by contribute quality products for a long period to the demand customers as it gave positive effect on its revenue.For each product group, only limited number of suppliers can supply. Receiving stock requirement from NTUC’s stores They are IT enabled where stock requirement are sent to DC based on their inventory management in which stocks reaches its reorder point needs to start ordering new stocks. Purchasing orders with suppliers Tracking their orders, invoices and payments via SAP Ensuring delivery sent at DC/Stores Perishable products are sent directly to stores. Non-perishable products like butter, cheese are sent to DC. Processing consumer returns and non conformance To process non conformance in which suppliers fails to meet Fairprice’s product quality requirements in their product and dealing with returns in stores using Goods Returned Note. Fairprice’s procurement assures to have a long last and continuous relationship with their suppliers. IKEA All products from IKEA are manufactured according the designed code of conduct â€Å"The IKEA way on Purchasing Home Furnishing Products†(IWAY), as it require main IKEA’s relationship with their suppliers. All suppliers must achieve the requirements.IKEA sources internationally with 5 countries which is China, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Germany. Their 2 main focus is to increase sustainability of their suppliers and increase uses of sustainable raw materials. IKEA aims building long term relationship with suppliers that share same values. They focus to encourage suppliers having developments become sustainable and independent of IKEA presence by committing to IWAY.IKEA’s auditor’s visits suppliers regularly to assure that IWAY’s requirements are met.The compliance and monitoring group (CMG) ensures that same audit requirements are used worldwide. There are 4 major categories of suppliers which is Home Furnishing with 13,800 suppliers, Food with 76 suppl iers, catalogue with 50 suppliers and Transport service with 263 providers. IKEA purchased products both regionally and globally so as to have low price with high quality.They have a purchasing unit called IKEA component in which develops raw materials and components for their product and acts as sub-supplier to IKEA suppliers manufacturing finished products. Inventory Management Fairprice The second logistic process that we are going to look into is the Inventory management. Fairprice and Ikea have designed their inventory management in a way that it will reduce costs and positively impact the company’s return on investment. Fairprice has 2 warehouses and they only hold finished goods in their warehouse. This enables the company to largely reduce the time Fairprice will need to hold the inventory. Inventory cost such as carrying cost and risk cost will be reduce. Fairprice’s inventory management adopts the push approach. The stocks from each outlets will reach a certain stock level where the store staff will make the orders to the GLS (Grocery Logistics of Singapore). GLS will have enough time to consolidate all order from different outlets and enables them to make lesser trips for delivery, thus save the delivery cost and also prevent a stock out situation. IKEA IKEA adopts a special inventory whereby they manufacture their products by a push approach. The operational forecast and the tactical forecast are combined to create a final forecasts on store levels which will be aggregated, reconciled and compared with the same frames based on the retail and distribution services forecast group level. IKEA’s store operations focuses on the Pareto’s law by supporting high-flow facilities and low-flow warehouse that are more manual. In its high-flow warehouses, IKEA employs automatic storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) to drive down its costs-per-touch. IKEA have large bins, which is sufficient enough to cover sales for one day as what is sold is captured by Point of Sales (POS) system and what comes into the store is also known via Warehouse Management System (WMS). Thus, very little cycle counting is done. However, IKEA is able to detect any abnormalities. For example, when the system expects a certain volume of a particular product to have been sold during a two day period and less products was actually sold, the system will trigger and will direct in-store logistics to head to the location to do manual checks. With this process and system, it enables the right goods to be in the store with higher certainty as compared to the traditional retail forecasting/replenishment process. Warehousing and Distribution Fairprice The third process is warehouses and distribution. FairPrice faced problems till 1993 as suppliers used to deliver their products to Fairprice stores directly. This recorded up to 200 deliveries everyday with more than 30,000 products to managed and their distribution system were unproductive and was prone to errors. After 1993, Fairprice’s manage the Grocery Logistic of Singapore(GLS) Distribution Centre which is central distribution centre(DC) .GLS manages 2 distribution centres at Penjuru and JooKoon. In 2002, Fresh Food Distribution Centre(FFDC) is Fairprice’s centralized refrigerated DC to implement only fresh food items which they need right temperature to kept fresh. This allowed Fairprice improvise their supply chain management of these perishable products through a better temperature management control. It’s essential knowing the temperature for perishable products. Products like milk, chilled pork and dairy products are delivered directly to the stores b y suppliers to avoid spoilage. There are 6 warehouse handled under FFDC with different controlled temperatures ranges between -20 to 18 degree Celsius. The temperature in each of the warehouse is controlled and observed assuring that products are kept safe at the right temperatures. This enables NTUC Fairprice increases its efficiency and manage its supply chain as moving stocks faster helps maintain the freshness and improve quality of products. They provide proper infrastructure to maximize storage management and able to improvise the process of handling the fresh food, especially with the right temperature therefore reducing spoilage. By having Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) certified, they devote maintaining good standard food safety and hygiene in DC. They operate 7 days a week and deliver more than 28 million cartons to the stores per year.

1. Are social networking Web sites appropriate for teenagers Or should Essay

1. Are social networking Web sites appropriate for teenagers Or should their access to such Web sites be restricted - Essay Example It is even appropriate for teenagers if they use it wisely, and should not be restricted. One of the major concerns relating to social networking websites is that teenagers without realizing it a public domain, post personal information. Parents especially are concerned about teenagers posting personal information such as sexual behaviors, religious orientation, violent information and substance abuse for the public to read. They become prey to pedophiles and other adults who can direct them towards negative social behaviors and lifestyles. However, according to Dr. Moreno, an assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Wisconsin-Madison (Gordon), such information can be used by parents and others who are concerned about teenagers to communicate with them. They can email teenagers to inform and guide them how to remedy risky behaviors and substance abuse. Another major concern regarding teenage access to social networking web sites is its impact on the teenagers in the future. Around 90 percent of teenagers in the United States have access to the Internet (Gordon) among which 55 percent have used social networks with online profiles. The majority of the profiles belong to older teenage girls registered with sites like MySpace and Facebook (Madden). Since these teenagers use the web sites to connect with friends, make new friends and flirt around, they generally maintain a casual attitude towards their personal information. Parents are concerned about the impact such information lying in public domain have on their future careers and life. But such concerns are also baseless because Maddens survey indicates that teenagers today are wiser than before. They have restricted access to their profiles and only let those who they are acquainted with to view them. These aspects lead the author to conclude that social networking web sites are not such a threat to teenagers as adults believe them to be. With a wise approach and

The Kingdoms of Organisms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Kingdoms of Organisms - Essay Example In this classification viruses, the connecting link between the living and the non-living world are not included. The Linnaean system includes- This kingdom includes prokaryotes, organisms with primitive form of nucleus as the nucleus does not possess any defined nuclear membrane. The organisms are single-celled and absorb nutrition through their cell wall. E.g. Bacteria, Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae (popularly called as BGA, are prokaryotes and are connecting link between chlorophyll containing algae and bacteria) and spirochetes, the spiral single cellular organisms. Lately, the kingdom is further divided into two categories, Eubacteria or true bacteria and Archebacteria or bacteria like organisms capable of surviving in extreme environmental conditions like hot springs and volcanic expels. This kingdom includes eukaryotes (Organisms with well defined nucleus, nuclear membrane and membrane bound cellular organelles are present). The organisms belonging to this category are single celled and are neither plants nor animals as they are diverse forms and need a separate group in the classification. Some of the organisms belonging to this category possess chlorophyll and therefore like plants, they can produce their own nutrition, while others procure nutrition by means of absorption and ingestion processes. This group includes organisms that possess many cells and are called multicellular organisms. They are non-motile and their structure encompass hyphae and mycelium. These organisms do not possess chlorophyll and are dissimilar to plants. This group includes organisms of diverse size from microscopic yeast cells to large mushrooms. Fungi derive their nutrition by means of absorption. They proliferate on the dead as well as decaying organic matter and procure nutrition. This kingdom includes multicellular organisms, with well defined nucleus, enclosed by nuclear membrane and

Should Sharia law have more or less power Research Paper

Should Sharia law have more or less power - Research Paper Example On the other hand, Muslims are of the opinion that Sharia law nurtures humanity, allows individuals attain their potential as well as helps individuals release themselves from the strains of life. This paper will assess of Sharia law should be given more or less power. As seen in the research conducted by Mahmoud (2013), Sharia law should have as minimal power as possible since a great percentage of religious laws do not provide a chance for humanistic values that gives all humans a chance to enjoy equality just like other individuals. Evidently, Sharia law is a good testament of discriminatory practices since it does not give all individuals to enjy equal rights. This explains why even international actors are opposed to the law especially bearing in mind that the law incorporates high levels of discrimination on different persons especially based on their gender. A good example is that of the Sharia law discriminating against the homosexuals (Mahmoud, 2013). With this in question, it is manifest that granting Sharia law more power means that the civil and the safety rights of a group of individuals in the society will be threatened to a great extent. Additionally, any person with contrary beliefs would be indicated to demean the government opera ting under the Sharia law since the law does not appreciate the divergent views of different people in the society. For the case of Britain, it is clear that the society is fighting for a secular Britain due to the constraints that the Sharia law has on its followers (Mahmoud, 2013). With the law having state power in many regions around the globe, it is evident that law will continually seize the achievements of the civil society if the law is given more power. The developments achieved over the years have high chances of being overrun by the Sharia law. A notable example is the rights of

URBAN GEOGRAPHY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

URBAN GEOGRAPHY - Essay Example This study takes a look at the concept of segregation and its implication in the city of Detroit. By taking a look at the history of segregation in Detroit, the study also tries to understand the segregation patterns and the current day scenario of segregation in the city. As mentioned earlier, geographic segregation or more appropriately, residential segregation is the level or extend to which particular groups reside separately from one another, in a particular geographic area such as a city or state (Low, 2004). Segregation, in itself, is a complex phenomenon, where the groups are segregated in a number of ways. For example, people from a minority community reside in such a way that they are often overrepresented in some particular areas and underrepresented in some others (Yinger, 2001). In addition, the same community may be residing in such a manner that their exposure to the other groups is minimized (Yinger, 2001). Similarly, particular groups may be either concentrated or centralized in a certain limited space or clustered in one particular section (Yinger, 2001). There are also particular reasons because of which segregation takes place. For example, South Africa saw legal separation because of Apartheid. Similarly, in many other countries, segregation happens because of the social status in the society or the ethnicity of the people (Johnston and Poulson, 2005). Voluntary segregation is where immigrants prefer to live in a segregated set up so that they could mutually benefit from one another (Johnston and Poulson, 2005). Segregation is measured using Index of Dissimilarity (calculates the way in which particular groups are distributed across particular locations) based on that data that emerges through census. It is often called the index of inequality also (Reardon and O Sullivan, 2004). In the United States, periodic

How do quality management systems impact on revenue in the hospitality Research Paper

How do quality management systems impact on revenue in the hospitality industry - Research Paper Example It has been prophesied time and again by various scholars through various studies what Roberts found in 1996 â€Å"businesses who know and understand customers’ priorities for quality improvements can achieve a threefold increase in profitability† (Dale, 2003).This study has been carried out from the revenue generation context of quality systems implementation for hospitality industry. How the various elements of quality help in achieving the increased profitability needs to be analyzed. It is also important to see whether the concepts that help achieve visible improvements in manufacturing sector also produce profitability improvement worth the effort they involve in the hospitality sector or not. 2. RESEARCH QUESTIONS, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2.1. Research questions identified The major questions which this research aims to answer are - What is the impact of implementing quality management systems in hospitality industry? How do these systems impact the revenues? What are the efforts involved in implementing these systems and are the resources required to implement quality systems justified by the value of the revenues generated? 2.2. Research Aims and Research Objectives The aim of this study is to see how quality management systems impact revenue in the hospitality industry. Study objectives are as follows: 1. To study how quality management systems are implemented in hospitality industry – a general study of the companies. 2. To understand how the quality management systems impacted the parameters of financial performance (a study of the various parameters they impact as well as the means of this impact). 3. To measure the impact... This research paper shows that quality management systems have positive impact on revenues of hospitality industry. It has been observed that this has been achieved by improved market share, brand image, ROI and competitive positioning. However, some concerns regarding the impact of these systems on overall performance of the firms have been highlighted. One of the concerns is the sincerity of implementation of quality management systems within the firms. The industry leaders need to understand that they are the main drivers of change which these systems propose to bring about. Hence, a commitment of words or even documented commitment is not sufficient. The leadership team needs to be thoroughly involved in its implementation. They need to have a quality vision to help firms achieve both revenue and cost benefits. Half hearted efforts, especially in the industry of our study, have found to have a negative impact on operational performance. Our literature review has analyzed all the aspects related to the questions set out in the beginning of our study. Hospitality organizations implement quality management systems by applying for certifications like ISO 9000, etc. or by internal process improvement programs. Some companies in this sector were seen to implement Six Sigma methodologies to reap revenue benefits. Most of the successful organizations in this sector have implemented full computerization which helps the management in analyzing revenue versus cost factors.

See topic below Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

See topic below - Essay Example State-funded Medicaid costs appear to be an ever-present for state government in all of the fifty states of the United States, but some states seem to have a more difficult time dealing with the escalating costs and the lower revenue. These states have been forced to seek other methods of revenue in order to fund the Medicaid program. Given the scenario that I was the governor of such a state and I was had to find of forms of funding, other than allotting money from other state funded programs, I would seek certain choices. As in the example of what the state of Kansas is doing. "The State of Kansas is currently engaged in wide-ranging privatization efforts for services such as child support collection, foster care and adoption, and mental health services. These efforts, which have garnered substantial media attention in the state, have resulted in part from the governor's explicit agenda to reduce the size of the Kansas government and to shift service production to more efficient private contractors.(3) The terms "privatized" and "down-sized" are common in the vocabulary of current state leaders" (Johnston, and Romzek 383) Kansas has had a successful venture with this privatization and

Transportation effect on climate change Term Paper

Transportation effect on climate change - Term Paper Example These include technological improvement, use of energy efficient fuels, management of demand for vehicles and use of renewable fuels as well as alternative sources of fuels. Greenhouse gases  such as carbondioaxide  are responsible for global warming that responsible for climate change. Although transport industry is not responsible for all greenhouse gas emission, it is among the industries consuming the largest amount of fossil fuels in the U.S. (Ryley & Chapman, 2012). "Fossil fuels are the main source of carbon dioxide" and other greenhouse gases. Transport industry affects other sectors such as agriculture, construction, mining, education and commerce among others (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). Therefore, policy decisions taken by the government or other agencies to regulate transport industry affect the operations of other sectors and individuals. Climate change has been described as variations of average weather conditions recorded over a long period in a particular region or across the globe (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The issue of climate change has received much attention in the recent past with various nations convening conferences to establish a lasting solution to the menace of climate change. The policy makers have developed various strategies to address the issue, but there is little which has been done in terms of policy implementations (Asariotis & Benamara, 2012). The issue of global warming is of significant global concern because the effects are felt across the globe rather than in a discriminate geographical region. Greenhouse gases are the main causes of global warming thus resulting to climate change. The main greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere include nitrous oxide (1.5%), carbon dioxide (95%), methane (0.1%) and hydrofluorocarbons (3.4%) (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The sources of greenhouse gases include natural and human activities. However, human activities are the

Discussion 7- economics-pricing strategies Assignment

Discussion 7- economics-pricing strategies - Assignment Example Since producers have no control over the market prices, they can only control how much they produce. For production, firms in pure competitive market evaluate both the prices for selling their goods and the cost of production. If the analysis leads to greater profit maximization margin, the firm increases its production. Firms in a competitive market maximize profits or minimize losses by evaluating marginal revenues against marginal costs (Reynolds, 2011). Since there are many producers, each makes up a small portion of the total market. No particular producer can influence market prices. The demand curve for the various producers in pure competitive markets is completely elastic (horizontal). Producers in pure competitive markets are price takers. Such producers have the power to sell their products as much as they can produce. If competitors change their prices in pure competitive markets, consumers are willing to switch their demands to the most competitively priced products. In such a case, cross-price elasticity increases since consumers have other available options at better offers. If one producer raises the price, demand goes to

Tell Me About Blood Essay Example for Free

Tell Me About Blood Essay In this paper I will answer some questions about blood and related issues. Some of the questions I will answer are: what is the significance of a lower than normal haematocrit? what is erythropoiesis?why would the level of leukocytes be higher in an individual who has been infected with a parasitic disease. In regions where malaria is endemic, some people build up immune resistance to the malaria pathogen. Which WBCs are responsible for the immune response against pathogens? How do they function? A 13 year old is studying blood in school, and has asked some questions that havent been answered in class. I will answer these questions In a way that a young teenager would be able to understand. What is the significance of a lower than normal hematocrit ? What is the effect of a bacterial infection on the haematocrit? A test called haematocrit is the testing of the proportion of red blood cells compared to all blood cells in a certain volume. A lower than normal finding on a hemotocrit could mean anemia, a large number of white blood cells due to illness infection Leukemia, Lymphoma or other white blood cell disorders, vitamin or mineral deficiency or recent blood loss. The effect of a bacterial infection on the hemotocrit would cause a decrease of the haematocrit. Compare the development of lymphocytes with the development of other formed elements. There are two kinds of lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. Lymphocytes begin in the bone marrow, if they stay there then they are B lymphocytes, if they move to the thymus they are called T lymphocytes. The other formed elements of blood start with a mixture of  plasma that develop through erythrocytes and the platelets are formed by megakaryocytes exploding. What is erythropoesis? Which factors speed up and slow down erythropoesis? Erythropoesis is the process of making new red blood cells. This begins in red bone marrow. Proerythroblasts divide several times until it reaches the end of its development, then rejects the nucleus and becomes an reticulocyte. After being released from the red bone marrow a few days later they turn into erythrocytes. Erythropoiesis speeds up when there is a lack of oxygen to body tissues and slows down when there is sufficient oxygenation throughout the bod y. Explain what would happen if a person with type B blood were given a transfusion of type O blood. If a person with type B blood was given a transfusion of Type O there will be no negative affects. Type O blood is the universal donor as there is no antigen on them that would be attacked by the anti-A antibody on the B type blood cells. During an anatomy and physiology exam your asked to view white blood cells in prepared slides of standard human blood smears. Based on the observations below what is the name and function of each WBC? A.WBC has a round nucleus surrounded by a blue halo of cytoplasm with no visible granules. This WBC is a lymphocyte. The function of a lymphocyte is an immediate response of the immune system to defend against known pathogens ASAP. B.WBC contains dense blue purple granules that hides the nucleus. This WBC is a basophil. Their function is to store histamine and are involved in a response to inflammation. C. WBC has a u-shaped nucleus and a bluish cytoplasm with no visible granules. This WBC is called a monocyte. The function of a monocyte is much the same as the neutrophil, they eat invading pathogens to help protect the body. Monocytes also eat dead and damaged cells to keep the body healthy. D.WBC contain small, pale lilac granules and a four lobed nucleus. This WBC is a neutrophil. The function of neutrophils are to eat bacteria and some other foreign material. The membrane of the neutrophil surrounds the invading bacteria and then destroy it. E.WBC contains red orange green any two lobes nucleus. This WBC is an eosinophil. Eosinophils have a few functions, they are part of the inflammatory process, the trap substances, kill cells, and have anti-parasitic and bactericidal activity. Why would the level of leukocytes be higher in an individual who has been infected with a parasitic disease? Leukocytes help defend the body from infections, as someone is getting sick from a disease leukocytes target the threat to keep the body healthy and to destroy the threat. When a doctor looks at the results from a complete blood count of CBC and see that there is an elevation of white blood cells he knows that there is an infection or immune issue. In regions where malaria is endemic, some people build up immune resistance to the malaria pathogen. Which WBC is responsible for the immune response against pathogens? How do they function? Lymphocytes are responsible for the response against pathogens. First you must be exposed to the pathogen, after that the lymphocytes know what to look for. When you are re exposed to the disease your body is prepared for it and keeps you from getting sick or at the very least from getting the full blown sickness. What is the function of prothrombinase and thrombin in clotting? Explain how the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of blood clotting differ. The function of prothombinase is to turn into prothrombin in to thrombin to make blood clot, which then stops blood loss. The difference between extrinsic and intrinsic is where the chemical connections comes from. The extrinsic bond happens outside of the damaged blood vessel when blood seeps into other tissue. The intrinsic bond happens inside of the damaged blood vessel. With both pathways after the chemical bond is triggered a blood clot begins to form and stop the bleeding. This paper explains a few questions about blood in a language that a young teenager should be able to understand. The questions answered explain about the different white blood cells, what they look like and their functions. This paper also explains about blood transfusions and clotting. References basophil (blood cell) Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/55316/basophil Blood Types Chart | Blood Group Information | American Red Cross. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-types The clotting process World Federation of Hemophilia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.wfh.org/en/page.aspx?pid=635 Complete Blood Count (CBC): Healthwise Medical Information on eMedicineHealth. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/complete_blood_count_cbc-health/article_em.htm erythropoiesis definition of erythropoiesis in the Medical dictionary by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/erythropoiesis Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and other methods to enhance oxygen transport. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2439521/ Hematocrit test Why its done Tests and Procedures Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hematocrit/basics/why-its-done/prc-20015009 Lymphocytes and the Cellular Basis of Adaptive Immunity Molecular Biology of the Cell NCBI Bookshelf. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26921/ What is an Eosinophil? | Definition Function | CCED. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/c/eosinophilic-disorders/conditions/eosinophil/ What Is the Function of Monocytes? (with picture). (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-function-of-monocytes.htm White blood cells Google Search. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2014, from https://www.google.com/search?es_sm=93biw=1366bih=667tbm=ischsa=1q=White+blood+cellsoq=White+blood+cellsgs_l=img.33414.9913.0.10016.20.11.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0.01c.1.47.img..20.0.0.xIhwmJNe2D8 White Blood Cells. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum_modules/OrganSystems/module_1/whatweknow 5.htm

Examining Cross Cultural Communication In Organizations Cultural Studies Essay

Examining Cross Cultural Communication In Organizations Cultural Studies Essay Cross-cultural communication also referred to as intercultural communication which is a subset of organizational communication, and comprises verbal and non-verbal communication. This in turn involves transfers of information and knowledge between individuals in the organization with significantly different people in different languages and from different cultures. We define cross-cultural communication as a subject which focuses on the communicative activities of people from different cultural background and the essence and rules of the communicative activities (Jia, 1997, 563). Many cultures have their own etiquette when communicating. Communication can only be succeeded if messages are appropriately delivered and received. Especially in cross-cultural communication, two-sides of peoples are from two different countries with different culture, custom, thoughts and languages. This would make a successful communication more difficult to be reached. Miscommunication may lead to conflict, or more serious conflict that already exists. Therefore, it is important to explore the problems of cross-cultural communication, and the problems of deducing those rules of communicative appropriateness that are applied in the other culture. Furthermore, much discussion has focused on differences international negotiating styles. However, there is little attention to examine how and what degree language plays a significant role in a cross-cultural communication. Unfortunately, some monolingual experts believe that any languages can be completely transferred into another language. According Geoff Hart, 2007: Effective and good communication is very important to all organization. In todays business environment, in order to communicate with the outside world, it is essential to have successful communication skills in workplace. Cross-cultural communication in the workplace compounds certain problems. There is lack of interaction in the field of communication among individuals in the organization with significantly different ethnographic profiles. In addition, words imply different meaning in different languages. Much cross-cultural communication in workplace and worker within limited English speaking abilities and their cultural differences leads to misunderstanding and tension at the workplaces. Thus, business is taken very seriously in many cultures that often show up in the workplace. Misunderstandings and miscommunication can cause and enhance conflict in workplace. Within cross-cultural communication, our seemingly normal approaches to meaning-making and communication will never be clear enough that we can see them for what they are which is a set of lenses that shape what we see, hear, say understand, and interpret. Culture is linked to communication and a wide range of human experience including feelings, identity, and meaning-making. Communication is the vehicle by which meanings are conveyed and feelings are expressed. Both conflict and harmony are possible outcomes of any interaction as we communicate using different cultural habits between workers. According Charlotte-Mecklenburg Development Board (WDB), 2002: Cultural barriers between different cultures often cause much frustration, annoyance, and lead to problems that erode efficiency and effective in daily life. The biggest barriers to cross-cultural communication refer to language difficulties. Cultural barriers and language cannot be divided. This is because language carries the information of language and culture. Every kind of language is created and developed in a certain historical circumstance of society. Therefore, Language reflects the feature of nation. It contains not only the historical cultural background of this nation, but also the view of life, the way of life and the way of thought of this nation (Xiao, 1997:159). Some problem increase which are barriers caused by semantics, barriers caused by word connotations, barriers caused by tone differences and barriers caused by differences between perceptions. Barriers caused by semantics word meaning. As weve noted previously, words mean different things to different people. This is particularly true for people from different national cultures. Some words cannot translate and imply to English and special meaning to different people from different cultures. It is reflects the differences of culture most extensively. For example, to conduct business in Korea, you must understand the concept of Kibun, which does not translate into English. Its meaning is something similar to inner feelings or mood: people must communicate in a manner to enhance one anothers Kibun or risk creating an enemy and destroying the relationship (Mary Munter, 1993). Barriers caused by word connotations or implication of words. On the other hand, the meaning extent of a word and the connotation of future are not complete equivalent between different cultures. Negotiations between English and Japanese executive, for instance, are made more difficult because the Japanese word iie translates as no, but its connotation may be no, Im not studying, rather than No, I disagree. Barriers caused by tone differences or the mood or feeling your words convey. The tone changes depending expression of slang, feelings, emotions and thought. Slang may lead barriers to communication. For example, a conversation demonstrative between A and B dealing with slang. A: Will you really join? B: You kill me. It is very confuse for different people to understand the conversation because the sentence of B is slang. It means (If I wont join,) you kill me. The sentence of A is more polite while the sentence of B is more offhand. In some cultures tone is usually more formal, whereas in others it is more informal; in some it is more polite, in others more offhand; in some more impersonal, in others more personal; in some more dry, in others more colorful ( Mary Munter, 1993). Barriers caused by differences between perceptions. People who speak different languages from different cultures look into the world in different ways. Every country perceive different perceptions. PROBLEM THAT FACED IN CULTURES CONTEXT Any communication relies on the context in which it takes place, (Victor, 1992, 137). Some cultures rely on the context of communication much more than others. Contexting refers to the circumstances surrounding the exchange. To make an effective and successful communication, every people have to consider the cultural differences and the preeminent communication process in individualistic. Cultures context refers to high context and low text communication. High context refers to societies or groups where people have close connections over a long period of time while low context refers to societies where people tend to have many connections but of shorter duration or for some specific reason. High contexts cannot carry the context information internally and hard to enter if as an outsider. Instead, low contexts are easy to enter if as an outsider because the environment contains the information and form relationships. The exchange of information between workers from high-context and low-context has to work together in cultural context occur the problems. These problems can be categorized as differences in direction, quantity and quality. High-context cultures like China adapt to their close friends, relatives and also to colleagues or in-group members at differences in direction employees. They communication with them mightily and exchange specific information regarding many different talks and topics. In comparison, like Germany, their direction of communication is orientated on personal characters and referred to situations as direction difference. They mostly communicate within their out-groups in a broad and dispersedly way as quantity difference. They exchange information through communication just to the necessary extent so that work can be done and will not discuss or exchange information in the work environment and colleagues as quality difference. In China, the workers discuss everything in advance and consider meetings where the already commonly agreed decision will be announced. The Germans in contrast inform the participating attendants in a meeting about the hard and necessary facts. The decision-making process takes place within the meeting. Besides this, communication is also related to appearance such as clothes and accessories. In cross-communication cultural, these is relating to the context including formal and informal, status and individuality. In Islam, Muslim women are expected to cover in their entirety including the face, except for their eyes, while in Western countries most women, even in a business context, will wear smart attire. Western cultures tend to gravitate toward low-context starting points, while Eastern and Southern cultures tend to use high-context communication.

Mitochondrial DNA Analysis: Techniques and Applications

Mitochondrial DNA Analysis: Techniques and Applications Introduction Because of advancements in technology and techniques, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis has become a common method in forensic procedure. Polymorphisms in human mtDNA were first discovered in 1980 (Brown 1980) while a complete sequence was first achieved in 1981 (Anderson et al., 1981). MtDNA sequencing is frequently used in cases where biological samples are degraded or low in quality, instead of nuclear DNA (nDNA), because each cell contains more than 1000 copies of mtDNA per cell instead of only two per cell in the case of nDNA. This article will examine the background information and techniques of mtDNA analysis as well as several of its applications. Background Information Mitochondrial DNA is located outside the nucleus of a cell in organelles known as mitochondria. The chief advantage of mtDNA is the fact that it is present at a rate of between 100 and several thousand times per cell, making it much easier to be typed than nuclear DNA (James and Nordby, 2005). This characteristic makes mtDNA a very useful tool in a sample that is either degraded or limited in quantity. Its typical sources include hair, bones, teeth and bodily fluid such as saliva, blood, and semen. Another feature of mtDNA is that it is maternally inherited so a sample can be collected from any member of the maternal lineage (Giles et al. 1980). The mtDNA for humans is ~16,569 base pairs and consists of two regions, the control region and the coding region. The control region is located in the displacement loop (D-loop), and contains hypervariable regions 1, 2, and 3 (HVI, HVII, and HVIII). HVI and HVII are sufficiently polymorphic to allow two samples to be differentiated. However, HVIII is currently being assessed to determine its capacity for use in discriminating between individuals and could one day be used to increase the discerning power of mtDNA. The D-loop of mtDNA does not contain any functional genes, and accumulates mutations at a rate of up to 10 times that of nDNA (James and Nordby, 2005). See image below for a sample mtDNA structure. The HVI region is approximately 341 base pairs (bp) in length while the HVII region is 267bp. The other regions in the mtDNA genome have been successfully analyzed but have not been frequently used in forensic works because they havent been proven sufficiently hypervariable. Techniques of mtDNA Analysis The methods for mtDNA typing have gradually changed over the past thirty years. The process has gradually changed protocols from low-resolution restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis to sequence analysis of the HVII and HVII regions and is moving towards a complete sequence of the mtDNA genome for each case. The sequencing and comparison of the mtDNA can be broken down into four steps: Extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, sequencing, and comparison. Extraction A biological sample contains main substances besides DNA. The purpose of extraction is to separate the other material from the DNA before it is examined. The sample is prepared and mixed with certain organic chemicals that lyse the cell membranes, separate proteins from the DNA, and then denature the proteins and destroy their structures to decrease their solubility. Using a phenol chloroform, the denatured proteins are removed. The DNA is then purified using ethanol precipitation and isolation by centrifuge. PCR Amplification The polymerase chain reaction is process similar to the one used by cells to copy their own DNA. By using this process, a relatively small number of copies could be multiplied into over a billion in around thirty cycles. PCR amplification is a three step process. First, the two mtDNA strands are denatured by heat at 94 °C. This means the strands separate from each other into two equal and opposite strands. Second, the sample is cooled to 60 °C and the primers bind to the DNA template, which gives a start sequence to the DNA polymerase in step three, which extends the primers by adding the respective nucleic acids to the base strand and completes the sequence, thus turning one copy of the DNA into two. By repeating this process, the number of copies increases exponentially. Sequencing The primary sequencing method in mtDNA analysis is known as the Sanger method, which is a six step process that builds off the PCR amplification. First, the removal of remaining Deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTP) and primers from PCR through spin filtration or enzyme digestion is required. The PCR quantity is then found to determine if there is enough product to sequence the DNA. Then, four different colored fluorescent dyes are attached to the four differenet ddNTPs. After that, the unincorporated dyes from the sequencing reaction are removed using spin filtration. The purified sequencing reaction is then diluted in foramide and separated through gel electrophoresis. Finally, the sequence analysis of each reaction performed is compiled and interpreted. Comparison After sequencing the HVI and HVII regions of the DNA, the sequences are confirmed with the forward and reverse strands for that sample. Differences are then noted from the revised Anderson sequence, which is the newest standard for mtDNA. Finally, the known and the unknown samples are compared with each other and then compared with the database to determine halotype frequency. Applications As previously stated, current applications of mtDNA analysis are best suited to DNA which is very old and highly degraded. Some of the applications in this include individual identification, evolutionary biology, and maternal lineage testing. Individual Identification MtDNA can play a considerable role in the identification of individuals in which the biological sample would be highly degraded, for example, identifying remains of unknown soldiers. In June, 1998, a DNA sample from one of the US tombs of the unknown was collected and compared to reference samples from seven different families who had lost a family member during the war. The results eliminated six of the families, and provided a positive identification on the final family. The results proved consistent and the soldier was identified as Air Force First Lieutenant Michael J. Blassie. In this case, the small, closed population allowed relative ease of identification. To date, the remains of around 150 soldiers from the Vietnam War and 1,200 from the Korean War have been reunited with their families. Evolutionary Biology There are two main hypotheses about human evolution and phylogenic trees trying to guess where the human race branches off from the rest of the animal kingdom and spread all over the world. The multiregional evolution suggests that modern humans evolved from Neanderthals and Homo erectus at the same time in different parts of the world. This hypothesis is supported by fossil evidence, particularly a gradual change in facial structure from earlier to modern humans. The other hypothesis suggests a more recent African origin around 100,000 200,000 years ago, in which a small group of modern humans populated the rest of the world. This would have been done without mixing genetic material with other forms of humans. Because the human mitochondrial genome was one of the first to be completely sequenced, it took researchers a while to see the advantage of sequencing the entire genome. First, mutations in the D-loop occur at a rate 5-10 times faster than that of normal nDNA, and having the complete genome showed the same polymorphism on two different loci. Also, while the D-loop was changing at a high rate, mutations outside the D-loop were near zero, allowing the rate of evolution for the rest of the genome to be seen clearly and evenly between different complexes. The data collected gives evidence to support the recent African origin theory. By finding the substitution rate between the sequences, it is possible to find dates at which the genetic material coincided with itself and thus makes it possible to find approximate dates and points on the phylogenic tree. From this information, the sequence of events in human evolution can be established. The data suggests a severe population constriction around 180,000 years ago. (Brown, 1980) This evidence supports the recent African origin hypothesis while with the multiregional hypothesis you would expect to see this constriction at an older date. Maternal Lineage Because mtDNA testing can be done with a smaller quantity of DNA, it is well suited for maternity testing and forming a family tree. Right now, mtDNA is the most common form of DNA analysis performed to determine parental maternity testing today. Obviously, this is used in the legal system for the purpose of deciding custody battles. MtDNA also has precedence in accurately performing historical identifications through maternal lineage. A famous case of this would most likely be the case in which Jesse James body was identified by using a comparison between his DNA and the great-great-granddaughter of his sister. This lineage would provide a positive match if in fact it was Jesse James remains, which in fact it was. However, the James case was not without its faults. The initial attempts at mtDNA analysis of the bone specimens from the specimen were not successful. More, specifically, there was no product formation during the Polymerase Chain Reaction. The most likely cause of this type of error would be the poor condition the material was in.(Stone et al. 2001) After running several tests on the bones, teeth and hair of the remains, mtDNA was collected and analyzed from two molar teeth and two hair fibers. This just shows that while mtDNA analysis has the possibility for up to 100% exclusion, because of mix-ups, laboratory errors, contamination, and degradation, its not 100% accurate. Conclusion Because of its impact on the forensic community, mtDNA analysis has become a power discrimination tool in forensic science. The methods that have been developed over the past thirty years have been firmly founded in scientific research. Each tool used in the aid of sequencing the mtDNA has a specific purpose that plays an important part the analysis as a whole. As technologies evolve, the discriminating power goes up, as in the case of adding the HVIII loci to the standard, and the error rates go down because of new information regarding contamination prevention procedures and determining the presence of degraded sample. Finally, by applying all of these concepts to the forensic world, mtDNA analysis becomes a powerful tool that has the potential to trace lineages, prove maternity, and identify unknown persons. References Anderson, S., Bankier, A.T., Barrel, B.G., Bruijn, M.H.L., Courlson, A.R., Drouin, J., Eperon,I.C., Nierlich, D.P., Roe, B.A., Sanger, F., Schreier, P.H., Smith, A., Staden, R., and Young, I.G., 1981, Sequence and Organization of the Human Mitochondrial Genome.MRC Laborator of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK Brown, W. M. 1980 Polymorphism in mitochondrial DNA of humans as revealed by restriction endonuclease analysis Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USAVol. 77, No. 6, pp. 3605-3609 Butler, J. 2005, Forensic DNA Typing. Elsevier Science pp.242-298 Giles, R.E., Blanc, H., Cann, H.M., and Wallace, D.C. .1980, Maternal inheritance of human mitochondrial DNA, Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USAVol. 77, No. 11, pp. 6715-6719, Ingman, M. ,2001,Mitochondrial DNA Clarifies Human Evolution, http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/ingman.html Image Source: MtDNA. http://www.nfstc.org/pdi/Subject09/images/pdi_s09_m02_01_a.1_large.jpg James, S.H. and Nordby, J.J. 2005, Forensic Science: an introduction to scientific and investigative techniques. N.W. Ciroirate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida Michael Blassie Unknown No More, 2006, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproofs//galleries/cases/blassie.html Stone A.C., Starrs J.E., Stoneking, M. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of the presumptive remains of Jesse James. J of Forensic Sci 2001;46(1):173-176. What is the relationship between the cold war and the war on terror’ in afghanistan? What is the relationship between the cold war and the war on terror’ in afghanistan? What is the relationship between the Cold War and the ‘War on Terror in Afghanistan? How far can one be said to be the continuation of the other? Introduction The Cold War period lasted for nearly 45 years, from 1945 to 1991. It began at the end of the Second World War and with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The war was the stage for the Wests struggle against communist ideas and changes. This long wearing conflict brought to pass an increase in production and trade of arms and an appearance of a new world order formed by America. The main principle of the cold war can be seen as the East-West competition in ideas, arms and spheres of influence. (REF) After Afghan terrorists dramatically attacked the United States on September 11, 2001; America declared a war on terror and flew its troops into Afghanistan in pursuit of avenging their nation and capturing al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Again America found itself in opposition to the East, nevertheless this time a different region. And Again the East was fighting against this new world order and Americas quest for world domination in a globalising world. The aim of the essay is to explore the relationship between the cold war and the ‘war on terror in Afghanistan and to find similarities in political patterns and warfare, in order to answer the question. Main Body History Main question Relationship The cold war marked the struggle between America and the USSR after the Second World War. The war influenced international affairs majorly. It influenced the way conflicts were handled, the way countries were divided up and the increasing growth in weaponry production. The United States of America as well as the USSR had weapons of mass destructions in nuclear form, which formed a global threat for all humanity. However, both superpowers were aware of the exceeding dangers of their nuclear weapons. Therefore they would not fight an open war against each other. However they fought wars by proxy, supporting other countries to fight each other on their behalf. An example of this is the Vietnam War. While the Soviets supported the communist north of Vietnam, the United States supplied the anti-communist south with weapons and fighters. Therefore it was not just a war between North and South Vietnam but a proxy war between the Soviet Union and America. America perceived the USSR as anti-d emocratic and as oppressor of civil liberties. However one can argue that capitalist America was opposing the USSR because they were spreading communist ideas and they were anti-capitalist and therefore an obstacle to global domination. (REF) The USSR perceived America as severe threat to their communist borders. Both parties lived in a form of paranoia about one another, with feelings of suspicions and distrust and this lack of understanding of politics and cultures lead to a dangerous course, which was the cold war. In the late 1970s Afghanistan was experiencing political difficulties. Hazifullah Amin, the prime minister had a plan to change Afghan politics and society and to do away with Muslim traditions in order to introduce a more western system. This did not please most Afghans who valued their Muslim traditions. Therefore they joined the mujahideen, a guerrilla group who opposed Amins regime and Soviet intervention. It is interesting to know that the Taliban are a faction derived from a group of mujahideen. (REF) The Soviets fought a hopeless war against the group in the unfamiliar territories of the mountains. Though the Russians were a superpower they did not prevail against the guerrillas, who they deemed terrorists. The mujahideen eventually overthrew the Afghan government and drove out the Russians. Furthermore, it is believed that the mujahideen had sponsors as well as access to American missiles. As such it can be argued that America used the guerrilla group as proxy against communi st Russia. Now at the beginning of the twenty-first century, many years after the cold war, a different yet similar type of threat engages the United States. Terrorism nowadays is part of constant political debate. America was wounded deeply on 9/11 which lead the nation to fight on open ended war against terrorism and to invade Afghanistan. The nation believed, as former US president George W. Bush said that the al-Qaeda and Taliban were evil doers who continued the course of fascism, Nazism and totalitarianism. (Ref) Bush himself here draws a parallel to the Cold war. Further he states that â€Å"either you are with us or you are with the terrorists†. (CNN) Terrorism was an evil that had to be fought and neutralised. Afghanistan needed to be freed from its extremism and it needed a reasonable system with liberal democracies and western values. Again there was a divide between the west and the east and between freedom and oppression. And again on both sides there was the readiness to im mediately use powerful military force. However one important difference between both wars is that during the cold war, though wars were fought by proxy, the opposing nations still had civilised meetings and debates in order to find a peaceful solution. The war on terror however, did or does not leave room or time for negotiation. Whether the perception of the threat was exaggerated or the response appropriate has been debated since day one of the invasion. However America should not have been so quick to invade Afghanistan. There are many reasons for this argument, firstly because Afghanistan as a country did not attack the United States but it was the work of a small group of people in Afghanistan. (REF) Secondly America should have aimed to meet with leaders of the Afghan government to discuss a cooperation in order to capture terrorists groups and to tackle the problem internally. If this would have failed, the States would look for other alternatives and if all cooperation faile d, then threaten the country with an invasion. America was wounded, it was hurt, ashamed and scared and yes it was angry and demanded action, yet the action it took was not the right one. It has been over eight years since the invasion of the Middle East and not much has been achieved. As the Cold war can be describes as a war of ideas, so can the war on terror be describes as a war of ideas and values. The Cold war was a competition and struggle for power.   It lasted for decades but the states involved did negotiate and did meet in discussion to find possible solutions to the conflict. In contrast, the war on terror does not accept negotiations between the west and the terrorists. Though there are cooperation between many states worldwide to combat terrorism, there is no real communication between the states who matter, namely between the West and the East. However during both wars America dealt with a perceived threat and fear of the foreign. There emerged a new national security state with internal surveillance and increased security measures. (REF) Nowadays more and more intelligent surveillance technology is being developed. However these inventions might not always be ethical and they do pose a threat to civil liberties. In the case of the newly manufactur ed 3D full body scanners at airports, which are so detailed that it becomes possible to perfectly see a person naked, people and groups have been outraged. The state faces a difficult decision between increased security and the protection of peoples privacy. (The Guardian) However, the terrorist threat of al-Qaeda also can be seen as different from the danger of the USSR. While the al-Qaeda is a relatively small group, the Soviet Union is an enormously large state, with a great amount of nuclear weapons, forces and allies. While the first was about a struggle for power, the later is a struggle against the influence of western capitalism and mistreatments. Nevertheless both the Soviet Union and the al-Qaeda were and are fighting against capitalist ideas. This is not to suggest that Russia has terrorist features. But it is to identify the relationship between the two conflicts. Thus it can be said that there is a continuation of the fight against capitalism and therefore a continuation of the conflict between the West and the East. Also this conflict is a fight against globalisation. As capitalism thrives on an ever shrinking and interconnected world, with open borders and free markets which globalisation facilitates.

Simon: The Unexpected DJ :: Personal Narrative Writing

Simon: The Unexpected DJ Driving up Route 9 towards Poughkeepsie in a snow storm was not something I wanted to do. The time itself—an hour’s drive—was elongated by the pretty, but dangerous, falling snow. As my Beetle and I plowed up through Fishkill and made our way to the town of Poughkeepsie, I started getting nervous. I would be interviewing a real live DJ! Since I was a child I had always loved music and the radio. I remember leaping up onto my kitchen counter and perching there, anxiously listening to who would be crowned Number One that week on the Top 40. Or I would be in my cool, newly-furnished bedroom listening to the most-requested five-song countdown on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 8pm. For this assignment, I had emailed local rock and alternative radio station WRRV, explaining my situation and asking if there was a DJ interested in having a 30 minute interview with me. The next day, Simon emailed me back saying he’d like to take me up on that offer. I was to drive up to WRRV and we would conduct the interview in the station in two weeks time. I remember that on the night before the interview I was driving home from Pace, and I was able to clearly receive WRRV (unusual, as the station is normally out-of-range at that location)—and I heard Simon on the radio. How exciting it was, to know that I would be talking to him the very next day! So there I was, thundering (or carefully maneuvering) my way up Route 9. After a quick stop at the local police station to re-orient myself (as I missed a left turn), I pulled into the small parking lot of the small, two-story, stucco-and-shingled building with an enormous satellite dish on it. I double-checked my questions, made sure my recorder was working, and headed in. I sat in the small waiting area as the secretary went to fetch Simon. Palms sweaty, I rubbed them on my jeans to calm myself and let out a little nervous energy. â€Å"Melissa? I’m Simon. Nice to meet you.† A hand stretched out before me, and I rose to shake it. Simon, The Voice From The Radio, was a normal guy! He was taller than me, of medium build, had short, cropped hair, and a welcoming smile.

The Monk :: essays research papers fc

The Monk: A Rebellious Offspring of the Age of Reason Understanding the Gothic novel can be accomplished by obtaining a familiarity of the Augustan point of view, which helps to develop a reference point for comparing and contrasting the origin of Gothic literature. The thinking that was being questioned by the Gothic novel was Augustanism; and without some understanding of Augustan principles and their role in eighteenth-century thought it is difficult to understand the purposes of the Gothic revival, either in terms of history or in terms of the way in which it offered a new conception of the relations between man, nature and a supreme being. David punter describes the political relationship of the Augustan thinker to the literary world, â€Å" It is tempting to see in Augustanism the doctrine of a small cultural elite holding on to power and status under increasing pressure, and that pressure as precisely that exerted by the new reading public on the homogeneity of the old literary establishment (p 31 Punter). This small number of e lite would have included, but not limited to, Fielding, Johnson and especially Pope. However, Fielding and Johnson were slowly stepping outside of the realm of the Augustan limitations. Fielding was undoubtedly Augustan in his beliefs in the stability of social rules and the necessity of a social and psychological compromise, but his mocking attitude towards literary stipulation represents a more moderate Augustan replication. Johnson, on the other hand, was a firm believer in these literary rules and yet it was his ‘Preface to Shakespeare’ which became the first significant breach in these limitations. Alexander Pope’s ‘Essay on Man’ embodies the cosmological, theological and ethical beliefs of the Augustan age; while at the same time exemplifying submission to the rules of literary form. The Augustan approach was intellectual with formal restraint; while relying on reason and traditionalism to create literary works. These stipulations were very con trolled by their boundaries and could not be exaggerated with out being broken. The Augustan critical attitude condemned spontaneity for its chaotic qualities, imagination for its objection to reason and liberalism for its opposition to traditionalism. Gothic fiction appears as a specific response to the Age of Reason’s order. During the late eighteenth-century, several different kinds of new fiction arose to challenge the Augustan tradition; leading the way was the Gothic novel. An interest in those things, which cannot be understood, for example religion and the soul, results in an overwhelming expansion of what is accepted as art in the literary world.

Essay --

Introduction As seen above, a large number of people live below poverty line and over one-half of these people depend on agriculture. These rural households may not be directly involved in the agricultural labor but their income sources are linked with the success of the agricultural production. They may be exposed to the financial risks following natural disasters or climate change, which affect the products of agriculture. 1. Agriculture in India and Major Risks 1.1. A review of Agriculture in India This section covers the significant government policies that aimed at the promotion of agricultural development. There were many principle changes that have been introduced since the Independence of India. At the time of Independence, the agricultural sector consisted of a stagnant backward economy with low resource availability, inadequate government support and most importantly, severe poverty. Daniel Thorner, a well-known economist remarked â€Å"India was left with perhaps the world’s most refractory problem† (ANTHONY P. D'COSTA). Land reforms were introduced as an immediate measure to deal with the skewed distribution of land and the reforms led to the abolition of intermediaries and giving land titles to farmers. Along with these reforms, the Community Development Programme was set up in 1952 (NAYAR, 1960). This programme aimed at the development of the rural people by the co-ordination of the activities related to agriculture, animal husbandry and irrigation, which was executed and evaluated by officials at district level to village level. National Extension Service was also introduced along with the Community Development Programme, which also aimed at the initiati on of rural development activities under the sponsorship of the ... ... their chances of default either by borrowing money from lenders at atrocious interest rates or by selling their assets alongside poor investment in future seasons. Therefore, yield risk is one of the most important agricultural risks. Rainfall is a major yield risk factor especially in the Indian economy, as it is heavily dependent on monsoon. A recent study has shown that there is a positive correlation between rainfall and the crop yields in rural India (Kirtti Ranjan Paltasingh, 2012). Hence, the risk is more dominant in certain regions such as arid regions when compared to high rain-fed regions. High temperature also affects plant growth and decreases the yield significantly. 1.2.2 Market/Price risk: Agriculture is subjected to many uncertainties and this even includes the price of the agricultural products. The input and output prices are volatile in nature.

Employee Resourcing and Development Essay

Employee resourcing and development is essential to all organisations and highly contributes towards the organisations success. Employee resourcing is ‘the part of human resource management which focuses on the recruitment and release of individuals from organisation’ and ‘the management of their performance and potential while employed by the organisation’ (Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2010). Employee development is ‘the process & facilitation of learning and knowledge that support business goals, develop individual potential and respect and build on diversity’ (Harrison, R., 2009). Employee resourcing and development can significantly add value to an organisation and help to cement the HR business partnership, and this essay will critically analyse the extent to which resourcing and development activities do so. Absence Management Employee absence levels can have substantial negative impacts on organisations; and therefore it is becoming increasingly common to see organisations introducing new, or revising existing, absence management programmes. A study from CIPD found that the ‘annual median cost of absence per employee was  £595’ (CIPD, 2013); costing the UK economy  £17 billion per year (ACAS, 2010). If an employee is absent from work it is highly likely that the organisation will be faced with both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs being those associated with the hiring of, and paying for, temporary staff while the particular employee(s) are absent (ACAS, 2010); Statutory Sick Pay if the employee is absent for 4 or more days in a row; occupational sick pay, if it is part of the particular organisations terms and conditions (GOV.UK, 2013). Secondly, indirect costs are those related to low morale amongst remaining colleagues, who may be expected to take on extra responsibilities as a result of the absence; decreased customer satisfaction, if temporary members of staff are not adequately knowledgeable in particular areas of customer interest; reduced reputation with both customers and potential employees, potentially affecting future business; decreased performance and productivity, as a result of demotivation of remaining colleagues and lack of staff in relation to workload. All of which can significantly impact upon organisational efficiency and effectiveness  (Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2009). Efficient absence management can reduce the detrimental effects that employee absence can have on an organisation, and can also be seen to contribute towards added value. The study carried out by CIPD found that ‘return-to-work interviews and trigger mechanisms†¦ are ranked among the most effective approaches for managing short-term absence’ (CIPD, 2013). A return-to-work interview is a crucial part of an absence management programme – welcoming empl oyees back to work following their absence and checking that the employee is well enough to return to work (ACAS, 2010). If an employee returns to work before being fully recovered there is the chance that the employee will take longer to return to full health, reducing productivity and potentially resulting in them being absent again in the near future, and possibly for a longer period. There is also the risk that they could pass on their illness to other colleagues resulting in further absences (Robson, 2006) and further impacts on productivity. Read more: Essay on Developing and Assessing Employees The return-to-work interview also allows organisations to identify the cause of the employee’s absence and to assess whether their absence was work-related (ACAS, 2010). This then enables the organisation to take steps to prevent the same employee, or other employees, being absent for similar reasons in the future; this may include training updates in health and safety for example. The cost of such changes will be potentially outweighed by the benefits, by reducing employee absence levels in the long-term. A return-to-work interview may also outline the underlying reasons for absence, such as the employee having to take care of an elderly relative (ACAS, 2010). In these circumstances an organisation may decide to develop different working arrangements with that particular employee, for example flexible working. Flexible working allows the organisation to fit around the employee’s schedule, potentially reducing the number of days that the employee needs to take off work unexpectedly as a result of their circumstances; thus reducing the negative impact that unexpected absences can have on productivity and associated costs. It also enables organisations to plan ahead – if they know that a particular employee is going to be off work then they can recruit temporary/part-time staff to fill in on these days; reducing the impact that the extra workload could have on colleagues stress levels and allows the organisation to maintain levels of productivity. The effectiveness of flexible working and the extent to which  it adds value, however, relies heavily on whether or not it is valued by the employees themselves (Hodge, 2009); therefore this should be investigated prior to it being implemented. As previously mentioned trigger mechanisms, such as the Bradford Factor is also found to have an ‘overwhelmingly positive impact on absence’ (CIPD, 2013, p. 31). The Bradford Factor is a ‘mechanism for weighting frequency of sickness absence’ (Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2009 p. 340). Such management techniques of monitoring absence increase productivity and reduce levels of absenteeism; which in the long-term will reduce organisational costs, resulting in increased profit. A study looking into the impact of positive intervention in absence management found that trigger mechanisms reduced absenteeism, especially if sick pay was withdrawn or there was the threat of disciplinary action (Baker-McClearn, et al., 2010). However , this was also found to ‘contribute to low morale, lack of commitment to work, stress and anxiety’ (Baker-McClearn, et al., 2010), all of which could potentially lead to reduced productivity resulting in increased costs. There was also a close link found between the use of trigger mechanisms and increasing levels of presenteeism (Baker-McClearn, D. et al., 2010). Presenteeism can be used to describe people ‘who, despite†¦ ill health†¦ are still turning up at their job’ (Unison. 1999, as cited in Baker-McClearn, et al., p. 311). For example, employees would come into work feeling unwell as, one, they couldn’t afford to remain absent if not receiving sick pay and two, they were frightened of the consequences disciplinary action would bring. This has severe impacts upon productivity, with findings showing that ‘productivity drops from 75% on ‘normal days’ to 55% on ‘sick days’’ (Newcombe, T., 2013). Ther efore, although the Bradford Factor is effective in reducing absenteeism, it is questionable whether the benefits of this outweigh the negative impacts on the employee and the impacts that presenteeism can have on the organisation. As previously mentioned, HR aims to improve employee productivity through absence management. This consequently improves employee performance, which contributes towards organisational objectives, such as improving performance – potentially leading to increased profit margins. Therefore the alignment of the HR practitioner’s objectives with the business manager’s objectives helps to reinforce the business partnership; with both partners working together to  achieve organisational objectives. Employee Well-Being Employee well-being has been defined by CIPD as ‘creating an environment to promote a state of contentment which allow employees to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and their organisation’ (Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2009, p. 416). It is becoming increasingly common to see organisations adopting measures designed to promote employee health and well-being; as organisational researchers have found that dysfunctional employee well-being can have widespread costs for the organisation (Wright & Chuang, 2012). For instance, employee well-being strategies aim to create a healthier workforce which consequently leads to reduced absence levels. Therefore, as a result, this then leads to a reduction in the significant financials costs related to employee absence (Bevan, S., 2010). Employee well-being also aims to target long-term absence related to depression and anxiety; both of which prove to be ‘more complex and costly to manage, and have m ore significant consequences for employers’ (Bevan, S., 2010, p. 11). Therefore, it is likely that the costs of implementing such well-being policies will be outweighed by the significant savings and increased added value that will be seen as a result. These measures have not only been found to positively influence an employee’s health and well-being, but also to add value to an organisation through improved employee productivity and commitment (Bevan, S., 2010). As previously mentioned, well-being can have a positive impact on absence levels which as a result improves employee productivity. Macdonald (2005) also suggested that well-being strategies contributed towards employee morale, increased levels of productivity and employee retention (Pilbeam, & Corbridge, 2009). Research has also gone onto to find that there is a significant link between employee well-being and job performance, workplace accidents, customer engagement, quality defects and profitability. Job per formance has been found to be highly correlated with employee well-being in a number of organisational studies (Thomas, et al, 2012). Absence management is one way in which performance can be improved within all organisations, particularly within the domiciliary care sector. With government cut backs and managements time being constrained, absence management schemes can often be overlooked, resulting in high levels of absenteeism. As previously mentioned, the Bradford factor has been found to  have an ‘overwhelmingly positive impact on absence’ (CIPD, 2013, p. 31) and is one way that domiciliary care businesses could monitor absence effectively and efficiently, without taking up too much of management’s time and without incurring substantial costs. Return-to-work interviews will also enable management to identify the key reasons behind the absence, allowing management to take steps to potentially prevent absence of the same reason occurring again. Both techniques will in theory reduce absenteeism as employees will be aware that their absence is being monitored, and so they will be less likely to be absent from work as frequently; therefore overall increasing organisational performance. Recruitment and Selection Recruitment is ‘the process of generating a pool of capable people to apply for employment to an organisation’ and selection is ‘the process by which managers and others use specific instruments to choose from a pool of applicants a person or persons more likely to succeed in the job(s)’ (Braton and Gold, 2007, as cited by French & Rumbles, 2010). The recruitment and selection process is ‘fundamental to the functioning of an organisation’ (Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2006, p. 155), and it is also said that ‘the success of an organisation depends on having the right number of staff, with the right skills and abilities’ (ACAS, 2010, p. 3). Therefore, the right recruitment and selection procedures are crucial to an organisation finding the best candidate for the job. Recruitment The recruitment process is extremely important when it comes to adding value to an organisation in the long-term. Poor recruitment processes – which result in the wrong candidate being selected for the job – can be very expensive for an organisation in terms of employee turnover, organisational costs and employee morale (ACAS, 2010). Good recruitment can ‘significantly contribute to effective organisational performance, to good employee relations, and to a positive public image’ (Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2010, p. 156). The first step in the recruitment process is to create an effective job description and job specification. It is vital that the skills and competencies outlined within the person specification are accurate in  relation to the needs of the job. If this is not the case then there is the chance that an individual will be employed with false expectations, potentially resulting in them not performing as well as was originally intended (ACAS, 2010). In worse cases, the employee may lose faith in the organisation and leave to work for potential competitors, taking with them the training they have received. Not only is this is a waste of an organisations time, money and resources – all of which can be potentially avoided if an organisation has an effective recruitment procedure in place – but it can also have an impact on existing employees morale. For example, it can be demotivating for existing employees to see new employees coming and going within a short space of time. The process of recruiting and training new employees can also be lengthy, in which time colleagues will potentially be expected to take on extra responsibilities; possibly impacting upon employee productivity and overall organisational performance. Over recent years online recruitment has become increasingly popular. Online recruitment shortens the recruitment cycle (Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2010), which can be of great benefit to some organisations w ho find that their lengthy recruitment process can result in them losing potential candidates (CIPD, 2013). A survey carried out by Chapman and Webster (2003) also found that most organisations (within the USA) that used technology based recruitment and selection techniques, did so because they found that they added value in terms of improved efficiency, reduced costs and increased the number of potential candidates. This improved efficiency and reduced costs will potentially allow organisations to increase their profit margins, and by widening the applicant pool the organisation has a greater chance of finding the ‘right’ candidate for the job. However, although this method of recruitment generates a high volume of candidates, it does not necessarily mean that these candidates possess the relevant skills or attitudes required for the job. It is also particularly important that the recruitment and selection process is fair. The employer must recognise that it has a lega l obligation to make sure that they do not unlawfully discriminate against potential candidates during the recruitment and selection process (ACAS, 2010). In ensuring this, an organisation reduces its risk of facing legal costs that may be incurred if it were to be seen to demonstrate unlawful recruitment and selection procedures; improving the organisations reputation  and therefore adding value. For example, if an organisation is seen to operate ethically and value equality then it is likely that the organisation will see an increase in their customer base and also in the number of candidates wanting to work for the organisation – increasing the likelihood of the organisation finding the right person for the job. Selection ‘Inappropriate selection decisions reduce organisational effectiveness, invalidate reward and development strategies, are frequently unfair on the individual recruit and can be and can be distressing for managers who have to deal with unsuitable employees’ (Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2010, p. 155). Therefore, it is important that the selection process is carried out effectively, ensuring the ‘best’ candidate is chosen for the job. The selection process not only produces a shortlist of applicants for the interviewing stage, but it also provides the organisation with feedback in regards to their job advertising and the application form. This will help improve the organisations future recruitment and selection procedures, making the process of finding the ‘right’ candidate more effective; therefore saving organisational time and reducing any potential costs associated with ineffective selection procedures. It is essential that the selection process gains the commitment of managers and supervisors, by involving them in the process of selecting a candidate (ACAS, 2010). The managers and supervisors will have first-hand knowledge and experience and therefore will know what it is they need in future employees, making the process of selecting the ‘best’ person for the job more effective. This again will add value to the organisation, as if the right person is selected for the organisation then it is highly likely that they will perform well, potentially improving organisational performance overall. The involvement of the managers and supervisors will also help settle the new employee into the organisation, making them feel comfortable within their new role; potentially reducing employee turnover levels and the costs associated with this. The involvement between HR and business managers throughout recruitment and selection also helps to reinforce the business partnership. This involvement ensures that recruitment and selecti on is carried out in line with the organisations strategy – ensuring that the candidate selected  contributes to organisational objectives. Recruitment and selection can be an issue within a lot of organisations, in particular those within the domiciliary care sector. Domiciliary care tends to involve very demanding work, and due to ineffective selection techniques the wrong candidates are selected for the jobs; therefore resulting in high levels of employee turnover. Psychometric testing is one selection technique that would allow domiciliary care businesses to assess the personalities of potential candidates; improving decision-making and allowing managers to ‘develop more informed and accurate perceptions about the ability and potential of individuals’ (CIPD, 2009, as cited in Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2010, p. 202). This will help ensure the ‘right’ candidate is chosen; reducing employee turnover and any associated costs, and improving employee mora le and productivity – therefore enhancing overall organisational performance within this sector. Talent Management Talent management is ‘the systematic attraction, identification, development, engagement, retention and deployment of those individuals who are of particular value to an organisation.’ These individuals ‘make a difference to organisational performance either through their immediate contribution or, in the longer-term, by demonstrating the highest levels of potential’ (CIPD, 2013). Talent management has become an increasingly common practice within a lot of organisations, due to a weakening economic climate which has put pressure on organisations to cut costs and increase efficiency and productivity (CIPD, 2013). In the current climate ‘having a rigorous, cyclical, ongoing process around Talent Management [can] be a key differentiator between success and failure’ (Couch, 2012). Talent has been seen to add value to organisations, particularly as talent management has become ‘integral in engaging employees in the organisation’, if prac ticed effectively (Morton, 2005, p. 11, as cited in Hughes & Rog, 2008, p. 746). Engaged employees are committed to the organisation and therefore will be less likely to leave; this as a result minimises employee turnover and any associated costs. Towers Perrin (2003) supports this idea, as he found that 66 percent of highly engaged employees plan to stay with their current employers, compared to only 12 percent of disengaged employees. It is also  more likely to see higher levels of performance from engaged employees; potentially improving customer service and productivity, as well as increasing sales and profits (Hughes, J. C. & Rog, E., 2008). Effective talent management also ensures organisations can successfully attract and retain talent, reducing the risk of talent leaving the organisation or being employed by a competitor – thus allowing organisations to gain a competitive advantage. Organisations that focus on retaining talented individuals are also able to add value through reduced recruitment and training costs as a result of not having to recruit talent externally, or develop talent internally. Retention of talent also reduces the negative impact employee turnover can have on organisational productivity and employee morale; which in turn can potentially have a consequential effect on profit margins (Chitakasem, N., 2011). There is evidence, however, to suggest that talent management doesn’t always add value to organisations. Lewis and Heckman (2006) argued that ‘improvements in bottom line results [prove] to be temporary, despite an ongoing commitment to talent in the organisation’ (as ci ted in Hughes & Rog, 2008, p. 745). Therefore, it is important organisations evaluate the effectiveness of their talent management scheme as this can contribute highly to its success, enabling them to maximise their return on investment (CIPD, 2009). Also, a focus on external recruitment and retention of â€Å"high talent† employees could: increase competition amongst internal candidates, consequently discouraging teamwork; lead to existing employees feeling undervalued, resulting in increased turnover; redirect training and development from those employees who may be struggling to those who are capable, reduce performance of those who don’t receive training; and ignore fixing cultural or other systematic issues which hinder employee performance (Hughes & Rog, 2008). Whelan & Carcary (2001) also say that those employees who are not seen to be ‘key talent’ can become demotivated as a result of them feeling unappreciated within the organisation; leading to f alls in productivity and potentially negatively affecting profit margins. Therefore, in some cases, talent management may not always add value; the extent to which talent management adds value can depend on how well the organisation manages those employees who are not seen to be ‘key talent’. Organisations implementing talent  management programmes may also experience resistance from some employees; as talent management makes their performance more visible to employers and creates a direct link between future career opportunities within the organisation and rewards (Little, B. 2010). Resistance from employees will likely have a knock on effect on productivity, resulting in profit margins being affected; again affecting the extent to which talent management can add value to an organisation. Overall, talent management, if managed effectively, can significantly add value to an organisation. Maximising employee performance and productivity, improving employee retention, a nd increasing the flexibility of employees etc. all contribute towards an organisations success. However, the business partnership plays a significant role in the extent to which talent management can add value within an organisation. A survey carried out by the Corporate Executive Board’s Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) discovered that ‘HR must effectively partner with business line management to drive talent outcomes’ (Martin, 2010). It is important that line manager’s work with HR practitioners so as to ensure that talent management is directed in the right areas of the organisation and that it is aligned with strategic goals. The HR practitioner must also be knowledgeable of the organisations objectives so as to implement talent management programmes that will contribute towards achieving these goals. As a result, this will potentially help to reinforce the business partnership, encouraging HR to work in partnership with the business leaders to improve its performance and future success. Talent management can be beneficial for many organisations in terms of developing and retaining talented employees so as to improve organisational performance. The domiciliary care, as previously mentioned, has problems with employee retention and therefore talent management could be one way of addressing this issue. Appraisals could be used to assess employees’ performance, and allow managers to identify talent within the organisation, and the training needs (Pilbeam & Corbridge, 2010). Managers can then support and mentor talented employees through further training programmes (CIPD, 2013), such as National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ’s). This support will contribute towards employees feeling valued within the organisation, and this along with the increased knowledge and motivation will help to improve employee performance; which as a result will  potentially improve employee retention and the overall performance of the organisation. In conclusion, absence management, recruitment and selection, and talent management, if effectively managed and implemented, can improve organisational performance. Absence management was found to reduce the negative costs associated with absenteeism, and improve employee morale and productivity. Effective recruitment and selection was found to improve the chances of finding the ‘right’ person for the job; therefore increasing employee performance and reducing employee turnover. Finally, talent management was found to increase employee engagement and motivation through mentoring, and improve employee performance and retention through development. Therefore all three resourcing and development activities contribute towards improving organisational performance, consequently adding value to the organisation. Finally, the aim of human resources to achieve organisational goals through these resourcing and development activities helps to contribute towards cementing the busine ss partnership. References GOV.UK. (2013). Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Accessed 17th November 2013 https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay Newcombe, T. (23 May 2013). Stress and presenteeism â€Å"sapping UK productivity†, says research. HR Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1077290/stress-presenteeism-sapping-uk-productivity-research Baker-McClearn, D. et al. (2010). Absence management and presenteeism: the pressures on employees to attend work and the impact of attendance on performance. Human Resource Management Journal. 20 (3), 311–328. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-8583.2009.00118.x Robson, F. (2006). How to†¦ manage absence effectively. CIPD. 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