Reflective account Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Reflective account - Essay Example ics such as technology and labour, sustainability, human resource management, strategy, operations management, just to mention but a few that fall under the global business concept. However, in this reflective paper; we will delve into details on human resource management. This paper will discuss in details the key principles of human resource management, its significance and relevance to the global business world as well as connect it with other topics that fall and the global business concept. According to Patrick (2012), Human resource management or simply HR is a function of the organization that is designed to maximize the performance of employees and the achievement of employer strategic objectives. Human resource is particularly concerned about how the organization will manage people in the organization and focuses on policies and systems. The department usually has a number of roles and tasks that they fulfil; these functions include the following: Recruitment, this is the intake of new staff into the organization. The human resource department ensures that only qualified individuals get into the organization and at the same time ensuring that the organization does not suffer due to lack of personnel. HR is also tasked with the training and development responsibility. They will ensure that employees meet the demands of the workplace environment by organizing seminars, in-house training, and educational classes also conducted. The human resource department works clos ely with the industrial relations of the organization. They aim at balancing the organization’s practices with the requirements that arise from collective bargaining and public law (Patrick, 2012). The department may also be tasked with the role of ensuring that the workplace is safe for the employees. It does this by making sure that the company conducts its activities in line with the work safety standards. Lastly, the Human Resource department is tasked with the role of enforcing and making

Illiegal immigrant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Illiegal immigrant - Essay Example As such, the economic growth and subsidization of social security are the primary factors which will be used to support this view. The Pew Research Hispanic Trends projected that there are approximately 8.4 million undocumented workers in America (Passel et al 2011). When compared to the total American labor force, they represent only 5.2 %. Thus, illegal immigrants form a significant part of the American labor force. In acknowledging the significance of illegal immigrants in America, Susan Combs (Texas comptroller) implied that the illegal immigrants make up about 6.3 % of the Texas workforce. As such, an exit of the undocumented workers would decrease the gross state product of Texas by about 2.1 %. Additionally, some parts of the American economy depend entirely on the labor provided by the illegal immigrants. In fact, the US department of agriculture and the United States department of labor state that illegal immigrants are very beneficial to the American economy. More than half of workers employed in the agriculture industry in America are illegal immigrants, mostly from Mexico. The department of labor quoted their figure to be about 53% while the labor unions put the percentage at 70. Although proponents of immigration reform argue that an influx of illegal immigrants reduces the number of jobs available for Native Americans, research has shown that most of these immigrants are unskilled. Thus, they tend to only affect a small percentage of Native Americans who are school dropouts and with no skills. Therefore, the argument that illegal immigrants are taking over jobs meant for American citizens is not true. On the other hand, if these illegal immigrants were to be expelled from the United States, there would be an acute labor shortage in America. This sentiment was echoed by the USDA and the department of labor. A lot of

Role NATO in the world Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Role NATO in the world - Essay Example A "North Atlantic" area which includes both Point Barrow, far above the Arctic Circle, and Mount Ararat, deep in the Turkish Caucasus, is, indeed, an anomaly. The term "North Atlantic area" appears several times in the text of the treaty but is nowhere defined explicitly. However, the treaty does contain a definition of the area within which an armed attack from without will bring its guarantees into operation.( James Kurth, 36) These guarantees extend to the territories of all member states in Europe and North America, to the Mediterranean and North Sea, and to the Atlantic Ocean north of the Tropic of Cancer. They also cover the Algerian Departments of France as well as all of Turkey's territories in Asia, plus two segments of Africa and Asia, and all of North America north of the Rio Grande, together with the seas and ocean lying between them.The success of the NATO Alliance over the past four decades has been extraordinary. The mere survival of the Alliance for forty years is not eworthy; that those forty years have been unbroken by war among the major powers is unprecedented in the modern era. To be sure, factors other than NATO have contributed to the absence of war in Europe-the most important being the advent of the "nuclear revolution" in warfare. Nonetheless, NATO has made an important contribution to the maintenance of peace among the major powers. ... nt on the nature of the threats to the fundamental interests of the Alliance members; the evolution of a collective response to those threats that meets the political, economic, and military requirements of the allies; and the absence of any politically acceptable alternatives to the current structure of the Alliance. The central question facing NATO forty years after its creation, however, is whether the Alliance, as currently structured, equipped, and funded, will continue to play an effective role in meeting the vital security needs of its members. Despite the attention given to disputes among Alliance members, it is unlikely that NATO will collapse with a bang sparked by internal friction, but it could fade with a whimper of irrelevance in the face of shifting economic, political, technological, and military realities. NATO will almost certainly be alive on the eve of the twenty-first century to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. However, unless the Alliance has the resilience t o respond to emerging challenges, by the turn of the century it may be less relevant to the central security concerns of its members. Our Alliance has come far on its way to transformation. Its relevance today does not derive from its original and immediate purpose but from what it has become over time. It has evolved into a community of values and destiny, and a forum of political consultation on vital issues of foreign policy and security. It has evolved into an agent of change. It will become the core security organization of a future Euro-Atlantic architecture in which all states, irrespective of their size or geographical location, must enjoy the same freedom, cooperation and security. We must not be satisfied with having won the Cold War. We have to win the future. - NATO Secretary

Marketing Plan for SmartTravel App Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 8

Marketing Plan for SmartTravel App - Essay Example One of the featured and most interesting feature will be that of allowing users upload videos and pictures of places they have visited, stayed and had fun. Therefore, it is hoped that this feature and the user friendly, interactive and clean interface will boost SmartTravel to be the fastest growing travel app market. SmartTravel is the name of the company as well as the first product that this company will launch. However, all the future products will be listed under the company name but will have different names that will reflect the target market. SmartTravel aims to harness the power of the crowd like no other designed app has managed to do. It will offer printed travel guides that will and that have been essential for tourists. However, such publications are printed after a two year period so as to offer up to date information to the clientele base. However, the guides are printed by one person who does not cover the different tastes of different people. Furthermore, they only cover one region which implies that tourists have to spend lots of money to purchase the guides if they are embarking on numerous tours in different places. Therefore, as there has been a continuous influx of smart phones with WiFi and also mobile coverage is everywhere, it will make sense to travelers to leave their cumbersome, outdated travel guides at home and carry smart phones loaded in an app that can update them with important information very fast. For instance, if one was in the Himalayas, they can share that information instantly on the SmartTravel. Thus, SmartTravel’s objective is to be the heart of this customer-focused movement by getting to let tourists share information, encounters and insights with each other directly and at the same time, bypass ancient channels. SmartTravel aims at venturing into the tourism industry. Traveling is a hobby for most people. Those who do not travel frequently, at least travel during the holidays.

Admission Essay To Athabasca University - Master of Arts

Admission To Athabasca University - Master of Arts - Essay Example Another reason I am applying for this integrated program is the kind of teachings the students are offered. The students in the program are taught to reason and think critically, holistically, and reflectively and to give much focus on the points of overlap and articulations between the generalized and specialized knowledge. Furthermore, I believe that exposure of the students to a wide variety of interdisciplinary methods and disciplines will prepare me to envisage and look for innovative solutions to different problems in my area of expertise. Similarly, another propelling reason for my application to this degree course is the belief that the degree will teach me to contextualize and situate practices and knowledge on a wide intellectual continuum which integrates methods, practices and theories of humanities, arts and social sciences. As an educator, this is significant for me in my profession as I will be able to apply what I have learnt in practice. Another primary reason why I chose to apply for the integrated course at Athabasca University is sufficient and adequate cost of education compared to other universities. Furthermore, the assigned texts and reading files are very informative and relevant. From the university newsletter and website, I learnt that the instructors are competent, qualified and responsive to the academic needs of the students. I believe this will be helpful for me during my studies. I have high expectations on what I want to achieve after going through the integrated program in Athabasca University. From the degree program, I want to join one of the top institutions in the country and do a profession that will provide adequate resources for my family. Furthermore, I aim to do exceptional coursework that I will be proud of always. Moreover, I have great hope and belief to innovate an idea or solution that will bring

The European Community Institutional Framework Essay Example for Free

The European Community Institutional Framework Essay The European community which has its history back in the 1950s when the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was formed to cater for the interests of expanding coal and steel market among member states which stood at six during its formation. In 1957 the European Economic Community was formed together with the European Atomic Energy Community, the Merger Treaty [Merging of the executives, 2007] saw the three bodies merge afterwards to give birth of the now twenty seven member-European Community (EC). The creation of this super body is based on a number of treaties that govern its operations, these treaties that were drafted and mutually agreed up on and accented to provide for the formation of various institutions tat oversee the day to day running of the community’s affairs. The formation of the European community was chiefly to iron out physical boundaries between member states and also to hasten the rate of economic development among other reasons. Due to the diverse interests of the populations of the member states, the community adopted various laws that provide the legal foundation for the representation of these interests. One of the main functions of the legal framework is to give the base for the creation of institutions which cater for the diverse interests of the members. The community’s institutional framework is considered to be unique chiefly because of its separation of power between the three arms that are the basis of it operation, i.e. the judiciary, legislature, and the executive, and partly due to its attempts to secure equal representation of diverse interests while keeping a proper balance between them. The community has got various institutions that are divided in to two categories i.e. politically based institutions ad the non-politically based ones. The political institutions include; the parliament, the commission, and the council, the non-political ones include; court of justice and the court of auditors.

Relationship Between Freedom And Authority

Relationship Between Freedom And Authority In this essay I will discuss the relationship between freedom and authority in Jean-Jacques Rousseaus essay The Social Contract, and John Stuart Mills essay On Liberty. I will argue through my comparison of each philosopher that Mills conception of liberty is the richer and more persuasive of the two. Rousseaus conception of freedom in The Social Contract is that people attain their freedom through a transformation from a state of nature to civil society. We give up our natural freedom in exchange for civilized freedom. His contention is that we can be both free and subject to political authority; Rousseau thinks its possible to be autonomous and subject to law, when we obey those laws of which we are the author. He justifies this model of political authority by saying that government and laws are the will of the sovereign we give our consent for them to exist. That consent is guided by what Rousseau calls the general will. The general will is an idea that signifies the wishes or welfares of society as a whole. The purpose of the general will is to guide society to a common good, to advise society in its creation of laws and express what is best for all individuals. The problem with the general will, Mill claims, is that it seems to reject individual diversity. Mill is worried that minorities may be oppressed if they think differently to the majority. Considering all individuals revoked their natural liberty through the change from a state of nature to civil society, Rousseau thinks that society must force individuals to conform to the general will, or as he puts it, society must force them to be free. He thinks that by associating ourselves with the general will we acquire morality, and actually become freer than we were before. To Rousseau, freedom is attained when one follows the general will. Mills essay On Liberty is a strong counter argument to Rousseaus conception of freedom, especially regarding the general will. Contrasting Rousseau, Mills idea is not a social contract theory. According to Mill, in order for a society to be free it must avoid interfering with the lives of its people wherever possible. The threat, as Mill sees it, is that if we subscribe to the concept of the general will then society risks becoming paternalistic, or a tyranny of the majority where minority views are supressed if they do not conform to those of the majority. Mill thinks that society constrains the individual, and that society should be limited in the power it can exert over individuals; he enumerates three conditions upon which society must follow in order to be free: freedom of thought and feeling, freedom of tastes and pursuits and the freedom to unite with other consenting individuals for any reason providing it does no harm to others. He says that if a society does not follow these conditions it is not free. Mill wants to avoid principles and laws as much as possible because he sees them as unnecessary constraints. The only principle that Mill does want to establish is the harm principle what he calls the object of his essay. The harm principle says that the only time one can interfere with the liberty of another person, individually or collectively, is for self-protection. This principle claims that if an individual is not doing any harm to anyone in their actions, then society has no right to interfere. Over himself says Mill, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign it is the individual, and not society, who should decide how best to live. Mills conception of freedom appears to be a version of negative liberty, a type of freedom that allows one to do what they want free from restrictions. His freedom is the absence of obstacles, barriers or constraints. Rousseaus social contract theory is a type of positive liberty, that allows citizens to act in such a way as to take control of ones life and realise ones fundamental purposes. Rousseau characterises two types of freedom in The Social Contract: the natural liberty, which is limited only by the strength of the individual and civil liberty, which is limited by the general will. Natural liberty is the freedom to follow ones own desires. Civil liberty is the freedom one attains when they follow the general will. Like Rousseau, Mill talks about a type of civil or social freedom; however, unlike Rousseau he doesnt speculate about a state of nature. Rather, Mill states that his theory is justified by utilitarianism, he isnt making a comparison between a state of nature and civil society. I think this makes Mills argument more persuasive because he isnt making an assumption that we have natural rights. Mill doesnt seem to think we have natural rights, and even if we do, Rousseau doesnt tell us how we can actually know what they are. Rousseau appears to think that we have an intrinsic freedom that exists in the state of nature, and he wants to merge the individual liberty one supposedly has in the state of nature, with civil society. He thinks the way to do this is by following the general will. I think the biggest problem at the heart of Rousseaus social contract theory is the way he deals with individuals who disagree with the general will. He states that if anyone refuses to obey the general will he will be compelled to do so by the whole body; which means nothing else than that he will be forced to be free. His social contract declares that if an individual disagrees with the general will, then they must be wrong, and for their own good they must be forced to conform to the general will. Mill would undoubtedly consider such forced conformity a tyranny of the majority because of his strong belief that individuality is something that should be cherished and valued. Mill would disagree with Rousseaus notion that people should be forced to be free since he thinks its detrimental to both the individual and the majority when an alternative opinion is oppressed. Rousseau on the other hand, thinks that taking up the general perspective of the community is always the right thing to do. Contrary to Rousseau, Mill doesnt think that the majority gain their power because they are infallible, but simply because they are the most numerous or the most active part of the people. Mill states that silencing the expression of an opinion deprives the human race. Firstly, reasons Mill, if a majority silences an opinion that is different or less popular than their own, and that alternative opinion turns out to be right, then they are depriving themselves of what is right. Almost as great a benefit to society is listening to an alternative opinion even if it turns out to be wrong, because challenging dominant opinion prevents stagnation. Stifling opinion is always a bad thing; Mill says that Absolute princes, or others who are accustomed to unlimited deference, usually feel this complete confidence in their own opinions on nearly all subjects because their opinion is never tested. It is through this collision with error that the truth becomes stronger. Mill thinks that this proc ess of listening to a whole variety of thought and feeling leads to a healthier cultural climate and a place of greater freedom and liberty. Rousseau might object to Mills importance of minority opinion by saying that emphasis on individuality undermines social and political obligations. That its somehow an unrealistic idea to consider everyones opinion. He says in the social contract that citizens must be forced to follow the general will, because it means society will not depend on any one person for change to occur. Rousseau says of the general will that this condition is the device that ensures the operation of the political machine. He thinks its naÃÆ'Â ¯ve to listen to a minority not only because he assumes they must be wrong, but because they prevent the political system from making any progress. Rousseau thinks that without the general will, a political system would be absurd and tyrannical, and subject to the most terrible abuses. However, Mill would still disagree and respond by saying that if all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. I think where they really differ here is that Mill doesnt think anyone can be free if theyre forced to conform to the majority, whereas Rousseau thinks conformity is necessary for liberty and best for the community- he says that every authentic act of the general will, obligates or favours all the citizens equally. He knows that its unrealistic that all citizens will agree to the general will, and so he says minorities must be forced to follow it (forced to be free). Perhaps its painfully obvious here that Rousseau has left himself in a vulnerable position he doesnt really explain to us how one must be forced to follow the general will. Thus, theres possibly an element of compatibility between Rousseaus and Mills conceptions of freedom. If its the case that the process of being forced to be free includes Mills notion that people should be free to debate and discuss, and providing everyones opinion is treated with respect and they are convinced, through discussion, to change their vi ews, then its certainly possible that eventually all citizens will individually come the same conclusions about the common good of their community. Its certainly conceivable, but it seems unlikely. Even if this compatibility were to exist, Mill would object by saying that we still need a variety of opinion even if its wrong to prevent social stagnation and to challenge popular views. He would say that providing an individual is doing what they please by means of the harm principle, then society has no right to demand such an active citizenship from them. Rousseau may take issue with Mills harm principle but asking what actually constitutes harm. Its obvious that physical harm is detrimental and people shouldnt be free to harm others but there are forms of consequentialism that can piece together seemingly harmonious actions, and prove that they actually have damaging effects. For instance, universal consequentialism focuses on the consequences for all people rather than the individual agent. Rousseau might say that a person may not seem to be harming another individual in their actions, but an ingenious person could find harmful consequences for almost anything a person does. One might find themselves aroused by conflicting emotions if made to choose between the philosophies of Rousseau and Mill, depending on how they feel about an issue. It seems especially difficult to feel one has to conform to the majority when they disagree with it, but of course when one is on the side of the majority it can be hard to understand why anyone wouldnt be. The majority of climate scientists support global warming, and if one believes in global warming it seems hard to understand why anyone would reject it. If you want gay marriage but the majority doesnt, it seems crazy to think you have to conform to the general will. I think this is what makes Rousseaus and Mills conceptions of freedom so attractive to us. I find Mills argument to be more persuasive than Rousseaus because even with modifications to Rousseaus social contract, the general will seems unable to avoid a tyranny of the majority. The general will seems too abstract to utilise without thinking of it as simply the sum of all private interests; Rousseau makes it hard for us to recognize what the general will is or how to determine it, and he offers no reassurance that the majority knows what is best. He seems to be making a huge assumption that we have natural rights in the first place, but he provides no evidence for them. Works Cited Mill, John Stuart. On Liberty and The Subjection of Women. London: Penguin Group, 2006. Rousseau, Jean Jacques. The Social Contract, A new translation by Christopher Betts. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.