Gender Roles And Its Effect On Society - 1278 Words

From the moment we are born we are put into one of two categories, boy or girl. We are never asked or considered to be anything but. No in between, no blurred lines. And because of the society we created, we attach extensive stereotypes to each of those genders. This is simply known as gender roles, or more specifically; â€Å"a set of societal norms dictating what types of behaviors are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on their actual or perceived sex†. This includes all kinds of stereotypes, like, that women should stay home, cook, and be â€Å"girly†, and that men need to be strong, the sole provider of the house, and â€Å"manly†. Not to say you can’t be those things, but those roles can be very constricting for most of the population. Gender roles can be so restricting that they affect our lifestyle, workplace, and mentality and self image. â€Å"Pereira observed both boys and girls regulating their behavior in potentially harmful ways in order to adhere to gender norms.†(Culp-Ressler) Gender roles can make anyone who strives for that â€Å"ideal† lifestyle have a very demanding and oppressive life. What I mean by this is that, the â€Å"perfect† life we envision, even if it isn’t what we want, it makes us feel like we have to fulfill those roles. Now, everyone feels and deals with things differently. With the gender roles that girls need to be skinny and pretty and guys need to be strong and tough, it gets to kids and can affect them for the rest ofShow MoreRelatedGender Roles And Its Effects On Society1405 Words   |  6 PagesGender Roles In Todays Society Are Due To Nurture Society today places many ideals when it comes to proper behaviours regarding gender roles. These are considered societal norms that are widely debated and controversial. Society has created a norm, which encompasses specific expectations and rules that change the daily lives of men and women, giving them specific tasks and behaviours to abide by. These standards are known as gender roles, which are defined as distinguishing actions, thoughts, andRead MoreSociety Effects On Gender Roles In Malawi800 Words   |  4 Pages Society Effects On Gender Roles In Malawi Ivy Tech Vocational Collage The seventeenth and eighteenth century was a time of many struggles with many nations. Slave traders, immigrants and Christian missionaries where some of the troubles brought on by changes happening. While it was a time of change the Malawi people came together and formed this alliance of the Nyau . Mostly to form a resistance. Nyau appealed to the people because it brought their culture togetherRead MoreUnrealistic Expectations: Gender Roles Effects of Society1414 Words   |  6 PagesUnrealistic Expectations: Gender Roles Effects of Society â€Å"My dear boy, no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals.† In 1890, when Oscar Wilde wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray, the attitude towards women was nowhere close to positive. Men did not look at women with much respect and only thought of them as domestic trophy wifeRead MoreThe Effects Of Advertising On Society s View On Gender Roles1756 Words   |  8 Pagesadvertisements create a representation of society’s view on â€Å"gender roles†. Gender roles can be defined as â€Å"appropriate† and â€Å"inappropriate† behavior for males and females. The media reinforces stereotypical roles by the way the media portrays men and women. The destructive impact of advertisement affects everyone, specifically women and their deteriorating confidence. The most corruptive impact of adver tising is its promotion of gender stereotypes. Men in advertisements are pictured as strong, powerfulRead MoreGender Roles Of Men And Women Have Been Present In Society1418 Words   |  6 PagesGender roles of men and women have been present in society for a number of years, and the traditional roles have stuck through all the cultural changes. What about the people who do not identify themselves with their born gender but, instead another? How are they affected by how society sees them for not conforming to the traditional gender roles? Transgender people are faced with many judgements from their community based on how they identify themselves, their actions and how they express themselvesRead MoreGender Roles During The Years Men And Women Essay1594 Words   |  7 PagesGender Roles in Society Over the years men and women have been given gender roles that they are pressured to follow. According to Amy Blackstone, â€Å"gender roles are based on the different expectations that individuals, groups and societies have of individuals based on their sex†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2003). In other words, gender roles are social norms and expectations, created and accepted by society, based on a person’s gender. There have been different gender roles throughout the different time eras and in some erasRead MoreGender Identity : Gender And Masculinity Essay1509 Words   |  7 PagesGender plays an enormous role in every society around the world. There are debates about whether gender is defined by strictly biological characteristics or social attributes. Others argue that gender is a spectrum, rather than the dichotomy of male and female. Masculinity and femininity are sets of attributes, roles and behaviors that are associated with men and boys and girls and women, respectively. Both m asculinity and femininity have specific traits that are both biologically and socially definedRead MoreEssay about Gender Dysphoria Caused by Gender Identity776 Words   |  4 Pages Gender Dysphoria caused by Gender Identity Introduction Gender as defined by society as a division between biological sex and the roles you must take on in society. In reality gender is a true spectrum that does not follow a simple linear pattern. There are three major aspects that make a person who they are inside. These aspects are Sex, Gender and Gender Identity. Gender Identity Gender identity is basically the concept that gender is not easily divided into two classic genders as isRead More Gender Inequality: Sex Discrimination in Employment Essay1617 Words   |  7 Pages Gender equality is about equal opportunity for men and women to identify their individual potential. One must be able to benefit from their participation in society and contribute to the economic and social development of their country (Australian Government. 2009). Through multiple reviewed literature on gender inequality, the overall concept within many sociological readings was the way gender inequality socially relates to employment and careers. There are three separate themes thatRead MoreThe Illusion Of Masculinity And Its Effects On Society1607 Words   |  7 PagesMasculinity The gender roles for males is a social construct in which sets men in the position to certain behavioral, emotional, and social norms within a society or specific culture in which individuals have to adhere in their social environment. How does that shape ones identity and sense of self? Also, what are the repercussions to ascribing to these roles as a base model for one’s social life? In this abstract I will explore the effects for hyper masculinity in American, the individual effects and also

The Effects Of Drug Use Free Essays

Maybe some of us have a good idea that the illegal drug business is still huge but covered somewhere among the â€Å"black† economy markets. After all the numbers one could hear tossed around, I am afraid that the sad truth could be, that no one really knows just how huge this business might be, how many people die, how much blood money has been made and than laundered into legal businesses. It is terrible to imagine how many subways and basements come to be â€Å"the places for being in the clouds†. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects Of Drug Use or any similar topic only for you Order Now According to the National Drug Prevention League drugs are an object of the fastest growing trade, except the Internet. Some of you might share my opinion that it is a billion-dollar industry that takes a comfortable place in our society. Drugs have always been with mankind as we seem to carry an inherent need to consume mind altering substances. Many people, who didn’t use drugs before, know only that â€Å"that thing† can make them feel in a strange way. But drugs could harm people when using them. It is not a secret that the consequences could be severe for the users. It is essential that people are educated at a very young age and presented with the appropriate social re-enforcers to understand that there are viable reasons that drugs are dangerous – they destroy lives. Drugs affect people’s thinking, awareness and senses. They have huge effect on people’s physical and mental health because of the chemical reactions they provoke in humans’ bodies. They lead to hallucinations, hearing voices, suspision and a feeling of â€Å"everyone is out to get me†. Also they make most of the organs in your body disfunction, poison blood, kill brain cells and finally, in most cases, kill the person that abuses them. Hallucinations can make people experience things that aren’t real. Probably drug users are looking exactly for that â€Å"escaping the reality† for a while. Don’t you think that until now, modes of life have been based on the material slavery of the masses? Does our society offer us a different life than working all day long and going home to get some rest for the next working day? Maybe not, and maybe that is why people who are using drugs do believe drugs are the magic formula that leads someone to a world totally different from the boring every-day life. There is a clich? that says – â€Å"People have the strange instinct to break every rule once it is established†. When I went to Holland 3 years ago, I found that the government had established some rules that were quite strange for me at first. In 1976, Holland decriminalized marijuana possession. From that time on one can go into a retail shop and purchase small amounts of marijuana. This could be one of the reasons why Holland has a low level of heroin use, a low level of cocaine use, much lower than most of the other countries do. What actually happened was that the marijuana became the filter, preventing harder drug use. But do people of our society really know where the drugs are going to and who are their greatest consumers? It is a pity that one of the easiest places to find some drugs could be in schools. Students who turn to more potent drugs usually do so after first using cigarettes and alcohol, and then marijuana. Maybe there are some people who know that drugs transform schools into marketplace for dope dealers. However, students who continue to use drugs learn that drugs can make strange things with their thoughts and feelings, and the greater a student’s involvement with marijuana, the more likely it is that student could begin to use other drugs in conjunction with marijuana. When talking about night parties, I got used to seeing guys smoking marijuana as imperturbably as they drink their beers. Can you think about somebody you know who has taken drugs in front of you? Here, the bad thing could be that you might have seen at least one person taking drugs freely. â€Å"This is a family problem†- some could say. And according Dan Check’s book † The Success and Failure of George Bush’s War on Drugs† the problem is coming rather from the family than somewhere else. Maybe the society has to rely on the family, as being the strongest entity in its structure to solve the huge-spread drug problem that exists. But here, the weird thing is that parents can’t really see the symptoms of drug addiction in their children. And it is a â€Å"public secret† that the gap between parents and kids is getting bigger and bigger. I don’t want to imagine what the difference between parents and children could be in the next generations. But parents shouldn’t wait until they think their child has a problem. Many young people in treatment programs say that they had used alcohol and other drugs for at least two years before their parents knew about it. Maybe their parents should begin to talk earlier about the effects of alcohol and other drugs use and keep the lines of communication open all the time. Isn’t it better to let your child know that you are concerned, and that you can work together to find answers of these so important questions? It is really harder to stop drug use among children once it is there. Most of the times, after students get involved with drugs, they start to sell them or begin to steal from family, friends, or employers in order to buy the next dose. Determining the consequences of harder drug use could help the new generation stop using them. Maybe facing the answer of this question will make people think about the real price they are paying when drugs are involved. Along with â€Å"escaping the boring reality†, the teeth rot out, the appetite is lost, and the stomach doesn’t function properly. The gall bladder becomes inflamed and eyes and skin turn yellow. In some cases, membranes of the nose turn a flaming red and breathing becomes difficult. Oxygen in the blood decreases, bronchitis and tuberculosis develop. Good traits of character disappear and bad ones emerge. Sex organs become affected too. Veins collapse. Nerves snap. Imaginary and fantastic fears blight the mind. Sometimes complete insanity results. Many times, death comes much too early. Such is the torment of being a drug addict and such is the plague of being one of the walking dead bodies. The statistics show that in the period 1994 – 1999 the rate of death caused by â€Å"hard-core† drugs use has increased with 6%. Maybe the answer for preventing humans and most of all the young people from taking dope is hidden somewhere among all these questions that are hard to be faced by the society. Who is responsible for this to happen? And who is really interested in preventing the dope disaster? Is there something that can be done if we, the human beings, do not realize the importance of the dope problem? Drugs have made a tremendous impact on American society over the past thirty to forty years, yet many Americans are ambivalent regarding their opinions relating to drugs in terms of decriminalization, availability, impact on society, and mental and physical health impacts. How to cite The Effects Of Drug Use, Essay examples

Essay about Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina Essay Example For Students

Essay about Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina Essay According to the â€Å"The handy weather answer book† by Kevin Hile a hurricane is defined as a tropical storm formed in the Atlantic Basin. Winds reach speeds of 74 miles per hour or more. Frequently, hurricanes occur during the months of summer. This allows energy to build from the warm surface of the ocean. Wind speeds, clouds, and the Coriolis Effect all contribute to the formation of a hurricane (123). Hurricanes are a vital motive in nature. Douglas explains, â€Å"Whirling energy beasts are the atmosphere’s automatic pressure-relief valves, comparable to an integrated thermostat; they also dispense essential rains, restoring supplies and soil moistures’ (108). Despite that, hurricanes produce fierce winds. Nonetheless, it is the water that creates the most harm. â€Å"They can raise tides as high as 20 feet, and dump as much as 20 inches of rain inland,† (Douglas, 107). In fact, the development of Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina caused a tremendous amount of destruction to the United States. Analyzing both of these hurricanes will allow a better understanding of the damage they caused, by comparing occurrence of the event, the intensity, and damage. Examining these differences will display how unique each hurricane can become and the serious danger they bring to citizens. Occurrence Hurricane Sandy took place in October 2012. According to Galarneau, Davis, and Melvyn, â€Å"Sandy was a late season tropical cyclone over the North Atlantic, that created a demolishing storm surge from southern New Jersey to Rhode Island† (4296). Sandy evolved from an African tropical wave that connected with a large area of low pressure. Mixed with high humidity of the southwest Caribbean, Sandy first made landfall over Jamaica. Next, it made landfal. . Weather Book. New York: Sterling Pub., 2005. Print. Fragile Earth: Views of a Changing World. New York, NY: Collins, 2006. Print. Galarneau, Thomas J., Christopher A. Davis, and Melvyn A. Shapiro. Intensification of Hurricane Sandy (2012) through Extratropical Warm Core Seclusion. Monthly Weather Review 141.12 (2013): 4296-321. Print. Hile, Kevin. The Handy Weather Answer Book. Canton, MI: Visible Ink, 2009. Print. Manuel, John. The Long Road to Recovery: Environmental Health Impacts of Hurricane Sandy. Environmental Health Perspectives 121. 5 (2013): A152-159. Print. Mcnally, Tony, Massimo Bonavita, and Jean-Noel Thepaut. The Role of Satellite Data in the Forecasting of Hurricane Sandy. Monthly Weather Review 142.2 (2014): 634-46. Print. Nirupama, N. Is It Possible to Rank Hurricanes in a Unique Manner? Natural Hazards 67.2 (2013): 963-68. Print.

Total Quality Management (TQM)

TQM is an intricate approach aimed at improving the value of processes by consistently checking for deficiencies in these products and services (Sashkin Kiser, 1993).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Total Quality Management (TQM) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More TQM is equally indispensable in the administration of hotels. It determines consumer contentment in terms of value of services provided. Nonetheless, measuring value still remains one of the concerns in the hospitality segment. It is crucial to apply TQM as a systematic approach; however, this is not enough to maintain it in an organization. TQM can be lucratively implemented in management of hotels by first recognizing customers as the most essential component of a transaction. This means paying attention to their responses. There should always be a balance between the initial expectations of clients and how they view the service received. A service ca n be considered of high quality if it meets or exceeds client expectations (Sanders Graham, 1992). Quality of processes provided can be improved by evaluating competitor’s performance. An outstanding provider pays attention to concepts pertaining to timeliness. It is the responsibility of a manager to make certain employees provide services on demand within the agreed time. Integrity is also vital; it entails completeness of the service that an organization provides. Employees should always follow the right procedures during provision of services. TQM is also implemented by coming up with measurement steps, which gives it, coherence. Statistical analysis of the processes helps in highlighting possible shortcomings in products and associated services. The results derived from the measurement methods are quite vital in making sound decisions (Mukherjee, 2006). An executive in the hospitality industry can constantly progress the quality of processes offered in various ways. On e can induce personnel to embrace teamwork directed towards quality culture. Employees should be assisted so that they can improve job performance by eliminating barriers. These may incorporate lack of quality materials that aid duties. Job performance can also be enhanced by providing sufficient and relevant training in TQM as well as other areas of work. TQM requires managers to distinguish achievement. Symbolic rewards such as certifications should be accompanied by material recompense (Sashkin Kiser, 1993).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The thriving realization of TQM in an organization by an executive can be evaluated in various ways. Employees should embrace and sustain a tradition of TQM. Successful achievement of TQM involves acknowledging consumers’ needs. It also entails establishing clients’ wants, which should be, written down and explored. Con sumer desires eventually translate to the processes that distinguish an organization. The processes developed should be understood by those within the company. The administration of an organization should ensure that the processes developed satisfy the needs of customers. Finally, administration should derive a means of providing processes with exemplary standards (Sashkin Kiser, 1993). TQM initiative is poorly implemented by organizations on numerous occasions. This is evident when a company does not demonstrate objectivity in improving their products and service through the provision of long-term plans for education and research. Such organizations focus on profits that are termed as short-term in nature. TQM cannot be productively implemented if an institute disregards the needs of the customers (Sashkin Kiser, 1993). An organization that inadequately attends to client feedback, and lacks methods of evaluation is likely to fail. References Mukherjee, P.N. (2006). Total Quality Management. Mumbai: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd Sashkin, M. Kiser, K. J. (1993). Putting total quality management to work: what TQM means, how to use it, and how to sustain it over the long run: San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Sanders, I. Graham, M. (1992). Total Quality Management in the Hospitality Industry. Vol 3, Issue 3: Oxfordshire: Carfax Publishing Company  Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Total Quality Management (TQM) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Total Quality Management (TQM) was written and submitted by user Raymond Dodson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Examining the selection criteria for equity finance investment in social enterprise The WritePass Journal

Examining the selection criteria for equity finance investment in social enterprise Research Methodology Examining the selection criteria for equity finance investment in social enterprise ; Neuman, 2000). As a result of this choice, the positivist philosophy would not be adopted in this study, as it would be ineffective to adopt a philosophy that observes and generalises social reality (Robson, 2002). Collis and Hussey (2003) also argue that the positivist philosophy cannot help understand the inner feelings, attitudes and human emotions behind social enterprise investments, as these could differ from one investor to another. Research Approach According to Collis and Hussey (2003) a research that adopts an interpretivist philosophy should be inductive in its approach. An inductive approach to research can help to gain an understanding of human interpretation to events, which is especially useful in management research, where the attitude and motivation of stakeholders matter (Saunders et al, 2009). As this study is concerned with understanding how social enterprise investors determine their investment criteria, then it is useful for this research to adopt an approach that makes it possible to understand human emotions and attitudes, compared to the deductive approach that is usually based on generalised scientific principles and academic theories (Bryman and Bell, 2007). Research Purpose As the aim of this study is to identify what social venture capitalists look for in an investment opportunity, this lends itself very much to an exploratory research methodology. According to Robson (2002, pg. 59), â€Å"an exploratory research is a valuable means of finding out what is happening; to seek new insights; to ask questions and to assess phenomena in a new light.† Saunders et al (2009) also state that an exploratory research is useful if the aim of the research is to understand a problem, find out what’s happening, or when the researcher is particularly unsure about a research problem. As such, an exploratory study is an ideal design, as it helps to answer this research’s question more effectively. An exploratory study has been chosen compared to descriptive studies – which portray accurate events of people, events or situations (Robson, 2002), because this research seeks to ‘find out’ and not to ‘narrate’. Furthermore, the literature review already shows that there is insufficient information on selection criteria on social enterprise investments, which defeats the purpose of a descriptive study. The same also applies to explanatory studies, where the emphasis is to study a situation and explain the relationship between two or more variables (Saunders et al, 2009). This study is not designed to assess the relationship between variables, but rather to understand investor attitude. An exploratory study is therefore the most effective form of answering the research question. Data Collection Saunders et al. (2009) suggest that when gathering primary data for an inductive exploratory study, it is normal that much of the data will be qualitative in nature.   While there is a considerable amount of quantitative data around the subject of venture capital and social enterprise, these statistics are not sufficient to clarify investment criteria. A further issue with quantitative data is that this research does not seek to reconcile hypothesis and as a result, a methodology needs to be chosen that produces qualitative data. To answer the research question, and to develop a better understanding of this new development for both the social VC and social enterprise industries, it is important to collect data that is rich in opinion and explanation (as recommended by Morris and Wood, 1991). Qualitative data collection is therefore the most appropriate for this research. As it is anticipated that much of the primary data gathered for this study will be qualitative in nature, Saunders et al. (2009) suggests that there are several techniques for gathering primary data.   These include inter alia interviews, surveys, focus groups, case studies, and participant observation. To obtain rich data that will be sufficient to allow for analysis, the development of themes, and sufficient contrast of opinion, techniques such as questionnaires and general surveys with large samples are unlikely to be effective (Morris and Wood, 1991). Firstly due to the fact that they will not provide the necessary opinion to answer the research question but more importantly due to the fact that there is a limited sample of available respondents with the necessary experience in their industry, as will be clarified in the data sources section of this methodology. While both the VC industry and the social enterprise ‘movement’ are well established, the actual link between them is relatively new and as a result it is important to select a technique that allows for the development of theories to emerge during data collection and analysis. A longitudinal study would potentially be ideal as would the case study method, since both of these allow for the opportunity for the discovery of interesting new ideas and theories (Adams and Schvaneveldt, 1991). A longitudinal study is not appropriate for this dissertation due to the time constraints, and so a cross-sectional study is more appropriate. While there was the potential to carry out a case study of either a social VC fund or a social enterprise, this would have only provided information around one organization. To effectively analyse the link between two industries it is more appropriate to gather data from a broad cross section of organizations and links to avoid either any bias or à ¢â‚¬Å"isolate opinion† (Collis and Hussey, 2003). According to Belk (2008), the main weakness of qualitative data collection is that it can be limited by insufficient resources. This means that because interviews are resource intensive, a narrower range of opinion is gathered.   However Collins Hussey (2003) argue that if the interviews are well structured even though they only gather the opinions of a relatively small research population the depth and breadth of data gathered and the fact that it is contextually relevant is certainly sufficient in terms of data validity and reliability for an exploratory study such as this. Having established the time limitations and the issue that the potential sample is limited but should be sufficiently broad, interviews emerge as the most appropriate methodology. As Sanders et al (2009) explains, there are a number of different ways that an interview can be conducted. It is first important to establish which structure of interview is the most appropriate. There are three main categories of interview structure, and these are: structured, semi-structured and unstructured. The primary distinction between them being the level of freedom given to the researcher in terms of asking different questions to interviewees, and varying the length allowed for the responses (Saunders et al, 2009). The literature showed that there is no clarity as to either the criteria used for funding or for the advice to those seeking funding, and as a result there needs to be the opportunity for the interviewees to express opinion and provide information that moves beyond the confines of a set of structured questions. To develop new and interesting theories, it is essential that the interviews allow for different responses (Robson, 2002). However, this dissertation has a limitation of length which prevents unstructured interviews from being an appropriate technique as it could potentially allow for too much data to be collected making analysis overly complex or it could prevent the necessary focus on the issues related to the research question. Semi-structured interviews allow for sufficient data to be collected while also providing the flexibility that is necessary for the researcher to develop both original insight and sufficient opinion for the analysis (Bryman and Bell, 2007). Data Sources and Data Collection Techniques Since it has been established that the author shall conduct semi-structured interviews, it is important at this stage to re-visit the research questions, which are as follows: When evaluating social enterprises for equity investment, which criteria are considered most important? Do social venture capitalists differ in their evaluation criteria compared to commercial venture capitalists? Secondary research question: What are the drivers for the social venture capitalists? A questionnaire has been developed accordingly and used as a guideline, allowing for flexibility of the discussion and giving the respondents room to reject certain questions or focus on questions that was within their expertise, whilst still ensuring answers to the more critical questions. This semi-structured format is favourable also because it allows for discretion and prioritization in time management, without the need to interrupt or inconvenience the respondent (Neuman, 2000). Primary data has been gathered using said questionnaire, from five individuals that are responsible for screening social enterprises in the UK for access to equity investment. Five interview respondents were seen as ideal for a number of reasons. Firstly, this research is exploratory in nature; secondly, time constraints would have made it difficult to gather and analyse data from more than five respondents; and lastly, it was difficult to gain access to these individuals. The semi-structured interviews were conducted over the phone and in face-to-face environments, as per the respondents’ preference. The questionnaire was shared beforehand allowing the respondents time to consider and prepare for the questions if need be, as well as to filter out respondents who were not well suited. Research participants were encouraged to expand upon their responses to allow the researcher to gather a wide range of data (Belk, 2008).   The interviews were audio-recorded with consent and subsequently transcribed verbatim[1], in order to allow the researcher to focus on the interview and fully engage with the respondent, without compromising on the accuracy of the data collected (Robson, 2002). This further allowed for the researcher to take note of additional non-verbal communication to enrich the quality of data retrieved (Kvale and Brinkmann, 2009). At the end of each interview, a summary was developed in order to reflect upon the progression of the interv iew process and start developing any findings. This â€Å"stop and reflect† process in between interviews, as recommended by Saunders et al (2009), has allowed the researcher to adapt to this new knowledge and delve deeper into the research questions with each ensuing interview.   This process has led to an additional set of questions on the questionnaire[2], with the aim of addressing four new research questions: Is there in fact a market/demand for equity investment in social enterprise in the UK? Is there a supply/demand balance of social enterprises to social investment? How do SIFIs interact? What does the future of social investment look like? Once the data had been gathered, the author administered data reduction techniques (Miles and Huberman, 1994) by critically reviewing and selectively focusing on key parts of the extended text which are the transcripts. By extracting relevant pieces of information to answer our research questions, along with our notes throughout the interview process, the author was then able to codify the data, which was then subject to thematic analysis. Data collection, data analysis and the development and verification of the propositions have been very much an interactive and interrelated set of processes, whereby actual analysis occurred throughout. The flexibility of this process was key to enabling more insightful data and propositions, as enabled by an inductive approach. Issues of Reliability, Validity and Generalisability Reliability denotes the extent to which findings from a research can provide consistent findings, if another study were to adopt its data gathering and sampling technique (Easterby-Smith et al, 2008). The major threats to research liability: respondent bias, respondent error, interviewer bias and interviewer error (Robson, 2002) were avoided by: Sending the questionnaires to the respondents beforehand to avoid misinterpretation of intent or questions. Audio-recording the interviews, and taking ‘time-outs’ to reflect on the answers and ask further questions. Analyzing the data using data-reduction techniques, in order to prioritize the key findings and avoid loss of data. Validity, according to Saunders et al (2009) â€Å"is concerned with whether findings are really about what they appear to be about†. The interview questions were based on the research question, thus linking respondent answers to the overall aim of the research. Furthermore, the respondents were accredited professionals with industry insight on social enterprise investments. As a result, they were most fit to answer the interview questions. This helped ensure the data collected and analysed was valid. Generalisability measures the extent to which research findings are generalizable to other research settings (Saunders et al, 2009). Due to the inductive nature of this study, it is the researcher’s opinion that the findings of this research are generalizable to social enterprise investments in the UK. The findings from this research could help explain how investors determine what social enterprises they would invest in the UK. This is due to socio-economic factors that may differ from one country to another. Ethics With any primary research it is imperative that matters relating to research ethics are taken into account (Denzin and Lincoln, 2003).   This includes ensuring that research participants have a clear understanding of what the research will entail and their contribution to the research. Research participants have agreed to support the research voluntarily, and so Denzin and Lincoln (2003, p.114) describe this as informed consent.   The author has explained the nature of the research and reassured research participants of their role.   Furthermore, confidentiality will be maintained through ensuring anonymity of research participants throughout this dissertation, only divulging participants’ names on a need to know basis to dissertation assessors.   Not only is this ethical best practice, but Bryman Bell (2011) also highlight the fact that it further ensures that the researcher gathers legitimate data which is not subject to inadvertent bias, for example a research part icipant feels that they must say nice things about their supervisor.   In this instance because the research is heavily reliant on personal opinion then it is imperative that research ethics are observed. Due to the respondents’ varying assumptions in definition when referring to key research terms, such as â€Å"social enterprise† and â€Å"social venture capital†, all questions were clarified in detail where necessary, and the author ensured an alignment of understanding prior to collecting data. References Adams, G. R. and Schvaneveldt, J. D. (1991) Understanding Research Methods, Longman Group: UK, 406pp Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2007) Business Research Methods, 2nd Ed, Oxford University Press: Oxford, 786pp Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2003) Business Research: A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students, 2nd Ed, Palgrave McMillan: NY, 374pp Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., and Lowe, A. (2008) Management Research: An Introduction, 2nd Ed, SAGE: London, 194pp Morris, T. and Wood, S. (1991), ‘Testing the survey method: continuity and change in British industrial relations’, Work, Employment Society, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 259- 82. Neuman, W. L. (2000) Basics of social research: qualitative and quantitative approaches, Pearson: UK, 391pp Robson, C. (2002) Real world research: a resource for social scientists and   practitioner researchers, 2nd Ed, Wiley-Blackwell: NY, 599pp Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2009) Research methods for business   students, Fifth Edition, Pearson Education: NJ, 624pp

Banded Sea Krait Facts (Laticauda colubrina)

Banded Sea Krait Facts (Laticauda colubrina) The banded sea krait is a type of venomous sea snake found in the tropical water of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Although this snakes venom is ten times more potent than that of a rattlesnake, the animal is nonaggressive and only known to bite in self defense. The most common name for the species is the banded sea krait, but its also called the yellow-lipped sea krait. The scientific name Laticauda colubrina gives rise to another common name: colubrine sea krait. While the animal may be called the banded sea snake, its better to call it a krait to avoid confusion with true sea snakes. Fast Facts: Banded Sea Krait Scientific Name: Laticauda colubrinaCommon Names: Banded sea krait, yellow-lipped sea krait, colubrine sea kraitBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 34 inches (male); 56 inches (female)Weight: 1.3-4.0 poundsLifespan: Unknown. Most snakes can reach 20 years of age under ideal conditions.Diet: CarnivoreHabitat: Indo-Pacific regionPopulation: Stable, probably numbering in the thousandsConservation Status: Least Concern Description A banded sea krait can be distinguished from other krait species by its yellow snout and from true sea snakes by its flattened body and nostril position. Sirachai Arunrugstichai / Getty Images The banded sea snake has a black head and black-striped body. Its upper surface is blue-gray, with a yellow belly. This snake can be distinguished from related kraits by its yellow upper lip and snout. Like other kraits, it has a flattened body, paddle-shaped tail, and nostrils on the sides of its snout. In contrast, an aquatic sea snake has a paddle tail, but a rounded body and nostrils near the top of its head. Banded sea krait females are substantially larger than males. Females average 142 cm (56 in) in length, while males average 87 cm (34 in) in length. On average, an adult male weighs about 1.3 pounds, while a female weighs around 4 pounds. Habitat and Distribution Banded sea krait (Laticauda colubrina) distribution. Sn1per Banded sea kraits are semiaquatic snakes found in shallow coastal waters of the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. While juvenile snakes spend most of their time in the water, adult kraits spend about half their time on land. The snakes hunt in water, but must return to digest their food, shed their skin, and reproduce. Banded sea kraits exhibit philopatry, which means they always return to their home islands. Diet and Behavior The head and tail of the banded sea krait look similar, which helps deter potential predators. Placebo365 / Getty Images Banded sea kraits are perfectly adapted to hunt eels, supplementing their diet with small fish and crabs. The snake has never been observed feeding on land. The kraits slender body helps it weave through corals. The snakes tail may be exposed, but the threat from predators is reduced because the tail looks much like the head. Banded sea kraits are solitary nocturnal hunters, but they travel with hunting parties of yellow goatfish and bluefin trevally, which capture prey fleeing from the snake. Banded sea kraits display sexual dimorphism in hunting behavior. Males tend to hunt moray eels in shallow water, while females hunt conger eels in deeper water. Males tend to make multiple kills on a hunt, while females typically only take one prey per hunt. Most animals leave sea kraits alone, but they are preyed upon by sharks and other large fish and sea birds when the snakes surface. In some countries, people catch the snakes to eat them. Venomous Bite Because they spend so much time on land and are attracted to lights, encounters between kraits and humans are common but surprisingly uneventful. Banded sea kraits are highly venomous, but only bite in self-defense if grabbed. In New Caledonia, the snakes have the common name  tricot rayà ©Ã‚  (stripey  sweater) and are considered safe enough to play with children. Bites most often occur when fishermen try to untangle the snakes from fishing nets. The venom contains a powerful neurotoxin that can cause hypertension, cyanosis, paralysis, and potentially death if left untreated. Reproduction and Offspring Banded sea kraits are oviparous; they return to land to mate and lay eggs. Mating occurs in September through December. Males chase the larger, slower females and entwine around her. The males rhythmically contract to produce what are called caudocephalic waves. Copulations takes about two hours, but the mass of snakes may remain entwined for several days. Females deposit up to 10 eggs in a crevice on the land. Only two nests have ever been discovered, so little is known about the how the hatchlings find their way to water. The lifespan of the banded sea krait is unknown. Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the banded sea krait as least concern. The species population is stable and the snake is abundant throughout its range. Significant threats to the snake include habitat destruction, coastal development, and light pollution. While the snake is a human food source, the threat from overharvesting is localized. Coral bleaching may impact the banded sea krait, as it may result in diminished prey abundance. Sources Guinea, Michael L.. Sea snakes of Fiji and Niue. In Gopalakrishnakone, Ponnampalam. Sea Snake Toxicology. Singapore Univ. Press. pp. 212–233, 1994. ISBN 9971-69-193-0.Lane, A.; Guinea, M.; Gatus, J.; Lobo, A. Laticauda colubrina. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T176750A7296975. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176750A7296975.enRasmussen, A.R.;and J. Elmberg. Head for my tail: A new hypothesis to explain how venomous sea snakes avoid becoming prey. Marine Ecology. 30 (4): 385–390, 2009. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0485.2009.00318.xShetty, Sohan and Richard Shine. Philopatry and Homing Behavior of Sea Snakes (Laticauda colubrina) from Two Adjacent Islands in Fiji. Conservation Biology. 16 (5): 1422–1426, 2002. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.00515.xShine, R.; Shetty, S. Moving in two worlds: aquatic and terrestrial locomotion in sea snakes (Laticauda colubrina, Laticaudidae). Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 14 (2): 338–346, 2001. doi:10.1046/j.14 20-9101.2001.00265.x

Resisting Disability Epithets Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Resisting Disability Epithets - Assignment Example This paper illustrates that the organization, Hermit Life and Auto, could be deduced to offer insurance services (both life and automobiles) to various clients across the United States. Its communication culture manifests an abundance of expressing disability slur or disability epithet, defined as â€Å"an abusive or contemptuous word or phrase†¦commonly used as a simple synonym for a term of abuse or slur†, with frequent references to words such as â€Å"spazzos† and â€Å"retards† within their communication patterns. The main party involved in Stacey, who is disturbed by the communication culture, particularly due to her being â€Å"the mother of a child with an intellectual disability†. She felt that by being tolerant of other personnel’s constant disregard for respectful and irresponsible use of disability epithet, the communication culture would be construed as an unprofessional representation of the high quality of services they are expec ted to offer to diverse clients â€Å"regardless of race, religion, political or cultural differences, sexual orientation, or mental and /or physical disability†. In this regard, a letter was drafted and written by Stacey with the aim of presenting the issues to her colleagues to ultimately put a stop to the use of disability epithet within the communication culture in the organization.

Marshall & Gordon Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marshall & Gordon - Assignment Example Public Relations firms across the world provide a wide range of services that are aimed at improving and managing the reputation of a company’s brands, products, goods and services. However, public relations firm are currently facing lots of challenges as they carry on their work. Public relations consultants’ jobs were previously underestimated to be that of creating and issuing of press releases, whereby the PRs had the task of looking for connections with media personalities so that their articles could be placed well in articles. The main aim of doing this was to enhance and sell their products to the public well. This is not the case currently as firms are consolidating through mergers and acquisition; they are also working hard to develop global competencies and expertise to be able to serve clients who are multinational and the powerful social media. This has helped the PR firms to grow a lot and diversify into other extensions of PR services such as handling cas es of reputation management. The firms also seek to increase their annual growth to a significant digit. The main objective in writing this memo is analyzing the issues that are associated with the public relations industry using the case of Marshall& Gordon and the challenges its facing in implementing its compensation system. Introduction The Marshall& Gordon Company is an international organization that was founded out of a merger between Marshall, a firm based in Atlanta and Gordon based in New Orleans. The merged firm came into being in 1950s and made its strategic decisions regarding its focus on communications, branding of products and creation of portfolios, with its headquarters relocated to New York. In 1962, the Marshall& Gordon firm was acquired by PTG, an international firm that was widely recognized in its advertising proceeds, the way it carried out its public relations and its media companies. By 1999, the firm had gone international and got its offices in various co ntinents, with a great person famous for renowned implementation of media tools and innovation in public relations innovation as the CEO. She really helped the firm to grow a lot through her good prowess in the PR activities. The Marshall &Gordon PR has since then assisted other firms to grow especially where they have challenges and issues with the PR section. The company grows fast with its annual growth superseding that of former years in its advertising and branding of products. However, the company is currently facing several challenges which have turned out to be some of its weaknesses. The company’s strength lies in the prowess of the CEO, who has great skill in public relations hence can make decisions that will have great beneficial impact on the company’s reputations. She has also assisted other firms to grow in the decisions that she assists them to make, this has earned the company a lot of respect especially from other PR firms that recognize the company. The fact that the firm has several offices in other continents is a good sign that the company has grown and expanded its business activities; this is another strength and opportunity for the firm. The company’s early decisions to venture into public relations has made it get connections with other great firms from which it has benefited a lot. The company also has strong production, branding and selling of its products however, it has failed in the way it markets its products. The weakness of the firm is in its lateral hires of people who are neither mentoring on any of its associates nor developing any of its clients. The other thing regarding the marketing of its products is the issue of developing an effective compensation system for its clients and public relations consultants. The compensation sys

Public communication Ethics Case studies Essay Example for Free

Public communication Ethics Case studies Essay The International Smart Tan is a global synergetic consortium that has been committed to promoting as well as researching on responsible skin care for people who develop sunburns and tans. It teaches on methods of minimizing the risks that are associated with too little or too much sunlight (Tanning, 2008). Ultra Violet Radiation has been widely recognized as being carcinogenic thus causing various types of skin cancer. Exposure during the early years during adolescence and childhood are crucial as far as risks of skin cancers are concerned. Traditionally the major source of UVR exposures in the tanning purposes have been rays from the sun though tanning equipments have now represented amplified importance to sources of exposure mostly to the young adults and adolescents. This exposure amplifies the risks of melanoma. Most of the suns scare activists profit through marketing the distorted sun abstinence message to the public. Therefore grassroots health is the main organization that is fully committed in offering education on Vitamin D through launching a global public health campaign in order to solve the epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency. Therefore it is imperative to discuss how potter’s model is applicable in this case study, the ethical theories behind it and how I would communicate my position as far as the case study is concerned. Constant changes in the public health and the society have forced most health professionals to engage into some new roles and develop new competencies. Public health practitioners ought to be trained in order to respond to such challenges. Porter’s model of pure competition implies on the fact that the risks rates ought to be constant across industries and firms (Strategic management, 2010). His framework model assumes that industries are usually influenced by some forces. These forces are rivalry, threat of substitutes, buyer power, supplier power and threat of entry. Smart Tanning in order to pursue some advantage over its rivals had to improve on their communication strategies. They emphasized on the importance of vitamin D and its sufficient risks. They also exploited relationships with the other counterparts like the public health practitioners. As far as the buyer power is concerned, the relationship that the public have with Smart Tanning is amplifying and almost to monopsony level. Also there is a concept of supplier power as Smart tanning has some relationships with the hospitals thus suppliers are concentrated. They also face barriers because of government regulations that prompt them to offer the right information in order to uplift right health communication on causes of skin cancers and how effectively it can be solved. Strategy in Smart Tanning can be formulated on business, functional and corporate level. The business level is the major context as far as industry rivalry is concerned thus focus, differentiation and cost leadership ought to be implemented in order to create a competitive advantage. The generic strategies will help Smart Tanning to leverage its main strengths and defend on the serious effects of the forces. Some of the ethical theories that can be applied are the moral theory, utilitarian, virtue theories and others. Smart tanning has applied the utilitarian theory as it has focused on making everybody concerned and mostly the consumers happy. It has demonstrated that they have high standards when it comes to consumer education, employee training as well as the public welfare against fighting skin cancer. The moral and virtue theory has been used on the grounds that the tanning association has come with moral strategies to make sure that the public is not affected but rather are being helped. It has amplified the comprehension of professional tanning that moderates ultra-violet exposures from outdoor and indoor tanning that does recognize the manageable risks as well as benefits that are associated with the ultraviolet exposures of the light. The other is rational theory as tanning industry is quite effective on teaching about the prevention of sunburn than those who are after promoting sun avoidance. My personal take on this case study is that tanning industry is imperative as it will help in reducing skin cancers. However, there is loss of perspective that there are other psychological and physiological benefits that are also associated with sunlight that needs more research and the fact that most risks bare manageable for all people who have got the aptitude of developing a tan and for most people benefits of sun exposure do outweigh most risks that are associated with being overexposed. Also to a large extent it is crucial as smart tanning means comprehending both risks and benefits of sunlight. B. Right to Know vs. Personal Privacy (Ch. 5, Case 19, the Controversial Patriot Act) Tensions between public information and personal privacy will undoubtedly never ebb. Privacy issues do revolve on the conflict between the right of the public to know about something and the citizens’ right to keep the information to themselves (Joseph. , Robert Lucinda, 2008, pp. 121). It is therefore crucial to give limelight to some of the controversies that emerged in the Patriot Act which most address on information sharing. The Patriot Act was initially designed in order to enhance the investigations on federal anti-terrorism. However, the opponents of the senate asserted that the changes in the Act have failed to sufficiently address on the concerns of civil liberties with the raise of provisions. Section 203 (b and d) allows for information from the criminals to be shared with the intelligence agents as well as other government’s bodies (NPR, 2010). However, the major controversy is that most critics believe that the unrestricted sharing might lead to development of intense databases on citizens who are not the main targets of crime. The supporters however assert that the provisions will enhance sharing of information within the intelligence community as well as the FBI. Section 206 (NPR, 2010) allows for the wire tap authorization in order to cover many devices and eliminates the need for court authorizations to a suspect’s PC, cell phone as well as blackberry. The critics affirm that the language in the Act might lead to violations of privacy to anybody who might come into contact with a suspect. On the other hand, the government asserts that roving wiretaps are needed in order to deal with the sophisticated technological terrorists. Section 215 allows for easy access of business records (NPR, 2010). However, the critics attack this provision saying that the law can be used to order for reading records of bookstore patrons or library. On the other hand, the supporters allege that the provision will allow the investigators in obtaining documents that are connected to terror. Section (213) allows for the sneak and peek warrants where critics aver that the provision allows for search even for minor crimes apart from the espionage and terror crimes. The supporters assert that this provision allows investigators to search houses of criminals. Porter’s five competitive forces model are to a large extent applicable in this case study. As far as entry of competitors is concerned, it is very difficult for the government to implement on the provisions and receive full support with the major controversies that are emerging in the sections of the provisions. The critics will easily continue to criticize the provisions as long as there are questionable loopholes that raise concerns on mistakes, misuse and invasion of privacy. The Patriot Act is also under threat of being substituted or implemented to another that fits every citizen if it not properly defined by the government. The bargaining power of the buyers who are public in this case is quite strong and it will be difficult for them to work together unless the provisions are changed to adapt to everybody’s preference and for the good of all. There is a strong competition and argument between the government supporters and the critics because of the barriers created by critics. One of the ethical theories that are in relation to this is the utilitarian theory which seeks the happiness of the majority. The provisions should be implemented in a way that suit everybody and brings happiness to the majority if not to all people. The controversial issues are immense as they touch on privacy concept that ought to be reinforced and respected. The other is consequentialist or teleological theory that views on what ought to be done determined by the consequences. The government should analyze on some of the effects of these provisions. The other is moral duty. Any act of rule is proper as long as it satisfies all the demands of the overriding or non consequentialist principles of morality. The deontology theory also stresses that any value of any action does lie in motives instead of the consequences. All these theories do apply the issue as the government should aim at maximizing happiness, acting morally, focus on the consequences of the actions as well as make their motives known to the public to create acceptance. As far as am concerned, under the guise of the Patriot Act and in the name of defending freedom and fighting terrorism, The Act is doing neither. It is suppressing the rights of the Americans to dissent as it gives the government power to go ahead and conduct some secret trials as well as executions. For all who seek in preserving the democracy in USA, it is vital to consider all people rationally. Defense on democracy starts at home and there ought to be realization of democracy and freedom which the Act is quite antithetical to all. Since the inception of the Act, it has been shrouded with controversies and it is fair to have a clear and closer look to the consequences of the Act. This is an Act that will abuse access of private information as no one is in a position to define what suspicious behavior constitutes. The Act is a mere unpatriotic way of limiting the civil rights, infringing on the free communication or speech, interfering with freedom and infringing the citizen’s privacy rights. C. Media Interests vs. Community Interests; Ch. 9, Case 39, Gatekeepers II: Opening the Door) The broad concept of public interest is quite familiar to most people and is usually considered as defense from media intrusion of people’s privacy under certain circumstances. Most things constitute the public interest in a vulnerable rather than what can be deemed as strong sense. Where something or an information might be seen to affect only one person, it might be in public interest incase the effect usually involves other principles that will have adverse effect on the population for example the abuse of power or a grave crime. The media do try to maximize and equalize their audiences thus livening stories which would in the long run overstep the regulation guidelines. It is therefore imperative to give some facts about Gate Keeper’s II: opening the door is concerned. This is a story about a protest and the Horowitz advertisement. It offers background on Horowitz advertisement and his main idea of running the advertisement in the college newspapers. It offers critically friendly view on the purpose of the advertisement. Horowitz happens to be a neoconservative journalist who attempted to go ahead and publish an advertisement entitled â€Å"ten reasons why reparations for slavery are a bad idea for black people and racist too†. Most college newspapers like Columbia and Harvard rejected the advertisement since the editors thought it was racist and offensive. The newspapers pointed out on the fact that they were not in any position to accept all advertisers who are in a position to buy an advertisement. Few newspapers ran the advertisement and only the University of Chicago ran the advertisement without much hostility (Anthony, 2001). Most people view the rejection of the advertisement as evidence of a politically correct censorship in the American campuses but others have aired concerns on freedom of expression in USA. Some of the ethical theories that Horowitz should have focused on are virtue and moral theories that entails of behaving ethically without attacking any race. He should have also focused on utilitarianism theory to make sure he writes something that will bring maximum happiness to the majority. In my view, the Horowitz argument and essay was quite offensive to some extent. This is not because it was racist but he doesn’t deny on the fact that slavery did occur or Africans who were enslaved were seriously wronged. He attempts to set an argument purportedly ascertain on which groups did benefit from the slavery and how they did. He contends that Blacks benefited from the slavery. His arguments are to a certain extent offensive as his contention that the blacks benefited from slavery reduces the slavery wrongs. Also the argument that the blacks would be better in America than they would be in Africa sounds almost like justifying the brutal kidnappings on grounds the victim’s children might end up in countries with high living standard. References Indoor tanning: Smart tan. 2008. Retrieved 23, Aug 2010 http://www. tanningtruth. com/index. php/indoor_tanning/ Porter’s five forces. 2010. Strategic management. Retrieved 23, Aug, 2010 http://www. quickmba. com/strategy/porter. shtml Sebok, Anthony. 2001. The Horowitz slavery AD controversy, and the problem with conceptualizing human rights violations as property based. Retrieved 23, Aug, 2010 http://writ. news. findlaw. com/sebok/20010326. html Straubhaar, Joseph. , LaRose, Robert Davenport, Lucinda. 2008. Media now: Understanding media, culture and technology. USA: Cengage Learning The Patriot Act : Key controversies. 2010. Retrieved, 23, Aug 2010 http://www. npr. org/news/specials/patriotact/patriotactdeal. html

Summary of Raymond Carvers Cathedral :: essays research papers

In Raymond Carver’s story, â€Å"Cathedral,† the story tells of how a close outside relationship can threaten a marriage by provoking insecurities, aggravating communication barriers, and creating feelings of invasion of privacy. The husband in the story is given the gift of seeing the cathedral through a blind man’s eyes. Although the title suggests that the story is about a cathedral, it is really about two men who come together and share a vision and realize it is he who is blind. As the story begins, the character of the husband has a negative personality. He lacks compassion, is narrow-minded, and is jealous of his wife’s friendship with a blind man named Robert. His constantly complains that â€Å"a blind man in my house was not something [he looked] forward to† (362). The close outside friendship between the narrator’s wife and Robert provokes his insecurities. This friendship has lasted for ten years and during those years, they have exchanged countless tapes regarding experiences they have gone through. Because of this, her husband feels â€Å"she [has] told him everything or it so it seemed† (363) about their relationship. Upon the arrival of his wife’s friend, the husband is ultimately uncomfortable around Robert because he does not know how to communicate with or act around him. His discomfort is revealed when Robert and his wife were sharing their experiences â€Å"about the major things that had come to pass for them in the past ten years† (367). He felt it was necessary to join in because he thought Robert would â€Å"think [he] left the room and didn’t want [his wife] to think [he] was feeling left out† (367). It is obvious the husband is overly involved with Robert’s handicap and fails to see him as a person with his own thoughts and ideas. As the story progresses, the husband’s attitude towards Robert changes. During dinner, he â€Å"watched with admiration as [Robert] used his knife and fork† (366) on a piece of meat. As bedtime draws near, his wife heads upstairs, leaving both men alone. The husband begins to flip through channels and comes across a program about a cathedral. Robert is unaware of what a cathedral is and the husband is attempts to explain, but has a hard time in doing so. To get a better understanding, Robert suggests that he draws a cathedral while he places his hands on top of those of the husband.

A Step Forward Or A Step Backward Environmental Sciences Essay

Introduction:â€Å" Our mission is to be a first metals and excavation group and generate superior fiscal returns. † With this mission Vedanta group entered Indian excavation industry under the leading of Mr. Anil Agarwal ( Executive Chairman ) . Vedanta Resources Plc. signed a MoU with Orissa authorities in 1997 for mining bauxite from Niyamgiri Hills near Lanjigarh. This besides led to put up 1.75mtpa aluminum smelter at Jharsuguda, all in Odisha. Although the Alumina Refinery Project was commissioned in 2007 and the excavation undertaking was cleared by the Supreme Court of India in 2008, OMC has non yet been able to get down the excavation undertaking chiefly due to the rejection of the concluding clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forest ( MoEF ) .[ 1 ]The instance is still held with Supreme Court of India and Vedanta has decided to close down its Lanjigarh works from December 2012 if no alternate solution comes from either province authorities or Cardinal authorities. As per VAL Chief Operating Officer Mukesh Kumar â€Å" If the state of affairs improves by December 5, the company may non close down the works † . Kumar said despite the province authorities ‘s committedness to provide natural stuff to the refinery, it has non been given ‘even one gm ‘ of bauxite so far.[ 2 ]VAL has so far invested Rs 9,000 crores in the undertaking which employs about 7,000 people, including direct occupations to 3,000 individuals. â€Å" In retrospect we feel it was a bad determination to travel for such immense investings here, † remarked a senior VAL functionary.[ 3 ]VAL ‘s determination is bound to direct a incorrect signal amongst the prospective investors, that mineral-rich Odisha, contrary to the claims of the province authorities, is far from welcoming industries.VEDANTA- About the company:â€Å" Our vision is to be a universe category, diversified resources company supplying superior returns to our stockholders with h igh quality assets, low cost operations, and sustainable development. † [ Vision: Vedanta Resources PLC. ][ 4 ] Based in London, Vedanta is a globally diversified natural resources group with wide-ranging involvements in aluminum, Cu, Zn, lead, Ag, Fe ore, oil and gas and power. Vedanta is the first Indian fabrication company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, and continues to be a portion of the FTSE 100 Index. With experient work force of over 31,000 employees worldwide, Vedanta Resources plc is a globally diversified natural resources group with grosss in surplus of US $ 11 billion. Vedanta has operating locations in India, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Liberia, Ireland and Australia through assorted subordinates. Australia: Copper Mines of Tasmania: An belowground Cu excavation operations located in Tasmania with ore production capacity of 2.8mtpa. This is supplied wholly to Sterlite ‘s Cu smelter operations in India. Northern rhodesia: Konkola Copper Mines: KCM has to the full integrated Cu operations in Zambia with several mines at Konkola and Nchanga. South west africa: Sterlite own the Skorpion mine in Namibia. This plus was acquired from Anglo American ‘s Zn concern. South Africa: Sterlite owns 74 % of Black Mountain Mining in South Africa, which includes the Black Mountain Mine and Gamsberg undertaking. Liberia: Acquired Liberia Iron ore assets with an estimated 1bn tonne militias and resources in FY 2011-12. Irish republic: Sterlite picked up 100 % interest in the Lisheen Mine during the acquisition of the Zn concern from Anglo American.Vedanta in India:Sterlite Industries Limited: The concern comprises of 0.4mpta Cu smelting and refinement operations. The company is duplicating the capacity to 0.8mtpa with confined power works. MALCO: The Company has a power works with a coevals capacity of 100 MW. BALCO: A taking Indian aluminum manufacturer with operations in the province of Chhattisgarh, BALCO presently has 245ktpa smelting capacity, 810MW power coevals installations and capableness to bring forth metal bars and other value-added merchandises. BALCO has a 325ktpa smelter undertaking, a 1,200MW power works undertaking, and rights to char block of 211.0mt for confined use. Vedanta Aluminium Limited: â€Å" We will be the universe ‘s most admired company that systematically defines the prima criterions in our concerns, doing our stakeholders proud to be associated with us † , vision[ 5 ]VAL. VAL is based in eastern India and operates a 1mtpa alumina refinery at Lanjigarh. At Jharsuguda, VAL operates 500ktpa aluminum smelter and an associated 1,215MW confined power works. VAL besides has a 1.25mtpa aluminum smelter undertaking at Jharsuguda. Sesa Goa: Sesa Goa is India ‘s largest private sector Fe ore producer-exporter, with excavation and processing installations located in the provinces of Goa and Karnataka. Sterlite Energy: It has two major power works undertakings for commercial power coevals – the 2,400MW power works at Jharsuguda, Orissa of which two units were operations at the terminal of FY 2010-11, and the 2,640MW power works at Talwandi Sabo, in Punjab.The Struggle:For Vedanta Alumina signed the joint venture understanding with the OMC on October 5, 2003 for developing bauxite mines at the Niyamgiri hill near Lanjigarh in Kalahandi territory and the Khambasi hill in bordering Rayagada territory, for usage in its one-million-tonne alumina refinery being set up at a cost of Rs.4,000 crores.[ 6 ]The works got in production by taking all clearances in 2005. But the province resistance alleges that the company was yet to obtain forest clearance for its undertaking as per the Forest ( Conservation ) Act, 1980. They besides alleged that the company had cleared the site and constructed its rehabilitation settlement, office edifice, invitee house and 22 concrete pillars for the co nveyer system from the mines at the Niyamgiri hill to the works site at Lanjigarh without the blessing of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. This instance is under legal power of the Supreme Court of India. In behest of these allegations Vedanta is be aftering to close down the works in absence of bauxite mines.Court finding of facts:The Supreme tribunal of India nevertheless allowed Vedanta Aluminium for the excavation undertaking saying that â€Å" If M/s. SIIL is agreeable to the a bow stated Rehabilitation Package so they shall be at autonomy to travel this Court by originating a proper application. This Court is non against the Undertaking in rule. It merely seeks precautions by which we are able to protect nature and bomber service development. I.As. are disposed of consequently. †[ 7 ]The Supreme Court of India besides instructed MoEF to give the environmental clearance after necessary reviews.[ 8 ] But when the Central Empowered Committee ( CEC ) has reprimanded the Ministry in really strong linguistic communication for perfectly go againsting basic dogmas of environmental clearance process, misdemeanor of cardinal commissariats of forest clearances, raised critical issues of bearing false witness against Vedanta, MoEF and Orissa Government,[ 9 ]The Supreme Court of India instructed Vedanta Aluminium Limited to halt its enlargement on the land that it has non fulfilled the environmental clearances.[ 10 ]Environmental position:The aluminum oxide works and the excavation undertaking linked with it will hold serious inauspicious consequence on the vegetations and zoologies due to excavation, overburden dumping, building of proposed route through the dense woods, liquid and gaseous wastewaters emanations, bright light, blaring with explosives, boring and attendant quiver and dust, operation of heavy burden and unloading equipment, pollution etc. Sterlite India ‘s application to the MoEF had sought merely the environmental clearance and no forest clearance ( which, as noted earlier, are separate regulative demands ) for the refinery. However, on 16 August 2004 – after holding made the application for environmental clearance – Sterlite India sought separate permission, under the Forest Conservation Act, for the recreation of 30 hectares of protected wood land and 29 hectares of small town common belongings resource land for the refinery and the conveyer transit system that was to be used to transport bauxite from the mine site to the refinery. India ‘s environmental and forest Torahs make it compulsory for companies to obtain anterior clearances for new industrial undertakings affecting major alterations in land usage forms. The MoEF evaluates applications and grants clearances. The Forest Conservation Act, 1980, regulates forest clearances, while ordinance under the 1986 Environment ( Protection ) Act governs environmental clearances.Impact on H2O governmentMany perennial watercourses originate from the Niyamgiri hill top. 22 H2O harvest home constructions are located in the foothills which provide twelvemonth unit of ammunition H2O supply. Vamsdhara and Nagvalli are two major rivers of South Orissa which emanate from this hill. The excavation of bauxite is bound to destruct the H2O reloading capacity of the hill and will besides do the desertification of perennial watercourses therefore presenting a serious hazard to the lasting beginning of H2O in this country.Disposal of Toxic wastewatersRed Mud Pond and the Ash Pond are being established on the Bankss of river Vamsdhara with a portion of the river really covered by the ruddy clay pond.A A A brassy inundation in the river can do a breach in the pool and which could ensue in a monolithic spill in the river of noxious and toxicant ruddy clay which is a mix of extremely toxic alkaline chemicals and heavy metals including radioactive component all of which could hold black effects.Impact on wildlifeThe PML ( and the Niyamgiri Hills home ground ) is extremely productive in footings ofA wildlife since it provides the valuable ‘edge consequence ‘ to wild animate beings, with unfastened grasslands as feeding infinite and neighbouring trees for shelter andA flight. Mining on the graduated table proposed in this home ground would badly upset elephant home grounds, and endanger the of import undertaking of elephant preservation in south Orissa.Applicable environment protection Acts of the Apostless:Forest Rights Act 2006 – The full PML country falls in the class of Community Forest Resource ( CFR ) as defined in subdivision 2 ( a ) of the Forest Rights Act ( FRA ) Misdemeanor of Forest Conservation Act -The Company is in illegal business of 26.123 hour angle of small town forest lands enclosed within the mill premises. The claim by the company that they have merely followed the province authorities orders and enclosed the forest lands within their mill premises to protect these lands and that they provide entree to the tribal and other villagers to their small town forest lands is wholly false.A Misdemeanor of Environment Protection Act: The Company M/s Vedanta Alumina Limited has already proceeded with building activity for its tremendous enlargement undertaking that would increase its capacity six crease from 1Mtpa to 6Mtpa without obtaining environmental clearance as per commissariats of EIA Notification, 2006 under the EPA. This amounts to a serious misdemeanor of the commissariats of the Environment ( Protection ) Act.[ 11 ]Government/OMC position:The steel and mines section and Odisha Mining Corporation ( OMC ) have expressed their inability to supply Vedanta Aluminium Ltd ( VAL ) alternative beginning of bauxite for its Lanjigarh aluminum oxide refinery because of restraints of jurisprudence even as the company has sent an progress notice for closing down of the works imputing the cause of such utmost measure to non-supply of bauxite as per the understanding with the state-run excavation company. â€Å" OMC has nil to state in this affair as our understanding with Vedanta was limited merely to excavation at Niyamagiri hills, which is sub-judice presently. Sing supply of bauxite from other beginnings, it is the sentinel of the authorities and Vedanta, † said Saswat Mishra, chairman-cum-managing ( CMD ) manager of OMC. The Odisha authorities had identified Niyamgiri mine as the initial beginning of bauxite supply and had instructed state-run mineworker OMC to organize a joint venture with Vedanta to unearth the 78 million metric ton sedimentations at the site. However, Niyamgiri excavation program was subsequently shut down by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest ( MoEF ) , which refused to give it present II forest clearance and besides withdrew the environment clearance granted earlier. VAL pointed out that the MoU included supply of extra bauxite apart from that lying in the Niyamgiri mines. So it was incumbent on the province to set up the stuff from other beginnings. However, the province has non made any effort in this respect though it possessed more than half of the state ‘s bauxite militias. A senior authorities functionary in the steel and mines section said there was no misdemeanor of the understanding as there were regulations and ordinances to present excavation rentals to companies. â€Å" I do non believe we have violated any clause mentioned in the understanding. We must follow the regulations and current patterns, † he said. In absence of the assured supply, the company had to trust upon bauxite mines of Andhra Pradesh, Chhatishgarh and Guajarat to run its refinery even though it had designed its refinery maintaining in head the locally available bauxite when it started its refinery operation five old ages ago. OMC said, at present it does non hold any other bauxite mine, but it is anticipating to acquire forest clearance for another bauxite mine at Kodingamali for which it has signed a Vedanta-like understanding with Hindalco. It has besides applied for some other mines with smaller bauxite sedimentations and has been recommended by the province authorities to run the Sasubohumali mine. In the thick of allegation that authorities is funded by Vedanta contributions,[ 12 ]13the state-owned excavation company said, even if it had other bauxite mines, it can non provide the mineral to Vedanta as this would go against the Torahs. Earlier this twelvemonth, VAL acquired interest in Raycal, a bauxite excavation company of Larsen and Turbo ( L & A ; T ) , after the issue of Dubai Aluminium Company ( Dubal ) . However, the undertaking will take approximately three to four old ages to bring forth bauxite.Vedanta Perspective:â€Å" Merely resources can assist eliminate poorness, † Agarwal had said when quizzed about environmental hazards. â€Å" We ( India ) have to utilize our resources in a sustainable mode for our development. †[ 14 ]Vedanta, which has emerged as a excavation and natural resources giant in last one decennary, had reported grosss of over USD 14 billion during the last financial. Vedanta ‘s willingness to put in Lanjigarh has been welcomed by the Government of India and the State of Odisha, and from its very origin Vedanta has known that the refinery undertaking is non the lone part to development we must do in Odisha. We have recognised that industrial development demands to be complemented by rural and other signifiers of development for those, including the Dongria Kondh and Kutia Kondh – the two tribal communities populating around the works, that may non profit straight or indirectly from the refinery ‘s activities. Against this background, the first stairss to set up the Lanjigarh Project were taken in April 1997 when Sterlite Industries and the Government of Odisha signed an MoU to make an incorporate excavation and refinement undertaking in Kalahandi. A MoU was besides signed between Sterlite Industries and Orissa Mining Corporation ( OMC ) for the supply of bauxite from nearby sedimentations, get downing with the bauxite sedimentat ions on the border of Niyamgiri hills. In 2004, the MoEF gave permission to Vedanta to put up the alumina refinery. When the refinery was established, 121 households were physically displaced. These have all been resettled in the Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar Resettlement Colony, with 76 household members being employed with the company as lasting employees. Compensation in stead of employment is being provided to the staying households. A farther 1,745 people affected by the refinery but non physically displaced have besides been compensated at changing grades commensurate with the extent of the impact sustained by the puting up of the refinery. In all instances compensation went well beyond the legal demands.[ 15 ] Inspite of holding all the environmental clearances in 2005, allegations from the NGOs and province resistance has halted Vedanta ‘s halted program. Vedanta has besides questioned the NGOs by mentioning that NGOs have been opposing the excavation of bauxite reserved in southern portion of Odisha, but in contrast, NGOs are soundless about Fe ore excavation in Central Odisha[ 16 ]17.Global Chemical reactionsBogged by holds in land acquisitions and environmental clearances, the companies like POSCO and Arcelor Mittal have scaled down their Orissa programs while reconnoitering for alternate sites to house their mega undertakings, every bit large as 10-12 million metric tons in capacity and with investings of more than Rs 1,00,000 crore, say people connected with the concern groups and senior province authorities functionaries. South Korean steel major Posco had programs to mine ores, construct a steel works and put up a port for an estimated cost of Rs 51,000 crore. Anil Agarwal-ow ned Vedanta Resources which has invested about Rs 45,000 crore in its aluminum oxide and power refinery, had committed to pass Rs 15,000 crore in a mega university undertaking, while Arcelor Mittal said it would put Rs 40,000 crore for its steel undertaking.[ 18 ]19Closing Line:It ‘s an first-class illustration of Good administration on the portion of the MoEF and should move as a hindrance for all others who had been taking, all these old ages, authorities clearances as fait accompli and should convey in extremist alterations in their company ‘s attitudes, believing and rightful actions towards sustainable developments in the state. The companies need to eschew off from the unregulated and unchecked greed for stuff additions at the cost of damaging of our eco-system irreversibly for the following coevals to endure and cuss our coevalss.[ 20 ]But It may therefore be submitted that Vedanta Aluminium is adequate of a instance to confirm the widely held place that the Minis try of Environment and Forests has non merely colluded with bureaus engaged in serious misdemeanor of environmental and human rights, but that the Ministry itself is an bureau engaged in the active misdemeanor of waies of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. It compromises administrative reappraisal mechanisms with impunity and perpetrates fraud by accepting wholesome prevarications as stuff for its determinations. But for smooth FDI and promote the foreign involvement authorities should propose some redress to Vedanta Aluminium so that it make non incur immense losingss and can mine bauxite from a different beginning to prolong the Lanjigarh Project. Furthermore no less than the leading of the Ministry, that is the Union Minister for Environment and Forests and Secretary of MoEF, must be held accountable for this farce of environmental clearance mechanisms of India. The authorities should avoid policy palsy where the environmental clearance should hold been taken into history before sign language of MoU between Vedanta Aluminium and State authorities. [ Source ][ 21 ]22AbbreviationsOMC Orissa Mining Corporation MoEF Ministry of Environment and Forest VAL Vedanta Aluminum Limited mtpa Million Tonnes Per Annum SIIL Sterlite Industries India Limited CEC Central Empowered Committee PML Proposed Mining LeaseExhibit -1 ( Time line- Vedanta Lanjigarh Project )YearCalendar monthIncident1997 May London-based industrialist Anil Agarwal ‘s Sterlite Industries of India Limited marks memoranda of apprehension ( MOU ) for a excavation undertaking with the Orissa authorities in 1997. 2002 June Land acquisition and a gm sabha notice issued to villagers for the â€Å" proposed Lanjigarh aluminum oxide refinery undertaking † on June 6, 2002. Harmonizing to the notice, 12 small towns would be razed, 60 households displaced and 302 households would lose their farming area when undertaking materialised. 2003 March In March 2003, Sterlite applied to the Union ministry of environment and woods ( Mo EF ) for environmental clearance for the proposed refinery. The application made no reference of the 58.9 hour angle of forestland it required. June On 07.06.2003, Sterlite entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ( for abruptly, â€Å" MOU † ) with the Government of Orissa for puting up of the IMTPA Alumina Refinery and 3MTPA of Bauxite excavation installations every bit good as for the installing of a 4 ten 25 MW confined power works, at an aggregative investing of Rs.4000 crores. August On August 16, 2003, it filed a separate request for clearances under the Forest Conservation Act ( FCA ) , 1980, through the Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Commission. 2004 March On March 24, 2004, MoEF informed the company that as the refinery would be dependent on the excavation proposal being cleared, the ministry would see the two proposals together. September Six months subsequently, on September 22, 2004, MOEF reversed its determination and granted the refinery environmental clearance on status that Sterlite got mining clearance before â€Å" operationalising † the refinery. The blessing missive besides stated: â€Å" The undertaking does non affect recreation of forest land. † This, despite the fact that another division of the ministry had received an application for FCA clearance for the refinery. November In November 2004, Orissa ‘s forest section sent Vedanta a show-cause notice for infringing on 10.41 estates ( 4.21 hour angle ) of small town forestland for its refinery. Around the same clip, several militants individually petitioned CEC to hold the company ‘s operations. 2005 March On March 23, 2005, after CEC questioned MoEF about the cogency of an environmental clearance, that the ministry directed VAL to hold building work boulder clay clearance was given for the 58.9 hour angle of forestland within the refinery compound. March The following twenty-four hours the company dashed off a missive to MoEF seeking backdown of its petition for forest clearance for the refinery stating it did n't necessitate the 58.9 hour angle after all. March The province authorities sent MoEF a missive urging backdown of the proposal on March 27, 2005, which happened to be a Sunday. The really following twenty-four hours, the ministry withdrew its halt work order, without trouble oneselfing to look into why the company had changed its stance. September In September 2005, CEC recommended to the Supreme Court that mining should non be permitted on Niyamgiri hill. The study was a vituperative indictment of the undertaking and questioned the unity of the governments involved. 2006 February In February 2006, the apex tribunal referred the affair to MoEF ‘s Forest Advisory Committee ( FAC ) – which looks into recreation of forestland for non-forest purposes-and asked for a study in three months. February FAC, in bend, asked the Wildlife Institute of India ( WII ) and Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited ( CMPDIL ) , to measure the undertaking for dirt eroding and impact on H2O resources. May CMPDIL, harmonizing to Vedanta ‘s attorneies ‘ statements during Supreme Court hearings on May 16 and May 18, 2007, cleared the undertaking of all water-related concerns. June However, WII ‘s study submitted in June 2006 warned that bauxite excavation in Niyamgiri tableland would destruct a specialized wildlife home ground. However, following a particular presentation by Orissa forest officers, the institute tagged on a auxiliary study in October 2006, which included a Rs 42-crore program for extenuation of impact on wildlife. September Based on the two studies, FAC recommended recreation of forestland for the excavation undertaking. September However, in another affair, the Supreme Court had already ordered a reappraisal of clearances granted by FAC after September 15, 2006, which included the VAL undertaking. December On December 8, 2006, the tribunal asked CEC to register more remarks. When the affair was heard on May 16 and 18, 2007, CEC iterated its base that MoEF had acted irresponsibly and with â€Å" undue hastiness † in allowing Vedanta clearances. 2007AWhile instance pending in the Supreme tribunal, the refinery operated with bauxite from Vedanta ‘s Chhattisgarh mines. 2008 December In-principle clearance for 660.749 hour angle of forestland for excavation was granted on December 11, 2008. 2009 April Further, in April 2009, forest clearance was given for an extra country of 33.73 hour angle. Public hearing for 6 creases enlargement of the refinery was held on April 26, 2009. April Clearance by the MoEF to the excavation undertaking of Vedanta on April 28, 2009 despite widespread protests. 2010 August Temporary backdown of clearance rights by the MoEF on the recommendations of FAC on August 24.08.10 2012 September Vedanta sought permission to close down its refinery at Lanjigarh due to scarceness of natural stuff. Shutdown will get down from December 5,2012 if the natural stuff is non made available Beginning: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cseindia.org/content/vedanta's-lanjigarh-project-refinery-and-bauxite-mining

Mattel’s China Experience: A Crisis in Toyland Essay

In 2007, Mattel a California based toy company shockingly recalled 19 million toys that had been manufactured in China. Mattel was founded in 1944, and has produced iconic toys such as Barbie and Hot Wheels. The company had a long established trust with their consumers that had been forged from decades of reliability. However, when the company recalled 19 million toys due to health and safety violations, consumer confusion and outrage soared. The public wanted to know how such an established company’s safety regulations could fail, how Mattel was addressing the issue, and whether consumers could trust Mattel to produce reliable toys in the future. Mattel had been a long time leader in the toy industry. Mattel and its main competitor Hasbro held control of over a third of the toy market, even in an industry with over 900 manufactures. However, there had been shifting trends in the toy industry. New electronics and video games were becoming increasingly popular among older children. Since Mattel manufactured classic toys such as dolls, the shifting trend forced the company to focus on marketing towards young children under the age of 12. While this segment responds well to Mattel’s products, they also are the most at risk of endangering themselves. The younger the children, the more likely they are to put toys in their mouth. This behavior puts children at risk of choking or ingesting harmful chemicals. Even with new adversities in the toy industry, Mattel remained a global leader. As seen in Exhibit A, a SWOT analysis of the company, Mattel had many different strengths that kept it a favorite among consumers. Some of its most significant strengths included its reputable brand name among consumers and its successful marketing of toys through children’s entertainment. Even with changing toy preferences, Mattel was growing internationally. In Exhibit B you can see Mattel’s global sales. While Asia only made up a quarter of Mattel’s sales, they were forecasted to grow 25% annually. Sales in Asia could help combat Mattel’s plateauing market in the United States. The company seemed like it was in a strong position. As early as the 1970s Mattel was manufacturing products in China in order to  take advantage of lower costs and enable corporate resources to focus on establishing the brand. By 2007, nearly 65% of Mattel products were produced in China. Mattel used a combination of company-run plants and a network of contract manufacturers. Exhibit C displays a simplified example of Mattel’s supply chain after moving production to China. Global production obviously had major benefits for Mattel, the country factors of China gave it a comparative cost advantage over producing in the U.S., and outsourcing enabled Mattel to remain profitable in an increasingly competitive toy industry. However, outsourcing does have disadvantages, a global supply chain increases the challenges to regulate and enforce quality. While Mattel had been a leader in safety standard and regulation, even collaborating with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) as well as establishing Global Manufacturin g Principals (GMPs) the regulatory standards in place were not thorough enough. In 2007, quality issues surfaced within Mattel as various products were found to contain levels way beyond U.S. federal toy safety regulations. During the year, other issues surfaced with Mattel products surrounding the safety hazard of magnetic pieces used in their toys. By the end of 2007 Mattel recalled over 19 million toys. The recall of such large quantities of product left consumers shocked and demanding to know how Mattel could be so unreliable. The reason for the safety hazards in Mattel’s products was do to their lack of direct oversight of contract manufactures in China. Mattel wanted to cut manufacturing costs and decrease lead time, which resulted in increasing pressure by their contracted manufactures to find inexpensive materials quickly. Under the same cost-saving initiatives, Mattel was increasing the amount of goods at distribution centers making it more difficult to preform thorough quality checks. Had Mattel ensured their contracted manufactures were sourcing from proper suppliers, and preformed quality checks before products went to retailers, the recall most likely could have been avoided. Instead, Mattel set guidelines, and hoped on little more than good faith that they GMPs were followed. Hasbro, Mattel’s main competitor has a similar supply chain in place, but avoided the lead paint crisis due to their commitment to inspection. Hasbro set standards for lead paint that were higher than U.S. regulatory standards, and took proper measures to make sure their foreign contractors were also following the same standard. Hasbro  placed their own quality assurance inspectors on factory floors, and inspects each product again before it went to retailers. Hasbro’s extra commitment to quality helps the company deliver a safe and reliable product to customers. Due to the lack of quality management Mattel announced a voluntary recall of some products. While they did report the safety hazard, they reportedly took months to gather information and investigate the problem before publically announcing it. However, under regulatory rules, even potentially hazardous products are supposed to be reported within 24 hours. Mattel did explain to the customers that the lead paint was due to bad behavior by their contracted manufactures in China, easing many parents minds that Mattel would correct the issue. Then, Mattel actually apologized to regulatory officials in China, taking the blame for the quality management issue, especially since the dangerous magnetic toy component was Mattel’s design. This action left many customers wondering who was at fault and if they could trust Mattel again. While Mattel’s contracted manufactures should have been following the GMPs regulations set by the company, it is ultimately the responsibility of the company to ensure their employees are preforming to the proper standard. Parents just want to be sure that their young children will be safe playing with Mattel toys, even if the child puts the toy in its mouth. Establishing quality checks similar to Hasbro will enable Mattel to deliver a better regulated, and ultimately safer product to their customers. Exhibit D shows how where Mattel should place quality checks in their supply chain. Quality check one will ensure that the materials being sourced meet U.S. regulatory standards, even abroad. These types of checks could have helped Mattel avoid the lead paint recall. Quality check 2 ensures the overall standard of the product; this type of check could have helped the company avoid the flawed magnetic design recall. Having a global supply chain gives companies like Mattel many comparative advantages, such as lower production costs, but also comes with more responsibility to ensure product quality regulations. When Mattel failed to  take the proper precautions to thoroughly inspect their products they put young children at risk of exposure to hazardous materials. While this significantly damaged Mattel’s public reputation, the company can still take measures to improve its process. By implementing more quality inspections throughout their supply chain Mattel can avoid future scandals like the 2007 recalls, and gain back the trust of their customers. Exhibits: Exhibit A Mattel SWOT Analysis Exhibit B Exhibit C Mattel’s Supply Chain Exhibit D Mattel’s Improved Supply Chain Work Cited Vollmer, Sabine. â€Å"How to Become One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies.† How to Become One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. CGMA Magazine, 27 Mar. 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. â€Å"Toy Safety.† Safe Kids Worldwide RSS. Safe Kids Worldwide, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. Hill, Charles W. L. Global Business Today. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2006. Print. Teagarden, Mary. â€Å"Mattel’s China Experience: A Crisis in Toyland.† Mattel’s China Experience: A Crisis in Toyland (2007): n. pag. Print.