Kay Success Factors (KSFs) Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Kay Success Factors (KSFs) - Article Example In terms of social force, Canada is seeing a demographic shift toward living in bigger cities according to the Statistics Canada Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA), 2011 and 2006 censuses (1). This will give Wash-it a better understanding at targeting and segmentation of both the market the consumer base. Canadians are also shifting towards a â€Å"Green Culture† which allows more use of renewable energy and saving resources such as water, these changes align with the Wash-it product ideas and aims. 10 Another force that affects the Wash-it product is the Economic forces. According to The Current State of Canadian Family Finances of Vanier Institute (2) the Canadian economy is in a recovery stage and seeing an increase in gross income as well as an increase of disposable income for households. Using the previous information, Wash-it can reflect its pricing range based on these numbers. 10 The third force that effect Wash-it is the Technological forces. Wash-it is based on a mix of existing technologies. These technologies need to be improved and upgraded in Washit to stay up to date with the fast paced industry of technology. It’s also worth mentioning that more and more people are getting online, this also adds to the effects on the consumer’s base. 10 In order for the product line to be successful it must engage certain Key Success Factors (KSFs) in order to be able to adequately penetrate the market and have the potential ability to turn a profit for the firm. The first of these is the level to which the supply and delivery mechanisms of the given product can help to place the firm at a competitive advantage as compared to its competitors. Without a well planned and highly efficient supply mechanism, the firm’s offering is dead before it can even hope to gain market share. 11 A secondary logistical KSF is the fact that suppliers of the device will need to be lined up and

Art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Art history - Essay Example This is an appropriate comparison as both this piece and many pieces which have been found on the walls of pyramids, are symmetrical and surreal with extremely high activity which serves to tell a story. By symmetrical it is meant that the right and left side of the mural is equivalent in color scheme, size of characters as well as their placement. For example, Jesus, while centered in the upper quadrant of the piece, is accompanied on both sides by two angelic creatures. The similarities to Egyptian pyramid murals is also visible in the life-less qualities of the two dimensional people included in the work. An example of this is the depiction of feet. Jesus’ feet in this piece, are eerily small compared to the rest of his body which is a continuity of disproportion. The angels on either side of him, resemble deer with human-like faces with angel wings. On both sides of the lower portion of Jesus’ positioning, there appear to be votives held by ascending chains. It is not clear what they are but what is clear, is that they are in equal proportion on the left and the right sides of Jesus. This could be assimilated to weights and balances which often represent justice and fairness. These could also be the ornate objects used by priests in the catholic church, in many religious ceremonies, as a symbolic act. The middle to lower portion of the piece is marked by 12 or so individuals with glowing halos above their heads. Certainly this may b e and is most likely, the 12 apostles of Christ. They appear to be glorified similarly to Christ but certainly not to the same extent. They appear below Christ and the angels which makes sense within the natural order of Christian belief and Biblical ideology. In this same portion of the mural, below the throne of Christ, there are what appear to be two windows or doors, which are each guarded or inclusive

Motivation in the Workplace Essay Example for Free

Motivation in the Workplace Essay Motivation is difficult to explain and practice. However motivation is still the one thing that makes people productive in their jobs. Whether the motivation is tangible or not, it all depends on the individual and how management takes the information and applies it. There are many theories and practices that can be studied and applied to any situation. Motivational theories are studied and practiced by theorists and companies to increase productivity. According to Jerald Greenberg (1999) scientist have defined motivations â€Å"as the process of arousing, directing and maintaining behavior towards a goal†. The act of arousing is related to the desire and vigor to produce. Directing is the election of behavior, and maintenance is the inclination to behave a certain manner until the desired outcome is met (Greenberg 1999). Much of the motivation theories will be related to the definition provided. Some major motivation theories along with the method to successfully motivate employees will be introduced. The theory and method that a manager may choose to use will depend on the environment and on the individual. There are two types of motivation theories content and process. The Content theories are based on the basic need and drives. The other theories focus on the process by which people are motivated (Pepitone, 1999). Content theories of motivation focus on this question: What causes behavior to occur and stop? The answers usually center on (1) the needs, motives or desires that drive pressure and forces employees to action and (2)employees relationships to the incentive that lead, induce, pull and persuade them to perform. The needs or motives are internal to the individual. They cause people to choose a specific course of action to satisfy a need. Incentives are external factors that give value or utility to the goal or outcome of the employees behavior (Pepitone, 1999). Abraham H. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a content motivational theory. Maslow’s basis was human behavior. He conducted his investigation between 1939 and 1943. The hierarchy of needs has five sets of goals that are called basic needs. Maslow’s idea was â€Å" people will not be healthy and well-adjusted unless they have their needs met† (Greenberg 1999). Maslow arranged the needs in different levels in order of importance. As in a hierarchy the lower level are the most basic needs and the top are the higher level needs. Looking at the figure below one can see how the hierarchy works. The lower order needs must be met before proceeding to the higher order needs. According to Greenberg (1999), Maslow’s needs are in the following order: physiological need, safety need, social need, esteem need, and self-actualization. Man’s basic needs are physiological, for example, hunger, thirst, sleep, etc. When these are satisfied they are replaced by safety needs reflecting ones desire for protection against danger or deprivation. These in turn, when satisfied are replaced by the need for love or belonging to, which are functions of man’s desire to belong to a group, to give and receive friendship and to associate happily with people. When these needs have been satisfied, the esteem needs seeks to be met. One desires self -esteem and self-respect, which are affected by a person’s standing reputation, and his need for recognition and appreciation. Finally, individuals have a need for self-actualization or a desire for self-fulfillment. The urge by individuals for self-development, creativity and job satisfaction (Boeree 1999) In the past, management rewards systems have attempted to satisfy an individual’s lower level needs for safety and physiological security, for protection against deprivation and the threat to a worker or his family. However, management rewards systems should be, aiming to satisfy the individual’s actual need (Boeree 1999). When believed that a certain reward is important and can be attained, the individual will demonstrate a given amount of effort. This in turn will be demonstrated in performance. The link between effort, performance and expectancy is about accomplishing the task. The links between the performance and reward are connected. One’s assumption for whether the rewards are available if the person worked effectively describes the link. In this link the manager/organization is responsible of acknowledging the performance of the employee. If the manager/organizatio n does not acknowledge the employee, there can be a breakdown in the motivation. The acknowledgment needs to be direct, strong, and immediate. Employees usually determine in advance what their behavior may accomplish and the value they place on alternative possible accomplishments or outcomes. Goal setting theory is the specification of goal to increase performance. Assigning difficult goals usually result in higher performance. Goal setting has three components that have to be used to successfully apply this concept. First the identification of the process, then the characteristics and finally the feedback. The characteristics of goal setting consist of making the goal specific and challenging. The goal must be challenging to increase self-efficacy. It has been noted that a difficult task tends to increase an employee’s performance. This may be because usually people work harder to reach a challenging goal as long it is believed that it can be done. Lastly, feedback will allow people to be informed of their progress. This stage usually included praises about the good job that has been done (Wheaton Cameron, 1998). The descriptions of content and process theories of motivation dealing with organizational and individual behavior are briefly explained. The explanation is only a basis for a better understanding on why and how to approach the concept of motivating employees. All the theories conclude that the manner that managers perceive their organizations and their employees affect their productivity. Whether they are private, public or non-profit organization their aim is to be productive and effective. When looking at the different sectors, they have different goals and objectives, and therefore they must take different approaches in management. Though this may be true we must also acknowledge that all sectors require one to motivate their staff to produce. As managers we must into consideration the different type of individual that make up our organizations. One must modify management styles and behaviors. Dr. Renis Likert has researched many organizations and developed an effective manner to motivate employees and have a productive organization. He has identified four management styles that he feels should be a part of management style in an organization. First exploitive style is where management makes all the decisions and the lower levels are given no power this style has an authoritative approach. The second is the benevolent style that has an authoritative approach, however in this case the management has some trust. The consultative style has substantial amount of trust in their staff. The staff is motivated by reward and some involvement. There is some communication and teamwork involved. Lastly the participative style is more of the group approach. Management has confidences in their staff and the staff feels responsible in accomplishing the organizations mission. This style encourages communication and teamwork. The participative style is the best approach for profit and customer service organizations. Organizations should make the transition to train management to motivate their staff using the participative approach (Cook 1991). As a manager it is difficult to motivate your staff to be productive; however, using certain methods can create a positive environment. It was thought that money motivated people but that has changed. Much of the theories discussed before deal with individual behaviors and needs. One can conclude that motivation is internal and as employers one must make observations and decide what each individual desires. According to Cook (1991) manager must give their staff as much as an organization can. Many employees want to have benefits and security, however; what happens after a job has provided those needs. Remember that Maslow theory has the five needs of an individual and they do not all deal with the necessary needs. As an employer identifying what stage your employee is in will help in putting a plan into action. Collaboration is a way to give employees the feeling of importance. Eliminating any kind of obstacle will create an atmosphere that your staff is eager to perform (Bruce, A. Pepitone, J. 1999). Another approach is educating your employees and matches them to projects that they find interesting and those on which they are knowledgeable. Employees are willing to work harder on projects that they can relate to. This will also increase their success rate that will help in improving their self-esteem. Yet another way to increase productivity is with empowerment. Giving people the choice to make decisions and giving them the tools and supports to their job will increase the inner motivation force within the employees. Encourage staff to satisfy their need for affiliation and create a relationship with the employee to be part of the organizations mission. It is difficult to motivate employees when a manager’s view is negative. For instance a manager’s behavior is explained with McGregors Theory X or Theory Y. In this case a manager must identify what style of managing is most effective. Building morale is an important concept when motivating employees. Morale will help create productivity in an organization. Developing a shared vision is a way to begin building morale. For instance as managers, one must communicate views honestly a directly during discussion with employees about performance. Make sure they have the necessary information to do their job. Allow employees to influence their own performance goals. Get out of the offi ce, be visible and accessible. Communicate a clear view of the long-range direction of the organization. Listen carefully and consider the opinions of others open-mindedly before evaluating staff. Communicate high personal standards informally with day-to-day contact. Remember to acknowledge the progress that the staff has achieved either with certificates, a note or just a tap on the shoulder. The staff wants to be told that they are doing a good job (Pepitone Bruce, 1999). Again empowering staff requires some basic principles. Inform the staff what their responsibilities are. Give them authority equal to their responsibilities. Set standards of excellence. Provide people with training that will enable them to meet these standards. Provide feedback on performance. Recognize them for their achievements. Trust and treat them with dignity and respect (Nelson 1997). Showing staff that management is listening and affirming that you understand their view will create positive work environment. The language that use is also very important. Using â€Å"we† and â€Å"us† when speaking of the organization this will make the staff feel a part of the organization, thus improving the productivity of the staff. Encourage employees to make suggestion no matter how small the idea may be, and this will create a comfortable environment and inspire more significant ideas (Cook 1991). It is important to point out, however, that motivation must be used wisely. The misuse of some theories and techniques could result in negative consequences. Remember that employees who receive rewards on performance tend to perform better than employees in groups where rewards are not based on performance. Understanding the causes of human behavior can predict the behavior to the extent that the behavior can be controlled. Therefore, if managers understand the relationship between incentives, motivation, and productivity, they should be able to predict the behavior of their employees. Consequently, managers who know this, and know how to apply given incentive, can expect to realize increased productivity from employees. Today, 70% of employees are less motivated while 50% only put enough effort into their work to keep their job (Spitzer 1995). Many managers are not sure of the technique to use to motivate their staff. The best way to find what motivates staff is to ask them directly. This may be done informally or during performance evaluations. Find out what he/she wants from the organization and what makes them happy. A happy employee will be more productive than an unhappy one. If there has been a problem with absenteeism it may be because the organization is not fulfilling their needs. Whether it is need for achievement, the need for power, the need for affiliation, or the basic needs as studied by Herzberg, McClelland, or Maslow as a manager must examine and modify the management approach. References Boeree, C. George (2006) Abraham Maslow. Available: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/maslow.html Cook, M. (1991). 10-Minute Guide to Motivating People. New York: Alpha Book Greenberg, J. (1999) Managing Behavior in Organizational (2nd Ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall Learning, Reinforcement, Reward System and Self-Management Teams. Available: www.emporio.edu Nelson, B (1997). 1001 Ways to Energize Employees. New York: Workman Publishing Pepitone, J. Bruce, A. (1999) Motivating Employees. New York: McGraw Hill Spitzer, D. (1995). Super Motivation. New York: AMACON. Wheaton Cameron.(1998) Developing Management Skills 4th Ed. Addison –Wesley Inc

Issue of Illegal Drugs in Music Lyrics

Issue of Illegal Drugs in Music Lyrics Julia Dugger Music is and always has been an integral part of society. It is, according to Glowacka Pitet, 2004, one of the longest celebrated traditions of humankind that enables the exchange of feelings and experiences that cannot be articulated by the use of common language. Moreover, its strength is based on the fact that it can provide us with meaning, without saying anything at all (Hormigos-Ruiz, 2010). Daily life does not exist without music and since every age group within a society is exposed to it, it comes to no surprise that each age group evaluate its importance differently. For example, studies conducted by various researchers (e.g. Arnett, 1996; North Hargreaves, 2008; Schwartz Fouts, 2003) uncovered that American adolescents did not just listen to music approximately two and a half hours per day, rather than also how they vigorously employ music to satisfy social, emotional and developmental requirements. However, according to Walker Kennedy (2010), the impact of popular music has sparked many debates. Particularly over the past decade, numerous news stories have claimed that bands like Marilyn Manson or Slipknot have negatively influenced the shooters at Columbine (US)/Erfurt (Germany) or that suicidal connotations in rock/metal music has led to an increase in adolescence taking/trying to take their lives (Walker Kennedy, 2010). It therefore comes to no surprise that North and Hargreaves (2006) have argued that music genres like heavy metal/hard rock, hip hop/ rap, and alternative/punk should be described as â€Å"problem music.† But labeling particular genres as â€Å"problem music† and denoting that adolescent listening to it are automatically negatively influenced, seems like generalization of a very complex issue. According to Walker Kennedy (2010), much research has been conducted on why adolescents listen to music and in short two main reasons can be noted: to explore identity issues including self-identity and peer relationships as well as regulation of emotional impulses. And although various themes of different music genres heavy metal lyrics often deal with hostility or vengeance and may contain sex, drug use, suicide, and alienation references (Arnett, 1996); rap lyrics are full of offensive language combined with subjects like sex, drug use, misogyny, violence (Epstein, Pratto, Sk ipper, 1990); pop music lyrics deal with a multitude of themes and typically reach a larger audience; and country music often tells a story that either deals with love; sadness; rebellious behavior, promiscuity, or betrayal (Ballard, Bazzini, Dodson, 1999) – can, according to Ter Bogt (2012), encourage listeners to interpreted these themes, particularly the negative ones, as cool, socially acceptable, satisfying, and not particularly destructive, it should be recognized that lyrics are merely one aspect of a song’s overall message. Unfortunately many studies limit themselves by only looking at one characteristics of a specific song, rather than also addressing that others, like the â€Å"sound† of the music or the associated broader cultural factors, can have obvious and powerful effects on how one interprets its meaning (Ter Bogt et al., 2012). For example, listeners preferring a particular genre often do not just listen to the music itself, rather than also have an understanding for the reputation of those genres and show familiarity regarding the lifestyles of musicians within them. As Ter Bogt et al. (2012) noted, given that an individual’s development is shaped by the observation of others, relevant behaviors portrayed by high-status people such as rock stars, may encourage adolescents to mimic it. However, due to the fact that numerous musicians have had encounters with the law over their drug/alcohol use and many even have died because of it, claiming that specific music genres only glamori ze or encourage drug us/abuse seems like a biased representation. How true this is can be seen when taking a closer look at the history of music lyrics, particular those of rock/hard rock/metal/heavy metal bands. According to Dodge (2004), rock songs of the 80s were party anthems with a positive attitude towards the motto sex, drugs, and rock n roll. However, during the 90s rock music lyrics became more critical. Exaggeratedly spoken, most of the music sounded whinny/moaning and the lyrics contained messages about how bad everything was (Dodge, 2004). Today, according to Dodge (2004), the dark elements still exist, but a new wave of album oriented/melodic rock and heavy metal bands has emerged. On the other hand, heavy metal emerged during the late 60s, yet, according to Hjelm, Kahn-Harris, and LeVine (2012), did not establish itself as a separate genre until the late 70s/early 80s when bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden set forth basic metal characteristics (distorted guitars, aggressive vocals, dark clothing, etc.) that are present to this day. Throughout the following decades (90s until today), metal has followed increasingly diverse musical pathways and has created numerous influential bands. And although the central concept for producing rock/hard rock/metal/heavy metal songs remains the same, a shift of song themes and in which kind of way they are communicated to the listener can be seen. According to Dodge (2009), drug reference in rock/metal songs have always been numerous and recurrent. However, according to Markert (2001), this does not mean that such songs praise or encourage the exploitation of drugs. Most drug representations, particularly those of more r ecent rock/metal tracks, are rather negative and these songs often do not instruct, lecture or admonish the listener, according to Dodge (2009), rather than they inform about possible results, rely on personal responsibility, and leave it up to the individual to make their own decisions. Moreover, since songs about drug use/abuse are again and again associated with a particular time frame and/or social group, they do not just reflect the principles of that group rather than also operate as a socializing instrument by suggesting how listeners should interpret their social surroundings (Markert, 2001). The truthfulness of this view can be seen when either rock/hard rock/metal/heavy metal songs of different decades are compared with each or when the lyrics/themes of the more recent ones are compared with other genres. Many themes of the older rock/metal songs (l960s – 1990s), with all sub- and hybrid genres considered, concentrated on the usage and the effects of drugs, while notions of caution or resulting negative consequences were rarely mentioned. For example, during the 60s songs like â€Å"Heroin† by The Velvet Underground (1967) or â€Å"Mothers little Helper† by The Rolling Stones (1966), told the listener how drugs alter emotional states and claimed that the end result – with an overall positive notion was to either be able to not care about anything anymore: â€Å"Cause it makes me feel like Im a man/when I put a spike into my vein†¦Cause when the smack begins to flow/And I really dont care anymore/Ah, when that heroin is in my blood/And that blood is in my head/Then thank God that Im as good as dead/And thank your God that Im not aware/And thank God that I just dont care†¦Ã¢â‚¬  or manage everyday’s tasks: â€Å"Mother needs something today to calm her down/And though shes not really ill/Theres a little yellow pill/She goes running for the shelter of a mothers little helper/And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day.† In the 70s, a similar trend could be seen, where songs about drugs yet again mainly describe the addictive properties of drugs or even glorify them. In his song â€Å"For Your Life† Led Zeppelin (1976), for example, illustrates how a drug user surrenders to his/her addiction: â€Å"You said I was the only†¦/Exhibition is your habit, Emotion second hand/Had to pull away to save me, Maybe next time around/And she said, dont you want it?/Dont you want coca-coca-cocaine?/Hadnt planned to, could not stand to try it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and in their song â€Å"Snowblind† the Band Black Sabbath goes even further in glorifying the use of cocaine: â€Å"Feeling happy in my vein/Icicles within my brain (cocaine)/†¦Makes me happy, makes me cold†¦Dont you think I know what Im doing/Dont tell me that its doing me wrong/Youre the one whos really a loser/This is where I feel I belong.† In the 80s, however, some bands began to question In the past decade, most singer/songwriters in the rock/hard rock/metal/heavy metal genre have shifted their attention to not just on expressing how bad the usage of harmful/illegal substances is, rather than also their negative consequences. For example, in their song â€Å"Adios,† the band Rammstein (2009) did not just describe how a person injects a substance in their veins (â€Å"He lays the needle in the vein, asks the music to come inside†) and how this person feels while the substance travels through his entire body (â€Å"a battle rages in his blood, an army marches through his bowel†), rather than also address their often fatal attributes by closing the song with the words: â€Å"He takes the needle from the vein, the melody travels out of the skin, violins burn with shrieking, harps cut the flesh, he has opened his eyes, but he did not wake up.† A similar, yet less obvious approach to remind the listener about the highly destructive attributes of illegal substances, has been taken by the band Slipknot, who in their 2014 released song â€Å"Killpop† describe how a women injects something into her skin (â€Å"she is sticking needles in her skin†)  recently the song Habits (Stay High) has topped the charts, where the singer Tove Lo (2012) argues that dealing with emotional pain can only be achieved via a continuing high to not be missing a lost love (→ â€Å"Spend my days locked in a haze, trying to forget you babe†¦Got to stay high all my life, to forget Im missing you†). Other examples include: â€Å"We can’t stop† by Miley Cyrus (2013), where she sings → â€Å"we like to party, dancing with Molly (which is a reference to the drug MDMA), doing whatever we want;† â€Å"Rehab† by Amy Winehouse (2007), in which she states that → â€Å"they tried to mak e me go to rehab but I said: no, no, no, yes, Ive been black but when I come back youll know, know, know,†¦, hes tried to make me go to rehab but I wont go, go, go;† or â€Å"Diamonds† by Rihanna (2012), where she clearly downplays the destructive properties of alcohol (moonshine) and drugs (molly, which is a street name for MDMA and ecstasy) when she sings â€Å"we’ll never die† → â€Å"you’re a shooting star I see, a vision of ecstasy†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  Palms rise to the universe, as we moonshine and molly, feel the warmth, we’ll never die, we’re like diamonds in the sky.† References Dodge, A. I. (2004). Sex, drugs, and rock roll: A Libertarian view [Pamphlet]. London, United Kingdom: Libertarian Alliance. Hormigos-Ruiz, J. (2010). Music distribution in the consumer society: The creation of cultural identities through sound. Comunicar, 17(34), 91-98. doi:10.3916/C34-2010-02-09 Markert, J. (2001). Sing a song of drug use-abuse: Four decades of drug lyrics in popular music—from the sixties through the nineties. Sociological Inquiry, 71(2), 194-220. Arnett, J. J. (1996). Metal heads, heavy metal music and adolescent alienation. New York, NY: Westview Press, Inc. North, A. C., Hargreaves, D. J. (2008). The social and applied psychology of music. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Schwartz, K. D., Fouts, G. T. (2003). Music preferences, personality style, and developmental issues of adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 32, 205-211. North, A. C., Hargreaves, D. J. (2006). Problem music and self-harming. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 36(5), 582-590. DOI: 10.1521/suli.2006.36.5.582 Hjelm, T., Kahn-Harris, K., LeVine, M. (2011). Heavy metal as controversy and counterculture. Popular Music History, 6(1-2), 5-18. doi:10.1558/pomh.v6i1/2.5 Ahmadi, F. (2009). Hard and heavy music: Can it make a difference in the young cancer patients life?. Voices: A World Forum For Music Therapy, 9(2). doi:10.15845/voices.v9i2.345. Retrieved from: https://normt.uib.no/index.php/voices/article/view/345/269 Epstein, J. S., Pratto, D. J., Skipper Jr., J. R. (1990). Teenagers, behavioral problems, and preferences for heavy metal and rap music: A case study of a southern middle school. Deviant Behavior, 11, 381-394. Ballard, M. E., Dodson, A. R., Bazzini, D. G. (1999). Genre of music and lyrical content: Expectation effects. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 160(4), 476-487. Primack, B. A., Dalton, M. A., Carroll, M. V., Agarwal, A. A., Fine, M. J. (2008). Content analysis of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs in popular music. Archives of Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine, 162(2), 169–175. Ter Bogt, T.F.M., Nic Gabhainn, S., Simons-Morton, B.G.,Ferreira, M., Hublet, A., Godeau, E., Kuntsche, E. Richter, M. (2012). Dance is the new metal: adolescent music preferences and substance use across Europe. Substance Use and Misuse, 47(2), 130-142.

The Elimination of Natural Theology Essay -- Religion Religious Theolo

The Elimination of Natural Theology ABSTRACT: The dispute between fideists and rationalists seems intractable since those who argue for faith alone claim that they are offended by the use of reason in religion. The advocates of reason claim that they are equally offended by the appeal to faith. This dispute may be resolved by showing that those who rely on faith may be seen as engaging in an experiment of living, so they can become part of a rational experiment without having to alter their practice; in contrast, those who use reason to justify religion can be seen as addressing a spiritual need. From an evangelical point of view, it would be wrong to disparage the mathematician’s use of the mathematical proof of God’s existence (such as GÃ ¶del’s). Wittgensteinian objections to natural theology can be met by showing that the use of reason in religion is distinct from the general kind of philosophical speculation to which Wittgenstein rightly objected. Those who claim that one must already have fa ith in order to seek understanding successfully can be answered by showing that their claim can be tested empirically only when there is a robust practice of natural theology among those who do and do not have a prior faith. There is reason for thinking religion should be subjected to a more rigorous scrutiny than used in secular matters. For the purposes of this paper, opinions on the right relationship between faith and reason may be organized as: 1. pure fideism = enter into no discussion regarding the rationality of religion. 2. ratiocinative fideism = avoid the practice of natural theology, but provide a rational defense of such avoidance. 3. conditional rationalism=accept a rational scrutiny of religion but only under... ...ology. New York: Charles Scribner's,1966. Malcolm, Norman. Wittgenstein: A Religious Point of View? Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1994. Mill, John Stuart. On Liberty. London: Longmans, 1859. Popper, Karl R. Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge. New York: Harper & Row, 1968 Russell, Bertrand. "Can Religion Cure Our Troubles?" reprinted in Why I am Not a Christian. London: Unwin, 1967. Swinburne, Richard. The Coherence of Theism, revised edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. Tessin, Timothy, and Mario von der Ruhr, eds. Philosophy and the Grammar of Religious Belief. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995. Wang, Hao. Reflections on Kurt Godel. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1987. Wittgenstein, Ludwig. Vermischte Bemerkungen, translated by Peter Winch in Culture and Value, second edition (Oxford: Blackwell, 1980). The Elimination of Natural Theology Essay -- Religion Religious Theolo The Elimination of Natural Theology ABSTRACT: The dispute between fideists and rationalists seems intractable since those who argue for faith alone claim that they are offended by the use of reason in religion. The advocates of reason claim that they are equally offended by the appeal to faith. This dispute may be resolved by showing that those who rely on faith may be seen as engaging in an experiment of living, so they can become part of a rational experiment without having to alter their practice; in contrast, those who use reason to justify religion can be seen as addressing a spiritual need. From an evangelical point of view, it would be wrong to disparage the mathematician’s use of the mathematical proof of God’s existence (such as GÃ ¶del’s). Wittgensteinian objections to natural theology can be met by showing that the use of reason in religion is distinct from the general kind of philosophical speculation to which Wittgenstein rightly objected. Those who claim that one must already have fa ith in order to seek understanding successfully can be answered by showing that their claim can be tested empirically only when there is a robust practice of natural theology among those who do and do not have a prior faith. There is reason for thinking religion should be subjected to a more rigorous scrutiny than used in secular matters. For the purposes of this paper, opinions on the right relationship between faith and reason may be organized as: 1. pure fideism = enter into no discussion regarding the rationality of religion. 2. ratiocinative fideism = avoid the practice of natural theology, but provide a rational defense of such avoidance. 3. conditional rationalism=accept a rational scrutiny of religion but only under... ...ology. New York: Charles Scribner's,1966. Malcolm, Norman. Wittgenstein: A Religious Point of View? Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1994. Mill, John Stuart. On Liberty. London: Longmans, 1859. Popper, Karl R. Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge. New York: Harper & Row, 1968 Russell, Bertrand. "Can Religion Cure Our Troubles?" reprinted in Why I am Not a Christian. London: Unwin, 1967. Swinburne, Richard. The Coherence of Theism, revised edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. Tessin, Timothy, and Mario von der Ruhr, eds. Philosophy and the Grammar of Religious Belief. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995. Wang, Hao. Reflections on Kurt Godel. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1987. Wittgenstein, Ludwig. Vermischte Bemerkungen, translated by Peter Winch in Culture and Value, second edition (Oxford: Blackwell, 1980).

Comparing Stereotypes and Stereotyping in Measuring My Blood and The Ar

Conformity and Stereotypes in Measuring My Blood and The Artificial Nigger    Adults frequently make conscious attempts to pass on their values and judgments concerning a number of matters to younger generations by sharing their own views. Generally, the advice they pass on is helpful for one to become a successful, productive member of the general population; however, this process of indoctrination can be harmful if the views shared by the elder are racist. Gerald Vizenor's "Measuring My Blood" and Flannery O'Connor's "The Artificial Nigger" explore the circumstances in which racist individuals try to induce others into following stereotypical ideas and how their influence can lead to a negative outcome.    One reason older people project their negative, racist attitudes is so that they may boost their own self-image. For example, in O'Connor's "The Artificial Nigger," Mr. Head acts as if he were the world's foremost authority on African-American issues since he has interacted with them during several brief occasions in the past. In Nelson's uncultured opinion, his grandfather's seemingly unendless knowledge about black people is impressive, and "for the first time in his life, he understood that his grandfather was indispensable to him" (257). The elderly grandfather enjoys the rare occurrence of having Nelson look up to him and respect his authority. Generally, Nelson merely looks at his caretaker as just another poor, unsophisticated country redneck incapable of furthering his own well-being; however, when the issue of black people is brought to attention, he is finally taken seriously. Otherwise, Mr. Head is just an unsophisticated man who gains his sense of self-worth b y abusing minorities. ... ...is the transfer of racist ideas through the use of indoctrination. While the main difference between the two stories lies in the way a seemingly trustworthy source shares its stereotypical ideas with either a single individual or a large group, indoctrination, as evidenced in both stories, can be hurtful and damaging. Some individuals, such as Gerald Vizenor are able to see the racism often associated with the sharing of ideas, but other, less intelligent or caring people simply accept other people's opinions as their own.    Works Cited    O'Connor, Flannery. "The Artificial Nigger." The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor. New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1971. 249-70. Vizenor, Gerald. "Measuring My Blood." Native American Literature: A Brief Introduction and Anthology. Ed. Gerald Vizenor. New York: Harper Collins, 1996. 69-74.

Meena Bazar Essay

Meena Bazar is one of the largest retail supermarket chain in Bangladesh with International standards, opened in 2002 and operates in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna division. Meena Bazar outlets are carrying almost 12,000-15,000 products for sale & providing convenient shopping experience, easy parking and friendly customer service for its customers. Meena Bazar is a subsidiary of Gemcon Food & Agricultural Products Ltd, producing organic products, dairy items, prepared food & herbal products. Meena Bazar is not only catering such items to its shoppers, but also educating them about their benefits. In order to offer the best possible price to its valuable customers, Meena Bazar procure their produce items directly from the farmers, cutting the middlemen, while ensuring high quality, freshness and continuous availability. Meena Bazar is also known as one of the trustworthy food suppliers of the nation, hence it is committed to deliver its’ best of the very best by expanding its s phere all over Bangladesh. Design a store layout which gives smooth and effective flow Design elegant products which can be flat-packed efficiently Site stores of an appropriate size in the most effective locations Maintain cleanliness and safety of storage area Arrange for fast replenishment of products Monitor and enhance quality of service to customers Continually examine and improve operations practice Ensure that the jobs of all staff encourage their contribution to business success Operations Management at Meena Bazar * Design a store layout which gives smooth and effective flow: Approximately 15 million customers visit Meena bazar’s retail shop each year. New store designs showcase merchandise in an engaging and contemporary fashion, keeping pace with evolving retail trends. 1. Storefront Design 2. Interior Design 3. Lighting Design 4. Sounds and Smells: Total Sensory Marketing The follow grid layout, which gives them some advantages like, Low cost, Customer familiarity, Merchandise exposure, Ease of cleaning, simplified security, Possibility of self-service. * Ensure that the jobs of all staff encourage their contribution to business success In Meena bazaar they actually follow some procedure to ensure that that all staff are giving their best for the business success. * measuring employee performance and holding employees accountable, * providing the communication necessary to align each employee’s actions with the organization’s overall business goals, * pursuing the employee development necessary to ensure success, and * Making a commitment (time, tools, attention, reinforcement, training, and so forth) to keeping employees engaged over the long haul because they fundamentally believe and understand that no other strategy will produce as much success – for both the business and the employees. Recognition and reward, Effective performance feedback, Shared values and guiding principles, relate effectively with employees, Positive relationships with coworkers. * Continually examining and improving operations practice (called operations improvement) At least one new consumer packaged goods product is launched somewhere in the world every two minutes. Retailers know they can increase market share if they can be first in their trading area to introduce a popular new item or do a better job of marketing it than their competitors.† Distribution, Placement, Point of sale, Promotions, Price Changes are important aspects to examine and improve their operations practice. * Monitoring and enhancing quality of service to customers (called quality management) Quality in retailing is a package, consisting of goods quality and service quality in combination. Quality assurance systems aim to maintain a consistent level of quality in the flow of goods, and quality control system aim to halt the progress of faulty products in supply chain. There are some processes that meena bazaar applying in their shop to give the best service to the customer. So, they flow some process to give the full satisfaction to the customers. * Customers are assets of the retail business and the retailer can’t afford to lose even a single customer. * Greet customers with a smile. * Assist them in their shopping. * The sales representatives should help the individuals buy merchandise as per their need and pocket. * The retailer must not oversell his products to the customers. Let them decide on their own. * Give the individual an honest and correct feedback. If any particular outfit is not looking good on anyone, tell him the truth and suggest him some better options. * Never compromise on quality of products. Remember one satisfied customer brings five more individuals to the store. Word of mouth plays an important role in Brand Promotion. * Arrange for fast replenishment of products: High margin items should be placed in high traffic Areas. High demand items should be placed in low traffic areas. Complementary items should be placed near each other. Seasonal needs should be considered. Items needing frequent restocking should be placed near storerooms or cash registers. Larger departments should be placed in lower traffic areas. So they can easily arrange for the fast replenishment of products. * The retailer must ensure to manage inventory to avoid being â€Å"out of stock†. * Every retail chain should have its own warehouse to stock the merchandise. * Take adequate steps to prevent loss of inventory and stock * Maintain cleanliness and safety of storage area The Meena bazaar store always offers a positive ambience to the customers for them to enjoy their shopping and leave with a smile. * The store should not give a cluttered look. * The products should be properly arranged on the shelves according to their sizes and patterns. Make sure products do not fall off the shelves. * There should be no foul smell in the store as it irritates the customers. * The floor, ceiling, carpet, walls and even the mannequins should not have unwanted spots. * Never dump unnecessary packing boxes, hangers or clothes in the dressing room. Keep it clean. * Make sure the customers are well attended. * Don’t allow customers to carry eatables inside the store. * Site stores of an appropriate size in the most effective locations Strengths of the Meena Bazar is Size allows for competitive buying terms, Strong senior management, Flexible formats. Opportunities of the Meena Bazar are Forming or merging a strategic alliance with suppliers, Growth of non-food, Growth of convenience and compact hypermarket formats, Effective use of Clubcard database to increase basket size and Develop additional services. They have their branches in the most effective area like dhanmondi, jatrabari, uttara, banana, kuril and so on in almost all over the country. * Design elegant products which can be flat-packed efficiently Product will be designed in a way which is compact so that it can be attractive and minimization of shipment cost. Category signage helps consumers negotiate throughout the store to find the product categories they are looking for. The size of category signage varies widely from a lettering that is a few feet in height to merely inches. Space Productivity represents how effectively the retailer utilizes its space and is usually measured by sales per square foot of selling space or gross margin dollars per square foot of selling space.