Never Scared: The Cultural Significance of Chris Rock

Standup comedians exemplify the trans-generational nature of our culture. With their ability to fully embody all of societies diverging values, while still always grazing the edge of change, they serve as the conscience of the people.   As Lawrence Mintz argues, comics are licensed to say the unspeakable because they have the pity of the audience; they use the power of laughter to unite communities and tread societies shade of gray, and the most successful of them exercise a full awareness in the art of rhetoric.   Mintz points out that comedians use these weak pity warranting social positions to actually empower themselves.iOne of the top standup comedians known for this today is Chris Rock; he uses rhetoric to persuade his audience into finding humor in some of the darkest aspects of our society.   Chris Rock uses rhetoric in his standup Never Scared to persuade his audience to adopt his views, while at the same time reversing the pity warranting image that Mintz’s cla ims gives a comic his license to speak freely.   Both of these personal intentions of Rock’s in his stand up are dependent solely on how well he connects to the core values of his audience. Rock is credited for being best able at connecting the disintegration of family and relationship values of Blacks.In Never Scared, Chris Rock discusses the deteriorating values of Black America and how these values are affecting black culture in America. He utilizes theories in social family structure with the African American family today and establishes himself as a role model for the black culture. He also sarcastically undermines the institution of marriage and the battle of the sexes in an intelligent and witty manner. Not only is he socially aware of all of these things that I have mentioned, he is also aware of the embarrassing acts from his race whom he spitefully labels â€Å"niggas.† Allow me to expand on the issues Chris Rock brings up in his comedy routines.The days of funny schtick and prat falls are basically over. Through the years, much more substance has come to the attention of America when it comes to stand-up comedy. Lawrence Mintz states the following concerning this phenomena on page 72;â€Å" Clearly it is a popular art that is central to American entertainment, but in the universal tradition of public joking rituals it is more than that as well; it is an important part of the nation’s cultural life.†iChris Rock is an excellent example of this statement.In Never Scared, Rock opens his routine with confidence and mentions his daughter, alluding to the reason why he hasn’t been on the road in so long.â€Å"It’s amazing when you have a girl†¦ It’s eye opening, because I realize, I’m the man in her life.   My relationship with my daughter is going to affect her relationship with men for the rest of her life.   Every man in here has dated a woman with some daddy issues.   That [email   protected]%$# ain’t fun ok.   She’s giving you a hard time for some [email  protected]%$# her daddy did in 1969.† (Chris Rock, 2006)Ever the sarcastic encourager, Rock sets up an example that needs to be revisited in the black community. He’s sensible and funny here but he is also alluding to something important. The black man in today’s culture needs to understand the importance of bringing up baby girls. He states that sometimes he picks her up out of her stroller, looks at her and that’s when it hits him;  Ã¢â‚¬Å"My job in this life now is to keep my baby off the pole!†Of course he is referring to the ever-ominous pole found in every strip club in the world. This is profound wisdom for the deadbeat dads out there who aren’t with their daughters. Some fathers are right in the room but to busy watching the game to pay any attention to the direction she might be headed if he doesn’t start to get to know his little gi rl who is growing up.It’s interesting to note that an article by Kathryn Edin and Laura Lein almost discuss the same issue.ii With the rise of single mothers in urban areas and their struggle to make ends meet, we have to wonder what the sociological and psychological implications for the child are growing up in an environment without a father. Many of these children will grow up to be drug dealers, strippers and prostitutes in their struggle to get away from the economic prison they were unwillingly placed in at birth.Speaking of birth, let’s examine Rock’s use of abortion and marriage. Nilsen discusses the important element of sexism in comedy routines in his article;â€Å"Sexist humor, which makes fun of the real or imagined characteristics of males and females, is seen in the oldest myths, fairy tales, folk tales, nursery rhymes, and sacred writings. Because jokes are a kind of shorthand, creators do not start with a whole new cast of characters for each jo ke; instead they rely on familiar scripts that include exaggerations and stereotypes. This enables listeners to fill in the details from the material that their minds have already absorbed from the popular culture.†ivThroughout Rock’s comedy routines, he brings to light the battle of the sexes concerning abortion and marriage. He discusses the two options that a man has when he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant;â€Å"Wow! I’m so happy! I love you so much.† Or the ill-fated; â€Å"So, whatcha gonna do?† Once again he silently stabs at the lack of responsibility concerning the man in this issue. He goes on to discuss the fact that the decision for abortion is made between the woman and her girlfriends. It is a sad but true commentary on the disintegration of society in general but Chris seems to be directing it toward black culture specifically.There are strong arguments for the fact that married couples experience less stress and live a healthier life(Waite).iii Rock equates marriage to simple transference;â€Å"When you’re single, you wanna kill yourself. When you’re married, you wanna kill your spouse!†He discusses the problem of unhappily married men and their addiction to strip clubs. He adds that reasons for this are that women are domineering. In a funny little clip, Chris talks about the ho convention and glass heels. Then he brings up the fact that a wife is there to provide for you and be there for you but if you bring a pair of glass heels in the house, it will cause all sorts of problems.As you can see, he strengthens his views of the black man being the wife’s pet or the one that’s supposed to do everything for her by using these jokes. He also portrays the man in the abortion bit as not having a say in anything that happens with the child. He portrays the woman’s friends at a higher level than her own boyfriend and the father of her child.He jokes about strip clubs and i nfidelity but he still holds to the role model persona. He stands by his conviction of not cheating on your spouse and once again cements his position in black culture. Voicing his family values opens the audience up for his personal opinions about society.   Rock’s humorous perspective on life and his personal opinions about society mark the defining line between him as an individual and the family values he has affirmed to gain the audience’s trust.In his essay, Standup Comedy as Social and Cultural Mediation, Mintz explains the justification behind the stand up comedian’s license to speak freely. Considering the fact that Chris Rock is an African American, he has free reign to speak out on the problems with African- Americans.   As he displays his disgust with black stars like the child molesting, wanna-be- white Michael Jackson, he flows freely into the R-Kelly incident with the young girl on video.We all know that he is using these incidents as well as the Kobe Bryant rape case and the OJ Simpson case because they are excellent material for comedy. But, it’s also obvious that he uses these men as examples for negative black role models in America as well. It makes one wonder if he is warning his black audience of the path of self-destruction they may be on together. After all, great men like Sydney Poitier or James Earl Jones didn’t do things like this to embarrass the black community.Personally, I believe that his most compelling routine is the â€Å"I hate Niggas† routine. The courage that it takes for a black man to stand up and say â€Å"Everything white people don’t like about black people, black people hate even more. I love black people but I hate niggas.† He jokes about the fact that every time black people try to get together and have some fun like going to a movie, some â€Å"nigga† pulls out a gun and shoots at the screen. It is most powerful when he utilizes this rhetoric in th e presence of a more affluent black community.By performing in D.C., Rock intentionally markets himself towards the wealthiest blacks in the United States, giving him all the more power once he is able to form a community within the room.   But, this community Rock creates must be structured on some form of values with which he knows everyone can basically agree, and that will create an atmosphere of familial comfort.   Rock does this perfectly in his stand up, and the structure can be noted from start to finish.We can also observe the moral erosion of rap music. It used to be a positive influence in the black community. Chris Rock has played an important role in promoting rap music. Although, in Never Scared, He mentions the fact that it keeps getting harder to defend this popular urban genre. He states that it used to be easy to defend groups like Grand Master Flash because they represented the black urban culture as a whole. Then he goes on to state that he hates to defend it now because of lines such as the famous line from Li’l Jon;â€Å"To the windows, to the walls, ‘til the sweat drips from my balls.†These lyrics can’t be defended. They do not spell anything positive for black society and the song certainly shows no respect for black women whatsoever. Granted, there were some pretty vulgar lyrics in the early days of rap also but not to the extent of today.If we observe the work of Chris Rock, a strong argument can be made that he has created some of the most powerful rhetoric concerning the degradation of his own race in America. He stands by his values and doesn’t squirm under the microscope like some stars. He has used his influence to create a teachable understanding of the social inequalities that occur in America. But, more than this he has made it simple for the average black family, or any family, to understand the major social issues surrounding black culture today. I think the most important thing that Chr is Rock has done for the black culture and every culture in America is created a vital understanding for accountability within our own cultural social dynamic.I have heard many people say that Chris Rock is a comedian, but he is an activist as well. Others say that his comedy is racially motivated against the white population of America. Still, some just won’t watch him or listen to him because of his language usage. There are a number of labels we can put on this man and he allows us to do so liberally. Chris Rock may have missed his true calling as a social scientist. Maybe one-day comedians like Rock will receive honorary PhDs for their body of work in stand up comedy but for now, he’s just a great comedian.iv Nilsen A.P and Nilsen D.L.B (2000) Encyclopedia of the 20th century American Humor.Gender Humor. Phoenix, AZ: Oryz Press, pp.170-174.i Standup Comedy as Social and Cultural Mediation. Lawrence E. Mintz.American Quarterly, Vol. 37, No. 1, Special Issue: America n Humor. (Spring, 1985), pp. 71-80.ii Work, Welfare, and the Single Mothers’ Economic Survival Strategies. Kathryn Edin and Laura Lein. American Sociological Review.iii Does Marriage Matter?. Waite, Linda J. Demography. Vol. 32, No. 4, November 1995.iv Nilsen A.P and Nilsen D.L.B (2000) Encyclopedia of the 20th century American Humor.Gender Humor. Phoenix, AZ: Oryz Press, pp.170-174.Quotes from Chris Rock came from his stand up routine Never Scared. 2006.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 40

But after an endless time in the soft, kind darkness, something was forcing Elena back up into light. Real light. Not the terrible green half-light of the Tree. Even through shut eyelids she could see it, feel its heat. A yel ow sun. Where was she? She couldn't remember. And she didn't care. Something was saying inside her that the gentle darkness was better. But then she remembered a name. Stefan. Stefan was†¦? Stefan was the one who†¦the one she loved. But he'd never understood that love was not singular. He'd never understood that she could be in love with Damon and that it would never change an atom's worth of her love for him. Or that his lack of understanding had been so wrenching and painful that she had felt torn into two different people at times. But now, even before she opened her eyes, she realized that she was drinking. She was drinking the blood of a vampire, and that vampire wasn't Stefan. There was something unique in this blood. It was deeper and spicier and more heavy, al at once. She couldn't help opening her eyes. For some reason she didn't understand, they flew open and she tried immediately to focus on the scent and feeling and color of whoever was bending over her, holding her. She couldn't understand, either, her sense of letdown when she slowly realized that it was Sage leaning over her, holding her gently but securely to his neck, with his bronze chest bare and warm from the sunlight. But she was lying down flat, on grass, from what her hands could feel†¦and for some reason her head was cold. Very cold. Cold and wet. She stopped drinking and tried to sit up. The light grip became firmer. She heard Sage's voice say, and felt the rumbling in his chest as he said it, â€Å"Ma pauvre petite, you must drink more in a moment or so. And your hair has Stillsome of the ashes in it.† Ashes? Ashes? Didn't you put ashes on your head for†¦now what had she been thinking about? It was as if there was a block in her mind, keeping her from getting close to†¦ something. But she wasn't going to be told what to do. Elena sat up. She was in – yes, she was very sure – the kitsune paradise, and until a moment ago her body had been arched back, so that her hair had been in the clear little stream that she had seen earlier. Stefan and Bonnie had been washing something pitch-black out of her hair. They both were smudged with black as well: Stefan had a big swath across one cheekbone, and Bonnie had faint gray streaks below her eyes. Crying. Bonnie had been crying. She was Stillcrying, in little sobs that she was trying to suppress. And now that Elena looked harder she could see that Stefan's eyelids were swol en and that he had been crying too. Elena's lips were numb. She fel back onto the grass, looking up at Sage, who was wiping his eyes furtively. Her throat ached, not just inside, where sobbing and gasping might make it hurt, but outside, too. She had a picture of herself slashing at her own neck with a knife. Through her numb lips, she whispered, â€Å"Am I a vampire?† â€Å"Pas encore,†Sage said unsteadily. â€Å"Not yet. But Stefan and I, we both had to give you massive amounts of blood. You must be very careful in the next days. You are right on the brink.† That explained how she felt. Probably Damon was hoping that she would become one, wicked boy. Instinctively, she held out her hand to Stefan. Maybe she could help him. â€Å"We just won't do anything for a little while,†she said. â€Å"You don't have to be sad.†But she herself Stillfelt very wrong. She hadn't felt this wrong since she'd seen Stefan in prison and had thought that he would die at any moment. No†¦it was worse†¦because with Stefan there had been hope and Elena had the feeling that now hope was gone. Everything was gone. She was hol ow: a girl who looked solid, but whose insides were missing. â€Å"I'm dying,†she whispered. â€Å"I know it†¦Are you al going to say good-bye now?† And with that Sage – Sage! – choked up and began to sob. Stefan, Stilllooking so oddly mussed, with those traces of soot on his face and arms and his hair and clothes soaking wet, said, â€Å"Elena, you're not going to die. Not unless you choose to.† She had never seen Stefan look like this before. Not even in prison. His flame, his inner fire that he showed to almost no one but Elena, had gone out. â€Å"Sage saved us,†he said, slowly careful y, as if it cost him great effort to speak. â€Å"The ash that was fal ing – you and Bonnie would have died if you'd had to breathe any more of it. But Sage put a door back to the Gatehouse right in front of us. I could barely see it; my eyes were so ful of ashfal , and it's only getting worse on that moon.† â€Å"Ashfal ,†Elena whispered. There was something at the bottom of her mind, but once again her memory failed her. It was almost as if she'd been Influenced to not remember. But that was ridiculous. â€Å"Why were ashes fal ing?†she asked, realizing that her voice was husky, hoarse – as if she'd cheered too long at a footbal game. â€Å"You used Wings of Destruction,†Stefan said steadily, looking at her with his swol en eyes. â€Å"You saved our lives. But you kil ed the Tree – and the star bal disintegrated.† Wings of Destruction. She must have lost her temper. And she'd kil ed a world. She was a murderer. And now the star bal was lost. Fel ‘s Church. Oh, God. What would Damon say to her? Elena had done everything – everything wrong. Bonnie was sobbing now, her face turned away. â€Å"I'm sorry,†Elena said, knowing how inadequate this was. For the first time she looked around miserably. â€Å"Damon?†she whispered. â€Å"He won't speak to me? Because of what I did?† Sage and Stefan looked at each other. Ice went down Elena's spine. She started to get up, but her legs weren't the legs she remembered. They wanted to unlock at the knees. She was staring down at herself, at her own wet and smudged clothes – and then something like mud came down her forehead. Mud or congealing blood. Bonnie made a sound. She was Stillsobbing, but she was speaking, too, in a new husky voice that made her sound much older. â€Å"Elena – we didn't get the ashes out of the top of your hair. Sage had to give you an emergency transfusion.† â€Å"I'l get the ashes out,†Elena said flatly. She let her knees bend. She fel onto them, jarring her body. Then, twisting, she leaned down to the little brook and let her head fal forward. Through the icy shock she could dimly hear exclamations from the people above water, and Stefan's sharp, Elena, are you All right? in her head. No, she thought back. But I'm not drowning, either. I'm washing out my hair. Maybe Damon will at least see me if I'm presentable. Maybe he'll come with us and fight for Fell's Church. Let me help you up, Stefan sent quietly. Elena had come to the end of her air. She pul ed her heavy head out of the water and flipped it, soaking but clean, so that it fel down her back. She stared at Stefan. â€Å"Why?†she said – and then, with a sudden panic – â€Å"Has he left already? Was he angry†¦with me?† â€Å"Stefan.†It was Sage, speaking tiredly. Stefan, who was staring out of his green eyes like a hunted animal, made some faint sound. â€Å"The Influence, it is not working,†Sage said. â€Å"She will remember on her own.†

Monitor a Safe Workplace Essay

|Unit BSBOHS407A |Qualification | |Monitor a Safe Workplace |Certificate IV in Frontline Management | | | |Learner | |Start Date | | |Assessor | |Due Date | | | | |Task |Description |Who |What |Duration | |( 1 |Complete your workbook |Student |Workbook |10 hours | | | | |Text book | | |( 2 |Journal entry (one per week) |Student |Diary |20 mins | |( 3 |Scenario and Questions |Student |Questionnaire |1.5 hours | |( 4 |Underpinning Knowledge Questions |Student |Questionnaire |1.5 hours | |( 5 |Workplace Project |Student |Computer |6 hours (report) | | | | |Work Team |+ time on the job | |( 6 |Supervisor’s Checklist |Supervisor |Checklist |15 mins | | | | |Workplace Project: | | | | | |Create an OHS file for the information you collect while working through this unit. Consider your own organisation, or one that you have researched. | |Include the following: | |description of your organisation; | |organisational chart of your workplace with list of names, positions and responsibilities; | |floor plan of your workplace with emergency exits labeled; | |your organisation’s OHS policy and procedures; | |organisational chart and job descriptions; | |information from relevant state or territory’s OHS au thorities; | |information from national OHS authorities; | |Risk Assessment forms and instructions/procedure | |copies of your organisation’s records and reports relating to OHS; and | |information from employees and health and safety representatives. | | | |Categorise the information and write a contents page for the folder/file. | | | |Conduct two (2) Risk Assessments on potential workplace hazards using the organisation’s procedures; attach the documentation. | | | | | |Contact your assessor if you require further information. | | | | | | | |_______________________________________ | |Student Signature | |DECLARATION: The attached information is all my own work | | | Certificate IV in Frontline Management BSBOHS407A: Monitor a Safe Workplace Candidate’s Name: ___________________________________________________ | |C |NYC | |FEEDBACK FROM MANAGER/SUPERVISOR | | | | | | | |Please consider how the candidate GENERALLY performs. | | | |Does your feedback confirm that the candidate can: | | | |Provide information to the workgroup about OH&S policies and procedures |( |( | |Implement and monitor participative arrangements for the management of OH&S |( |( | |Implement and monitor an organisation’s procedures for providing OH&S training |( |( | |Implement and monitor procedures for identifying hazards and assessing risks |( |( | |Implement and monitor the organisation’s procedures for controlling risks |( |( | |Implement and monitor the organisation’s procedures for maintaining OH&S for the team |( |( | | | |How does the candidate monitor safety in the workplace? | | | | | | | | | | | |COMMENTS FROM SUPERVISOR REGARDING CANDIDATE’S PERFORMANCE AGAINST THESE COMPETENCIES | | | | | | | |Supervisor’s Name and Signature: | | | |Email: | | | |Qualifications: | | | |Date: | Important: The candidate cannot be deemed competent until this checklist is returned. Please contact the assessor to discuss issues relating to this assessment, Corelink 02 9779 9800. Certificate IV in Frontline Management BSBOHS407A: Monitor a Safe Workplace Candidate’s Name: __________________________________ | | | |ASSESSOR’S OBSERVATIONS |Satisfactory | | | | | |Yes No | |Participates in group activities and group discussion in the learning & development environment, OR, responded to |( |( | |assessor’s questions in the required time frame and to the required standard. | | | |Completed workbook activities to appropriate standard |( |( | |Recorded legitimate details of workplace issues in his/her journal and offered these issues and other discussion |( |( | |generating evidence to the workshop group | | | |Discussed and demonstrated an ability to work through issues raised on a one-to-one basis with the assessor (where |( |( | |the assessor coached the candidate through the issue) | | | |Demonstrated underpinning knowledge of the performance criteria for this unit |( |( | |Performance in the learning & development environment was at a standard that reflected the candidate’s knowledge and |( |( | |understanding of this unit | | | |Ability to recognise opportunities to transfer learnings from group activities and discussions into the workplace |( |( | |Knowledge of how the elements and performance criteria of this unit integrate with and relate to the candidate’s |( |( | |organisation’s actual strategy | | | |ALL evidence submitted for assessment was appropriate for the level at which the candidate is being assessed |( |( | |Used effective people skills to relate to and communicate with others whilst in the learning & development |( |( | |environment | | | | | |COMMENTS FROM ASSESSOR REGARDING CANDIDATE’S PERFORMANCE | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Assessor Name and Signature: Date: | Important: The candidate cannot be deemed competent until this checklist is returned. ———————– 1. Notes to Learner: †¢ ALL evidence should be checked off and attached to this document prior to submission for assessment. It is important you supply enough evidence so you can demonstrate that you are capable of performing at the appropriate standard in the workplace. Without the required evidence, you cannot be assessed as COMPETENT IN THE WORKPLACE by your assessor. †¢ The supervisor/third party checklist is to be completed by your supervisor. If you do not have a supervisor (for example, if you are a business owner), contact your assessor to arrange for a suitable third party to complete the checklist. †¢ Whether you are participating in FLM facilitated-learning workshops or learning self-paced, the assessor will complete a checklist to record evidence of your participation in group discussion, group activities or one-on-one interviews and emails. This will record an assessment of your underpinning knowledge and ability to transfer the learnings from the discussion and activities back to the workplace. †¢ Please contact your assessor if you require any assistance whilst preparing or collecting this evidence. †¢ If you do not have the instructions about how to keep a Journal, please contact your assessor. †¢ If you do not understand anything fully, contact your assessor. †¢ Go to Corelink’s website if you need tips on studying via distance learning. QUESTIONNAIRE Certificate IV in Frontline Management BSBOHS407A: Monitor a Safe Workplace SCENARIO Complete your answers using a word processor. The answers do not need to be lengthy (bullet points will do). The company you work for was recently purchased by another, much larger company. Although the employees have been assured that no retrenchments would occur they are still skeptical about what the future holds for them. The new managers appear to be quite open with staff about their vision for the company and have introduced major changes to its work practices to help them achieve their objectives. Workers are required to move to a new safety system. There has never been a formal system in place before. You have been put in charge of the project. Describe how you would go about the following: a. Information Sessions on OHS Legislation b. Method of explaining industry regulations to staff c. Draft of a suitable OHS Policy d. Explanation of how accessible this policy should be to employees e. Procedure for electing OHS representatives and committee f. Explanation of how meetings will be conducted g. Consultation methods you will use, and as assessment of that consultation with employees regarding the identification of workplace hazards h. Training requirements i. A checklist relating to hazards in your work area j. Draft of an Incident Reporting Procedure UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONNAIRE Certificate IV in Frontline Management BSBOHS407A: Monitor a Safe Workplace Complete your answers using a word processor. The answers do not need to be lengthy (bullet points will do). 1. Discuss the responsibilities that OH&S legislation places on employees and managers 2. Describe the legal responsibilities of safety representatives and committees 3. What is meant by an employer’s OH&S ‘Duty of Care’? 4. What should OH&S audits evaluate? 5. What OH&S records should be maintained? 6. Why do we have OH&S policies and procedures? 7. ———————– Corelink PTY LTDAssessment Tool  ©Corelink Pty LtdAssessment Tool

To Explore the Model of Future Intelligent Buildings via the 2010 Dissertation

To Explore the Model of Future Intelligent Buildings via the 2010 Shanghai World Expo - Dissertation Example Words fail me, suffice to say thank you. I am deeply indebted to Dr. Abbas Elmualim, Academic Supervisor who made this piece of academic work a reality through his invaluable guidance, his assistance is greatly appreciated. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the MSc. Intelligent Buildings lecturers as the knowledge I gained during the lectures is precious and an inheritance for life. My grateful appreciation and thanks are extended to the following people who contributed directly and indirectly to the completion of this work: Gulay Ozkan Maxwell Masuku Bekithemba Mpofu Andrew Fraser Prof. Derek J. Clements- Croome Prof. Kecheng Lui To Patty, Samantha and Richard l says thanks for all your understanding and love. Finally I am grateful for the contribution made by GOD who ensured that I complete this dissertation. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 1 Figure 1.2 Tomb of Cyrus 2 Figure 1.3. Sydney Opera House 2 Figure 1.4 Ostia Antee Roma 4 Figure 1.5 Pueblo Indian Dwelling 5 Figure 1.6 Frank L. Wright 6 Figure 1.7 La Sagtada Familia 8 Figure 1.8 La Sagtada Familia 8 Figure 1.9 La Sagtada Familia 9 LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1: Generations of Intelligent Buildings .14 Table 2.2 Pathology 15 Table 2.3 Matrix Tools 24 Table 2.4 Performance Factors 26 Table 2.5 Matrix Tools Analysis 28 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ii STATEMENT OF PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION iii PREFACE iv LIST OF FIGURES v LIST OF TABLES vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 History of Architecture 1 1.2 Apartments. 3 1.3 Elevators 5 1.4 Architects of the 20th Century 6 1.5 Antoni Gaudi 7 1.6 Pei `9 1.7Other Trendsetters 10 Conclusions 13 CHAPTER 2: INTELLIGENT...We try to estimate various tools and concepts that give rise to similar results. In the process the notion of cultural diversity and varying climatic condition and socio-economic back grounds are often over looked. Therefore, this paper makes a full-fledged attempt to try to analyze ways in which such innovative technology could be made universal to integrate well with varying socio-cultural and climatic challenges. In the process it tries to understand the basic concept of an intelligent building, its aims and objectives, the special attributes that makes the design unique and truly smart enough to integrate with the existing setup. To determine the actual usability and cultural generalizability of these intelligent buildings, the people who experienced either building them or working in them were interviewed. The results of these interviews are shared in this study. Maslow theorized that man (for the sake of brevity) has a hierarchy of needs that must be met before he can reach a level of self-actualization, creativity, self-expression, and a place in life whereby he is able to express himself using his full capabilities. These underling needs must be satisfied first include, among other things, safety, shelter, and belonging. It does not take must imagination to recognize that architecture succumbs to this same hierarchy—first, man built sturdy, safe dwellings that provided security against marauders and the elements.

Taxation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Taxation - Assignment Example When the government decreases its levy on goods, there will be a high consumption rate and more production by the firms. This decrease of levy on goods leads to increase in capital (David 1817). Corporations are also subject to taxation by the government. Corporations pay taxes to the government for services provided. Corporations fill out forms as required by the state laws and hence recognized by the government (Leandra 2002). It is the duty of the corporation to pay taxes to the government for services provided and failure to do so can lead to legal actions towards the corporation. Before investors make an investment plan, they identify the tax system of their investment location. A tax system that is negatively designed does not favor the investor’s interests and will drain their resources and time. The different types of taxes levied by the government are indirect taxes, direct taxes, progressive taxes and non-progressive taxes. Generally, this paper will look at UK tax system and also recommendations made in the Mireless review. The paper will also explain the benefits that will come with the proposed recommendations and also the parties that will be affected by the recommendations. The taxation systems in UK today do not favor the households. It oppresses them through the heavy taxes that are imposed on them by the government. The taxation system has influenced the amount of money that people save and the manner in which they do so (Stuart, James and Christopher 2012). This system does not lead to economic growth since people are not encouraged to save. It has led to inflation in UK hence calling for reforms in the taxation system. The United Kingdom’s tax rate is among the highest in the world. Despite people earning high incomes, they have been subjected to high tax rates hence little savings by the income earners. A high increase in income tax has also led to the rise of other related taxes such as taxes on allowances,

MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MANAGEMENT - Essay Example In most cases, companies will experience organizational change after undergoing a shift in executive powers. When organizational change happens, it does not result in self-adjustment, but requires appropriate management in order to be under control. The business world today is competitive and therefore, companies need to keep adjusting in order to compete favourably in the market. In the fast-moving business environment, companies should embrace organizational change in order to satisfy the standards in the market. Organizations might undergo organizational changes due to a number of reasons. First, if new technology is introduced in a company, there will probably be some changes. Although this might be disruptive to employees, new technology tends to increase the productivity of companies (Burke, 2010). Additionally, companies choose to initiate organizational change as a way of satisfying their customers’ needs. Customer needs today keep changing, even as technology changes. Therefore, a company might be forced to develop new types of products and services, in order to meet its customers’ changing taste. On the other hand, the aspect of economy might lead to both positive and negative organizational change in a company. ... All this is for the purpose of ensuring that the company makes good use of the growth opportunities in the market. Training for employees might be conducted using different ways, to ensure that their newly acquired skills enhance growth of the company (Burke, 2010). There are different types of organizational changes a company might be involved in. These vary depending on the objectives of the company, and the outcomes they anticipate from the organizational change. Different scholars of economics have developed a variety of frameworks, through which an organizational change in a company can be viewed. Grundy (1993) developed a framework of categorization of organizational change. In this framework, there is the smooth incremental organizational change, there is the bumpy incremental, and the discontinuous organizational change (Grundy, 1993). In the smooth incremental change, Grundy considered this to be any type of organizational change, whereby the changes occur in an evolutionary manner, slowly, and systematically. Such changes in an organization are therefore easy to predict. On the other hand, the bumpy incremental changes are characterized by periods of quiet change, which are interrupted abruptly by an increase in the rate of change because of various factors in the organization. An example of this is reorganizations. Finally, the discontinuous organizational change is one that is faced with much turbulence. When this happens, normally, the course of change will take a divergent breakthrough at various points. Therefore, as opposed to the smooth incremental change, the discontinuous change is highly unstable; therefore, it is hard to predict

THE IMPACT OF THE TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE ON EMPLOYEE Essay

THE IMPACT OF THE TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE ON EMPLOYEE TURNOVER WITHIN A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT - Essay Example In this background the major research finding is included and that is the retail employees leave the job because of the lack of proper communication and interaction with their managers which lead to the dispute with him. This section discusses the major reason of the employee turnover in the retail industry, and that is the dissatisfaction of the employees because of innumerable things. Human Resource is the key factor for any industry or business to survive in the cut throat competition. It is not only the question of surviving but also growing and successfully accomplishing the objectives of the business. Especially in the crucial time of recession every small scale large scale industries, retail sectors and other small and large businesses are suffering from this economic meltdown. So it is mandatory to work hard for the growth. In such situation it is the human force that is whole and sole in the process of attaining the goals of the business. So the focus should be given on the employee satisfaction. One of the major causes of the employee satisfaction, which we are going to discuss here, is the effective leadership. Good and visionary leaders motivate the entire team to work hard and they can create a sense of belongingness and responsibility among the employees. The employees have a tendency to leave their job for many reasons and it is the responsibility of the leaders to find out the reasons behind this tendency and took the initiatives to overcome the employee turnover problem. The inability to preserve effective leadership leads to employee turnover, which effects an organization’s productivity and profitability. This study will examine the relationship between transformational leadership characteristics of retail sales managers and the anticipated turnover of retail sale employees. One of the most pressing challenges for retail employees is to assure a competent, qualified, and satisfactory

Plymouth (UK) airport will never re-open Term Paper

Plymouth (UK) airport will never re-open - Term Paper Example However, this trend did not last long after 2009 (Great Britain 2010, p. 101). The airport was eventually officially closed on the 23rd of December 2011 after the owners coming to an agreement that this was the right decision to make at that particular moment. There are a number of reasons that are believed to have led to the closure of Plymouth City Airport. According to the management of the airport, closure was made inevitable due to the economic downturn and the problems that the UK aviation market was facing at that time. Just 6 months before the airport was closed the company had registered a loss of up to  £1m (Hynes 2010, p. 201). This was a simple sign that the airport was not going to do well under the same condition given the fact that the airport had more than 50 employees. If they decided to remain functional, they would have continued incurring losses because they would still have operational costs, compensation of their employees being included. The situation at Plymouth Airport was made worse by the withdrawal of Air South West’s flights to London. This meant that the airport no longer had any London passengers going through it. This was a big blow to the airport. The management tried all they could to find a replacement for Air South West, but they were not successful. This led to a situation whereby less than 100 passengers were flying from this airport every day. This was a simple implication that the airport was no longer commercially viable. Much of the services that were offered did not earn the airport any profits due to the situation that had developed as a result of the withdrawal of Air South West, the economic turn-down, and the problems that the UK aviation industry was facing at that time (Pavlyuk 2014, p. 22). This can be explained by the fact that by the month of April 2011, Sutton Harbour Holdings had already announced that the airport would be closed down by the end of 2011. In fact, the

The Status of Women Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Status of Women - Essay Example Denied higher level schooling, and schooling in general in some cases, prevented from obtaining any legal rights or owning property as a separate entity from their father or husband and with a majority of her household work unconsidered in terms of the physical work she could accomplish, women had little opportunity to do anything other than be a wife and a mother. Against this backdrop, women who found themselves in non-traditional situations - the widow, the businesswoman, the intellectual - continuously struggled to find a better balance between men and women that allowed women some of the freedoms afforded to men, while women who fell within the societal norms also found themselves being forced into a more dominant role. Roles began shifting slowly as women grew into and then out of the ideology of the True Woman into that of a New Woman in personal and public spheres. As they moved from the rural setting to the industrialized city setting, women in America saw tremendous changes in the way they were expected to live their lives - from lives of working alongside the men in the fields they moved to working exclusively within the home, finally setting the stage by the end of the nineteenth century for the advances of the women's movements that would dominate the early part of the twentieth century. Colonial America saw la... "During the early history of the United States, a man virtually owned his wife and children as he did his material possessions. If a poor man chose to send his children to the poorhouse, the mother was legally defenseless to object" (Comptons, 1995). "Before the middle of the nineteenth century, the property rights of American married women followed the dictates of common law, under which everything a woman owned became her husband's property upon her marriage" ("Married Women's Property Acts", n.d.). However, there were some women who lived in colonial America who "worked in professions and jobs available mostly to men. There were women doctors, lawyers, preachers, teachers, writers and singers" (Comptons 1995). This was because "prior to the 1800s, there were almost no medical schools, and virtually any enterprising person could practice medicine. Indeed, obstetrics was the domain of women" (Comptons 1995). Even this changed, though, by the beginning of the nineteenth century when women were again relegated to the acceptable positions of writing and teaching only as the educational requirements for these professions were increased and women, fulfilling their obligatory role of wife and mother at an early age, were unable to complete the necessary training. These restrictions on what a woman could do or own were partly due to the fact that most women were not considered intelligent enough to consider all the consequences involved in managing business or political situations. Most could not prove otherwise as they did not have the access to formal schooling that would have provided them with these skills. "In colonial times, formal learning had a low priority. Girls' education typically took place at home, where

Assessment Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assessment Management - Case Study Example Initially when application deployment used to take place in most companies, the process was a long, tedious and expensive one. Not only would it consume a lot of resource, it could also take years and end up producing unsatisfactory results. Instead, today more and more companies are opting for software as a service option. There are various other benefits of using the SAAS model. It ensures accuracy of data and information recorded and conveyed around. Because, the responsibility of the application is outside the company it alleviates the management of the need for more corporate applications. (Laudon K) While the companies benefit from low cost of implementation of this model, there are some disadvantages that vendors might face. First of all the investment of the vendor can be heavy. He has to build an entire network infrastructure through which the application has to be hosted and delivered. He will also have to ensure that the application is available at all times, it is secure and ensure privacy of customer related information and lastly, ensuring that users have access to latest releases of the software. These aforementioned issues and their solutions are not only time consuming but also costly. Q2: What are some of the challenges facing Salesforce as it continues its growth? How well will it be able to meet those challenges? Sales force faces many challenges. The biggest challenge for the company comes in the form of its competitors. It has to counter the influence of its competitors who are on prying Sales force’s success and trying to replicate it. Some of the bigwigs in the industry who have tried their hands at it include Microsoft, SAP and Oracle. Each of the aforementioned companies has taken out their own subscription based models of the CRM. Then there are smaller companies like Net Suite who have also tried their hands in this market. Industry analysts have already predicted that Microsoft could deride the sales of Salesforce but provide them stiff competition through their available on-demand CRM product. This is because Microsoft has an already established customer base and it would be offering the product at half the price of Salesforce.com. The second challenge that confronts Salesforce is expansion into new areas. It needs to explore and develop business products for other areas as well. The third challenge that Sales force faces is availability. The success of Salesforce depends on its ability to satiate its customers by ensuring that the software is available at all times i.e. 24*7. It will be quite a challenge ensuring that the software is available at all times. Salesforce is keen on countering the challenges it is faced with. It has partnered with Google Apps and is using its services of Gmail, Google docs; Google Talk and Google Calendar to assist its customers accomplish more tasks through the internet. The partnership is also going to act as a buffer to counter Microsoft and both companies are hopeful that it will further galvanize the growth of this on demand software. Another big step to counter challenges is the introduction of Force.com application through which its customers can download above 800 software applications. Qs 3: What kind of businesses could benefit from switching to Salesforce and why? Small and Medium line business can draw a lot of benefits and advantages from switching to Salesforce. This is because these businesses have a huge dearth of resources, capital and

Business Law Essay Example for Free

Business Law Essay Consideration is an essential element of a valid contract. The four main ingredient of a contract is the offer, the acceptance, the consideration and the intention to create legal relation. Consideration refers to what one party to an agreement is giving or promising in exchange for what is being given or promised by the other contracting party. There are certain rules that govern a valid contract.The issue in the case is whether the agreement was legally binding upon Dream Design or whether it failed for want of consideration. If the promise merely fulfils an existing contractual duty to the promisor, he does not provide consideration to buy the buy promisor’s promise. The baskets were to be delivered by A and a rate was agreed upon between the party. After the first delivery A demanded more money from K before making any further deliveries to W. K unwillingly agreed to pay the extra money and A continued with the delivery. Later on K refused to pay the extra money to A and A sued K. It was held that A had not given consideration to K to buy K’s promise of extra money. A could not say that making the delivery was the consideration, as A was contractually bound to make these deliveries under the original contract. With the case of Dream Design the consideration will not be sufficient where a contractually duty already exist. The fact is that Parma Steel and Dream Design agreed on a written contract dated October 22, 2009 for the supply of fabricated steel at a cost of $165 per ton for â€Å"Grade60,000 and $156 per ton for â€Å"Hard Grade. † In this case Parma Steel could not say that making the deliveries was the consideration, as Parma Steel was already contractually bound to make these deliveries under t he original contract. According to Tucker J. there was no consideration for the new agreement. The plaintiff was already obliged to deliver the defendant goods at the rates agreed under the terms of the original agreement. The facts constituted economic duress but the court has to refuse to enforce the new agreement for the increase in the prices or the higher charges as it lacked any fresh consideration from the purchaser, Dream Design. The supplier, Parma Steel claim for the outstanding balance has to be dismissed.

Business Law - Case Study Essay Example for Free

Business Law Case Study Essay A.Known Facts John wanted to extend his house and built an office from there. He approached Sue after locating an advertisement from the Yellow Pages. As Sue’s price did not seem reasonable, John then approached Drawit Pty Ltd, which charged a hundred dollar less. John paid a deposit. Later, John went to Franks Hardware and Timber Yard. He made known to Frank, the sole proprietor, the purpose and requirement of the materials and placed an order. John signed a standard form contract and paid a deposit. Two months later, problems arose which caused John to delay his business. John incurred financial losses. B.IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES 1.0CONTRACT BETWEEN JOHN FRANK. It is obvious that there is a contract for the sales of goods between Frank and John. Therefore, terms implied by statute into the sales of goods will only be relevant here. 1.1Is it a consumer or non-consumer contract? Here, we need to consider the definitions of consumer both under Trade Practices Act (TPA) and Goods Act Part IV (GA-IV). As the total price of the goods is $20,500, it is under the TPA s4B(1) (a)(i) prescribed limit. Having satisfied this, we need to consider s4B(1) (a)(iii). There is no evidence showing that John had acquired the goods for the purpose of re-supply or transform them. It might be a consumer contract under TPA. $20,500 exceeds the threshold amount under GA-IV s85(1) (a). John then needs to satisfy s85(1) (b). His materials were of a kind that is ordinarily  acquired for personal consumption. Moreover, s85(1) (c) and (d) did not apply. Therefore, it might also be a consumer contract within s85 of the GA. A consumer contract subjects either to TPA or GA-IV means that Goods Act Part I do not apply. 1.2 TPA or GA-IV? A seller must be a corporation to be under the TPA. As Frank Hardware is a sole proprietor, it therefore is not subjected to the TPA. It then must fall under GA-IV. GA-IV applies to all consumer contracts for the sale of goods that take place in the course of business, irrespective of whether the seller is a corporation, a partnership or a sole trader. 1.3What are the Implied terms that are breached? (i)GA-IV s(90) Fitness for particular purposes John had a contract with Frank for the supply of materials and the sale took place in the course of a business. John made known the purpose for which the goods were required and had relied on his skill and judgement in choosing the appropriate materials. It was also reasonable for John to rely on Frank. Therefore, there is an implied condition that the materials supplied be fit for that particular purpose. However, the materials were not of the purpose for which it was supplied. This implied term had been breached. (ii)GA-IV s(89) Merchantable quality As the materials were sold in the course of a business, there is an implied condition that the materials be fit for their normal purpose(s) having regarded the price. When the materials were delivered, the pine is not limed and the oregon beams  have unsightly knots. John was not aware of the defect before the sale and if John had inspected the materials before sale it would not have revealed the defect. This is because John did not know that he actually had to lime the pine himself and the knots on the beams might not be easily seen. Therefore, there is evidence that this implied term had been breached. 1.4What is the effect of exclusion clause? As the materials bought by John is a kind normally acquired for personal consumption, Frank cannot rely on the exclusion clause to exclude his liability. This is evidenced by GA-IV s95(1). 1.5What are the remedies available? John can terminate the contract and sue for damages. This means that he may return the materials and receive a refund. However, the goods must be returned as provided by s99 that as long as the defect becomes apparent within a reasonable time after delivery, the goods may be returned within reasonable time after discovering the defect. John may also receive compensation for losses caused by the breach of implied terms. 2.0CONTRACT BETWEEN JOHN SUE. 2.1Offer or Invitation to Treat? First, we need to distinguish offer from invitation to treat. An invitation to treat is an invitation to others to make an offer. Generally, an advertisement amounts to an invitation to treat. This is held in Partridge V Crittenden [1968] 2 All ER 421, where Sue will be inviting John to make an offer. However, there is an exception. An advertisement can also be an offer. This can be illustrated in Carlill V Carbolic Smoke Ball Co [1893] 1 QB 256 in which Sue might probably argue that it was an offer. This being the case, Sue is the offeror will stressed that the offer was assumed to be accepted  by John upon saying â€Å" I think that’ll be okay †. An offer, once accepted, cannot be revoked. Therefore there will be a binding contract. Assuming that it is an offer, it can either be a counter offer or a mere request for more information. 2.2Counter Offer or Mere Request for More Information? An offer will be rejected if there is a counter offer. A counter offer tampers with the original condition of the offer, it rejects the original offer and can no longer be accepted at later date. Looking at the words used in John’s reply â€Å" I hadn’t expect it to be so high †, it is possible that this was either an acceptance with a request for more information, or a counter-offer. If the court found the facts here sufficiently similar to those in Stevenson Jacques V McLean (1880) 5 QBD 346, it could hold that the words were a mere request for information. This being the case, the offer remains open and can be accepted. Another alternative is that the court might hold that John’s reply amounts to a counter offer as it seems to add new terms to the offer. This would be similar to Hyde V Wrench (1840) 3 Beav 334, in which the counter offer involved a reduction in price. As in that case, the counter offer made by John had the effect of destroying the original offer made by Sue. Sue is then free to accept or reject this counter offer. Sue, by quoting the price of $1500, clearly shows that she had accepted the counter offer and made a new offer. It is now up to John, the offeree, to accept or reject the offer. 2.3Acceptance or Rejection? Sue could rely on the fact that the mode of communication is instantaneous, i.e. a telephone conversation. She will argue that John’s response over the phone is assumed to be an acceptance to the new offer. This forms a contract in which she can argue that it had been breached. REMEDIES FOR SUE (Damages) However, John can argue that there was no contract because his response failed to satisfy the rule that an acceptance must be absolute and unqualified. In fact, it’s a statement of his opinion of what he thought and therefore he reserved the right to change his mind. An offer, which had not been accepted, does not form a contract. Therefore there is no breach of contract and that he did not have to pay the pro rata amount requested by Sue. REMEDIES FOR JOHN (Do not have to pay) Having considered both sides of the argument, it is more likely that there is a contract between John and Sue. And that it is a breach in which John had to pay. 3.0 CONTRACT BETWEEN JOHN AND DRAWIT. It is clear that there is a service contract in which Drawit is to provide a plan for John. Due to the fact that terms implied under Statute only apply to consumer contracts, we need to determine if one exists in order to enforce the implied terms. 3.1Is it a consumer contract? To illustrate whether it is a consumer contract, we need to compare the definition of consumer under Trade Practices Act (TPA) and Goods Act Part IV (GA-IV). s4B(b) (i) of the TPA required that price of the service be less that $40,000. If it exceeds that amount, it must be a kind ordinary acquired for personal use. s85(a) of the GA-IV restricted that amount to be under $20,000. Similarly, if exceeds that prescribed amount, it must be for  personal consumption. Given the service price of $1,400 and that John had acquired it for personal use, it is obvious that it falls under both the TPA and GA-IV. Therefore we know that there is a consumer contract. We then need to identify which of the Acts it falls into. 3.2TPA or GA-IV? TPA probably applies because there is evidence that Drawit is a corporation. This can be recognised by the ‘Pty Ltd’ in Drawits’s company name. Having recognised that it subjects to TPA, it is obvious that GA-IV does not apply. 3.3What are the Implied Warranties that have been breached? As Drawit provide the similar service as Sue, we assumed that John had also made know the purpose for which the plan was required and that relied on the seller’s skills to perform the service. (i)TPA s74(1) Due and skills Drawit supplied the services in the course of a business, so there is an implied warranty that the service will be rendered with due care and skill. The material supplied (plan) in connection with the service must also be fit for the purpose for which they are supplied. It is obvious that Drawit had breached this implied warranty because the material supplied was not fit for the purpose, i.e. it did not meet the Council’s standards. (ii)TPA s74(2) Fitness for particular purposes Applying our assumption that John had made known to Drawit his requirements for which the services were required and that Drawit had supplied the service in the course of a business. There is an implied warranty that the  service and the materials supplied in connection of the service will be reasonably fit for that purpose and that it is reasonable for John in that circumstances to rely on Drawit’s skill. The plan did not meet the Council’s requirement. This shows that it did not fit the purpose for which the services were required. Therefore there is a breach of this warranty. 3.4Can the implied terms be excluded? As the service provided is of a type ordinarily acquired for personal domestic or household use. Under s68 of TPA, Drawit cannot exclude or limit the implied warranties. 3.5What are the remedies that are available? John can terminate the contract and sue for damages. This means that he could get a refund for the services and also receive compensation for the losses caused by the breached of the implied terms.

Boyle Heights Los Angeles Community Needs Assessment

Boyle Heights Los Angeles Community Needs Assessment Boyle Heights is a neighborhood located on the east side of Los Angeles (Healthy City, 2010). An initial assessment of the community revealed issues of poverty and crime. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Hollenbeck Division (2011), the majority of crimes committed in the Boyle Heights community are property crimes such as auto theft and burglary, however there are also violent crimes such as robbery and aggravated assaults (Los Angeles Police Department COMPSTAT, 2011). According to detective Antonio Macklin of the Hollenbeck police station in Boyle Heights, the majority of crimes are motivated by economic factors as Boyle Heights is a poor community (A. Macklin, personal communication, February 10, 2011). An initial drive and walk through the residential areas of the community of Boyle Heights revealed homes in various states of disrepair. The majority of houses are old. As one walks further along through the streets graffiti is visible. However, this is also a community rich in cultural history. A further walk through the community reveals a historical museum, Mariachi Plaza, Murals depicting Mexican American Culture, Catholic Churches, and family-owned markets, restaurants and clothing stores. Despite crime in the area, children are observed playing in the streets, in the local parks and in their backyards. The community does have various parks and recreation centers as well as community centers. Community Characteristics Physical/Geographical Boyle Heights is located in East Los Angeles and its geographical boundaries are demarcated by the City of Vernon to the South, East Los Angeles to the east, Lincoln Heights and El Sereno to the north, Los Angeles River and Downtown Los Angeles to the West (City of Los Angeles, 2005). For the purpose of this needs assessment, the boundaries of Boyle Heights were narrowed to boundaries as defined by the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council website (2011) consisting of Marengo Street to the North, 25th street to the South, Indiana street to the East and the Los Angeles River to the West (Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council, n.d.). Boyle Heights is a mixture of residential areas, commercial areas, open space and public facilities (City of Los Angeles, 2005). According to data obtained from HealthyCity.org (2010), there are 12 Parks and Recreational Centers within a one mile radius of the Boyle Heights community. Additionally, Boyle Heights has a variety of small businesses punctuated by as sets in the community such as White Memorial Medical Center, the extension of the Metro Gold Line and Los Angeles USC Medical Center, which according to the President of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce, Alicia Maldonado, these assets have brought improvements to the community, jobs for the residents, customers to the retail establishments and better health care (Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce, 2011, p. 1). Former resident of Boyle Heights, Geneva Garcia, who resided in the area from the 1950s until 2009, stated that independent of the presence of gangs and crime in the area, she has fond memories of her childhood and her life in Boyle Heights because of the many parks, recreational activities, sports and other community activities available to her (G. Garcia, personal communication, February 10, 2011). Ms. Garcia also confirmed that the majority of the community is Latino. This has further been confirmed through data obtained from the HealthyCity.org website and observation of the community. Historical Background According to the Boyle Heights Historical Society Website (2011), Boyle Heights was originally founded in the late 1800s. However, the neighborhood became recognized in the early 20th century as a neighborhood of immigrants (Boyle Heights Historical Society, 2011). During this period of time, Boyle Heights became a gateway for immigrants who could not live in downtown Los Angeles because of the racial segregation of Jews, Mexicans, Japanese and some Russians (Los Angeles Times Magazine, 2009). Although currently, Jewish, Japanese and Russian immigrants are not part of the make-up of this community, they are an important part of its history. According to The Boyle Height Project (2003), the Boyle Heights community has been a melting-pot of diverse cultures which need to be preserved and understood. Interviews conducted by the project in 2003 with previous residents of the area from Japanese, Jewish and Russian descent, indicate that these former residents of the area all bonded over b eing immigrants and victims of racial discrimination. This history of discrimination and disenfranchisement has carried over to the current population of the community which is Mexican-American, Latino and working class (The Boyle Heights Project: A Power of Place, 2003). Population/Economic/Political According to the HealthyCity.org (2010), the total population living in Boyle Heights is 50,155 with 91.66% of the population being Hispanic, 2.87% White and 1.58% Black or African American, which makes Boyle Heights a predominantly Latino community. Economically, Boyle Heights is an under-privileged community compared to similar neighborhoods in the area. According to HealthyCity.org (2011), families living below the poverty level in Boyle Heights is 28.40%. This is compared to a rate of 16.02% in El Sereno, 19.44% in Chinatown and 24.15% in Lincoln Heights, all of which are neighboring communities to Boyle Heights. This data indicates that Boyle Heights is the poorest of all the communities in the East Los Angeles Area comprised of zip codes, 90012, 90031, and 90032. According to the California Endowment website (2011), politically, Boyle Heights encompasses city council district 14 represented by Councilman Jose Huizar. Other political representatives at the local level include Co unty Supervisor, district 1, Gloria Molina and Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa (California Endowment, 2011). At the State level, Boyle Heights is represented by senators Gil Cedillo and Gloria Romero and State assemblymen, Kevin De Leon and John Perez (California Endowment, 2011). All elected officials representing Boyle Heights are part of the Democratic Party however, Boyle Heights political life is said to be dominated by a mixture of both, conservative and progressive politicians (California Endowment, 2011). Community Resources/Strengths and Needs Boyle Heights is a community with many different resources and strengths. This is a community with several service providers as identified through the Healthy City website (2010). A survey of the services and programs available indicates that there are at least 16 programs in the community for youth and families. Resources include various parks and recreational centers, community events such as summer lights in the park, museums, community centers, sports facilities, schools, a learning collaborative, commercial facilities, restaurants, and catholic churches each of which are a source of strength in the community. Also among the strengths in this community is HomeBoy Industries, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing services free of charge to youth and adults who no longer wish to engage in gang activity. Their services include but are not limited to school, job training and placement, counseling, and legal services (HomeBoy Industries, n.d.). Additionally, Projecto Pastor al at Dolores Mission focuses on underprivileged youth in the area and provides after school programs during the school year and a program called IMPACTO which provides outreach services, tutoring, personal development and a safe place for youth (Projecto Pastoral, n.d.). These two programs highlight the availability of programs and resources in this community. However, despite the availability of resources in the community, there is a prevalent need for economic development in the form of more jobs and economic opportunities for the residents of the area in order ameliorate the high poverty and unemployment rate. Furthermore, although there are an abundance of service providers in the area, there is no consistent collaboration between service providers, which is a need that should be strengthened in order to increase the effectiveness of services provided. Interview Section Interviews were conducted with several members of the community including a law enforcement officer, a service provider, a former resident who lived in the community in the 1950s and a mother currently living in the community with teenage children. Quotes and excerpts from the interviews are incorporated throughout the paper however, it is important to note that all of the individuals interviewed share common experiences, all of which take place in the neighborhood of Boyle Heights. The interviewees believe that young adults can prevent themselves from making unsafe choices by obtaining the following qualities: a good support system, recognizing and acceptance of their problems and participation in intervention programs to help them achieve a positive and healthier lifestyle. The interviewees believe that the presence of violence is evident in any community however, with awareness and appropriate prevention and intervention efforts, each individual has the power to make positive choi ces that lead to a lifespan of good outcomes as opposed to a lifespan of constant struggle with destructive behavior and engagement in violent crime. The Social Problem Boyle Heights is a diverse community with a rich history that includes a long legacy of gang activity as a community concern. These concerns have been highly publicized for decades (Los Angeles Times Magazine, 2009; Urban Institute, 2010; Advancement Project, 2006). According to LAPD Hollenbeck Division gang detectives, Boyle Heights has a higher gang population than any other neighborhood in the Los Angeles Area (Urban Institute 2010). The city of Los Angeles is considered the gang capital of the world (Urban Institute, 2010; Advancement Project 2006; R. Hernandez, classroom lecture, February 8, 2011). When Los Angeles Mayo Antonio Villaraigosa took office, a priority of his was to address the gang problem in Los Angeles (R. Hernandez, 2011). In order to accomplish this task, the Mayors office instituted the Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program or GRYD (Urban Institute, 2010; Advancement Project; 2006; R. Hernandez, 2011). The GRYD program is a targeted prevention and interv ention program aimed at reducing the gang problem in Los Angeles (Urban Institute, 2010; R. Hernandez, 2011). In order to accomplish this task, the advancement project divided gang impacted communities into GRYD zones (Advancement Project 2006; Urban Institute, 2010; R Hernandez, 2011). The neighborhood of Boyle Heights is GRYD zone and according to the Urban Institute GRYD Boyle Heights evaluation report (2010), in the mid 2000s there were an estimated 2,000 documented and suspected gang members from the major gangs in Boyle Heights including: Barrio Nuevo Estrada, Opal Street, Indiana Dukes, White Fence and 8th street (Urban Institute, 2010). The prevalence of gangs in the area was further confirmed by qualitative interviews with key informants in the area. These informants include Detective Antonio Macklin of the Hollenbeck Division who stated during an interview that gang related crime and violence has been an issue in the community although less recently than in previous years (A. Macklin, 2011). Geneva Garcia, former resident of the area stated that she recalls the presence of gangs in the neighborhood growing up and I also recall shootings, crime and violence (G. Garcia, 2011). Although she also stated that gangs were just part of the neighborhood and that for the most part they left residents of the area alone if you did not interfere with their activities. (G. Garcia, 2011). Geneva also stated that, in her opinion, gangs not only sources of crime and violence as publicized in the media but also sources of safety for the community. (G. Garcia, 2011). The perspective of Ms. Garcia seems to contradict most public opinion or official reports however, it is important to consider that Ms. Garcia was a resident of the area from 1950 until 2009 and therefore she represents an important perspective in this community. Furthermore, Ms. Garcias opinion correlates with findings expressed in the professional literature, namely, that gang concerns are multi-faceted with poverty being one of the main contributing factors (The Advancement Project, 2006; Urban Institute, 2010; Zimmerman et al., 2004; Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, 2004; Coughlin Venkatesh, 2003). According to research conducted by the Advancement Project (2006), massive job losses in East Los Angeles during the mid 1970s to the 1980s along with policies such as proposition 13, which cut property tax revenue, had an economic impact in the community that led to an increase in gang activity for economic reasons. Law enforcement officer Detective Antonio Macklin of the Hollenbeck police department further corroborated this impact, as did Rolando Cruz from Home Boy Industries, since both individuals were interviewed as part of this assessment. Each of these key informants advised that economic downturns correlate to an increase in gang activity. In fact, HomeBoy Industries, a non-profit organization in the area has a motto of Nothing stops a bullet like a job. During the personal interview, Rolando Cruz, the curriculum coordinator for said organization states that If someone is earning a decent paycheck in an honest way, there is no reason for them to be out there in the streets ( R. Cruz, personal communication, February 5, 2011). Although the gang concerns should not be oversimplified by reducing them to only economic terms, it is important to recognize that poverty is deeply interconnected with social issues such as gang involvement. Impact Gang involvement has negatively impacted the community of Boyle Heights. (The Advancement Project, 2006; Urban Institute, 2010; A. Macklin, 2011; R. Hernandez, 2011). In 2006, 14.3% of deaths in the Boyle Heights community were attributed to firearms (Healthy City, 2010). Additionally, there was a high percentage, 42.46% ,of non-fatal firearms incidents in Boyle Heights in 2007 (Healthy City, 2010). These statistics are augmented by recent crime statistics available for this community. According to the Los Angeles Times crime mapping system, during the past six months, from July 2010 to January of 2011, the rate of violent crimes in the Boyle Heights area continues to be higher than in neighboring communities such as El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Downtown and Chinatown (Los Angeles Times, n.d.). The impact of violence and crime is significant in any community, however, the impact of violence and crime is greater in a community like Boyle Heights, which is a community with a high propor tion of youth, 32.87 % (Healthy City, 2010), low educational attainment as 42.25% of the population has less than a 9th grade education (Healthy City, 2010), a 46.36% unemployment rate (Healthy City, 2010), and a high percentage of families living below poverty level at 28.40% (Healthy City, 2010). All of these risk factors contribute to a community in which violence and crime are part of a way of life that takes young people away from more positive activities such as being engaged in school, seeking skills for employment and becoming involved in community activities which might lead to a decrease in gang involvement. The prevalence of risk factors in this community with its connection to gang activity is perhaps must poignantly described by Rolando Cruz of Home Boy Industries, who grew up in Boyle Heights when he stated that gang crimes, the evidence of high poverty rates, the low educational status, and the unemployment rates are familiar community issues from my past and scenes o f the present struggle in attempting to transform the troubling youth of the community into productive citizens. (R. Cruz, personal communication, February 10, 2011). Community efforts to address a reduction in gang activity include non-profit organizations such as HomeBoy Industries, The GRYD program through the Mayors office, which works on prevention and intervention with local service providers in the area, programs such as Boys and Girls Club, recreational programs through the many parks in the area, the Boyle Heights learning collaborative, and community events such as summer lights in the park (Healthy City, 2010; A. Macklin, 2011; R. Cruz, 2011; R. Hernandez, 2011). However, despite the progress made toward reducing gang activity and youth violence in the community, the question remains, how can this social problem be mitigated? Although there is no clear answer to this question, there is a theoretical lens that when applied to this social problem provides insight into the many components of this complex issue. Ecosystems theory provides this theoretical lens. Theory Ecosystems theory focuses on the interaction between the individual and his or her environment (Salkind, 2005; Miley, OMelia, DuBois, 2009). As such, ecosystems theory describes the behaviors of individuals, families, groups, organizations, local communities, and international societies as interconnected (Miley et al., p. 30). This is a helpful lens when analyzing a social problem since it conceptualizes behavior from the point of view that human behavior and interaction develops overtime and it is a response to external factors and sees behavior as adaptive given its context (Miley et al., p. 30). When applying this lens to gang activity and youth violence, one can see how gang involvement makes sense in a community where youth are raised with poverty, low educational attainment, few resources, violence as a way of life, labeling by law enforcement, abuse or neglect at home, immigration factors and multi-generational gang involvement. This has been corroborated by the professional knowledge base. In 2004, Zimmerman et.al published a study in which they interviewed adolescent middle school children about their beliefs and experiences surrounding gang involvement and gang violence. One of the most significant findings of the study is that childrens exposure to violence at home and in their community provided for a normative experience associated with violence and a tendency to lose sympathy for victims of violence (Zimmerman et al., 2004). Furthermore, Zimmerman et.al (2004) found that with regard to individuals who feel powerless within their social structure, the lure of violence and aggressive peer groups (i.e. gangs) might prove to provide a sense of personal security and power as one youth wrote Violence, is in a way, is power the power to rule people, if people are afraid of you, you have power over them, you can make them do what you want. (Zimmerman et al. 2004). Additionally, Coughlin and Venkatesh (2003), indicate that immigration factors are likely relevant to an increase in inner city gang affiliation and patterns of local gang activity may be mediated by cultural and social organizational processes such as segregation (Coughlin Venkatesh, 2003). This is true in the Boyle Heights community, a community historically made up of immigrants that were not allowed to live in downtown Los Angeles due to racial segregation. Upon the proliferation of gangs and violence in the area, violence as a normative factor along with other risk factors such as poverty, have continually interacted to sustain gang activity as a community concern. Given the complexity of gang involvement, the question of how to eliminate this problem remains largely unsolved. It remains to be seen what long-term positive outcomes prevention and intervention approaches such as GRYD will have on this important and relevant problem. One thing remains clear, prevention and intervention efforts must be targeted not just toward the individual but also toward the multipl e environments in which the individual functions. It further stands to reason that, through ecosystems theory, if community youth are exposed to more positive peer and community interactions, embracing a more positive approach to problem solving is possible. Approaches need to be targeted to the individual, the family, the schools, the community, and of course, national, state, and local officials in charge of making policies that can address the risk factors closely associated with gang involvement and institute protective factors that mitigate those risk factors associated with this social problem. Rationale for Action The prevalence of violent crime in Boyle Heights is correlated with the high degree of gang involvement in the area. Research by the advancement project (2006) and the Urban Policy Center (2010) Indicate that gangs are very much a part of the Boyle Heights Community. This is further validated by qualitative interviews conducted during the needs assessment for this community. Law enforcement official with the Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck Division, Deputy Antonio Macklin indicated during his interview that the majority of crimes committed in the Boyle Heights community are committed by Latino youth between the ages of 15 and 25. Furthermore, Rosalia Gonzales, a mother and resident of Boyle Heights since the 1960s indicates that she experiences frequent concern for her teenage son and daughter because of the pressure to be involved in gang activity in the neighborhood and fears her children being the unintended victims of violence in the community. Ms. Gonzales explicitly st ated that the majority of residents in Boyle Height are poor single mothers like herself and that it is sometimes extremely difficult to keep children in school and on a straight path, particularly when the peer pressure of gang involvement and the lure of easy money in a poor neighborhood seem much more appealing. (R.Gonzales, personal communication, 2011). Data from Healthy Cities indicates that 28.40% of the families in Boyle Heights live below the poverty level while 71% of families live at or barely above the poverty level. This is further augmented by the fact 46.36% of the population ages 16 and above are not in the labor force (Healthy Cities, 2010). These statistics mean that the vast majority of the residents in Boyle Heights are poor and unemployed that the low educational attainment in the community compounds this problem further. Given all of these compounding factors, the gang involvement issue cannot be easily addressed. A single point of intervention and prevention or a single level of intervention and prevention is not sufficient. A successful prevention and intervention strategy at multiple levels must be established. Although existing programs in the community such as the GRYD project, and community agencies such as HomeBoy Industries provide successful models of intervention, these models are primarily directed toward individuals who are already involved in gangs. A new model that integrates services at multiple levels and involves all members of the community must be integrated. A new approach would involve targeting youth in the community regardless of gang involvement and addressing the multiple compounding problems that contribute the gang involvement and violence. Services must be provided to families, individuals and the communities that help build a stronger, healthier community. Job opportunities, educational opportunities, music, arts, youth activities, family activities, community organizing, and counseling services, are all but a few of the many services that need to be integrated and coordinated in to a healthy community. Framework for Intervention Many of the city, county, and local government officials that service the Boyle Heights area are prominent Latin American individuals with a stated commitment to improving life among their constituents by ensuring access to government, education, employment and public safety. One of the most prominent stakeholders and a former resident of the Boyle Heights community is Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who was born in Boyle Heights in 1953. Mayor Villaraigosa is a proponent of a strong police force in Los Angeles County and for the reduction of crime, which includes gang-related crime. A key part of the Mayors strategy to combat the Citys gang epidemic is to establish GRYD zones in the communities most affected by gangs. In addition to an increased deployment of police, the GRYD zones will receive additional resources focused on prevention, intervention and re-entry programs for those involved or otherwise affected by gangs. This holistic approach is seen by experts as key to re ducing not only the crime rates, but also the membership of young people in gangs (Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor of Los Angeles website, 2007). The mayors GRYD program in the Boyle Heights area includes a prevention model that utilizes the support of the Hollenbeck Police Department. Since youth in gang-infested areas might be prone to mistrust of police authority, having a personal experience with a police officer that is supportive and enriching is one path to introducing youth to a positive adult mentor. The Hollenbeck Police Activities League (PAL) was established in 1992 and boasts that 85% of the youth in the PAL program attend college (Hollenbeck PAL, 2011). PAL youth also engage in enriching experiences with their peers. Walker and Mason (2001) stated that much of the research on youth delinquency has focused on community-level risk factors such as poverty and social disorganization (Walker-Barnes Mason, 2001, p. 1815). However, they proposed that youth were at higher risk for gang involvement if there was a lack of effective parenting coupled with a high exposure to delinquent peers. Walker and Mason discovered that youth who reported gang involvement often did not include their mothers as one of the most influential people in their lives. Further, they found that authoritarian parenting styles were less effective in reducing youth gang involvement but parents who practice higher levels of behavioral control and warmth were related to lower initial levels of gang involvement and gang delinquency (Walker-Barnes Mason, 2001, p. 1826). In addition, lack of parental involvement also indicated increased risk for gang involvement. Therefore, positive parenting approaches are an essential component to an effective prevention strategy. Evidence based research such as Positive Peer Culture (PPC) proposes that troubled youth need more than technique; they need transformative experiences with other people (Laursen, 2010, p. 38). Participation in a PPC model of prevention could primarily be targeted toward at-risk youth although one could argue that all of the youth in the Boyle Heights community could be at risk because of the high incidence of gang involved youth. The PPC model proposes to provide youth with opportunities for empowerment and altruism, which increases self worth and connections with others and with their communities. The PPC model further indicates that youth need to feel that they are in a supportive and safe environment therefore this model should be used in conjunction with therapy and not as a replacement for therapy (Laursen, 2010, p. 41). PPC could be offered as an extracurricular after school activity and if successful could be integrated into the school curriculum as an elective course for jun ior high or high school students. There are two additional models of intervention that could be used in conjunction with the PPC program depending on the specific needs of the youth involved. First, the Equipping Youth to Help One Another (EQUIP) model is a derived from the PPC program in which individuals turn from antisocial and self-destructive behavior to behavior that helps others and themselves (Leeman, Gibbs, Fuller, 1993, p. 282). Leeman et al indicate that the EQUIP model is more effective with youth who often lack the helping skills and moral maturity that they need to help others and who might also benefit from learning appropriate ways of self-control since this model incorporates elements of anger management training (Leeman, Gibbs, Fuller, 1993, p. 282). Secondly, Aggression Replacement Therapy (ART) is an evidence-based intervention that utilizes a parental component that entices parental involvement with the agreement that the affected youth will be suspended or disciplined for a shorter duration (McGinnis, 2003, p. 164). The premise for utilizing programs targeted at pre-delinquent youth and including their families is to prevent the draw of social inclusion toward negative peer influences. The PAL program boasts success by providing at risk youth with positive adult mentors and peer interaction and is one of only two prevention initiatives identified in the Boyle Heights GRYD program. For a community that has such a high incidence of gang involvement, this is insufficient. Therefore, it is reasonable to enlist the inclusion of family members so that a parent or caregiver could also provide youth with a positive and nurturing adult role model. This in conjunction with a culture of positive peer influences in the school setting might prove to provide a positive trajectory for youth to attain a healthy, educated and successful start toward a safer and more productive future for them and for their community.

Thinking And Decision Making :: Critical Thinking Decision Making

Thinking and Decision Making Paper Introduction Thinking "is an internal mental process that uses information as input, integrates that information into previous learned material and the result may be knowledge or may be nothing". (Goodpastor et al 2007) Creative thinking, logical thinking, and persuasive thinking are three types of thinking. Each of these types of thinking affects the critical thinking process in various ways. Creative Thinking Creative thinking involves creating something new or original. It involves the skills of flexibility, originality, fluency, elaboration, brainstorming, modification, imagery, associative thinking, attribute listing, metaphorical thinking, and forced relationships. The aim of creative thinking is to stimulate curiosity and promote divergence. When an individual learns to expand their way of thinking to incorporate metaphorical ideas, they will spark the creative thinking process. Creative thinking enables us to open our imagination to new ideas. We can all think creatively. In fact, much of our thinking is in some way connected to creativity; constantly there are variations in the processes of our unfolding thoughts. Even when we appear to be thinking in a groove or thinking in circles, if we carefully reflect on the patterns of our thought, we will probably discover that they do not repeat exactly; and even when we are intentionally repeating a pattern, such as memorized lines, the lines do not always march into memory with the regularity of a metronome; often they come haltingly, in pieces, or in tidal waves of changing patterns, even though when we go to speak our thoughts, we might enunciate them smoothly. (Kirby, 2006)

image as text :: essays research papers

Image as Text Response Critical Response   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Art by its very nature has the tendency to be labeled either â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad†. However there is no bad art, only art that has failed to connect with a viewer. To broadly label art as either good or bad is hypocritical, how could a Picasso be compared to a Rembrandt? The truth is it can’t, and that’s the deceptiveness of art in that it seems on the surface to be so easily criticized when in reality it’s a complicated process to undertake. The piece I chose to write about evoked such a response. People around me either hated it, or loved it, with most going to the former. A good art piece creates this kind of response, and in that respect this piece was doing just fine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When I look at a piece of art, I let my eyes roam, exploring the surface. I feel whatever emotions the piece evokes, or any parts or techniques that interest me. After all of this, I still don’t dare judge it merely on good or bad. When you label something â€Å"bad† art, there is no coming back, it’s cursed with a tag. Even if this tag is incorrect, as it often is, you still have that impression in your head that â€Å"oh, I don’t like this piece, it’s bad†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another aspect to this is if you label a piece of art â€Å"bad† that means somewhere, floating around, is a piece of â€Å"good† art, which would imply a comparison. But how do you compare art? Even if two artists have both tackled the same topic, it is impossible and insulting to even claim to be able to compare them. A Renaissance piece and a Baroque piece have their own considerations and couldn’t possibly be criticized. Never is a piece of art better, all art is an island for consideration in its own sphere of influence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Art creates its own emotions, and the reaction it creates, love it or hate it, is the very point of art. If you fall madly in love with a piece, it has succeeded. On the other side of the same coin, if you desperately hate that piece and want to burn it, it too has succeeded. It is when a piece of art has nothing to say that it is a failure, when it evokes no emotion, no reaction. It still isn’t a â€Å"bad† piece of art, the artist just hasn’t succeeded.

Private Development and Corporate Funding to Fight Shoreline Erosion Es

Private Development and Corporate Funding to Fight Shoreline Erosion At its simplest, shoreline erosion is the result of the combination of processes, both natural and manmade, by which shoreline and beaches are damaged or lost. For this discussion, wetlands are also included. There is an ongoing debate over the best way by which to preserve beaches, shorelines, and wetlands. Conservation extremists argue that limiting or restricting land use, and restoring damaged property with tax money represents the most prudent answer to shoreline erosion. Included in this position is the inherent role of government intervention to preserve America’s shoreline. There are many problems with the conservation position, and many advantages to the alternate solution --- private development and corporate funding. The most damaging factor to America’s shoreline is that of poorly planned development in environmentally fragile coastal areas that lead to erosion and various forms of pollution. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimated in 1971 that 40% of the total shoreline of the lower 48 states was experiencing significant erosion. Wind and wave action associated with high tides are the cause of natural erosion. Damming rivers restricts the flow of eroded rock, which is the source of much sand (Rhinehart, 1997). These factors are best addressed by infusions of venture capital applied with sound business principles and sensitivity for environmental concerns. Sound planning by the private sector is essential. The number of people living within 50 miles of the U.S. coastline rose from 61 million to 130 million between 1940 and 1988. More than 50% of Americans currently live within 50 miles of the shoreline, but the figure is pr... ...ions Must Be Repealed.† www.mcaffre_se@leg.wa.gov (2001). Spencer, H. (2000). â€Å"Seawalls Bring on Raging Debate in Washington State.† www.beachbrowser.com â€Å"Development-Protecting Seawalls Debated.† www.hosey-chehalis river council index.html Rhinehart, J. and J. Pompe (1997). â€Å"Entrepreneurship and Coastal Resource Management.† The Independent Review, vol. 1, No. 4. pp.543-559. Skousen, Mark (1999). â€Å"The Battle for Diamond Head: A Case for Market Failure?† The Freeman. Works Cited â€Å"Coping With Shoreline Erosion in the Caribbean.† http://www.unesco.org/csi/act/cosalc/shore-ero.htm. Online. Available. 23 March 2002. Nepf, Heidi. â€Å"Longshore Drift.† Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000. â€Å"Streambank and Shoreline Erosion Management Measure.† http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/MMGI/Chapter 6/ch6-4.html. Online. Available. 23 March 2002.

Commercial banks Essay

ABSTRACT This report is based on corporate social responsibility. This project report contains the meaning of CSR which includes the advantage of CSR towards bank, society, responsibility of corporate houses, objective of CSR, motive of CSR, responsibility towards customer. This document is all about multidimensional growth of customers for which the bank liable for their service selling. This process leads to upliftment of people life. The banks are not bind to do so but the do these kind of activities for creating a goodwill sense among their customer which leads to growth in lifestyle of the overall society. This gives better environment to the society in which the bank is working. Hence, the present study titled â€Å"A STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS CUSTOMERS OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN MADURAI†, has assumed greater significance. INTRODUCTION Corporate social responsibility ( CSR, also called corporate conscience, corporate citizenship, social performance, or sustainable responsible business/Responsible Business) is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. CSR policy functions as a built-in, self-regulation mechanism whereby a business monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms. CSR is a process with aim to embrace responsibility for the banks actions and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere who may also be considered as stakeholders. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Banks play an active role for the economic development of any country. In a present competitive environment bank needs to retain its customer for effective development in any sector. Hence there arises need for corporate social responsibility then only it will leads to development of society as well as growth in bank sector. The present study aims to know the effectiveness of CSR in commercial banks with special reference to Madurai. In this context following questions arises. To measure the level of social obligation To measure the level of effectiveness of corporate social responsibility towards customers of commercial banks. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: To study the effectiveness of corporate social responsibility towards customers of commercial banks. METHODOLOGY The present study is an empirical one based on the survey method. First hand data was collected from the field through interview schedule. Data relating to various customers of commercial banks in Madurai was gathered through interview schedule. The schedule structured was extensively pretested. The survey envisaged the application of convenience sampling. Thus a sample of 300 respondents was decided upon nature of the commercial banks in Madurai. The survey was conducted during 2012-2013 in commercial banks from state Bank of India, Indian bank, Canara Bank, Karurvysya bank, HDFC bank, Axis bank, ICICI bank in Madurai. ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION GARRET RANKING Garret Ranking is used to find out the ranking for respondents opinion towards the enhancing customer value for public sector, private sector, and New generation banks. Step I:  Ranking given by respondents opinion on enhancing customer value TABLE 1 RANKING OF RESPONDENTS opinion towards enhancing customer value. S.No.AttributesRankTotal 12345 1.Sharing bank details1866231129300 2.Comfortable0120524880300 3.Time management00018282300 4.Man management1515765270300 5.Filling forms22120539213300 Source: Primary Data Step II : The assigned ranks by the respondents were converted into percent position value by the formula given below. For each percent position, Using Garrett’s table, corresponding Garrett’s table value is obtained. Formula Per cent Position = 100 (Rij – 0.5) / Nj Rij = Rank given for the ith variable by the jth respondent Nj = Number of variables ranked by the jth respondent. GARRETT’S TABLE VALUE RanksCalculationPercentageGarrett’s Table Value I Rank=100*(1-0.5)/5= 10= 75 II Rank=100*(2-0.5)/5= 30= 60 III Rank=100*(3-0.5)/5= 50= 50 IV Rank=100*(4-0.5)/5= 70= 40 V Rank=100*(5-0.5)/5= 90= 25 Source: Computed data. Step III: Scores are obtained with reference to Garrett’s Table value, and each percentage position value is converted into scores. Here each aggregated ranks are multiplied with corresponding the Garrett’s value obtained in the table. AGGREGATED RANKS Sl. No.AttributesRank 12345 1.Sharing bank details1395037201550840225 2.Comfortable07200260033602000 3.Time management00012607050 4.Man management113253420325018900 5.Filling forms1650720026506440325 Source: Computed data. Step IV: Summation of the scores is worked out for each rank column and means scores calculated by dividing the total score by the number of respondents. Finally, overall ranking is obtained by assigning ranks 1, 2, 3 †¦ in the descending order of mean score. OVERALL RANKING for respondents opinion on enhancing customer value S. No.ReasonTotal ScoreAverageRank 1.Sharing bank details2028567.6I 2.Comfortable1526050.53IV 3.Time management831027.7V 4.Man management1988566.28II 5.Filling forms1826560.89III INFERENCE It is observed from the table Sharing bank details† has been ranked as the first for the Man management has been ranked second, Filling forms third position, followed by Comfortable in fourth rank with Time management ranked as the fifth that influences the respondents opinion on enhancing customer value the in bank’s CONCLUSION Although creating customer satisfaction is not a prime motivation for instituting corporate social Responsibility programs , research linking CSR strategies with positive customer outcomes, such as loyalty, has led to the expectation that these strategies generally have positive flow-on effects for customers. Banking industry surveys have led to the identification of a mismatch between consumer satisfaction levels and massive spending on CSR programs. Further research is warranted. In view of research suggesting that retail banking customers prefer initiatives that create direct customer benefits compared to those that have broader social impacts. To conclude the CSR activities in all the three study banks are not effective. It is proper time on their to promote CSR related activities.